$25,000 Challenge
Day 1 Completed
2013 Aussie Millions
$25,000 Challenge
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2013 Aussie Millions
Buy-in
25,000 AUD
Prize Pool
723,000 AUD
Entries
30
Level
17
Blinds
8,000 / 16,000
Ante
2,000
Fabian Quoss Leads $25,000 Challenge Final Table
Level 13
: 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
It was a long, strenuous day for the players of the $25,000 Challenge, but after more than 12 hours of play, just five players are left. Fabian Quoss is the chip leader with 504,500, and he will have to shake off three friends and Erik Seidel in order to claim to title tomorrow. Nothing has been decided just yet, except for the fact that each of the five remaining players have locked up AU$51,000 in prize money.
The day started off slow with just eight players in the field to start, including Antonio Esfandiari. The World Series of Poker Big One for One Drop winner basically ran the show for the first six hours of play until he ran into his stack into the ground. Niklas Heinecker and Ole Schemion profited from Esfandiari's moves, and the two Germans remained atop the leader board for quite some time as the field size increased.
Other players that played, but failed to impress were WSOP Main Event runner-up Jesse Sylvia, Grant Levy, Jeff Rossiter and Vanessa Selbst. All those were knocked out quickly. In total, the event saw 30 entries from 27 players. Selbst, Joe Hachem and Fabian Quoss all put up AU$50,000 for this event, but it only worked out for the latter who is now chip leader.
With the final table in sight, we said goodbye to Mark Teltscher and Jonathan Karamalikis in ninth and eighth place, respectively. Schemion — who looked as though he might run away with the tournament at one point — was the next to go in seventh place. The young German played very aggressive, but his opponents seemed to catch on to him and not shy away from his antics.
The last remaining Australia player, Daniel Neilson, was knocked out on the bubble when he ran ace-nine into Heinecker's pocket kings. The Germans were unstoppable today — something of a theme here at the 2013 Aussie Millions — and Seidel is the only one left that can ruin the party. This is what the remaining five players will be playing for tomorrow as the final table kicks off at 5:00 p.m. local time.
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | AU$275,000 |
| 2 | AU$187,000 |
| 3 | AU$125,000 |
| 4 | AU$85,000 |
| 5 | AU$51,000 |
For now, we would like to wish you a good night and hopefully you will join us again tomorrow as a winner will be crowned. In the meantime, head over to the blog of the 2013 Aussie Millions Main Event that running deep into the morning hours.
Fab Five Chip Counts
Level 13
: 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
504,500 | 64,500 |
|
455,000 | |
|
293,000 | -17,000 |
|
126,000 | 23,000 |
|
120,000 | -5,000 |
Daniel Neilson Bubbles The $25K Challenge
Level 13
: 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
Daniel Neilson just ended up all in preflop against Niklas Heinecker. Neilson had 120,000 chips left and showed 
versus Heinecker's 
. The board ran out 
and Neilson was knocked out.
The last Aussie in the tournament left the room empty handed while five Germans and American will battle it out tomorrow!
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
455,000 | 75,000 |
|
Busted |
ICM? Aces!
Level 13
: 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
Pressure on the bubble is always a lot tougher than during any other time in a poker tournament. Igor Kurganov, the tournament chip leader, was trying to utilize his big stack but Fabian Quoss wasn't going to let himself get pushed around.
Quoss raised to 12,000 and Kurganov responded by three-betting from the button to 25,000. Quoss four-bet to 65,000 and Kurganov moved all in. This move put a lot of pressure on Quoss who was going to risk his tournament life in cash he would call. Quoss had pocket aces and he didn't need any time to make up his mind.
Quoss: 
Kurganov: 
The board ran out 
and Quoss received a huge double up! It's still anyones game here while we're one elimination away from the end of the night.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
440,000 | 214,000 |
|
|
310,000 | -235,000 |
Heinecker Puts Pressure On Gruissem
Level 13
: 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
From under the gun, Philipp Gruissem raised to 12,000. Niklas Heinecker called on the button, and the flop came down 
. Gruissem checked, and Heinecker bet all in. Gruissem folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
380,000 | 15,000 |
|
|
103,000 | -13,000 |
Cold Four-Bet from Kurganov
Level 13
: 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
Philipp Gruissem raised to 12,000 from the hijack seat, and Fabian Quoss three-bet to 25,000 on the button. In the big blind, Igor Kurganov four-bet to 62,500. Gruissem and Quoss both folded, and Kurganov won the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
545,000 | 22,000 |
|
|
226,000 | -5,000 |
|
|
116,000 | 14,000 |
Kurganov Regains The Lead
Level 13
: 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
Niklas Heinecker raised to 12,000 preflop and Igor Kurganov made the call. The flop showed 
and Heinecker fired out 18,500. Kurganov made the call and the turn showed the . This time Heinecker checked and Kurganov bet 30,000. Heinecker made the call and the turn brought out the 
. This time Heinecker check-folded to Kurganov who put out a big bet worth 82,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
523,000 | 78,000 |
|
|
365,000 | -105,000 |
It's Kurganov's Game
Level 13
: 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
With the money in sight it was just Igor Kurganov who pulled the trigger on two of his friends. Fabian Quoss raised to 12,000 from the button after which Niklas Heinecker three-bet to 32,000 from the small blind. Kurganov put in a cold four-bet to 75,000 and that was enough to take down the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
445,000 | 45,000 |
Heinecker Extends His Lead
Level 13
: 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
Erik Seidel raised to 12,000 from the button and Niklas Heinecker three-bet to 28,000 from the big blind. Seidel called and the flop brought 
. Heinecker fired out another 21,000 and Seidel folded his cards.
The money bubble is still in progress and play has slowed down considerably. The day will be done as soon as one more player busts out.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
470,000 | 28,000 |
|
|
125,000 | -27,000 |