$100,000 Challenge
Day 1 Started
2012 Aussie Millions
$100,000 Challenge
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2012 Aussie Millions
Buy-in
100,000 AUD
Prize Pool
2,200,000 AUD
Entries
22
Level
14
Blinds
15,000 / 30,000
Ante
0
Six-Figure Buy-in Anyone?
To say that today is a huge day at the 2012 Aussie Millions would be a big understatement. Not only did the Main Event kick off earlier, the $100,000 Challenge event is set to kick off at 2:00 PM local time here at Crown Casino in beautiful Melbourne, Australia.
As it stands right now, about 14 players are currently registered for the event, but that number will surely grow with the hopes of hitting around 25 entrants total. Earlier this month, the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure held the first $100,000 buy-in of the 2012 calendar year and that attracted 28 players with two re-entries. This event here at the Aussie Millions doesn't have re-entry, but it is the original $100,000 buy-in event in the world.
Of those expected to play, we have Jason Mercier, Daniel Negreanu, JC Tran, Nam Le, Dan Shak, Tom Dwan and Patrik Antonius. Another player planning to play, who is already registered, is none other than Phil Ivey. Ivey made his return to live tournament poker back in November at the APPT Macau. Last year's champion Sam Trickett is also slated to play and this will be one hell of a star-studded field of competitors.
PokerNews will be on hand for all of the coverage starting up in a bit up in Studio 3. Be sure to stay tuned as it's going to be an extremely exciting day of poker.
Delays
The start of the event is a bit delayed today, but many of the players are hanging out in the room ready to go. Once things kick off, you'll be the first to know, so stay tuned for the coverage.
Level: 1
Blinds: 500/500
Ante: 0
Shuffle Up and Deal!
![[user66118]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Level 1
: 500/500, 0 ante
We've got 18 players in their seats so far, and a couple more are looking on and deliberating with $100,000 in their hands.
The gentlemen have taken their seats, and the cards are in the air for the $100,000 Challenge. The first two levels will be two hours long apiece, then we'll go with hour-long levels from there forward. Starting stacks are 100,000 chips, and there are no antes on this structure.
Seat Draw
Level 1
: 500/500, 0 ante
Here's the starting seat draw for the 2012 Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge. Notice that five of the 18 players in action right now have the first name "Daniel". Daniel Alaei pointed that out to us.
| Table | Seat | Player |
|---|---|---|
| Feature | 1 | Sam Trickett |
| Feature | 2 | Jason Mercier |
| Feature | 3 | Tony Bloom |
| Feature | 4 | MIke Watson |
| Feature | 5 | Mikhail Smirnov |
| Feature | 6 | Masa Kagawa |
| Feature | 7 | --empty-- |
| Feature | 8 | --empty-- |
| Outer 1 | 1 | Daniel Negreanu |
| Outer 1 | 2 | Daniel Alaei |
| Outer 1 | 3 | Erik Seidel |
| Outer 1 | 4 | Joe Hachem |
| Outer 1 | 5 | Tobias Reinkemeier |
| Outer 1 | 6 | Nam Le |
| Outer 1 | 7 | --empty-- |
| Outer 1 | 8 | --empty-- |
| Outer 2 | 1 | Dan Shak |
| Outer 2 | 2 | Dan Smith |
| Outer 2 | 3 | Sorel Mizzi |
| Outer 2 | 4 | JC Tran |
| Outer 2 | 5 | Tom Dwan |
| Outer 2 | 6 | Daniel Cates |
| Outer 2 | 7 | --empty-- |
| Outer 2 | 8 | --empty-- |
You Better Act Quick
Level 1
: 500/500, 0 ante
The Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge has a special time clock put on each player when it is their action. Each player only has 30 seconds to act before their hand will be declared dead if there is a bet or raise the player is facing or they will be forced to check if there has been no action.
If you make it to the final table, you will get some extra time-bank chips that can be used to lengthen the amount of time you have with your decision. Prior to the final table, no time-bank chips are in play.
Early One for Reinkemeier
Level 1
: 500/500, 0 ante
From the hijack seat, Daniel Alaei opened with a raise to 1,500. He was called by Joe Hachem on the button, Tobias Reinkemeier in the small blind and Nam Le in the big blind. From there, all four players saw the flop come down 
and action checked around.
The turn was the 
and Reinkemeier was first up. He bet 4,000 and Le folded. Alaei and Hachem also gave it up, allowing Reinkemeier to scoop the early pot.
Smith Firing Early
From the hijack seat, Dan Smith raised to 1,500. JC Tran put in a three-bet to 4,500 on the button and then Tom Dwan flat-called from the small blind. Smith also made the call and the flop produced the 
. On the flop, Dwan checked and Smith bet 10,500. Tran got out of the way and then Dwan called.
The 
landed on the turn and Dwan checked over to Smith again. Smith upped his wager and fired 17,500. Dwan stared him down, then made the call.
The river card completed the board with the 
and Dwan checked. Smith bet what looked to be 37,500, but it didn't matter too much as Dwan quickly folded.
"That wasn't a good river card," he mentioned to his neighbor Tran.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
130,000 | 30,000 |
|
95,000 | -5,000 |
|
75,000 | -25,000 |
Hachem's Pair Better Than Alaei's
On the 
flop, Daniel Alaei check-called a bet of 2,000 from Joe Hachem before the 
fell on the turn. Both players checked fourth street and the river was the 
. Alaei bet 4,500 and Hachem quickly called the bet.
Alaei tabled the 
for a pair of eights. Hachem showed the 
for a pair of queens and won the pot to move back over the starting stack.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
102,000 | 2,000 |
|
86,000 | -14,000 |