Jai Kemp has been eliminated after getting his short stack in with on an ace-high flop but he ran into the of 2009 Aussie Millions final-tablist Raj Ramakrishnan.
Despite the early elimination yesterday of good mate Steve Topakas, it looks like Big Show just wins the last longer, but at least they'll both have plenty of free time to enjoy the sights of Auckland!
James Honeybone may have just explained one of the great mysteries of the Asia-Pacific circuit. What makes Dennis Huntly, well Dennis Huntly.
On a flop of flop James Honeybone and one other checked to an opponent in late position who fired out an overbet of 3,100. Honeybone responded by tanking before sliding his entire 15,000 chip stack into the middle.
The first player got out of the way, and the aggressor was left to consider his options. After some time he made the laydown.
"You had there?" questioned Dennis Huntly.
"Nine-Ten hearts? Are you on drugs?" quizzed a puzzled Honeybone.
"I just want to see what lie you'd tell about you hand," quipped Huntly.
Defending New Zealand Poker Championships Soren Eriksen is down early here.
Preflop Eriksen opened to 500 and took three callers to the flop.
Eriksen's 1,250 chip bet on the flop was enough to convince all but Wyn Belmont on the button to fold.
Eriksen led another 1,250 on the turn and Belmont once again called. On the river Eriksen led 750, and Belmont raised to 3,500. After some time in the tank Eriksen called, but mucked his card when he saw Belmont's for turned trips.
Ali Khalil called us over to his table recently to apparently back up his claims to the table that he was a fish.
We confirmed that status and asked why they were asking.
"I just lost a pot to this spastic when he rivered a straight..." continued Khalil as the next hand was dealt.
Khalil raised it up to 500 from under the gun and found a caller in the big blind.
The flop was and action checked to Khalil who fired 725. He was met with a check-raise of around 2,000 more before Khalil declared himself all in for another 10,400 in chips.
After some friendly banter between the two that involved discussions of lathering, hairy backs and cuddling, his opponent folded and Khalil raked in the pot to jump back to around 22,500 chips.
The Aussies are having a tough time of it at table six. Bruno Portaro is already down to half of his stack, and Jai Kemp has recently joined him.
On a flop of Kemp checked to Ralf Westphal who bet out 600. Kemp raised to 900 with Westphal making the call.
The turn saw Kemp fire 1,700 and Westphal smooth called. The river was the and Kemp led 2,600 only for Westphal to raise to 6,500. Kemp reluctantly made the call and ran into Westphal's rivered trips.
Kemp had for a flopped top two pair.
"You should buy a lotto ticket mate," said Kemp tongue-in-cheek.
Bruno Portaro is down to half of his stack after running into a rivered straight.
According to Portaro he took a jack high flop with one heart on it, while holding . Portaro bet every street, with the turn giving him a flush draw. His opponent flat called down to the river where he raised Portaro's river bet. Portaro made the call only to see his opponent roll over for a rivered straight.
This is truly a premier event in New Zealand and as such has attracted the cream of talent from the Land of the Long White Cloud.
Some of the stars entering into this event include Brooke Howard-Smith who played yesterday, and today, the godfather of NZ hip-hop Brotha D is in the field after winning his way into the tournament through the celebrity and media challenge.