It was a classic blind-vs-blind rumble over on Andrew Watson's table where this interesting hand took place which saw some luck send Watson's stack to a hefty 60,000.
Play folded to the player in the small blind and he made it 675 before Watson would pop it to 1,800. A call from the original raiser would see a flop of and Watson's opponent would check. Watson threw out 2,050 before his opponent made the check-raise to 5,200. Watson made the call and the would fall on the turn. This time Watson's opponent led out for 8,500 and after some thought, Watson made the call.
The would again see Watson's opponent lead out, this time for 9,500. This time Watson made a fairly quick call as his opponent showed for top pair, top kicker. Watson tabled his and the rivered two pair was enough to take down the big pot. Watson now sits as one of the early chip leaders.
Jay "SEABEAST" Kinkade has taken his seat at the table and already showed some of his trademark aggression to take down a pot and move above that elusive starting-stack number.
Kinkade was in the small blind and faced with a raise to 500 from the button, before making it 1,725 to go.
The on the flop would see Kinkade check-call an 1,800-chip bet from his opponent before seeing the fall on the turn. Kinkade apparently liked seeing another king on the board and led out for 4,200. With a fold from his opponent, Kinkade took down the pot and moved to 34,000.
We came to Ben Delaney's table with a flop showing and th young player up against two opponents.
With play checked to Delaney, he would make it 700 and one player would fold behind him. The original checker would make the call and see the fall on the turn. Again the action was checked to Delaney, who this time made it 1,700 to go. This time his opponent would throw in a small stack of chips with the intention of raising. When the dealer cut down the raise, it wasn't quite enough to even make a min-raise, so it was ruled that it would be just another 1,700 to Delaney. Delaney called.
The on the river would see the player lead into Delaney this time, with 5,525 sent out. Delaney tanked before throwing out 12,000. His opponent would fold and Delaney would take down the pot to move up to 40,000.
Andrew Hinrichsen and Tony Hachem will be looking for a bit more run good, after both having a hugely successful World Series of Poker. Both represented Australia with deep runs in the Main Event just over a week ago.
While they both flew the Australian flag at the WSOP, when it came down to it they were both seeking the same thing: a victory and as they say, there are no friends at the poker table.
After flying thousands of kilometres to reach their home shores of Australia, Hinrichsen and Hachem will again have to be fierce competitors if they wish to take down this APPT title, with the players sitting at the same table and with just one player between them.
Some jokes have already been made between the two at the table, while we're sure some of the other players around the table are a little intimidated by the two accomplished players and recent almost-champions.
It hasn't taken long for some big action to take place, with the young Brendon Rubie going head to head with local veteran Peter Aristidou.
Play folded to Arisitdou on the button and he made the call before action came to Rubie in the small blind. Rubie popped it to 1,025 which was enough to get rid of the big blind, before sending the action back to Aristidou. Aristidou made the call and it was on for young and old!
Rubie would check his option on the flop and Aristidou would make it 1,200. Rubie called and we would see the roll out on the turn. Another check from Rubie and Aristidou would fire again, this time with 2,700. Another call from Rubie would see the hit the river. Rubie again checked to his agressor and Aristidou fired another bullet.
Rubie elected to again make the call as Aristidou turned over for a pair of nines. Rubie's would be enough to take down the pot and move his stack to around 42,000 early on Day 1.
The room is starting to fill up as we reach the halfway mark of the first level with the likes of PokerStars Pros Bryan Huang and Chris MoneyMaker joined by a plethora of local and international talent including Jackie Glazier, Simon Watt, David Gorr and Graeme Putt.
Also spotted around the room include young local stars such as Jonathan Karamalikis, Brendon Rubie, Daniel Nielson, Ben Delaney and James Obst, among many others!
Yet to be spotted is local hero, 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Joe Hachem, along with current ANZ Player of the Year leader Jesse McKenzie. Both players are expected in the field and will presumably take to their seats very soon.
Players will be starting Day 1 with a hefty 30,000-chip stack and plenty of time to play, with levels lasting an hour each on Day 1, before changing to 75-minute levels at the commencement of Day 2.
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and Watson's opponent would check. Watson threw out 2,050 before his opponent made the check-raise to 5,200. Watson made the call and the 
would fall on the turn. This time Watson's opponent led out for 8,500 and after some thought, Watson made the call.
would again see Watson's opponent lead out, this time for 9,500. This time Watson made a fairly quick call as his opponent showed 
for top pair, top kicker. Watson tabled his 
and the rivered two pair was enough to take down the big pot. Watson now sits as one of the early chip leaders.
fall on the turn. Kinkade apparently liked seeing another king on the board and led out for 4,200. With a fold from his opponent, Kinkade took down the pot and moved to 34,000.
and th young player up against two opponents.
fall on the turn. Again the action was checked to Delaney, who this time made it 1,700 to go. This time his opponent would throw in a small stack of chips with the intention of raising. When the dealer cut down the raise, it wasn't quite enough to even make a min-raise, so it was ruled that it would be just another 1,700 to Delaney. Delaney called.
on the river would see the player lead into Delaney this time, with 5,525 sent out. Delaney tanked before throwing out 12,000. His opponent would fold and Delaney would take down the pot to move up to 40,000.
hit the river. Rubie again checked to his agressor and Aristidou fired another bullet.
would be enough to take down the pot and move his stack to around 42,000 early on Day 1.
