It's been a kind level and a half for German pro Heinz Kamutzki, who is sitting on a big stack.
In a recent hand, there was approximately 8,000 in the pot and a board reading when the player in the big blind bet 2,000 and Kamutzki raised to 5,200 from the cutoff. The big blind made a quick call, but mucked with a look of disgust when Kamutzki rolled over the for rivered trips.
The PokerNews MyStack App is available for players here in the 2015 Aussie Millions Poker Championship Main Event, allowing players to directly update their chip count on the PokerNews Live Reporting page for their friends and family to see.
You can download the app for iPhone or Android now to get started. Then, create a new PokerNews account or update your current one to start updating your status immediately. Your followers can see all the live action that you're involved in.
Be forewarned, however, any abuse of the app will result in account suspension or termination.
Last year, Day 1a of the 2014 Aussie Millions attracted 175 runners. The 2015 version is on par with that today (the tournament clock currently reads 163), but with late registration, which is open all day long, there's a good chance the field will surpass it.
Xuan Liu and Terrance Chan are at the same table and performing well. Chan's up to 65,000 after coolering a player holding top full housewith his straight flush. Liu moved up to 38,000 after forcing a player to fold on the river - a continuing theme for today.
The action was four-way to a flop after a preflop raise to 600. The aggressor continued for 1,300 and Liu was the only caller to the turn where she raised a 2,800 bet from her opponent up to 6,300. Call.
The river fell as the and Lui fired 14,000 at the pot and her opponent check-folded after some thought.
"All in and a call," has been heard a few times here on Day 1a of the 2015 Aussie Millions Championship Main Event. There have even been a few eliminations up to this point. That said, the first to exit this tournament was Manny Rodriguez.
We missed his elimination hand, but the tournament staff did confirm his departure from Table 27 marked the first of what will be many casualties.
Jonathan Karamalikis is a bit of a legend down here. He's amassed almost $2.5 million in live earnings and more than twice that online under his handle, XMONSTERxDONGx, so has earned the label.
The laid back Aussie comes here off the back of four big PCA cashes for more than $125,000 so is very much in form.
Defending Champion Ami Barer and former EPT Berlin Champion Ben Wilinofsky just battled in a three-bet pot that left the former with 17,000 chips.
Barer opened to 550 from under the gun and was the only caller after Wilinofsky three-bet to 1,300 from the next seat. The flop fell and Barer check-called 900. He check-called another 1,625 on the turn but folded on the river when Wilinofsky shoved for his final 6,500.
Mikal Blomlie got off to a rough start here on Day 1a as he quickly dropped below the starting stack. Fortunately for him, he just won a decent pot to get up to 26,000.
We happened upon the pot when there was 8,000 or so in the middle and a board reading . A player in early position led out for a hefty bet of 5,000, and Blomlie made a relatively quick call. The bettor hesitantly tabled the for two pair, but he seemed to know it was no good even before Blomlie showed the winning .
Sam Trickett is busy testing his poker brain against the best in the world over in the AU$100k Challenge and his best friend Chris Sly is going along nicely in the Main Event.
The Brit, already with a couple of cashes at this year's festival, has risen to 37,000 after winning a pot off defending champion, Ami Barer.
He raised to 500 and was called in one spot before Barer squeezed to 2,125 from the small blind. Sly was the only caller and two went heads up to an flop that was checked. On the turn, Barer check-folded to a 2,300 bet.
With 2,800 in the pot and a flop of , reigning Aussie Millions champ Ami Barer, who has been fairly active this level, bet 875 from middle position and received a call from Ben Wilinofsky, who is disguising himself with some headwear. Both players then checked the turn as well as the river.
Barer flashed , and while we didn't catch a glimpse of his kicker it must have been low as Wilinofsky tabled the and was pushed the pot.
when the player in the big blind bet 2,000 and Kamutzki raised to 5,200 from the cutoff. The big blind made a quick call, but mucked with a look of disgust when Kamutzki rolled over the 
for rivered trips.
flop after a preflop raise to 600. The aggressor continued for 1,300 and Liu was the only caller to the 
turn where she raised a 2,800 bet from her opponent up to 6,300. Call.
and Lui fired 14,000 at the pot and her opponent check-folded after some thought.
and Barer check-called 900. He check-called another 1,625 on the 
river when Wilinofsky shoved for his final 6,500.
. A player in early position led out for a hefty bet of 5,000, and Blomlie made a relatively quick call. The bettor hesitantly tabled the 
for two pair, but he seemed to know it was no good even before Blomlie showed the winning 
.
turn, Barer check-folded to a 2,300 bet.
, reigning Aussie Millions champ Ami Barer, who has been fairly active this level, bet 875 from middle position and received a call from Ben Wilinofsky, who is disguising himself with some headwear. Both players then checked the 
turn as well as the 
, and while we didn't catch a glimpse of his kicker it must have been low as Wilinofsky tabled the 
and was pushed the pot.