Event 8: $100,000 Challenge | 2010 Aussie Millions

01-25-2010 11:00 UTC+11

Welcome to the $100k Final Table

donpeters

A couple days ago on Saturday, 24 of the biggest names in poker took to the felt upstairs in Studio 3 at Crown Casino for the 2010 Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge.

After nine levels of play, only eight of them remain at the final table. Gus Hansen, Erik Seidel, Erick LIndgren and David Steicke were all on hand for the event, but none of them will be returning today. Amongst those headlining the final table are Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Tony G and Barry Greenstein. Jonathan "xMONSTERxDONGx" Karamalikis may not be a recognizable name to the world outside of Australia, but down here he's a force to be reckoned with.

Karamalikis took a big chip lead after busting Hansen from the tournament and never gave it up. Although he slipped a little bit from the time he claimed the lead until the end of play on Saturday, Karamalikis will still enter the day with 508,000 — the only player over the half-million mark. Dan Shak isn't too far behind with just 53,000 less than his much younger opponent.

Play will resume at 12:30 p.m. local time here in Melbourne. Three of the final eight spots will go home empty handed with the top five being paid. First place is a whopping $1,200,000!

Here's how the players will be seated t the final table:

Seat 1: Bill Jordanou - 195,000
Seat 2: Phil Ivey - 328,000
Seat 3: Tony Bloom - 227,000
Seat 4: Jonathan Karamalikis - 508,000
Seat 5: Howard Lederer - 141,000
Seat 6: Dan Shak - 453,000
Seat 7: Tony G - 200,000
Seat 8: Barry Greenstein - 388,000

For those of you in the area, Crown has opened the event this year to the viewing public. You are welcomed to come down to the casino and check out the action live from the balcony just a few feet above the stage. And if things turn out like they did last time, Tony G will be buying plenty of rounds of drinks for the spectators.

If you can't make it though, don't worry. Just stay glued to PokerNews.com for all the live coverage as we move towards a new $100,000 Challenge champion! We'll see you shortly.

01-25-2010 12:52 UTC+11

Almost Ready to Go

donpeters

Paul Khoury had the liberty of doing the announcements for the final table. The players are making their to the table one by one with a nice intro from Khoury. The balcony is packed full and everyone is drawing a huge round of applause from the crowd. Tony G was announced, but he has yet to arrive into the building. Word has it, Tony G will continue his show and ride in on his bike fully decked out in Party Poker patches...

Wait, we hear bells!

Just as we write this, Tony G rolled through the hallway and into the final table arena on his bike. He's now at the table and the players have all taken their seats. The cards will be in the air shortly.

Level: 10

Blinds: 6,000/12,000

Ante: 0

01-25-2010 12:59 UTC+11

Shuffle Up and Deal!

donpeters

The cards are in the air for the final table of the $100,000 Challenge!

01-25-2010 13:06 UTC+11

Jordanou Takes Early Pot

donpeters

Action folded over to Bill Jordanou and he raised to 40,000. Tony Bloom made the call and then two players saw a flop of {K-Hearts}

. Jordanou checked and Bloom fired 42,000. Jordanou made the call.

The turn card was the {10-Clubs}

and both players checked.

The river was the {10-Spades}

and Jordanou fired 30,000. Bloom tanked before timing out. Remember, the players only have 30 seconds to act on each decision, but they do have time-break chips to extend their time. Jordanou won the hand and stood from his chair to salute his fans up on the balcony. The spectators roared as he was pushed the pot.

01-25-2010 13:11 UTC+11

Class Over for The Professor

donpeters

Action folded over to Howard Lederer and he raised to 36,000. Tony G reraised the pot from the small blind. Lederer was acting from the cutoff seat. It got back over to Lederer and he moved all in for only a little bit more than what Tony G had potted to. It was a snap-call for Tony G.

Tony G: {A-Spades}

Lederer:

The bored ran out {Q-Diamonds}

and Tony G sent Lederer to the rail. Tony G is up to bout 370,000 now.

01-25-2010 13:15 UTC+11

Greenstein Takes One

donpeters

Barry Greenstein and Tony G saw a flop of {Q-Clubs}

. Greenstein fired 48,000 from the small blind and Tony G folded on the button.

01-25-2010 13:18 UTC+11

Another One for Barry

donpeters

From the button, Barry Greenstein raised to 30,000. Bill Jordanou called from the small blind and Phil Ivey called from the big blind. The flop came down {K-Hearts}

and action checked to the preflop aggressor Greenstein. He fired a continuation bet of 50,000 and won the pot.

01-25-2010 13:26 UTC+11

The G Movin' Up

donpeters

Tony Bloom raised to 35,000 from late position before Tony G came over the top from the big blind with a three-bet the size of the pot. Bloom folded and Tony G increased his chip stack.

01-25-2010 13:29 UTC+11