Mustapha Kanit Crushes Day 1b
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Another day done and dusted in the Crown Poker Room as Aussie Millions Day 1b is now in the books. We saw 184 players pull up seats throughout the seven levels of play today to take our running total up to 396 – ahead of the 387 that were in contention at the same time last year. With the final Day 1 flight tomorrow, time will tell if the 732-player field from 2016 can be eclipsed.
Today was host to another showcase of exciting poker action and when all was said and done it was birthday boy Mustapha Kanit who emerged on top with 215,000. When the clock ticked past midnight Kanit’s birthday began and a mountain of chips seemed fitting as the perfect gift.
Kanit dominated his table today, picking off attempted bluffs and finding value in all the right spots. The Italian superstar has over $8.5 million in live cashes to his name and finds himself in a great position to add to that impressive total here this week.
Joining Kanit for Day 2 come Wednesday will be Rhys Jones who bagged up 159,800 by the conclusion of play. Fortune favoured Jones straight out the gate as he delivered the first knock-out blow in Level 1. In an unequivocally sick hand Jones sent a tablemate packing to establish himself as an early chip leader here on Day 1b. All of the chips went in on the turn with the board showing 
. Jones had flopped a full house with pocket eights but found himself behind on the turn to his opponent’s pocket jacks. Looking like all hope was lost Jones found the miracle case eight on the river to secure himself the monster pot and rocket to the lead.
Also still in the hunt from today’s batch are Andrew Hinrichsen (105,600), Jeff Rossiter (94,000), Billy Argyros (85,700), Ryan D’Angelo (68,400), Dario Sammartino (68,300), Alex Lynskey (62,200), Terrence Chan (58,900), Tyron Krost (48,500), Ryan Otto (45,000), Didier Guerin (44,700), Michael Kane (39,000), Melanie Weisner (24,400), Jarred Graham (22,000), Darryll Fish (18,000), Michael Addamo (12,100) and Liam O’Rourke (8,300).
While these lucky players secured themselves a seat on Day 2, many others fell by the wayside. Perhaps the most recognizable face in Australian Poker, 2005 WSOP Main Event champion Joe Hachem, was felted in Level 5. He got his short stack in preflop with ace-king against the pocket jacks of Andrew Hinrichsen but failed to improve.
Also sent hurtling to the rail was 2015 November Niner Federico Butteroni who was hit by a cold deck versus Michael Kane. Holding 
Butteroni found the last of it in the middle with the board reading 
. That was no good against Kane’s 
, however, and Butteroni couldn’t find a five on the end to keep his tournament alive.
For today’s survivors though it’s a day of respite tomorrow as a new group of players try their luck in the final flight on Day 1c. As always we’ll be back with all your live coverage needs so be sure to join us from 12:30pm local time to catch all the action!