There have been 221 entrants so far on Day 1a of the ANZPT Melbourne Main Event. That puts the event on track to move toward a final field of 500 players. The second and final Day 1 flight takes place from midday tomorrow (Saturday). The largest ANZPT Melbourne, by field size, was in 2012 when 345 players partook. It's looking like we are certainly going to surpass that number.
"King high," Tom Grigg (somewhat) sighed at the end of a hand we just watched him play against one opponent.
We had arrived on the flop, with Grigg's opponent leading out for 900 and Grigg making the call from the button. Both players then checked the turn and a was dealt on the river. The action was checked to Grigg and he opted to bet 2,800. Grigg's opponent made a fairly quick call, and this when Grigg showed his .
Grigg's cards went into the muck as he was up against , with the ace-high just pipping Grigg's king-high.
We recently noticed that Tristan 'SkunkDen' Bain is playing Day 1a of ANZPT Melbourne. We noticed because he happens to be sitting behind one of the largest stacks we have seen so far today - 32,000.
Bain has made one ANZPT final table in his career, finishing 8th in the 2011 ANZPT Canberra Main Event. Bain is perhaps better known for winning one of online poker's biggest-ever prizes when he chopped the 10th Anniversary Sunday Millions six-handed and picked up more than US$750,000.
Here are the approximate stacks of some of the players in the tournament area near the main entrance to the poker room. As you can see, Benn 'risk2Dupside' Skender has had a good start to the day. One of these players, former Aussie Millions final tablist Mile Krstanoski, has only just sat down before the first break of the day.
The players are back from their break and the cards are back in the air.
Antes have now kicked in!
In other news, Day 1a has now had a very solid 230 entries. Remember this tournament is a freezeout, registration is open until the next break and today is the first of two Day 1 flights.
More and more players have taken their seats here on Day 1a of the ANZPT Melbourne Main Event. One of those players was Billy 'The Croc' Argyros. The Australian Poker Hall of Famer has played plenty of poker here in the Crown Poker Room, including winning the APPT Melbourne Main Event in 2013.
We recently arrived at Michel Bouskila's table (which also includes Tom Grigg and Michael Guzzardi) to find Bouskila and one opponent on the river of a board. There was well over 5,000 in the middle at this point and Bouskila led out for 3,500 from the small blind position. His opponent, on the button, eventually made the call.
At showdown, Bouskila quickly tabled for a flopped set of kings. Bouskila's opponent sent his cards into the muck and the pot went to Bouskila. He is now up to around 27,000.
Bouskila has posted plenty of big results over the last couple of years, including finishing 3rd in the ANZPT Repechage right here in this very room. Bouskila also final tabled the Seniors Event at last year's WSOP. He may be a few year's older than tablemates like Grigg and Guzzardi, but he clearly has a lot of experience and will be a formidable opponent.