A$100,000 Challenge
Day 1 Completed
2020 Aussie Millions
A$100,000 Challenge
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1
2020 Aussie Millions
Buy-in
100,000 AUD
Prize Pool
5,238,000 AUD
Entries
54
Level
19
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
100,000
Entries
40
Players Left
21
Foxen Leads A$100K Challenge After Turbulent Day 1
Level 9
: 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Day 1 of the A$100k Challenge at Aussie Millions saw an immense action straight from the opening minutes, and that's when Alex Foxen immediately vaulted into the lead. He knocked out Stephen Chidwick to send him to the registrations again, and while Foxen wouldn't hold onto the leading stack for the rest of the day, he still managed to catapult himself back at the top when play halted.
Foxen leads 21 advancing players from a field of 40, having amassed 853,500. Late registration will be open for one more level tomorrow, and while the starting stack will be worth only a little more than 20 big blinds, the heavyweights at Crown Melbourne didn't seem to have a problem jumping in with shallow stacks.
The action was incredibly entertaining—mainly thanks to the 40-minute levels—and the chips were swinging from one side of the table to another practically nonstop. Big pots were more common than small pots and one major win wouldn't guarantee anyone anything. There was no room for errors as the punishment was looming right around the corner. Many players would accumulate a solid stack only to see it vanish in the blink of an eye.
Foxen had not only the best possible start to the day but also a strong finish, dragging a ton of chips off Jorryt van Hoof with kings full during the last level.
Second in chips—only a couple of blinds behind Foxen—is Aaron van Blarcum with 824,500. Van Blarcum's nine-level adventure was as turbulent as it gets, underlining the theme of the dynamic structure on Day 1. Van Blarcum got off to a brilliant start, busting Michael Addamo and Dan Smith early. Then he hit the skids and dropped to a half of the starting stack midway through the day. However, the final stretch saw van Blarcum bounce back, thanks to his encounters with Michael Soyza. Van Blarcum hit two flushes against the Malaysian player and then picked him off to climb back among the top stacks.
Even Chidwick, who had been the first dismissed player, managed to turn his fortune and report 745,000. He's in third place ahead of Seth Davies who was able to skyrocket through the rankings thanks to a giant double through Orpen Kisacikoglu on one of the final hands of the day.
Such was the character of the opening stage and the likes of Sam Grafton, Junichi Nakanowatari, Bryn Kenney, Kahle Burns, Dan Smith, and Timothy Adams can all be satisfied to navigate through the wild roller-coaster to find a spot in the top 10.
Those who weren't so fortunate included the Greenwood brothers, Rainer Kempe, Elio Fox, and Mikita Badziakouski who haven't made it to the bagging procedures. As noted before, they may still appear tomorrow.
Day 2 should see the action slow down to some degree, with 60-minute levels coming up next. Nonetheless, it will be the final day of the tournament so plenty of dramatic moments lie ahead for those competing at the top-shelf poker scene. Tune to PokerNews at 12:10 p.m. local time to find out who will take down the highest buy-in tournament on the 2020 Aussie Millions schedule.
End of Day 1 Counts (full)
Level 9
: 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
853,500
68,500
|
68,500 |
|
||
|
824,500
144,500
|
144,500 |
|
|
||
|
745,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
|
||
|
646,500 | |
|
|
||
|
635,500
-114,500
|
-114,500 |
|
||
|
632,000
77,000
|
77,000 |
|
584,000
34,000
|
34,000 |
|
|
||
|
545,000
120,000
|
120,000 |
|
||
|
519,000
187,000
|
187,000 |
|
|
||
|
505,000
-55,000
|
-55,000 |
|
|
||
|
484,000
-1,000
|
-1,000 |
|
||
|
471,000 | |
|
435,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
|
|
||
|
419,000
-71,000
|
-71,000 |
|
||
|
406,000
156,000
|
156,000 |
|
||
|
388,000
-302,000
|
-302,000 |
|
||
|
347,500
-152,500
|
-152,500 |
|
238,500
-66,500
|
-66,500 |
|
138,000
-112,000
|
-112,000 |
|
130,500
5,500
|
5,500 |
|
52,000 | |
|
|
||
Davies Wins Giant Pot as Kisacikoglu's Hero-Call Fails
Level 9
: 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Blind versus blind, Seth Davies and Orpen Kisacikoglu created about a 200,000-pot with action on the 
river. Davies fired 235,000, leaving himself with just 1,500. Kisacikoglu needed some extra time to process his decision and he eventually called with 
. Davies, however, had it and showed 
to take down the juicy pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
646,500
261,500
|
261,500 |
|
|
||
|
|
52,000
-28,000
|
-28,000 |
|
|
||
Big River Value for Foxen
Level 9
: 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
On a board of 
, Alex Foxen bet 157,000 from the blinds into a pot of about 125,000. Jorryt van Hoof tanked long enough to use his remaining two or three time extensions then flicked in a chip.
Foxen showed 
for kings full and van Hoof nodded and mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
785,000
350,000
|
350,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
125,000
-275,000
|
-275,000 |
Badziakouski Busts on Final Hand
Level 9
: 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Mikita Badziakouski shoved for about 165,000 from the small blind and Shan Huang found a premium hand in the big. Badziakouski showed 
and he couldn't catch up against 
as the board ran out 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
471,000
241,000
|
241,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Soyza's Kings Hold
Level 9
: 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Aaron van Blarcum made it 26,000 in the cutoff and Michael Soyza three-bet to 75,000 in position. Van Blarcum check-called 45,000 on 
and both players checked the 
turn as well as the river. Soyza tabled 
and van Blarcum mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
680,000
-200,000
|
-200,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
485,000
95,000
|
95,000 |
|
|
||
Final Three Hands
Level 9
: 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
The tournament clock has been paused and the tournament staff anounced the last three hands for the night.
Kenney Busts Fox
Level 9
: 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Elio Fox (big blind) and Bryn Kenney (hijack) were all in preflop with Fox at risk as he had only 95,000 or so. He was slightly ahead with 
against 
but Kenney finished with a better hand as the dealer rolled out 
on the felt.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
550,000
-50,000
|
-50,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Soyza Bluffs Off to van Blarcum
Level 9
: 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Aaron van Blarcum opened under the gun for 26,000 and called a three-bet to 78,000 from Michael Soyza a couple of seats over. On the 
flop, van Blarcum check-called 60,000. He check-called 200,000 on the turn, bringing a river. Both players quickly checked.
"You win," Soyza declared, opening 
.
Van Blarcum indeed had that beat with 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
880,000
390,000
|
390,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
390,000
-255,000
|
-255,000 |
|
|
||