$25,000 No-Limit Hold'em Semi-Shootout
Day 2 Started
2012 Aussie Millions
$25,000 No-Limit Hold'em Semi-Shootout
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2012 Aussie Millions
Buy-in
25,000 AUD
Prize Pool
500,000 AUD
Entries
20
Level
16
Blinds
4,000 / 8,000
Ante
0
Who Will Stop Karmazinas?
Level 10
: 800/1,600, 200 ante
At 14:00 the $25,000 Semi-Shootout will recommence with Dominykas Karmazinas as the big favorite. Just six players remain, who will be playing for the A$200,000 first place prize. The final table is stacked and everyone will have a shot at winning this thing, because the structure leaves plenty of play for even the shorter stacks.
Tony G is the short stack with 70,400 chips (35 big blinds) and he will be chasing after his first Aussie Millions victory today. This is the case for almost all the remaining finalist, but as a local favorite this would probably mean a lot to The G who has amassed over $4,5 million in live tournament earnings over the last ten years. Yesterday we witnessed some good banter at Tony G's table and hopefully he will once again get the party started at this final table.
Dan Kelly is the second short stack with 127,700 (63 big blinds) and he's looking to add another great cash to his Aussie Million resume. Kelly won Event #2, the $1,100 Pot Limit Omaha for $33,400 and also placed third in the $1,100 No Limit Hold'em Rebuy tournament for $57,105. Kelly is known as djk123 online and got his biggest cash during the 2010 WSOP when he beat 190 players to capture the $25,000 No Limit Hold'em Six-Handed title good for $1,315,518.
Elliot Smith is currently in fourth place with 157,100 chips (78 big blinds) which would be the min cash position in this tournament. During the 2009 Aussie Millions Elliot Smith got his biggest result finishing in third place cashing A$700,000. Smith is gunning for his sixth cash in Australia in just three years, and you could say he knows how to beat the fields here!
Daniel Alaei is in third place with 158,200 chips (79 big blinds) and he is one of the best all round poker players in the world. In December 2009 Alaei secured his biggest victory when he won the Five Diamond WPT for $1,4 million. He's got WSOP Bracelets in Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha hi/lo and 2-7 No Limit Single Draw, and this could be his first Aussie Millions victory.
JC Tran is one of the big No Limit Hold'em tournament players who has been around since 2003. Tran is currently in second place with 165,400 chips (82 big blinds) and this could be his second Aussie Millions cash after finishing third in the $100,000 No Limit Hold'em Challenge in 2009 for $300,000. Tran has a massive $8 million in live tournament earnings putting him in 26th place on the all-time money leaderboard.
Our chipleader today is Lithuanian Dominykas Karmainzas who has a massive 293,500 chip stack (146 big blinds). Karmazinas is a fearless high stakes online cash game player who is looking for his first Aussie Millions cash. In 2010 Karmazinas got his biggest live result finishing in third place during the EPT Grand Final for €700,000. Karmazinas is the man to beat today, but will they have a chance against the agressive youngster?
The Seat Draw
Level 10
: 800/1,600, 200 ante
| Seat | Name | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elliot Smith | 157,100 |
| 2 | Daniel Alaei | 158,200 |
| 3 | JC Tran | 165,400 |
| 4 | Tony G | 70,400 |
| 5 | Dan Kelly | 127,700 |
| 6 | Dominykas Karmazinas | 293,500 |
Level: 10
Blinds: 800/1,600
Ante: 200
First Hand at the Final Table
Level 10
: 800/1,600, 200 ante
In the first hand of action, JC Tran raised to 3,800 from the cutoff and Dominykas Karmazinas defended from the big blind. When the flop fell 
, Karmazinas checked, Tran bet 4,600, and the chip leader folded. First blood to Tran.
Four-Bet from Alaei
Level 10
: 800/1,600, 200 ante
Dominykas Karmazinas was on the button and opened for 3,200. Elliot Smith, who was in the small blind, thought for a few moments before three-betting to 8,800. Both players seemed to overlook Daniel Alaei in the big blind, which was a mistake considering he came in with a four-bet to 19,000. Both Karmazinas and Smith got out of the way and Alaei took down the pot without so much as a flop.
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: 800/1,600, 200 ante
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Karmazinas Busts Alaei in Monster Pot
We are only one orbit into todays play and Dominykas Karmazinas already won another massive pot to bust Daniel Alaei. The action started with a 3,200 raise from Karmazinas who was under the gun+1. Smith, in the cut-off, Alaei, on the button and both blinds (Tran and Tony G) made the call.
The flop was 
and it got checked to Smith who bet 6,500. Alaei decided to raise to 18,000 and both blinds folded quickly. Karmazinas cold-called after which Smith decided to give it up.
The turn was the 
and Karmazinas checked to Alaei who counted out a big bet and fired 47,000 into the pot. Karmazinas didn't flinch and made the call. On the river the 
hit and without hesitation Karmazinas moved all-in putting Alaei to the test. The American pro was far from happy and at first it didn't seem like he was going to call. Alaei had around 135,000 chips left behind, but all of a sudden he announced call. Karmazinas turned over 
and Alaei stood up from the table. He whispered something into Tran's ear and quickly left the tournament area. We are down to five players and on the money bubble.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
502,000 | 208,500 |
|
Busted |
Tony G Flops the Nuts to Double Through Tran
Dan Kelly opened for 3,200 under the gun and received calls from JC Tran on the button and Tony G in the small blind. All three players proceeded to check the 
flop, leading to the 
on the turn. Both Tony G and Kelly checked to Tran, who bet 5,200. Only Tony G made the call, but then he checked the 
river.
Tran eyed his opponent's stack and then put out a stack of yellow T5,000 chips, enough to put Tony G all in. The boisterous "G" snap-called and rolled over 
for the nuts. Tran just shook his head and revealed 
for a rivered set. Tran and Tony G had a brief conversation on the latter's river check after the hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
130,000 | -35,400 |
|
128,000 | 57,600 |
Tran Misses a Double
Dominykas Karmazinas is known for his relentless style, and JC Tran must be hating the dealer for the board runout we just saw. Elliot Smith started off the action with a under the gun raise to 3,500 and JC Tran called from the cut-off. Tony G folded his button after which Kelly called from the small blind. Karmazinas, who's very unfamiliar with the word 'call' put in a raise to 12,600 pressuring his opponents.
Smith did some serious chip riffling before folding after which Tran committed the extra chips. Kelly gave it some thought but eventually gave up his hand.
The flop came down 
and Karmazinas threw out 11,800. Tran followed with the call after which the turn was the 
. Both players checked, and we expected fireworks from Karmazinas on almost any river. The river was the and Karmazinas slowed down with a straight on the board. He checked, and so did a semi-frustrated Tran who tabled 
. Karmazinas showed and both players got half of the pot.
We will never know if Karmazinas would have put in another huge riverbet if the three wouldn't have showed up. We do know that Karmazinas knows how to check, and that he slows down at the right time. Play is still very deep and we are up for some more very interesting hands over the next couple of hours.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
490,000 | -12,000 |
|
|
140,000 | 10,000 |