$3,250 Championship Main Event Day 1a | 2009 PokerStars.net APPT Auckland

10-13-2009 13:27 UTC-12

More Chips For Emad

[user67765]

In a battle of the blinds Emad Tahtouh was in the middle of the action once again as he fired 3,500 on a board of {Q-Hearts}

. His opponent the put in the old min-check-raise to 7,000.

"Argh, I can't raise, so I guess I have to call," sighed Tahtouh.

His opponent tabled {5-Hearts}

for the rivered flush.

"Thank god!" said Tahtouh as he revealed {6-Hearts}

for the bigger flush. "He showed the {5-Hearts}

first and then I thought I was screwed unless he had the {4-Hearts}

or

or was doing some funky min-raise bluff," Tahtouh added as his active day continues to add to his chip stack as he's now over 35,000 chips.

Tags: Emad Tahtouh

10-13-2009 13:32 UTC-12

Break

[user67765]

The players are now taking a ten-minute break.

Level: 3

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 25

10-13-2009 13:41 UTC-12

We're Back

[user92162]

The players are back from their smoke/refreshment break and the cards are back in the air.

10-13-2009 13:41 UTC-12

It's been made official that there are 135 entries into day 1a. Of those about ten are not here, probably online seat only qualifiers who couldn't make it to the tournament for one reason or another.

The no-show stacks have been taken out of the tournament, however their buy-in will stay in the prize pool to create a nice little overlay for players.

10-13-2009 13:46 UTC-12

Levy Slips

[user67765]

Grant Levy has slipped to around 11,000 chips after losing a small pot on a board of {9-Spades}

after check-calling 1,000 on the turn before the river was checked down.

Levy tabled {A-Clubs}

but was dominated by the {A-Diamonds}

of his opponent.

"I didn't want to see another spade," said the player as he raked in the pot.

"I was glad to see the spade, then I could fold. If it wasn't a spade I was probably going to have to pay you off!" replied Levy.

Tags: Grant Levy

10-13-2009 13:55 UTC-12

Scott Finds A Way

[user67765]

Action passed to Stewart Scott who made it 450 from the hijack position. He found callers in the two blinds and they went three-way to a {K-Diamonds}

flop.

Each player checked and the free card on the turn was the {9-Spades}

. The small blind led out for 600, the big blind folded, but Scott decided to put in a raise to 1,500. His opponent quickly called.

The river landed the {3-Clubs}

and it was checked to Scott who announced a bet of 4,000. His opponent cringed and deliberated for several minutes before making a crying call.

Scott revealed {J-Hearts}

for trips to collect as his opponent flashed {A-Spades}

.

"What a luckbox!" exclaimed Emad Tahtouh as Scott climbs to 30,000 chips.

Tags: Stewart Scott

10-13-2009 14:08 UTC-12

The SKYCITY Casino Poker Room

[user67765]

As play enters into the mid-day lull, it's worth mentioning a little about the SKYCITY Casino Poker Room.

Players at the PokerStars.net APPT are treated to a spacious 18-table room with plenty of room for players and media alike to maneuver amongst the tables.

One of the joys of this room is the natural light which players can bask in through the windows which run down the length of the room. It's a rarity in casinos around the world, and ensures that we can all keep somewhat in touch with realities of the outside world while also enjoying the poker tournament.

Poker in New Zealand is booming at the moment as whispers of a possible NZ$1,00,000 prize pool at this event start to surface. If we reach that figure it would be a fitting end to a fantastic week of events here at the SKYCITY Festival of Poker.

10-13-2009 14:14 UTC-12