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

01-09-2009 15:10 UTC+11

The Biggest Name In Australian Poker

Michael Chrisanthopoulos is well known to Australian poker fans after he became the highest finishing Australian in last year's Aussie Millions Main Event. That day, Chrisanthopoulos netted a healthy AU$700,000 for his 3rd place finish and he will be looking for another big performance at this year's series.

He's off to a fine start today after being fortunate enough to spike a set holding pocket kings to crack the pocket aces of an unlucky opponent. Chrisanthopoulos is up to 14,500 to be amongst our chip leaders.

Tags: Michael Chrisanthopoulos

01-09-2009 15:07 UTC+11

Khouiss Misses His Draw

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Sam Khouiss flopped a big draw but couldn't get there. Mike Ivan opened for 700 preflop, with Khouiss making the call. The flop came all clubs, {4-Clubs}

. Ivan wasted no time getting his remaining 2,000 chips into the middle. Khouiss made the call, tabling {K-Clubs}

for the second-nut flush draw and two overcards. Ivan showed {A-Diamonds}

for ace-high but was in the lead. The turn and river bricked out {5-Hearts}

, allowing Ivan to carefully exhale and collect the pot.

As a result of the hand, Ivan is back up to almost the starting stack. He has 4,800 chips. Khouiss is down to 3,500.

Tags: Mike Ivan Sam Khouiss

01-09-2009 14:58 UTC+11

Hachem Back at Square One

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Tony Hachem was running good earlier, but times have changed. His stack is down to 5,800 after a recent confrontation with Tim Balaban. Balaban was the first aggressor, opening to 600. Hachem re-raised to 1,650 before Balaban pushed all in. Hachem reluctantly folded his hand.

Tags: Tim Balaban Tony Hachem

01-09-2009 14:57 UTC+11

Aytunc Tezay Crippled

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Aytunc Tezay has one foot out the door after a horrible turn card.

Tezay, holding {K-Clubs}

, had succesfully got his opponent all in, while leading the hand on the {2-Hearts}

flop against his opponent's {j-Diamonds}

.

The poker Gods were not smiling on Tezay however, with the turn bringing the {10-Clubs}

to give his opponent a full house. The river {2-Clubs}

also gave Tezay a boat, deuces full of kings, but not as strong as his opponents tens full of deuces.

Tezay is left with just 950 chips.

Tags: Aytunc Tezay

01-09-2009 14:56 UTC+11

Best Hands in the Business!

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

It was recently revealed that Lee "Final Table" Nelson undergoes regular shiatsu massage sessions as apart of his pre-tournament preparation.

Nelson kick-started what is now certainly an Aussie Millions tradition, with the “Best Hands” shiatsu massage team on the floor here in the Crown Poker Room. During long and tiresome days slogging it out at the table, players can at least succumb to some momentary relief in the form of a well-earned massage for a modest fee. It remains to be seen whether a well-timed shiatsu massage is a performance enhancer or not.

01-09-2009 14:42 UTC+11

Play Resumes

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

The players are back and the cards are once again in the air. We have 269 players remaining in today's field.

Level: 4

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 0

01-09-2009 14:31 UTC+11

10 Minute Break

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Players are now on the first 10 minute break of the day. The next break is expected to be a 10 minute break after level 6, followed by a major dinner break of 40 minutes to an hour after level 9. In all, players will play 12 levels today and the same will be repeated for Day 1B.

01-09-2009 14:31 UTC+11

Monaghan Doubles Back to the Beginning

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

It's been up-and-down for Adam Monaghan so far today, but most recently he's up. With 900 in the pot and the board showing {10-Spades}

, Monaghan bet 550. One player called him, bringing the hand to the river {A-Hearts}

. Monaghan moved all in for 1,500 chips and was called. He showed {K-Clubs}

for trip tens. That was the winner.

Monaghan is up to 5,100.

Tags: Adam Monaghan

01-09-2009 14:23 UTC+11

A Rose by Any Other Name

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

What's in a name? Everything, apparently.

Nobody has ever accused David Saab of being a quiet person. His chatty ways may have helped him win a pot at Annette Obrestad's expense. The action was all preflop. Saab was in late position and re-raised a player who had opened from middle position. The small blind called Saab's raise before Obrestad moved all in from the big blind.

Action folded back to Saab, who decided to press for information. "Is your name Annette?" he asked. Obrestad did not respond.

Saab then turned to the player sitting next to him. "Is her name Annette?" he asked again. That player replied that he wasn't sure but believed the answer was yes.

"I think your name is Annette," Saab announced to Obrestad. "So I call." He tabled pocket eights; Obrestad showed ace-eight and did not improve after the board ran out.

Obrestad was incensed that the player sitting beside Saab had given him information to use in the hand, but there was nothing she could do about it. Saab raked the pot to climb over 10,000 in chips as Obrestad headed for the cash games to blow off some steam.

Tags: Annette Obrestad David Saab