2009 PokerStars.net APPT Sydney Grand Final

APPT Sydney Grand Final Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info

2009 PokerStars.net APPT Sydney Grand Final

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
kk
Prize
594,000 AUD
Event Info
Buy-in
6,000 AUD
Prize Pool
2,376,000 AUD
Entries
396
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
10,000

APPT Sydney Grand Final Main Event

Day 2 Completed

Day 2 is a Wrap

After six 75-minute levels of poker, we've narrowed the field down to 66 players from 226. The day belonged to Tom Grigg and Jimmy Tran, who occupied the top two spots on the leaderboard for most of the day. Tran began the day with 113,500 in chips and managed to bag and tag a whopping 541,300. Grigg started with a healthy 141,500 in chips and finished with a field-leading 598,600.

We began Day 2 with three Team PokerStars Pros still alive in the field, but lost one in Lee 'Final Table' Nelson. The New Zealander got it all in before the flop holding pocket sixes against an opponent's pocket tens and even managed to spike a six on the flop, but his opponent resucked on the river, spiking a ten to send Nelson to the rail.

With Nelson out of the fray, Team PokerStars Pros Eric Assadourian and Grant Levy are the only PokerStars pros left in the field. You can expect to find Assadourian near the top of the leaderboard once the official chip counts are released by tournament staff. Levy too had a respectable day, wrapping up with right around 124,000 in chips.

Tomorrow afternoon we're changing venues, as the tournament will move from upstairs in the poker room to downstairs on the casino floor, just outside the Sports Theatre.

Play is scheduled to resume at 12:30 p.m. local time when the remaining 66 players will embark on the home stretch toward the final table.

For now, we're going on a 16 hour break. Official chip counts and Day 3 seat assignments will magically appear in this space overnight.

We'll see you right back here tomorrow afternoon for our continued coverage of the 2009 PokerStars.net APPT Sydney Grand Final main event.

Seven More

The tournament staff has announced that each table will only play seven more hands. Once complete, the remainder of the field will bag and tag their chips for tomorrow.

PokerNews Exclusive Video: Aleks 'Banana Thief' Brkovic

We caught up with Australian online pro Aleks 'Banana Thief' Brkovic during the first break of the day to discuss how things have been going for him thus far and how he copes with having Mark Vos at his table... and by coping, we allude not to Vos' poker skill, but to the volume of his voice. (Nothing but love for you, Mr. Vos)

Grigg Back Over 600k

Action was opened by Tom Grigg, who made it 6,000 to go. He found a call from the player in the big blind, and the two saw a {3-Clubs}{7-Hearts}[Ac} flop. The big blind checked, Grigg bet 12,000 and the big blind called.

The turn was the {a-Diamonds} and the big blind again checked, allowing Grigg to bet 27,000. The big blind than kicked it up 60,000 and Grigg made the call.

The river was the {6-Spades} and the big blind moved all in for about 100,000. Grigg made the call revealing {a-Spades}{q-Diamonds} besting the {a-Hearts}{10-?} of the player in the big blind.

Grigg is up to 620,000.

Tags: Tom Grigg

Meyer Outraces Brkovic

Aleks Brkovic just lost a key race when his pocket jacks went down to Jacob Meyer's {A-?} {K-?}. The pot was worth 320,000 chips to the winner and went to Meyer after he paired his ace to overcome Brkovic's jacks.

Brkovic is now on 270,000 while Meyer moved all the way up to 320,000.

Tags: Aleks BrkovicJacob Meyer

Colman Busts Chan

Julius Colman just busted Steven Chan after getting the money in on a flop of {K-Hearts} {8-Clubs} {7-Hearts}. Colman held {K-Spades} {3-Clubs} to the {9-Diamonds} {7-Diamonds} of Chan.

The turn was the {6-Hearts}, adding a straight draw for Chan, but after the {2-Spades} fell on the river, he was sent packing.

Colman is up to 120,000 chips now.

Tags: Julius ColmanSteven Chan

Hellbent on Chipping Up

Kent Hunter from Day 1a of the main event
Kent Hunter from Day 1a of the main event
Aaron Benton has just moved to 165,000 in chips with the recent elimination of Kent Hunter.

Aleksander Brkovic opened the pot with a raise to 6,000 which was called by both Hunter and Benton. The flop came down {K-Hearts}{8-Hearts}{5-Spades} and Brkovic led out with a 10,000 continuation bet. Hunter then kicked it up to 30,000, and Benton came over the top of him, moving all in. Brkovic folded, but Hunter made the call setting up a showdown between Benton and Hunter:

Benton: {K-Clubs}{Q-Diamonds}
Hunter: {6-Hearts}{5-Hearts}

The turn and river filled out {10-Spades}{J-Spades} in favor of Benton, who stacked up 165,000 in chips after the hand. Hunter was the all-in player, and was thus eliminated from the tournament on the hand.

Tags: Aaron BentonKent Hunter