The Antonio Esfandiari show is on the road! The One Drop winner just started a game of "Lodden Thinks" and the game is set up as following.
Esfandiari is putting up $1,000 of his own money to play against the other players at the table. The other five players each put up $200 and the first round went to Esfandiari.
The question who, "For how much money will Edward Kim shave his head?" and our own field reporter James Bernard was acting as Lodden. We are not sure of the amount they settled on, but the amount Bernard had in his head was much higher. He thought that it would take $25,000 and Esfandiari, who had the higher amount, won the first round.
"Honey, we're going to have a nice dinner tonight!" Esfandiari smiled to his girlfriend who brought over a kiss for more good luck. We will keep you updated on the prop betting that's going on here in the $25,000 Challenge.
The board read when Edward Kim bet 1,800 and Jonathan Karamalikis made the call. The river brought the and this time Kim check-folded to a bet worth 4,300.
The start of the day hasn't been all that good for Mike Watson who just lost another pot. Vanessa Selbst raised from the cutoff to 500 and Watson three-bet from the button to 1,500. Both blinds folded and Selbst four-bet to 4,400 and Watson called.
The flop brought out and Selbst bet 5,200 and Watson decided to fold his cards.
The flop read when Daniel Neilson checked to Mike Watson from the big blind. Watson sat on the button and bet 2,800. Neilson check-raised to 7,600 and Watson made the call.
On the turn the hit and Neilson checked again. Watson grabbed chips and fired out 11,600 and Neilson made the call.
The river brought the and both players checked. Watson showed but lost to Neilson's . Neilson is up early while Watson already lost a serious part of his stack.
Elio Fox is also among the late entrants in this event. The World Series of Poker Europe Main Event winner took his seat next to Edward Kim. Fox cashed in an earlier event here at the Aussie Millions when he took 21st in the $1,650 rebuy.
The third Australian player has joined the fun here in the $25,000 Challenge and it's none other than Jonathan Karamalikis. Karamalikis sat down to the left of Antonio Esfandiari and bumped the player field up to ten players.
The man from Adelaide had some recent succes in November 2012 when he won the High Roller event in Macau for $478,292. Today he's up for another challenge against a field similar to that he beat a few months ago.
There are plenty of players lingering around in the tournament area, none of which have taken a seat so far in the $25,000 Challenge. Late registration is open for four hours and we might see many more enter. Jake Balsiger, Sam Holden, Elliot Smith and Neil Channing are among the players that have been checking out the scene so far.