Danny "Brotha D" Leaoasavaii is stamping his authority on his table.
He recently scooped up a pot on a board.
It was Leaoasavaii and one opponent. Leaoasavaii was in the small blind and raised it up to 600 after his opponent had limped. The big blind folded, while the limper called.
On the flop, Leaoasavaii put out a continuation bet of 850. The player called and both players checked the turn. Then, on the river, Leaoasavaii led out for a large 3,200. A fold would see the pot go to Leaoasavaii.
Ia Rimamaaki and Bruno Portaro seem to enjoy getting into pots against each other. Rimamaaki was able to win a recent pot to take his streak to 2-0 against Portaro.
On a board of both Portaro and Akash Mazumdar checked from the blinds before Rimamaaki bet out 1,300 from the hijack. Both players called as the fell on the river.
Rimamaaki was met with two more checks prompting him to throw out 5,500 in chips. Portaro called almost instantly and Mazumdar folded.
Rimamaaki then tabled his for a full house, much to the disappointment and disbelief of Portaro whose hand flew into the muck.
The 2014 ANZ Player of the Year will be decided by this weekend as APPT Auckland is the last stop of the year.
It seems like Day 1c of APPT Auckland is the day that all the players in contention are at the felt.
The current leader, ANZPT Melbourne champ Edison Nguyen, just arrived late in the second level of the day, while current 2nd place on the leader board Sal Fazzino is in the field, along with Luke Spano (4th).
The current 3rd place holder, David Lim, played yesterday and made it through to Day 2.
APPT President Danny McDonagh has just got on the microphone and welcomed one of only two dual APPT / ANZPT champions Danny "Brotha D" Leaoasavaii to the field. Those from New Zealand will be very familiar with Brotha D as one of the godfathers of Kiwi hip hop.
He also has one of the purest Hendon Mobs in poker with just two results and two victories - 2010 APPT Auckland and 2010 ANZPT Darwin. The only other player to have achieved the same feat of winning events on both of the major regional tours is Grant Levy.
New Zealander Jack Efaraimo doesn’t have too much tournament results to his name with his biggest score being NZ$11,600 for winning the NZPC South Island Championship. Efaraimo is well known in the local scene though and would be a popular victor here at APPT Auckland.
We recently watched Efaraimo play back-to-back hands – one loss and one win.
The first one began when a player opened it up to 400 from the hijack. Efaraimo called from the button and the big blind called to see the dealer flip over a flop. Efaraimo led for 1,450 here and took it.
The very next hand saw one player limp and then Efaraimo raised it up to 800 from the cut off. The button and blinds got out of the way and then the dealer flipped over a flop. Efaraimo was check-raised here to 1,700 after he led for 800. Efaraimo made a very quick call and the dealer flipped over a turn. This time both players checked and the board completed with a .
Efaraimo opted to tank-fold here when faced with a bet of 2,000.
On a flop of both Ia Rimamaaki and Luke Spano checked from the blinds before Bruno Portaro bet out 800 from under the gun. Both players called before the fell on the turn. A round of checks followed as the completed the board.
Rimamaaki reached for his chips and threw out 2,200. Spano then went into the tank for several minutes.
“Sorry guys,” he said, as the time kept ticking. Eventually Rimamaaki called time and Spano mucked his hand.
“You would’ve made my job easier if you called,” said Portaro, who now thought about his decision for a minute.
Portaro ended up calling the bet, only to muck his hand when Rimamaaki tabled his for top pair.
button in Safari
board.
both Portaro and Akash Mazumdar checked from the blinds before Rimamaaki bet out 1,300 from the hijack. Both players called as the 
fell on the river.
flop. Efaraimo led for 1,450 here and took it.
turn. This time both players checked and the board completed with a 
.
fell on the turn. A round of checks followed as the 
completed the board.
for top pair.
