2009 Aussie Millions

Event 9 - $10,500 Aussie Millions Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2009 Aussie Millions

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aa
Prize
2,000,000 AUD
Event Info
Buy-in
10,000 AUD
Prize Pool
6,810,000 AUD
Entries
681
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000

Another Penalty

Another player has been given a five-minute penalty for using his mobile at the table. The players were given very clear warnings against the use of mobiles at the table before the start of play. They are required to stay away from the table if they want to send a text or make or receive a call.

As a result of the early warnings, the tournament staff are taking a zero-tolerance approach to infractions. They reiterated that policy over the P.A. a few minutes ago, suggesting that there may have been more than two penalties handed out so far.

Saab Works the Table

David Saab has been busy early -- with both his play and his table chatter. He first started quizzing a visiting American who looks a little like Howard Lederer to see if he was related (he wasn't).

A moment later, he started on Paul Rochford by telling him he had a bad table draw with Julian Powell and Saab himself filling the two seats to his left.

Meanwhile he claims to have won five of the first seven pots and is up to 27,000 chips.

Tags: David Saab

Time for a Local Champion

The 2008 Aussie Millions champion hailed from Russia.
The 2008 Aussie Millions champion hailed from Russia.
In his pre-tournament address, Joe Hachem issued the challenge to all Australian players to make 2009 the year that an Australian player finally wins the Main Event here at the Aussie Millions.

Believe or not -- no Australian has managed to lift the Aussie Millions bracelet in it's current form. Previous winners have hailed from England (twice), Russia, Denmark, and even New Zealand (twice).

Will this be the year that an Australian finally captures their national title?

Khouiss on the Move

Khouiss in action
Khouiss in action
Sam Khouiss has slowly been chipping up and is now sitting on over 43,000 in chips.

Khouiss firstly took a sizable pot down holding {J-Hearts}{J-Diamonds} against {A-Spades}{Q-Diamonds} on a board reading {3-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}{8-Spades}{8-Hearts}. Most recently on a board of {5-Clubs}{4-Spades}{J-Diamonds}{Q-Diamonds}, Khouiss led for 1,500 and was check-raised to 3,000 by his opponent. Khouiss made the call and with the {Q-Spades} landing on the river his opponent threw out a 6,000-chip bet.

Khouiss looked his opponent up and down before raising to 15,000. His opponent laid his hand down and Khouiss tabled {Q-Hearts}{J-Hearts} and announced, "Nuts!" as he raked in the pot sending him to 43,500 chips.

Tags: Sam Khouiss

Khalil and Whybrew Clash...Almost

Ali Khalil raised to 300 and Wesley Whybrew made the call in the big blind. They took a flop of {J-Hearts}{Q-Spades}{A-Hearts} and Whybrew checked to Khalil who fired 400. Whybrew made the call.

The turn was a scary looking {K-Spades} and both players checked. The river was the {5-Diamonds} and again Whybrew checked to Khalil who tanked for a long time before checking behind.

Incredibly the turn card potentially saved Whybrew his stack as he showed {A-Diamonds}{Q-Diamonds} for two pair and Khalil tabled {A-Spades}{A-Clubs} for top set!

Tags: Ali KhalilWesley Whybrew

Schwartz Flushes Putt

On a flop of {A-Clubs}{7-Clubs}{Q-Hearts} Graeme Putt led out for 1,200 from the button with Noah Schwartz making the call from the big blind. The turn fell the {9-Hearts} and Putt led strong again for 2,000 with Schwartz check-calling.

The river fell the {5-Hearts} and Schwartz this time took the lead, betting out 4,200. Putt dwelled on it for some time before eventually making the call only to see he had run into the flush of Schwartz holding {J-Hearts}{10-Hearts}. Putt mucked and was left with a little over 10,000, while Schwartz moved up to 28,000 in chips.

Tags: Graeme PuttNoah Schwartz

Saab's Table Chatter Backfires

On the turn of a {6-Hearts} {8-Spades} {Q-Diamonds} {K-Diamonds} board, David Saab raised Paul Rochford. Rochford instantly folded his hand, prompting a disappointed Saab to show {K-Clubs} {K-Spades} for a turned set of kings as he collected the pot.

"Of course I hit," said Saab after the hand. "I'm a pro!"

The very next hand, Saab had the button and tangled with the player in the big blind. Saab bet 400 on a flop of {9-Spades} {6-Hearts} {J-Diamonds}, then called a check-raise to 1,000 from the big blind. That player bet another 1,000 on the {9-Diamonds} turn. Saab called again. When the river fell {7-Spades}, Saab's opponent made it 1,500 to go. Saab quickly fired out a raise of 6,000, sending the big blind into the tank.

"Why do you want to tangle with me?" Saab asked after the player hadn't acted for over a minute. "Didn't you see what just happened?"

The big blind tanked another minute, then finally made an adventurous call with {J-Hearts} {8-Diamonds} for two pair, jacks and nines. It was good; Saab showed an airball, {K-Diamonds} {Q-Diamonds}. As a result he's down to 14,500.

Tags: David Saab

Obst Takes Some Chips Off Pedley

Obst happy with his start in the Main Event
Obst happy with his start in the Main Event
James "Andy McLEOD" Obst has burst out of the gates early, here in his first Aussie Millions Main Event.

Obst was the beneficiary of a clash with Michael Pedley recently. Pedley raised to 325 from early position, with Obst and the player on the button making the call.

Pedley fired 725 at the {k-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}{5-Spades} flop, which Obst flat-called, with the button folding. On the {8-Spades} turn Pedley made it another 1,100, and Obst raised it to 3,200. After thinking for a moment Pedley made the call to see the river. After Pedley quickly checked the river {a-Diamonds} to Obst, he fired out 10,000 which saw Pedley fold.

Obst is up to 25,000. Pedley down to 13,500.

Tags: Andy McLeodJames ObstMichael Pedley

The Hammer Gets a New Nickname

Many poker players call seven-deuce offsuit, the worst starting hand in poker, "The Hammer." We've heard some players today call it something else.

"Seven-deuce again?" asked one player after an opponent raised.

Someone else quipped, "That's a natural nine. We're playing baccarat, not hold'em."

Tough Table

Those in the know would have been ruing their arrival at Table 16 this morning. Seated at that particular table are 2008 Melbourne Poker Championship Main Event champion James Broom, along with tournament circuit regulars Daniel Sequenzia, Sam Higgs, Harris Pavlou and Shane Moran, all with impressive results to their names.

In addition to all of those is Warwick Mirzikinian who notched a second in last year's Australian Two Card Manila Championship, along with a deep run in the limit hold'em event already during the 2009 Aussie Millions.

Tags: Daniel SequenziaHarris PavlouJames BroomSam HiggsShane MoranWarwick Mirzikinian