Event 20: $550 No Limit Hold'em Turbo | 2010 Aussie Millions

01-31-2010 12:04 UTC+11

Welcome to the Crown Aussie Millions Event 20: $550 Turbo No Limit Hold'em!

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Welcome to the Crown Aussie Millions Event 20: $550 Turbo No Limit Hold'em!

It's the 20th and final event on the 2010 Crown Aussie Millions schedule and for today's contenders, one last shot at glory and the chance to claim a championship ring - and the PokerNews team is back in the Crown Poker Room to bring you all the action ringside!

The $550 Turbo No Limit Hold'em event is a no-holds-barred, rapid-fire race to the finish; each player starts with 5,000 in tournament chips, playing 30 minute levels and are given only 20 seconds to act on their hand.

Should they make the final table, they are allocated two "Time Extension" buttons which are worth an additional 30 seconds, just in case.

So get ready ladies and germs, we're kicking things off in around 30 minutes' time!

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

01-31-2010 12:50 UTC+11

Shuffle Up and Deal!

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The order has been given and the cards are in the air! Play at the tables is 11-handed.

01-31-2010 12:55 UTC+11

The Name Game

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We've taken our traditional walkabout around the Crown Poker Room to locate and identify the who's who in today's field.

Greg Shillig and 'Iraqi' Nick Kaselias are sharing space on table 63, while Danny Mountt is on table 22 with 'Carwash' George Cotaidis.

Raemin 'The Moose' Alexander is on table 23, Michael Matthews is sitting on table 50 and nearby, Billy Jordanou, German Marchese and Andrew Demetriou are together on table 19.

However there is one big name on the felt today - it's PokerNews' very own Heath 'TassieDevil' Chick, trading in the pad and pen once again for a chance to have a crack on the felt!

01-31-2010 12:58 UTC+11

Marchese Makes it Look Easy

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The money was all in the middle on a board that read {q-Diamonds}

and we got there as the cards were being tabled between German Marchese and another opponent:

Marchese: {k-Spades}

Opponent:

Though Marchese had flopped trips, the opponent had made the king-high straight on the turn. However the dealer turned up a repeat {9-Spades}

on the river, giving Marchese the full house!

That's the first player eliminated from the tournament and Marchese is the early chip leader, now up to 10,000 in chips.

Tags: German Marchese

01-31-2010 13:07 UTC+11

'Big Show' Takes One Out

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2010 Aussie Millions Main Event 12th-place finisher Steve 'The Big Show' Topakas is out in force early, taking out an opponent after getting his money into the middle with {a-Hearts}

and found himself flipping against the opponent's {2-Spades}

.

The board was spread {3-Hearts}

, sending the opponent to the rail and Topakas' stack up to around 10,000 in chips.

01-31-2010 13:10 UTC+11

Hai Bo Chu Doubles Through

[user135779]

It was a shaky start for Hai Bo Chu but he's back up to around the starting stack of 5,000 after doubling up through an opponent.

Chu got his money into the middle on a flop of {2-Diamonds}

with

and found himself ahead of his calling opponent's {k-Spades}

.

The turn and river ran out {6-Diamonds}

,

and Chu stays alive.

Level: 2

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

01-31-2010 13:19 UTC+11

But Wait, There's More!

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A secondary trek around the tables has revealed another plethora of notables ...

Amanda Simpson
Dave Lee
Jim Sachinidis
Ben Savage
Ali 'The Peppermint Hippo' Khalil
Graeme 'Kiwi G' Putt
Karl Krautschneider
Billy Seri
Leo Boxell
Paul Birman
Paul Taylor
David Gorr
Brian Hull

01-31-2010 13:24 UTC+11

Putt Stacked

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Graeme 'Kiwi G' Putt has just been sent to the rail at the hands of Liron Selimi.

The money was all in preflop and we got there as the cards were revealed:

Selimi: {a-Clubs}

Putt:

Putt took the lead on the flop of {2-Diamonds}

, but the

spiked on the turn for Selimi. The {7-Spades}

completed the board, sending Putt to the rail.