Event 8 - $100,000 No Limit Hold'em Challenge Day 1 | 2009 Aussie Millions

01-18-2009 00:07 UTC+11

On The Rail

Tony G has just wondered onto the tournament floor and over to fellow Australian Jeff Lisandro to lend a few words.

With a final table consisting of worldwide talent, the crowd is really gathering full of fans and poker players alike.

Who will take out the AU$1,200,000 first prize? Will it be one of the four remaining Australian's or one of the internationals? Stay tuned to PokerNews as we bring all the action live from the Crown Poker Room.

01-17-2009 23:59 UTC+11

Antonius Eliminated By Tran's Set

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JC Tran limped in from early position before Patrik Antonius made it 32,000 to go from middle position. Tran made the call and they saw a heads up flop of {4-Spades}

.

Tran checked to Antonius who fired out 26,000. Tran then check-raised to 55,000 before Antonius moved all in. Tran snap-called.

Antonius: {A-Clubs}

Tran:

Antonius held top pair, top kicker but threw his head back as he saw that he'd run into the set of fours for Tran.

It was all over on the turn when the {K-Diamonds}

fell to leave Antonius drawing dead. The river was a meaningless {2-Hearts}

and Antonius crashes out of the tournament as JC Tran jumps out to the chip lead with 520,000 chips.

Tags: JC Tran Patrik Antonius

01-17-2009 23:55 UTC+11

Juanda Battles JC

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JC Tran made it 22,000 to go from middle position and was met with a 43,000 reraise from John Juanda. Tran made the call and checked the flop of {4-Clubs}

to Juanda who slid out a bet of 49,000.

Tran sat in the tank and used his full thirty seconds before folding. With that hand Juanda moved up to 360,000 as Tran slipped back to 275,000.

Tags: JC Tran John Juanda

Level: 8

Blinds: 4,000/8,000

Ante: 0

01-17-2009 23:42 UTC+11

Tran Finds The Rockets

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On the final hand of the level, Dan Shak opened with a raise to 18,000 from middle position and JC Tran flat called in the cutoff position.

The flop arrived {7-Clubs}

and Shak checked to Tran who fired out 25,000. Shak made the call. The turn was the {10-Spades}

and Shak checked again to Tran who fired 40,000. Shak thought for a moment but gave it up as Tran flashed {A-Diamonds}

.

"Meh, I had outs" said Shak but Tran scooped the pot to move up to 370,000 chips.

Tags: Dan Shak JC Tran

01-17-2009 23:41 UTC+11

Juanda Clips Tran

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John Juanda opened with a raise to 16,000 and JC Tran made the call in the big blind.

The flop landed {Q-Hearts}

and Tran checked to Juanda who bet out 24,000. Tran made the call. The turn brought the {10-Diamonds}

and both players checked. The river landed the {Q-Spades}

and Tran checked again to Juanda who this time fired out a healthy 40,000. Tran made the call but Juanda's {Q-Clubs}

was best as Tran mucked.

Juanda moved up to 293,000 with Tran slipping back to 250,000.

Tags: JC Tran John Juanda

01-17-2009 23:41 UTC+11

Tran Dents Antonius

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JC Tran opened to 16,000 on the button and both Patrik Antonius and Jason Gray called.

On a flop of {9-Hearts}

the action was checked round to Tran who continued with a bet of 26,000. Antonius pondered a decision and decided to reraise to 60,000 total. Gray passed, and with it back on Tran he reraised all in for 189,000 total.

With Antonius put to yet another test, he eventually relinquished his hand as Tran raked in the pot sending him back to 300,000 in chips.

Tags: JC Tran Patrik Antonius

01-17-2009 23:33 UTC+11

Final Table Redraw

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The players have redrawn for the final table. Here's how they lineup:

Seat 1: Dan Shak - 370,000
Seat 2: JC Tran - 335,000
Seat 3: Patrik Antonius - 248,000
Seat 4: Jason Gray - 145,000
Seat 5: David Steicke - 462,000
Seat 6: John Juanda - 290,000
Seat 7: Tony Bloom - 181,000
Seat 8: Jeff Lisandro - 75,000
Seat 9: Bill Jordanou - 180,000

After some discussion amongst the players and tournament staff it has been decided to play the rest of this level (ten minutes) plus an additional two more levels OR until we reach the final six players. At that point play will conclude for the evening and the players will return at 4 p.m. tomorrow to play for the cash and the Aussie Millions Championship Gold Ring.

After a brief pause the cards are once again back in the air.

01-17-2009 23:28 UTC+11

Nam Le Eliminated

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Tony Bloom opened with a raise of 14,000 from the button and Nam Le made the call.

On a flop of {8-Diamonds}

Le moved his final 24,000 into the pot and after some deliberation Bloom made the call with {A-Clubs}

to be behind Le's {Q-Spades}

.

The turn brought a sweat for both players landing the {10-Diamonds}

giving Bloom outs to chop with a six or hit any diamond, king or ace to take the lead.

Unfortunately for Le the {3-Diamonds}

landed on the river sending him to the rail courtesy of Bloom's four-flush.

Tags: Nam Le Tony Bloom

01-17-2009 23:17 UTC+11

Final Table Bubble

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We're now on the bubble of the final table, although the money doesn't start until we reach the final four. When the next player is eliminated it is believed that it will be put to a vote of the players as to whether to stop play this evening and come back tomorrow afternoon as scheduled, or to play right through and finish it off tonight.