2020 Aussie Millions

Fabian Quoss may term himself retired from the game of poker, but he showed he can still dominate when he does take the time to play an event. Day 1a of the Aussie Millions Main Event went exceptionally well for Quoss, as he sat down about halfway through the day and proceeded to run up a chip-leading stack of 187,100.

He had arguably the toughest table in the room, one that housed the likes of Ari Engel, Oliver Gill, Johannes Becker, Jeff Fielder and Benny Spindler at various times, but it didn't stop the German veteran from a crushing performance. Becker and Engel were actually among the players he busted, the former in a four-bet pot when his tens couldn't catch Quoss' queens and the latter in a cooler when Engel flopped a set and Quoss hit a straight on the river.

Quoss was among 72 players who made it through out of 160 entries on the first of three starting days. He certainly wasn't the only notable name advancing, either. Grant Levy, Igor Yaroshevskyy, Jorryt van Hoof and national legends Joe Hachem and Tony G also punched tickets to Day 2.

Tony G was grinding under the starting stack for much of the day, but a late heater saw him bag 107,800. Most crucially, he was dealt kings and saw a player four-bet all in from the blinds after he'd already three-bet an opener. Tony G called the shove and flopped top set against a set of jacks, fading the one-outer from there.

Hachem has made it through with the shortest stack, advancing with just 4,200.

Several big names found themselves less successful and on the rail. Among that number: Kenny Hallaert, Sosia Jiang, Martin Kozlov, Martin Jacobson, Jonathan Karamalikis and Bart Lybaert. As Aussie Millions is a freezeout event, they'll have to content themselves with trying to win some events if they hope to taste victory here at Crown Melbourne.

The Aussie Millions Main Event continues on Saturday with Day 1b, so come back to PokerNews for more coverage at 12:30 p.m. local time.

Max Lehmanski opened to 1,300 from the hijack and Joe Hachem three-bet to 3,800 on his left. Denis Zhang cold-called from the big blind and Lehmanski called as well.

The flop came down and Hachem fired 6,000 in position. Zhang check-shoved for about 27,000 and Lehmanski escaped. Hachem, however, was ready to spin as he held a gigantic draw with . Zhang tabled and his set avoided Hachem's outs as the rest of the board ran out and .

Each table will deal five more hands before chips are bagged to end Day 1a.

Johannes Becker's seat was empty and Fabian Quoss was sweeping a pot. Jeff Fielder said he started the action with an open to 1,500 and Becker flatted before Quoss made it 7,500. Fielder folded and Becker shoved for about 42,000. Quoss called holding and he held up on the flop, turn and river against .

Tomas Ribeiro was in the big blind, facing a 1,500-raise from the small blind. Ribeiro three-bet to 4,300 and he was called.

The flop brought a 2,300-bet from Ribeiro which his opponent check-called. Neither of them fired on the turn but the small blind led out 12,000 on the river. Ribeiro quickly called, but he looked into for the nuts.

Oliver Weiss opened early for 1,400 and called a three-bet from the big blind to 4,600. Both players checked the flop for a board of . The big blind check-called 6,800 and then checked the . Weiss shoved for 20,600 effective and that won him the pot.

Playing a big stack, Grant Levy wasn't scared to risk some of his chips in a preflop contest which saw his opponent spin for around 18,000. Levy trailed with against , but his live cards connected to the . Levy improved to roughly 130,000 while his opponent departed from the tournament area.

James Keenan was in the hijack, betting 3,000 into the pot on the flop of . Keenan was up against a player in the big blind, and he received a call.

The turn was the and Keenan bet 4,000, getting another check-call from his opponent.

The landed on the river and the final betting round was checked. Keenan announced an ace, confirming it by turning up the for the best hand.