Igor Kurganov finished runner up in the $25,000 Challenge late last night. By the time he was done, he was AU$541,680 richer but it was also 5:34 in the morning. Not a whole lot of sleep for Kurganov, but he's right back at it now and looks fresh.
Also in attendance is Marcelo Manfredini from Uruguay. Manfredini received his 100,000 stack and took his time organizing them, but looked surprised as he also received two time breaker chips. He walked over to the rail where someone translated the instructions from the floor for him. Manfredini looked a bit befuddled, but seemed to grasp the concept pretty quickly and started his tournament.
Erik Seidel opened for 1,400 under the gun and Tung He called from the hijack. Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier then called from the button, Jason Koon did the same from the big blind, and the flop came down . Three checks saw Mercier bet 2,600, two calls ensued, and He folded to make it three-way action to the turn.
Koon opted to lead out for 7,500, Seidel called, and Mercier folded. When the river put a straight on the board, Koon fired out 1,500 and Seidel let some time run off the shot clock before making the call. Koon tabled the for a ten-high straight and Seidel mucked.
Pratyush Buddiga just bet 7,000 from early position on a board of and his neighbor John Juanda made the call. The popped up in the river and Buddiga fired 20,000 into the middle. Juanda thought about it for a bit and with about 5 seconds left tossed in a time breaker chip. After some 30 seconds more he folded, leaving himself with 94,000 and a single time breaker chip.
Way back in 2006, John Juanda topped a field of just 10 players to win the inaugural $100,000 Challenge — a winner-take-all affair — for a smooth AU$1,000,000, which translated to $732,901. Since then the tournament has grown sevenfold, and Juanda is here today looking to become the tournament's first two-time champion.
Jason Mercier raised to 1,200 from early position and picked up Erik Seidel (button) and Ting He (small blind) to see a flop three-way. On He checked to Mercier who fired 1,500. Seidel made the call and now He check-raised to 4,000. Mercier got out of the way, Seidel made the call again. The had He fire 6,400 and Seidel called. The river made He check, and then fold to Seidel's 15,000 bet.
Less than 12 hours ago, Chance Kornuth topped a field of 122 entries to win the 2016 Aussie Millions $25,000 Challenge for AU$790,560 first-place prize, the second-biggest score of his career. After the win, Kornuth said it was about 50/50 that he would enter the $100,000 Challenge.
It looks like that flip came up negative as Kornuth has stated on social media that he won't be in action today, instead (and no doubt wisely) choosing to spend the day celebrating his wife, Emily.
That said, late registration is open until the start of Day 2, so who knows if his decision is final.
On a flop of we witnessed David Peters check from the big blind. Antonio Esfandiari on the button made a bet of 1,600 and Peters check raised to 4,600. Esfandiari made the call.
The fell on the turn and with now four to a straight on the board, Peters checked. Esfandiari made a bet of 6,300 and Peters called. Peters checked again on the river and Esfandiari opted to check behind.
The last aggressor needs to show first here in Australia, despite no action on the river, so Esfandiari tabled his hand first: . Peters then showed and took it down with his flopped straight.