The players are starting to gather around in the Crown poker room as the final preparations take place for the opening event of the 2008 Aussie Millions.
We are expecting a big field today for the $1,100 No Limit Holdem event and the action is sure to be fast and furious!
The tournament is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. local time. Stay with us!
The 2007 Aussie Millions runner-up Jimmy "Gobboboy" Fricke is among the runners in today's event. He'll be playing ithe majority of events at the Aussie Millions.
"I'm hoping to do better than last year," said Fricke as he took his seat.
Fricke started his trip out with a slight bad beat when the airline that he flew to Australia on had misplaced his bags. He has since recovered his lost bags and is ready to play some poker.
Sam Khouiss, Billy "The Croc" Argyros, Emad Tahtouh, Sarah Bilney, Rayan Nathan, and 2007 WSOP seven-card stud bracelet winner Jeffrey Lisandro are all playing in today's event.
In order to accomodate the popularity of the Aussie Millions, the Crown added extra tables, which are located upstairs in the main casino. There are eight tables in use today. David Saab, Marsha Waggoner, Dory Zayneh, Anna Wroblewski, Kenna James, Tanya Hill, and James "Welcome Back" Potter are among the runners playing on the spillover tables.
Jimmy "Gobboboy" Fricke took out a player in the first ten minutes of play. On a board of , Fricke checked. His opponent bet the pot. Fricke raised all in for 3,200 and his opponent called.
Fricke: A-K
Opponent: 8-8
Fricke was ahead with top pair and top kicker. The turn was an Ace and the river was a Jack. Fricke's hand held up as he sent his opponent to the rail. Fricke is among the early chipleaders with close to 8,000.
Chips will be tough to accumulate out on table 16 today which features the likes of Jeff Lisandro, Rayan Nathan, Jethro Horowitz and 2006 Aussie Millions champion Lee Nelson.