Event #12: $100,000 Challenge
Day 1 Completed
2016 Aussie Millions
Event #12: $100,000 Challenge
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2016 Aussie Millions
Buy-in
98,000 AUD
Prize Pool
4,018,000 AUD
Entries
41
Level
19
Blinds
20,000 / 40,000
Ante
5,000
Chidwick & Rast Tie for Chip Lead Among 18 Survivors
Level 8
: 1,500/3,000, 500 ante
While the 2016 Aussie Millions Main Event kicked of on one side of the Crown Melbourne poker room, Day 1 of the prestigious $100,000 Challenge took place on the other. The first day of play attracted 29 players who accounted for eight reentries, which brought the total field up to 37 – down for last year's 70 entries.
However, late registration and reentries are open through the end of Level 9 on Day 2, so that number is sure to grow. As for Day 1 action, which encompassed eight one-hour levels, two players thrived in Stephen Chidwick and Brian Rast, who tied of the chip lead with 378,500 among the 18 survivors.
Others who bagged big were Connor Drinan (372,000), Jeff Rossiter (297,000), and Fabain Quoss (235,000).
The day started off rough for online pro Ben Tollerene, who lost a big pot to Phil Ivey early on and failed to recover. Tollerene was the first player to fall, but he promptly reentered and ended up bagging a healthy 275,500.
One player who did survive Antonio Esfandiari, who had a short and not at all sweet stay after he bluffed away his stack in Level 3. Esfandiari did not return. Others who had a rough go were Andrew Lichtenberger, who busted two bullets, and Ivey, who fell in the last level of the night after a big flush-over-flush hand.
Meanwhile, Russia's all-time money winner Igor Kurganov, who finished runner-up in the $25K Challenge the night before for AU$541,680, ended up firing four times. Nothing went right in the first three, but the fourth got him through Day 1 with 120,500.
Day 2 will commence at 2:00 p.m. local time on Monday with the plan of playing down to the final table. Late registration will remain open for the first level of the day, and chance are Ivey and some other fallen players will take another crack at the title. Stay tuned to PokerNews as we bring you all the latest and greatest from the 2016 Aussie Millions Poker Championships.
End-of-Day Chip Counts & Day 2 Table Draw
Level 8
: 1,500/3,000, 500 ante
| Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 1 | Erik Seidel | United States | 174,000 | 44 |
| 8 | 3 | Connor Drinan | United States | 372,000 | 93 |
| 8 | 4 | Paul Newey | United Kingdom | 59,500 | 15 |
| 8 | 6 | Ben Tollerene | United States | 275,500 | 69 |
| 8 | 7 | Mike McDonald | Canada | 215,500 | 54 |
| 8 | 8 | Fabian Quoss | Germany | 235,000 | 59 |
| 9 | 1 | Jason Mercier | United States | 143,500 | 36 |
| 9 | 3 | Brian Rast | United States | 378,500 | 95 |
| 9 | 5 | Byron Kaverman | United States | 148,000 | 37 |
| 9 | 6 | Stephen Chidwick | United Kingdom | 378,500 | 95 |
| 9 | 7 | Fedor Holz | Germany | 113,000 | 28 |
| 9 | 8 | David Peters | United States | 104,000 | 26 |
| 10 | 2 | Martin Jacobson | Sweden | 179,000 | 45 |
| 10 | 3 | Jeff Rossiter | Australia | 297,000 | 74 |
| 10 | 4 | Steve O'Dwyer | Ireland | 147,500 | 37 |
| 10 | 6 | Igor Kurganov | Russia | 120,500 | 30 |
| 10 | 7 | Sam Greenwood | Canada | 231,000 | 58 |
| 10 | 8 | Pratyush Buddiga | United States | 134,500 | 34 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
378,500 | 23,500 |
|
378,500 | 29,000 |
|
372,000 | 147,000 |
|
297,000 | -33,000 |
|
275,500 | 228,500 |
|
235,000 | 70,400 |
|
231,000 | -1,000 |
|
215,500 | -14,500 |
|
179,000 | -56,000 |
|
174,000 | -72,700 |
|
148,000 | -75,800 |
|
147,500 | 76,600 |
|
143,500 | 55,200 |
|
134,500 | 51,500 |
|
120,500 | -44,500 |
|
113,000 | -40,000 |
|
104,000 | 4,000 |
|
59,500 | -40,500 |
The Longest Preflop Hand
Level 8
: 1,500/3,000, 500 ante
The last hand of the night at the feature table was a long one. Ben Tollerene opened the button for 7,000 and small bind Connor Drinan three-bet to 22,500. Steve O'Dwyer in the big blind cold four-bet to 51,000 and Tollerene folded.
Drinan needed some time though and tanked for 30 seconds before tossing in a time breaker chip. When his minute of thinking was counted down, he needed some more time and tossed in his last time breaker chip. With just 3 seconds left he announced all in.
Steve O'Dwyer smiled of disbelief and had his half a minute count down before he as well tossed in his time breaker chip. In the end he folded and Drinan showed his 
.
Two More Hands
Level 8
: 1,500/3,000, 500 ante
Just two more hands are to be played, and the day is done. We'll report back to you with end of day chip counts and an extensive recap of today's action.
Tony G Sighting
Level 8
: 1,500/3,000, 500 ante
Tony G is on the rail, taking photos with fans. In the past he has played this event, but it doesn't have the looks of it like he's going to do so this year.
Greenwood Doubles Quoss
Level 8
: 1,500/3,000, 500 ante
Fabian Quoss opened for 7,500 from the hijack and action folded to Sam Greenwood in the big blind. The Canadian shoved all in and was beaten in the pot by Quoss.
Fabian Quoss: 
Sam Greenwood: 
The board ran out 
and Quoss received a full double up with just a few minutes left for the day.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
232,000 | -78,000 |
|
|
164,600 | 64,600 |
Juanda Sent Packing
Level 8
: 1,500/3,000, 500 ante
John Juanda opened the button and Sam Greenwood made the call from the small blind. The flop came 
and Greenwood checked. Juanda made a bet of 9,000 and Greenwood tossed in a big chip while announcing to make it 24,000.
Juanda thought about it for just 20 seconds or so and shoved all in for 79,600. Greenwood called immediately.
John Juanda: 
Sam Greenwood: 
The 
on the turn and 
on the river couldn't save Juanda and he made his exit with just 15 minutes of play left for the day.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
310,000 | 110,000 |
|
Busted |
Flush Over Flush Sends Ivey Out the Door
Level 8
: 1,500/3,000, 500 ante
Phil Ivey got off to a hot start in this tournament, but he cooled off as things dragged on.
In what would be his last hand — at least on his first bullet — Ivey called from the button after Jeff Rossiter had raised from the hijack and Fedor Holz flatted the cutoff. Both blinds folded, the flop came down 
, and Rossiter led out for 14,500.
Holz folded, Ivey called, and the dealer burned and turned the . Rossiter bet 32,000, Ivey called, and the 
completed the board on the river. Rossiter proceeded to move all in and Ivey wasted little time in dropping in his last 91,000. Rossiter rolled over the for a runner-runner flush, and Ivey flinched before showing a flush of his own, albeit an inferior one with the 
.
Ivey didn't appear to be interested in reentering tonight, but something tells us he'll take another crack at it tomorrow.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
330,000 | 118,000 |
|
Busted |
Newey Falls to Chidwick; Reenters Straight Away
Level 8
: 1,500/3,000, 500 ante
We missed the elimination of Paul Newey, but learned some details after the fact courtesy of Brian Rast. As he told it, Stephen Chidwick had opened with a raise holding 
and Newey defended his big blind with the .
The 
flop saw Newey check-call a bet of 6,000 and then get his last 25,000 all in when the 
turn gave him a flush. Chidwick put him at risk, and then scored the knockout when a paired the board on the river and improved him to a full house.
Newey immediately made his way to the registration desk to reenter and has been reseated at the feature table.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
355,000 | 207,000 |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |