Main Event Day 1a | 2012 PokerStars.net ANZPT Sydney

Main Event

Day 1a Started

03-22-2012 18:02 UTC+11

It's Time For ANZPT Sydney to Begin

[user162117]

Welcome to The Star in Sydney for the first stop on season four of the Australia New Zealand Poker Tour.

Players have been frantically satelliting their way into the ANZPT Sydney Main Event for weeks and for those who couldn’t snag a seat; it will be $2,200 to enter.

A large field of entrants is expected for tonight’s Day 1a flight and we are excited to see just how many players will take to the felt this evening.

It’s looking very likely that this year’s numbers will easily surpass the 393 players who participated in the season three ANZPT Sydney event, while it is 494 players from season one which will be the number to beat.

Last year it was Michael Kanaan who emerged as the ANZPT Sydney champion, with his victory worth a handy $195,714. Only one player will be able to join Kanaan in the record books and tonight the journey toward crowning a champion will begin, so sit back and enjoy the coverage as the PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be on the floor from 6:10 pm local time.

Level: 1

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

03-22-2012 18:18 UTC+11

Ready, Set, Go, Go, Go

[user162117]

Level 1 : 50/100, 0 ante

The call has been made and the cards are in the air!

Blinds will be starting at 50-100 and each level will last 60 minutes.

03-22-2012 18:28 UTC+11

Who's Around

[user162117]

The tables are filling up fast, with an almost 250-player capacity field expected for tonight's Day 1 flight. Here's a look at who we recognize after a quick walk around The Star Poker Room.

Player	Chips	Progress
Martin Kozlov	20,000
Daniel Neilson	20,000
Michael Kanaan	20,000
Grant Levy	20,000
Billy Argyros	20,000
Aaron Benton	20,000
Peter Aristidou	20,000
Jackson Zheng	20,000
Daniel Laidlaw	20,000
Joel Dodds	20,000
David Zhao	20,000
Octavian Voegele	20,000
Mishel Anunu	20,000
Andrew Scarf	20,000
Jim Collopy	20,000
Tom Grigg	20,000
Dan Kelly	20,000
Jai Kemp	20,000

03-22-2012 18:34 UTC+11

Two Guns

[user162117]

Both Jonathan "xMONSTERxDONGx" Karamalikis and David "dasve798111" Allan are without a doubt two of the fiercest online poker players in Australia and the world. Tonight they sit at the same table. Let's see if they rumble or stay away from each other.

Player	Chips	Progress
David Allan	20,000
Jonathan Karamalikis	20,000

03-22-2012 18:46 UTC+11

The Oasis Lounge

[user162117]

With such a large field already taking to the felt tonight, there has been four tables placed in the Oasis Lounge. It's quite a world away from The Star Poker Room, but we'll do our best to let you know the progress of some of these familiar faces who we noticed in this area.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrew Hinrichsen	20,000

Kahle Burns	20,000

Oliver Speidel	20,000
Tom Wing	20,000
Ian Parnell	20,000
Liam O'Rourke	20,000

03-22-2012 18:51 UTC+11

Argyros Pounds Table

[user162117]

When we came to Billy Argyros' table there was a board showing {j-Diamonds} {j-Spades} {2-Spades} {7-Diamonds} {9-Spades} and Argyros was up against one opponent, who had bet out 5,000 after Argyros checked.

Argyros was in the tank for a long time before he flung his cards into the muck. This was when his opponent tabled {a-} {10-} . This prompted Arygros to give the table a slight thump with his fist in frustration.

Player	Chips	Progress
Billy Argyros	12,000 -8,000	-8,000

Tags: Billy Argyros

03-22-2012 19:01 UTC+11

Benton Loses One Early

[user162117]

A recent hand involving Aaron Benton began when the player in the hijack seat opened it up to 300. Benton was in the cutoff when he made the call and the small blind player also came along for the ride.

The {8-Diamonds} {8-Spades} {k-Clubs} flop would see all three players check as the {5-Hearts} hit the turn. The small blind player checked again and this time the hijack player bet 850. Benton made the call along with the other player and the {7-Spades} would land on the river.