Michael Binger has already managed to double up to 40,200. On the heels of being dealt pocket aces, Binger was at it again. He raised a board to 4,000 after the player in the big blind led out for 1,500. That player called to the river, then check-called a bet of 8,000 chip from Binger. Turned out it was flush over flush, with Binger's beating out his opponent's .
Nam Le must have put in the second raise when we came to his table, because he had raised to 1,350 preflop from late position. Action folded to Marlon Goonawardana in the big blind, who reraised to 6,000. The action eventually came back to Le, who tanked for a while as he pondered his decision. Ray Sukkar finally called for a clock, and after another 20 seconds Le folded . It seemed that Goonawardana was not going to show at first, but after some cajoling he showed .
Mark Philippoussis has not had the best of starts to his Main Event. Philippoussis has found his tablemates pretty keen to get involved in pots with him, and so far he has been coming out on the short end of things.
In one such hand Philippoussis, in middle position, called a 400-chip preflop raise from Chris Parker and went four-handed to the flop. Parker checked the flop from the small blind and the under-the-gun player fired out 575. Philippoussis made the call and action folded back to Parker, who check-raised to 3,500. The under-the-gun player folded and Philippoussis called again.
The turn dropped with Parker betting 11,000, enough to put Philippoussis all in. Philippoussis laid his hand down and has just 10,600 chips left.
Rayan Nathan takes an early hit
Rayan Nathan has lost a sizable pot after falling victim to a runner-runner flush. Nathan had flopped a straight on a flop and fired out with his opponent flat-calling.
The turn saw Nathan once again bet, this time 2,400, and his opponent call. The river had Nathan bet out 2,500. His opponent just flat-called, having made his hand, but not sure if it was best.
Nathan tabled his , and his opponent tabled for the flush. Nathan is down to 12,500.
The board showed in another hand contested between Marlon Goonawardana and Nam Le. Le bet 550, inducing a fold from Goonawardana.
"I reckon my ten-high is good here," Goonawardana said. "Show me so we're even, one to one." Le obliged, turning over and confirming Goonawardana's hunch.
Lee Nelson eliminated
We've lost one of our previous champions. Winner of the 2006 Aussie Millions Main Event, Lee Nelson won't be adding another final table to his resume as he was recently eliminated from the tournament.
Nelson raised from under the gun to 300 and found two callers including Dennis Huntly in the big blind. The flop of was checked around before the fell on the turn.
Huntly led out for 600 before Nelson raised to 1,600. Huntly then moved all in over the top, and Nelson made the call for his tournament life.
Huntly:
Nelson:
Huntly had flopped a cheeky two pair and improved on the river to a full house when the fell to send Nelson to an early exit before the end of Level One.
Aussie cricket legend Shane Warne didn't make it to the first break. He flopped a powerful hand, holding pocket jacks in his hand that made a set on a board of . He wound up all in after a series of raises against one opponent, who tabled for a gutshot straight flush draw. The turn was a blank, but the that fell on the river made a flush for Warne's opponent. He's headed back to the pavilion.
Joe Hachem played aces as softly as you'll ever see. He was in middle position and called a raise to 250 from the under-the-gun player. It was also called by two other players. Everyone checked on the flop. When the turn card fell , the preflop raiser bet 550. Only Hachem called.
The river was the . Hachem's opponent bet 800, and again Hachem made the call. His flopped the nut flush draw, then made a running two pair to take out his opponent's top two pair.