$100,000 Challenge
Day 1 Started
2013 Aussie Millions
$100,000 Challenge
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2013 Aussie Millions
Buy-in
100,000 AUD
Prize Pool
2,167,000 AUD
Entries
22
Level
14
Blinds
12,000 / 24,000
Ante
2,000
Will the Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge Launch Another Player's Career Year?
The Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge has been one of the most prestigious events on the poker calendar for the past six years.
It also gives one player a head start on a hot year. Sam Trickett and Erik Seidel experienced this in 2011 when they finished in first and third place respectively, with both going on to finish with the year with incredible results.
Likewise, last year Dan Smith defeated Mikhail Smirnov heads up for the title and A$1.012 million on his way to becoming the 2012 Global Poker Index Player of the Year.
Here’s a look at last year’s results:
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dan Smith | A$ 1,012,000 |
| 2 | Mikhail Smirnov | A$ 616,000 |
| 3 | Joe Hachem | A$ 330,000 |
| 4 | Tony G | A$ 242,000 |
Today another player will have the chance to jump out to an early lead in 2012, and while we don’t have a confirmed list of participants yet, we’ve do expect to see the following players in action: Joe Hachem, Tony Bloom, Tobias Reinkemeier, Andrew Robl, Sam Trickett, Vanessa Selbst, Philipp Gruissem, Fabian Quoss, Igor Kurganov, Dan Shak, Eric Lui, Winfred Yu, Tom Hall, Martin Finger, Mike Watson and Jason Mercier.
Will any of these big-names pros be able to add their name to this prestigious list of champions (click name to learn more about their victory):
| Year | Winner | Prize | No. of Entries | Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Dan Smith | A$1,012,000 | 22 | A$2,200,000 |
| 2011 | Sam Trickett | A$1,525,000 | 38 | A$3,800,000 |
| 2010 | Dan Shak | A$1,200,000 | 24 | A$2,400,000 |
| 2009 | David Steicke | A$1,200,000 | 23 | A$2,300,000 |
| 2008 | Howard Lederer | A$1,250,000 | 25 | A$2,500,000 |
| 2007 | Erick Lindgren | A$1,000,000 | 18 | A$1,800,000 |
The 2013 Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge is set to kick off at 14:30 EDT (22:30 EST), and the PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be on the ground at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia to bring you all the updates. Meanwhile, Day 1a of the 2013 Aussie Millions Main Event is already underway, and you know we’re also bringing you live updates from that event. Just click here for those updates.
Let the Waiting Game Begin
We were supposed to kick off the action at 2:30 PM local time, but as is often the case with High Roller events, there's a delay as the tournament staff wait for the players. We've seen quite a few big-name players mulling about, and the tournament staff has informed us we'll be starting at 3:15 PM local time on the dot, which is just five minutes from now.
Level: 1
Blinds: 200/400
Ante: 0
The Specifics
Level 1
: 200/400, 0 ante
There are currently three tables in play for the $100,000 Challenge, but late registration and re-entries are available until the end of Level 6. Each player will start with 100,000 in chips, and the game will be played pot limit preflop and then no Limit post flop. Additionally, the first three levels will be 40 minutes and then switch to hour levels starting with Level 4.
The 2013 $100K Challenge Seating Chart
Level 1
: 200/400, 0 ante
The three tables are set to play seven handed, though all the seats aren't filled. Here's the current lineup:
| Seat | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Watson |
| 2 | Chris Lee |
| 3 | Eric Liu |
| 4 | Vanessa Selbst |
| 5 | -empty- |
| 6 | Gus Hansen |
| 7 | Fabian Quoss |
| 1 | Dan Shak |
| 2 | Martin Finger |
| 3 | Andrew Robl |
| 4 | John Juanda |
| 5 | Masa Kagawa |
| 6 | -empty- |
| 7 | Tony Bloom |
| 1 | Igor Kurganov |
| 2 | Tobias Reinkemeier |
| 3 | Sam Trickett |
| 4 | Philipp Gruissem |
| 5 | Jason Mercier |
| 6 | Winfred Yu |
| 7 | Jason Pritchard |
Starting with 100K
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
Early one for SirWatts
The stacks are deep, and there hasn't been much action here in the first level. However, we did catch a decent one between high rollers Mike "SirWatts" Watson and Vanessa Selbst.
In the hand, Selbst opened for 1,000 from the hijack only to have Watson three-bet to 3,300 from the small blind. Selbst called, the flop fell 
, and Watson continued for 3,000. Selbst called, and then wound up calling a bet of 6,600 on the 
turn. When the 
completed the board on the river, Watson took his time before betting 14,400, which proved enough to take down the pot as Selbst casually tossed her cards to the muck.
Both Selbst and Watson have had success in high rollers recently, with the former winning the 2013 PCA $25,000 High Roller Event a few weeks back for $1,424,420 and the latter winning €1,000,000 in the €50,000 Majestic High Roller during the World Series of Poker Europe back in October.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
111,000 | 11,000 |
|
|
89,000 | -11,000 |
Enter Mercier
Jason Mercier has entered the field and taken his seat over at Table 19. From what he told us, it wasn't his preferred table give the lineup.
| Seat | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Igor Kurganov |
| 2 | Tobias Reinkemeier |
| 3 | Sam Trickett |
| 4 | Philipp Gruissem |
| 5 | Jason Mercier |
| 6 | Winfred Yu |
| 7 | Jason Pritchard |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
100,000 |
Level: 2
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 0