$100,000 Challenge Day 1 | 2012 Aussie Millions

01-22-2012 19:06 UTC+11

Player	Chips	Progress
Joe Hachem	200,000 -25,000	-25,000

Tobias Reinkemeier	186,000 -49,000	-49,000
Daniel Alaei	76,000 -43,000	-43,000

Erik Seidel	74,000 -23,500	-23,500

Daniel Negreanu	38,500 1,500	1,500

Jonathan Karamalikis	20,000 -3,500	-3,500

Jason Mercier raised to 2,000 from the button, and he opened the proverbial can of worms. Tony Bloom three-bet to 6,500 from the small blind, and Mikhail Smirnov four-bet to 16,000 in the big. That folded Mercier, and Bloom reraised again. Smirnov put it all in there, and Bloom called off his last 69,500 chips to put himself at risk.

Showdown
Bloom: {J-Hearts} {J-Diamonds}
Smirnov: {A-Spades} {K-Hearts}

The race was on, and Bloom's horse pulled out to an early lead on the {4-Clubs} {4-Diamonds} {5-Hearts} flop. The {A-Diamonds} turn was a serious stumbling block, though, and Smirnov was suddenly one card from the knockout. the river {2-Clubs} secured that, and Bloom has been forced to make his exit. Always gregarious, Bloom shook hands with his table and wished them all luck before departing. He was runner-up in this event last year, but the 2012 edition has not gone quite so well for the "The Lizard".

Player	Chips	Progress
Mikhail Smirnov	150,000 20,000	20,000
Tony Bloom	Busted

Tags: Tony Bloom Mikhail Smirnov

01-22-2012 19:19 UTC+11

Updated Chip Counts

[user66118]

Player	Chips	Progress
Gus Hansen	345,000 67,000	67,000

Mikhail Smirnov	153,000 3,000	3,000
Jason Mercier	108,000 -46,000	-46,000

Sam Trickett	104,000 4,000	4,000

01-22-2012 19:25 UTC+11

Dong'd

donpeters

Jonathan Karamalikis before play on Day 1

From under the gun, Daniel Alaei raised to 2,500. Erik Seidel called from the cutoff seat and then Jonathan Karamalikis called out of the big blind. The flop came down {Q-Diamonds} {J-Clubs} {8-Clubs} and Karamalikis checked before Alaei bet 4,500. After Seidel folded, Karamalikis raised all in for 24,000. Alaei snap-called with the {8-Diamonds} {8-Spades} for a set of eights. Karamalikis held the {A-Clubs} {10-Clubs} for a combo draw.

The turn was the {Q-Hearts} and left Karamalikis drawing dead as Alaei filled up. The river completed the board with the {4-Clubs} .

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Alaei	108,000 32,000	32,000

Jonathan Karamalikis	Busted

Tags: Jonathan Karamalikis Daniel Alaei Erik Seidel

01-22-2012 19:30 UTC+11

Down to Two Tables

donpeters

Level 2 : 500/1,000, 0 ante

The remaining 15 players are now spread across two tables, the main feature table that is being filmed and the outer table. Here's how the tables look:

Table	Seat	Player
Feature	1	--empty--
Feature	2	Dan Smith
Feature	3	Sorel Mizzi
Feature	4	JC Tran
Feature	5	Nam Le
Feature	6	Daniel Cates
Feature	7	Phil Ivey
Feature	8	Daniel Negreanu

Outer	1	Sam Trickett
Outer	2	Daniel Alaei
Outer	3	Erik Seidel
Outer	4	Joe Hachem
Outer	5	Tobias Reinkemeier
Outer	6	Mikhail Smirnov
Outer	7	Gus Hansen
Outer	8	Jason Mercier

01-22-2012 19:32 UTC+11

Counts at the Break

[user66118]

Player	Chips	Progress
Gus Hansen	336,000 -9,000	-9,000

Phil Ivey	236,500 105,000	105,000

Tobias Reinkemeier	201,000 15,000	15,000
Dan Smith	201,000 -7,500	-7,500

Joe Hachem	200,500 500	500

Mikhail Smirnov	155,000 2,000	2,000
Sam Trickett	107,500 3,500	3,500

JC Tran	107,000 27,500	27,500
Daniel Alaei	102,000 -6,000	-6,000

Tony G	100,000

Jason Mercier	92,500 -15,500	-15,500

Sorel Mizzi	90,500 -5,500	-5,500
Nam Le	82,500 -2,000	-2,000

Daniel Cates	81,500 -34,500	-34,500
Erik Seidel	66,000 -8,000	-8,000

Daniel Negreanu	40,500 2,000	2,000

01-22-2012 19:32 UTC+11

Dinner Time

donpeters

Level 2 : 500/1,000, 0 ante

The remaining players are now on a 75-minute dinner break. That means play will resume at 8:45 PM local time. While you wait, check out PokerNews ongoing coverage of the 2012 Aussie Millions Main Event and the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Bounties event.

When we come back from dinner, there will be at least one more entrant in Tony G.

Level: 3

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 0

01-22-2012 21:10 UTC+11

Hansen's Rivers a Pair of Aces Against Smirnov

donpeters

Daniel Alaei opened with a raise to 5,000 from middle position and both the blinds made the call; Mikhail Smirnov from the small blind and Gus Hansen from the big blind.

The flop came down {9-Diamonds} {6-Diamonds} {5-Clubs} and Smirnov checked. Hansen fired 10,500 and Alaei folded. Smirnov called.

The turn produced the {K-Hearts} and both players checked to see the {A-Hearts} land on the river. After Smirnov checked, Hansen bet 22,000. Smirnov made the call.

Hansen tabled the {A-Spades} {7-Spades} and Smirnov mucked his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gus Hansen	372,000 36,000	36,000

Mikhail Smirnov	112,500 -42,500	-42,500

Tags: Gus Hansen Mikhail Smirnov

01-22-2012 21:13 UTC+11

Mercier Doubles Through Hansen

donpeters

From the cutoff seat, Tobias Reinkemeier raised to 4,000 and then action folded to Gus Hansen in the small blind. He reraised and made it 14,000 to go. Jason Mercier was in the big blind and four-bet to 26,500. Reinkemeier folded and then Hansen made it 52,000 to go. Mercier moved all in for 92,500 and Hansen called.

Hansen: {Q-Diamonds} {Q-Clubs}
Mercier: {K-Hearts} {K-Clubs}