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Another installment of the renowned online poker series from Full Tilt Poker is edging ever closer, kicking off on February 6th and spanning a couple of weeks.
Be sure to check out the FTOPS XIX schedule and get involved in one of the 45 championship events on offer.
Who knows, if you're good enough you could walk away with a gold jersey... Not to mention the millions of dollars up for grabs.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
885,000 | 25,000 |
|
450,000 | 35,000 |
|
355,000 | -70,000 |
|
290,000 | -10,000 |
|
83,000 | -27,000 |
Tony Bloom raised to 20,000 from the button. This time, it wasn't an easy pick up as Sam Trickett used his stack to three-bet to 63,000 from the small blind. Trickett won the pot and added a few more chips to the pile he already owns.
From under the gun, Tony Bloom raised to 20,000. Erik Seidel called from the big blind and the flop came down 
. Seidel check-folded to a bet of 24,000 from Bloom.
From the button, Sam Trickett raised to 20,000. David Benyamine called from the small blind and the two saw the flop come down 
. Benyamine checked and then folded to a bet of 28,000 for Trickett.
Trickett is still leading the field as he has been doing for nearly the entire day. He's up to 860,000 now.
From the button, Tony Bloom raised to 20,000. David Benyamine was the only caller from the big blind and the flop came down 
. Benyamine checked and Bloom bet 18,000. Benyamine called. The turn brought the 
and Benyamine checked. Bloom fired 65,000 and Benyamine folded.
Benyamine dropped to 325,000 while Bloom increased to 405,000.
From the button, James Obst opened to 27,000 and David Steicke made the call from the small blind.
On the 
flop, Steicke check-called a 24,000-continuation bet from Obst as the 
rolled off on the turn.
Obst fired a second barrel; this one amounting to 47,000, with Steicke making the call.
The river of the 
saw Steicke check for a third time as Obst pushed out a bet of 70,000. Steicke made the call tabling his 
for a straight to best Obst's 
as he slipped to 445,000. Steicke on the other hand is now up to 460,000 in chips.
Alexander Kostritsyn raised to 21,000 from the small blind. Erik Seidel called from the big blind and the flop came down 
. Kostritsyn fired 25,000 and Seidel raised to 55,000. Kostritsyn then made it 100,000 to go and Seidel moved all in. Kostritsyn called off for 163,000 total.
Seidel: 
Kostritsyn: 
The turn brought the 
and the river the 
. Seidel's trip threes won the pot and sent Mr. Kostritsyn out the door. Seidel now has 412,000 in chips.
If you've had a chance to take a look at the prizepool on the payouts page of any event throughout the Aussie Millions, you will notice that every amount has some odd-change on the end of it.
$220, $120, $70 or $20, regardless of the exact amount, you may all be wondering why the staff here conducting the 2011 Aussie Millions have created the prizepool in this way, instead of the clean payouts tournaments have come to expect.
Well, Australia recently had a disastrous flood strike the north-eastern state of Queensland creating millions of dollars in damage, destroying thousands upon thousands of homes, and unfortunately seeing many lives lost.
Although the worst of the conditions may be behind us, the majority of Queenslanders and their communities have been completely devastated by this natural disaster.
With many people needing their whole lives rebuilt, people from around Australia and the world have been donating at will to help Queensland pick themselves up and get back on track once the water - that at points has risen over the two metre (close to ten feet) mark - decreases to a manageable level.
Consequently, Crown Casino is looking to do their part in the Queensland Flood Relief program and have placed collection tins at eighty locations throughout the complex - from the poker room, retail stores, restaurant and bars - with all funds being raised being directly donated to the Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal fund via the Salvation Army.
Here in the poker room, their hope is that when people cash out during the Aussie Millions, that they will donate the odd change of their payouts (and hopefully) more to the cause - and whatever is collected (from all the collection tins around the complex), Crown Casino will match dollar-for-dollar!
So even if the Queensland floods haven't directly affected you, please help by donating some change or a few big blinds to the cause, and if you can't get down to the Crown Casino during the Aussie Millions, information on how to donate to the Queensland Flood Relief can be found here.
The Tournament Director has just confirmed with the players that this will be the final level for the night.
With three eliminations needed until we reach our final table, unless these happen, in an hours time play will be paused for the tournament and restart tomorrow in exactly twelve hours time.
