Event 9 - $10,500 Aussie Millions Main Event Day 1b | 2009 Aussie Millions

01-19-2009 13:32 UTC+11

Portaro Starts Strong

[user80015]

Facing a raise to 325, Bruno Portaro reraised to 925 and found two callers.

On a flop of {6-Clubs}

Portaro called a 1,600 bet from the original aggressor, with the other player in the hand dropping out. The turn landed the {A-Diamonds}

and following a series of raises Portaro took down the pot holding {K-Diamonds}

with his opponent laying his {A-Hearts}

down.

Following the hand Portaro moved up to 34,000 in chips.

Tags: Bruno Portaro

01-19-2009 13:37 UTC+11

Out on Table 15 we have our own Australian State of Origin.

Max Veenhuyzen (Western Australia), Tony Dunst (Victoria), Grant Levy and Jason Gray (New South Wales) are all battling it out with a few tangles already.

01-19-2009 13:43 UTC+11

Demidov Knackered?

[user75032]

Ivan Demidov seems to have had a rough night. He looks visibly tired and has been hunched over the rail at his table for most of the first level, occasionally setting his head down between hands. Things won't get any easier for the World Series of Poker Main Event runner-up; if he makes a deep run in the Aussie Millions Main Event he won't have much time to rest before heading to St. Petersburg, Russia for the inaugural event of the Russian Poker Tour next week.

Tags: Ivan Demidov

01-19-2009 13:55 UTC+11

Sweating the Action Again

[user75032]

Yesterday, players in the room were riveted by the cricket one-day between Australia and South Africa. Today the sports match of interest is the National Football League semi-final contested between Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The game is being shown on the large five-by-five bank of television screens on the wall of the poker room. Many of the players seem more interested in watching what's going on there than what's going on at their tables.

01-19-2009 13:58 UTC+11

First Meets Third

[user80015]

With one table already breaking Alexander Kostritsyn has just been moved; he is now seated to the left of Michael Chrisanthopoulos in the main tournament area.

The last time these two met it was in this same event last year, when Kostritsyn's {10-Clubs}

held against Chrisanthopoulos' {A-Clubs}

with the board running out {5-Spades}

to see Chrisanthopoulos eliminated in third place and eventually see Kostritsyn crowned champion.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Michael Chrisanthopoulos

01-19-2009 14:05 UTC+11

Jeff Lisandro Eliminated

[user80015]

Facing a 250-chip raise from Robert Salter in middle position, Jeff Lisandro made the call next to speak.

On a flop of {10-Diamonds}

Salter led out for 750 and Lisandro made the call. The turn landed the {7-Hearts}

and Salter checked with Lisandro leading out for 2,800. Salter moved all in and with only 5,600 left Lisandro made the call.

Salter: {5-Hearts}

Lisandro:

With a dead gutshot straight draw and a live flush draw Lisandro would need to hit one of the seven remaining hearts to stay alive. However Lisandro would stand up to exit the tournament floor when the {A-Spades}

peeled on the river sending home early.

Tags: Jeff Lisandro

01-19-2009 14:07 UTC+11

Andrew Demetriou is Not Better Than That

[user75032]

Andrew Demetriou and Jason Chahine were in a pot together. Chahine had raised Demetriou to 2,525 on a flop of {A-Diamonds}

after Demetriou opened for 825. Demetriou made the call.

The two players checked the {5-Hearts}

turn and the {7-Diamonds}

river. It was then that Chahine showed down {A-Clubs}

for two pair.

"What are you doing, playing that?" Demetriou asked. "You're better than that." He then flipped over his own {A-Hearts}

with a wide grin and the pot was chopped.

Tags: Andrew Demetriou

01-19-2009 14:13 UTC+11

Ferguson as Deliberate as Always

[user75032]

Chris "Jesus" Ferguson is well-known for being a very deliberate player. His deliberation was in action in a recent hand. We caught up with the table on the turn of a {A-Clubs}

board. Ferguson, still as stone, took about 20 seconds before he bet 5,000. His lone opponent called.

On the river {3-Diamonds}

, Ferguson was again still as stone for 20 seconds before he fired out 6,000. It took far less time for Ferguson's opponent to fold.

Ferguson is up to 24,000 chips.

Tags: Chris Ferguson

01-19-2009 14:13 UTC+11

Break Time

[user80015]

The players are now on their first 15-minute break for the tournament

Level: 2

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 0