Chip leader Rahul Rastogi picked up in the new level right where he left off — winning!
We're not sure of the specifics, but we do know Rastogi and an opponent got the chips in on a flop.
Rastogi:
Opponent:
Rastogi was ahead with his nines, but his opponent was drawing live to an over and open-ended straight draw.
"No aces, nine or four," Rastogi told the dealer, who obliged by putting out the on the turn followed by the on the river. With that, Rastogi notched yet another elimination and saw his stack grow to approximately 120,000.
Day 1a of the Aussie Millions will play eight-handed for the rest of the day. Actually, today's players will play eight-handed all the way down until 36 players remain. That's if they make it that far, of course!
With around 8,500 in the pot and a board reading , a player in middle position checked and online star Ola "Odd_Oddsen" Amundsgard bet 5,100 from the hijack. His opponent thought for a few moments before tossing in a call, but mucked just as soon as Amundsgard rolled over the for tens and eights.
We're not sure how he got them, but we can confirm that Rahul Rastogi is the first player to hit the 100,000-chip mark, which makes him our current chip leader.
Meanwhile, one table over, 2011 Aussie Millions champ and Australian Poker Hall of Famer David Gorr has taken his seat in the tournament. If you recall, Gorr topped a field of 721 players to win AU$2,000,000 four years back. We'll be keeping a close eye on both him and Rastogi heading into Level 4.
Thomas Muehloecker's stack has dipped below the 20,000-mark after he tried and failed with) the old check-raise manoeuvre on James Rann.
The flop was out as and Rann bet 1,500 from the button and called when raised to 4,500. Both players checked the turn before Muehloecker check-folded to a 4,500 bet on the river.
Maria Ho was in the midst of action for a lot of today, her stack roller-coasting as she went. Unfortunately she had one dip too many for her stack to cope with and busted.
She was rather unlucky though as she ran kings into the aces of WSOP Main Event runner up Felix Stephensen. She told PokerNews they were both in late position meaning it was impossible to get away from. She's not downbeat though and is looking forward to Australia Day festivities tomorrow before playing more events.
Back in November, Dylan Wilkerson topped a field of 166 players to win the World Poker Tour Emperors Palace Poker Classic for $147,509. Now, the well-respected pro is in Melbourne seeking another big score, and he's well on his way to doing it.
In a recent hand, a player opened for 600 and received a call from another player in middle position. Wilkerson then three-bet to 3,000 from the small blind, the initial raiser called, and the limped got out of the way to make it heads-up action to the flop, which they both checked.
When the appeared on the turn, Wilkerson led out for 4,500 and his opponent raised all in for roughly 13,000. Wilkerson called with the , which was well out in front of his opponent's . The river was of no consequence, and Wilkerson was pushed the juicy pot.
flop.
on the turn followed by the 
on the river. With that, Rastogi notched yet another elimination and saw his stack grow to approximately 120,000.
, a player in middle position checked and online star Ola "Odd_Oddsen" Amundsgard bet 5,100 from the hijack. His opponent thought for a few moments before tossing in a call, but mucked just as soon as Amundsgard rolled over the 
for tens and eights.
.
turn before Muehloecker check-folded to a 4,500 bet on the 
appeared on the turn, Wilkerson led out for 4,500 and his opponent raised all in for roughly 13,000. Wilkerson called with the 
, which was well out in front of his opponent's 
river was of no consequence, and Wilkerson was pushed the juicy pot.