After two starting days it's time to get very serious! There are still 141 players remaining out of the 345 that started, and today we will head towards the money. Just 41 players will get paid, and even the current chip leaders cannot be sure to reach that.
The minimum payout today will be A$3,450, and that is just the start. The final table is set to start on Monday at 2:00 PM, which means a lot of players will need to bust out today. This day is expected to be long, but eventually the nine finalists will surface.
There are plenty of big-name players to look out for with hometown player Billy Jordanou in the lead. Top online pro Paul Hockin was the Day 1B chip leader and he's followed by other experienced pros Karim Jomeen and Minh Nguyen. The 2005 WSOP Main Event winner Joe Hachem also has a big stack as he will try to add another cash to his successful year.
Make sure to follow all the action here at PokerNews.com as we bring you the updates all day long. Play will resume at 12:30 PM.
Daniel Neilson started the day with a small stack and he was looking to double up as fast as possible. The action was folded to Peter Sheary who raised from the small blind to 2,600. Neilson was in the big blind and went for it shoving his 14,900 stack into the pot. Sheary took ten seconds, and made the call.
Daniel Neilson
Peter Sheary
The window card was the giving Neilson the lead, but it was followed by the . Sheary was back in the lead, but Neilson had quite some out after the showed up. On the turn the hit and Neilson doubled up by making a flush. The river was the and he raked in this pot.
Today wasn't Paul O'Brien's day. He started the day with a healthy 48,900-chip stack, but it's all gone now. Leo Boxell consoled his opponent by saying his day was truly unlucky, but the Australian Poker Hall of Fame member will not be sorry as he's managed to get a hold of some more chips.
After a raise to 3,500 O'Brien decided to call in position. Boxell was in the big blind and he three-bet big, to 16,000. After the initial raiser folded O'Brien had to make a decision for his tournament life. After ten seconds he called and risked his 15,100 chips.
Leo Boxell
Paul O'Brien
The board ran out and Boxell added some more chips to his stack.
Tony and Joe Hachem both managed to make it into Day 2, but both had very different positions to start from. While Joe had a huge stack to play with, it was double up time for Tony from the start.
Tony did not manage to double his 8,300-chip stack as he ran into pocket eights with his sevens. Joe still has a big stack, and he looks very relaxed during the first level of play.
Luis Arrilucea had big swings yesterday, but he managed to find his winning ways again today. He is already up to 165,000 chips after cracking Scott Kings's aces.
There was a raise to 2,500 after which King moved all in for his final 7,500. The action was folded to Arrilucea who called from the small blind. The initial raiser called as well.
With no side pot yet the flop brought and Arrilucea quickly checked. His opponent bet 8,000 after which the chip leader raised to 18,000. There were some 'wows' heard at the table while the initial raiser made the call.
All of a sudden there was a side pot, but on the turn both players checked. The river was the and again the action was checked. King showed , but that was not enough against Arrilucea's . King was eliminated, and Arrilucea is now the man to beat.
giving Neilson the lead, but it was followed by the 
. Sheary was back in the lead, but Neilson had quite some out after the 
showed up. On the turn the 
hit and Neilson doubled up by making a flush. The river was the 
and he raked in this pot.
and Boxell added some more chips to his stack.
and Arrilucea quickly checked. His opponent bet 8,000 after which the chip leader raised to 18,000. There were some 'wows' heard at the table while the initial raiser made the call.
and again the action was checked. King showed 
. King was eliminated, and Arrilucea is now the man to beat.