APPT Grand Final Day 1b | 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Grand Final - Sydney

12-03-2008 11:56 UTC+11

Lets Do It Again

[user75032]

Rewind the clock, re-stack the chips and get ready to do things all over again -- it's Day 1b at the 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Grand Final. Yesterday's Day 1a saw a somewhat light turnout, as 108 runners turned up to try to become the next winner on the APPT circuit. 46 of them made it through to Day 2, with Phil Willcocks setting the pace at 129,000 chips.

The ranks should be significantly deeper today. As of 8pm yesterday, 140 players were registered for Day 1b and more are expected to register this morning. We're also likely to see the 2007 APPT Sydney Grand Final Champion, Grant Levy, take a seat at the tables today to begin the defense of his title.

Play kicks off at 12:30pm local time, in about 35 minutes. See you then.

12-03-2008 12:40 UTC+11

And They're Off!

[user75032]

After an Aussie version of Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler" by Michael Carr, cards are in the air. We'll play seven 75-minute levels again today, and dinner should be at about 7pm local time.

Level: 1

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

12-03-2008 12:48 UTC+11

That Didn't Take Long

[user75032]

We have our first elimination. On the very first hand of the day, Martin Comer was dealt {Q-Hearts}

. He took a raised flop with Moe Toaube. On the turn, the board showed {4-Clubs}

. Toaube checked to Comer, who bet 8,000. Toaube check-raised all in and Comer called with his two pair. It was a mistake; Toaube turned over {A-Diamonds}

and became the early chip leader when the {K-Spades}

hit the river.

Unsurprisingly, Comer did not stick around long after the hand.

Tags: Martin Comer Moe Toaube

12-03-2008 13:00 UTC+11

Who's Here?

[user67765]

We have a larger field here today for Day 1b of play with many notable players in the field. Today's field is headlined by the 2007 APPT Sydney champion, Grant "Grunter" Levy who will be very determined to defend his title.

We have have several international pros who have made their way down under including Gavin Griffin, Terrence Chan, Lee Nelson and Raymond Rahme, as well as a strong Australian contingent including Jeff Lisandro, Billy "The Croc" Argyros, Peter Aristidou, Eric Assadourian, Gary Benson, Marlon Goonawardana and Andrew Scott.

12-03-2008 13:09 UTC+11

Welcome Mark Vos

[user67765]

Mark Vos has just made a late arrival and taken his seat in today's field, although his late appearance today is about three hours earlier than his arrival time in this same event last year!

Tags: Mark Vos

12-03-2008 13:15 UTC+11

Some Tough Tables

[user67765]

A couple of pro-heavy tables have emerged, which should provide some interesting clashes here today.

Jeff Lisandro has found himself seated with Assadour Assadourian, Marlon Goonawardana and Zhi Hong Ma. Grant Levy is in for a tough day with Ben Delaney and Richard Holmes. While Gavin Griffin has drawn the table of Peter Pratis, Chris Levick and Manny Stavropoulos.

12-03-2008 13:19 UTC+11

Cardno Chops It Up

[user67765]

A player on the button opened with a raise before the man with a name made for poker, Martin Cardno, re-popped it from the big blind. The button made the call.

They saw a flop of {Q-Hearts}

and Cardno fired out 2,500, which was called. The turn was the {8-Clubs}

and this time Cardno bet out 4,000. Again he was called. The river landed the {J-Diamonds}

and Cardno fired for a third time fo 4,500. The button called once more as Cardno flipped {A-Diamonds}

for top pair, top kicker, however his opponent tabled {A-Clubs}

for the same hand! Chop it up!

Tags: Martin Cardno

12-03-2008 13:19 UTC+11

Poker is Dangerous

[user75032]

Emad Tahtouh has been spotted wandering around the tournament area. He has a soft cast on one hand that, if the story is believed, is the result of slamming a poker table in frustration recently after a player picked up monster hand after monster hand against Tahtouh in a short-handed tournament situation.

There will be no trip to the "disabled list" for Tahtouh as a result of this injury, however. He's scheduled to take a seat at the tables on Day 1c.

Tags: Emad Tahtouh

12-03-2008 13:32 UTC+11

Vos Finds The Going Tough

[user67765]

Another interesting table has emerged with Mark Vos taking his seat on the table of Con Angelakis, Bill Jordanou, Jason Gray and early chip leader Moe Toaube.