Chronis in action on today's feature table
Australian fashion designer Christopher Chronis is the first man over the magic 100,000-chip figure today.
Chronis would be familiar to Aussie Millions fans with his victory in the 2008 Aussie Millions Event 2: $1,100 Pot-Limit Hold'em which saw him scoop AU$60,398 and rise to prominence on the Australian poker scene.
Chronis has two other five-figure cashes to his name -- a second place for AU$70,000 in the 2008 Melbourne Poker Championships High Stakes Hold'em event and a cash in the 2007 Aussie Millions Main Event.
A fashion designer by day, Chronis owns a number of Playboy brand shops around the world as well as his own fashion company, CCD (Christopher Chronis Designs).
[Removed:248] opened to 850 from middle position and Patrik Antonius made the call out of the big blind.
The flop fell down and once Antonius checked, Freymann led out for 1,200. Antonius called and then checked the turn of the Freymann led out for 3,200. A stone-cold Antonius made the call and with the river of the going check-check Freymann tabled but was behind Antonius' .
With that pot Antonius jumped to 18,000 in chips as regular tournament pro Kent Hunter took up the vacant seat on his left.
We didn't see the preflop action in a hand between Harris Pavlou and Shane Moran. We only came to the table after the dealer pulled a flop of out of the deck. Pavlou opened the action with a bet of 2,500, leaving himself 7,000 chips behind. Moran, sitting with roughly 40,000 chips, then announced that he was all in.
In what will probably go down as the fastest snap-call in the history of poker (faster even than David Steicke's snap-call last night in the $100K with flopped quads), Pavlou called the raise and tabled -- a straight flush! Moran could only shake his head. He flashed the and then quickly surrendered his hand without waiting for the turn or river.
Pavlou's double-up gives him about 22,000 in chips. Moran is down to about 28,000.
Seet cracks rockets
Facing a raise of 550, Nathanael Seet bumped it up to 1,700 from the button and the big blind made the call, with the original aggressor laying his hand down.
The flop of brought a check from the big blind before Seet made it 3,300. The big blind then followed with a reraise to 6,600, and following some time in the tank Seet moved all in for 20,800 on top. The big blind made the call and the cards were tabled.
Opponent:
Seet:
The turn and river landed the and , doubling Seet up to 60,000 in chips as we are approaching the third break.
James Obst can soul read
James "Andy McLEOD" Obst has just been rewarded for a good read on his opponent.
With Martin Comer opening the pot from under the gun to 800, both Obst and the player on the button made the call. On the flop Comer checked, Obst fired 1,300 and the button flat-called, with Comer folding.
At the turn Obst checked to the button who moved all in for 14,600, a huge overbet considering the pot size. Obst went into the tank for a good while before making the call.
The button opened up for a flush and gutshot straight draw, while Obst's middle pair was good going to the river.
The river blanked, eliminating his opponent and moving Obst up to 45,000 after such a huge call.
The Aussie Millions Main Event is not the only major sporting event taking place today. The Australian national cricket team is playing a one-day against South Africa. Cricket is a major pastime in Australia, drawing legions of rabid fans the way football does in North America. Crown is televising the cricket match on the five-by-five bank of television screens that take up one wall of the poker room. Several notable players have taken a keen interest in the match, including Tony G (presumably rooting for the local lads) and Event #5 winner Jarred Solomon (presumably cheering on his native South Africa).
We wouldn't be surprised if many of the players in the room also have placed large wagers in the Crown sport book on the outcome of the match.