Event 1 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em | 2009 Aussie Millions

01-11-2009 20:18 UTC+11

Heich Defends

[user67765]

On the final hand of the level, the action folded around to Paul Rochford in the small blind who raised it up to 60,000. Christian Heich wasn't going to give up his big blind that easily and popped it up to 140,000 to go. Rochford raised his eyebrows and gave it up as the German Heich starts to flex his muscle at this final table. He's now up to over 900,000 chips.

Tags: Christian Heich Paul Rochford

01-11-2009 20:15 UTC+11

Dean Blatt Eliminated in 8th Place (AU$11,965)

[user67765]

Paul Rochford opened the action with a raise to 60,000 from the cutoff. Christian Heich made the call on the button and Dean Blatt called all in for his last 52,000 from the big blind.

The board of {A-Spades}

was checked down by both live players and the three players revealed their holdings:

Rochford: {K-Spades}

Heich:

Blatt:

Heich's pair of sevens held as overnight chip leader Dean Blatt is eliminated in 8th place for a payday of AU$11,965.

Tags: Christian Heich Dean Blatt Paul Rochford

01-11-2009 20:11 UTC+11

Topakas Tables the Winner in a Three-Way Pot

[user75032]

In the most action we've had since the elimination of Scott Peters, Paul Rochford limped in from the button ahead of Christian Heich, who also called out of the small blind. Steve Topakas reached for chips as if he were going to raise, then declined his option, drawing chuckles from Sam Khouiss and Clint Jordanou.

The flop was all ragged, {2-Diamonds}

. Each player quickly checked in turn. When the turn fell {4-Hearts}

, Heich tried a bet of 35,000. Topakas and Rochford both called to the river, which was the {8-Hearts}

. Heich and Topakas checked it over to Rochford on the button. He announced a bet of 80,000. Heich looked down at his chip stack and back at the board before mucking his hand. That brought the action back to Topakas, who removed his sunglasses and placed them on the felt.

After about a minute, Topakas made the call with {9-Hearts}

for just top pair. Rochford mucked his hand, causing Topakas to stand up from his chair and clapped his hands one time, aggressively, in celebration. He now has roughly 580,000 chips, while Rochford has fallen to 560,000.

Tags: Christian Heich Paul Rochford Steve Topakas

01-11-2009 20:06 UTC+11

Rochford Takes One Post-Flop

[user67765]

The action folded around Paul Rochford in the small blind who completed and Christian Heich checked his option in the big blind.

The flop came down {5-Clubs}

and both players checked. The turn was the {Q-Hearts}

and Rochford's bet of 40,000 was enough to take it down.

Tags: Christian Heich Paul Rochford

01-11-2009 20:03 UTC+11

Raise It and Take It

[user75032]

With two eliminations in the books, we're starting to get into the serious prize payouts. As a result, the play at the table seems to have tightened somewhat. The last several hands have been "raise it and take it" hands, with a single preflop raise taking down the blinds and the antes. So far, Steve Bouya seems unwilling to "walk tall and carry a big stack". That may be because he only has a total of sixty big blinds in his stack.

Tags: Steve Bouya

01-11-2009 19:58 UTC+11

Updated Chip Counts

[user75032]

Steve Bouya - 1,100,000
Christian Heich - 723,000
Paul Rochford - 690,000
Steve Topakas - 430,000
David Griffiths - 290,000
Clint Jordanou - 167,000
Sam Khouiss - 120,000
Dean Blatt - 65,000

01-11-2009 19:54 UTC+11

Scott Peters Eliminated in 9th Place (AU$9,403)

[user67765]

The action folded around to Scott Peters in the cutoff position who moved all in for 90,000. Christian Heich made the call on the button as the blinds stepped aside.

Peters: {A-Spades}

Heich:

The board was spread {Q-Hearts}

and Heich pairs his queen to take down the pot. Peters departs in 9th place for a collect of $9,403.

Tags: Christian Heich Scott Peters

01-11-2009 19:50 UTC+11

Ismail Ismail Eliminated in 10th Place (AU$6,579)

[user75032]

Action folded around to the shortest of the stacks at the final table, Ismail Ismail. He squeezed his cards, then moved all in for 69,000. Paul Rochford called from the button, as did Christian Heich from the big blind.

The flop {10-Clubs}

did not seem to thrill Ismail. Both of his opponents checked. He shook his head when the turn came {10-Spades}

. Heich again checked, then folded after Rochford bet 40,000. With no further action possible, Ismail and Rochford opened their hands:

Ismail: {K-Spades}

Rochford:

Ismail was drawing dead against Rockford's book, tens full of sevens. He spiked a useless {Q-Hearts}

on the river and was eliminated in tenth place, earning AU$6,579.

Rochford climbed up the counts to 690,000.

Tags: Christian Heich Ismail Ismail Paul Rochford

01-11-2009 19:44 UTC+11

Level Up

[user67765]

We're now into level 19 with the blinds at 10,000/20,000 with a 2,000 chip ante. This is sure to put real pressure on the short stacks to make a move.

01-11-2009 19:43 UTC+11

Ismail All In, But Chops With Jordanou

[user67765]

Clint Jordanou opened with a raise to 40,000 from the cutoff before Ismail Ismail moved his short stack all in from the big blind for 72,000 in total. Jordanou made a quick call.

Both players tabled the same hand, with only flush possibilities to potentially separate Jordanou's {A-Hearts}

and Ismail's {A-Clubs}

.

It wasn't to be, as the board delivered {7-Diamonds}

. Chop it up!

Tags: Clint Jordanou Ismail Ismail