January 2007 Archives

A cool quarter million bucks. That's what westmenloAA took home for his first place finish in the PokerStars Sunday Million. More than 2,700 players showed up for the $530 event and WestmenloAA took it all down without a deal. Final table results are below.

PokerStars Sunday Million Results

1. westmenloAA (United States) $254,517.60
2. maxout12 (Russian Federation) $129,404.00
3. GB2005 (United States) $85,669.60
4. mylo (United States) $70,584.00
5. aboli70 (Italy) $56,744.00
6. dominospizza (United Kingdom) $42,904.00
7. DoctorIn2010 (United States) $30,171.20
8. Blom21 (Finland) $19,099.20
9. frankie810 (United States) $11,072.00

Once again, two people in the PokerStars Sunday Million won six-figure prizes for their efforts in the world's biggest weekly poker tournament. Once heads-up, the players cut a quick deal to lock in the big cash. When it was over, Mazinho1977 scored first place and more than $164,000! Final table results are below.

PokerStars Sunday Million Results
Based on finishing order and two-way deal that left $30,000 for first place

1. Mazinho1977 (Germany) $164,009.00
2. UMTerp (United States) $121,852.00
3. brsavage (United States) $67,420.00
4. SUGAR5892 (United States) $53,936.00
5. roni99 (United States) $40,452.00
6. Iberico (Spain) $29,664.80
7. Tango44 (United Kingdom) $20,900.20
8. pokiQQ (Faroe Islands) $12,135.60

EPT Copenhagen winner: Magnus Petersson

by Simon Young

Swede Magnus Petersson has won the EPT Copenhagen, beating Team PokerStars' ElkY heads up to win €550,000. "This is a very good feeling," he said. "I played tight early on and then changed gears when it mattered."

ElkY had a commanding lead when they sat down together, but two hands turned the tables. First Petersson rivered a full house to beat ElkY's trips. He pushed all in with the nuts, and ElkY had to call.

Down to 800,000 compared to the Swede's 3.2 million, the end was nigh, and it come just a couple of hands later. With blinds up to 15,000-30,000, ElkY raised pre-flop to 85,000, Petersson called.

The flop came Q-7-6, with two hearts. Petersson checked, ElkY bet 150,000 and Petersson re-raised all in. ElkY called with A-J hearts for the nut flush draw, Petersson showed Q-6 for two pair. A heart was needed badly by the Frenchman. The turn was J spades, giving him a pair, so now any heart, ace or jack on the river would do. None came, instead the 10 clubs hit the felt.

Petersson, 29, from Stockholm, and playing in his first EPT event, punched the air with delight. ElkY was gutted. He had played aggressively throughout the event, but fell at the last.


Delight: Petersson celebrates

Petersson, a financial advisor who qualified for this tournament in Denmark in a PokerStars cash satellite, picks up a huge pay day, but will not be considering playing as a pro. "I may play a few more tournaments now, though," he said.

"I have no real plans for tonight - maybe a drink. My girlfriend lives a couple of hours from Stockholm and bought a car today, a BMW. This money will pay for it. I am a financial advisor, so I will now advise myself to invest in some stocks and bonds.

"The standard here was very high. Richard Toth was one of my toughest opponents, but there are a lot of tough players. On Day 2 I was on the same table with Martin Wendt, Peter Eichhardt and Johnny Lodden, who all had position on me!"

He went to explain his 7-2 all in bluff - which worked when a two hit the flop. "I decided at that time to be more aggressive when we were down to three players and to use my tight image. Toth raised on the button, and as I needed to get chips I wanted to get them off him. ElkY would have called me, and I thought Toth would fold a lot of hands to my bluff. Unfortunately he called!


ElkY and Petersson heads up

"But I won the hand, and that helped when we got heads up and I hit the full house. When I went all in I am sure that earlier bluff was in ElkY's mind when he called me."

Petersson will now play in the EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final, and may take in the new EPT Poland event in Warsaw in March, too.

An entertaining aside is that he plays online poker five days a week, but keeps clear his Fridays and Saturdays to allow time with his girlfriend. Hang on, though, didn't he win his seat here in a PokerStars cash satellite played on a Saturday? "Ah, yes, but she was away that day... luckily."

ElkY, meanwhile, sloped off from the casino dejectedly musing about would could have been. At least he has €309,000 in his back pocket to console him.

It's been a great event here. 400 players started, and it is always nice to a see a PokerStars online player picking up the first prize, as well as a Team PokerStars player taking second.


Flying the flag: winner Petersson

Here's how the final table unfolded:

8th, Anders Wijk, Sweden: €50,000


Anders Wijk

Anders pushed with A-J but found a caller in Richard Toth holding K-K. The flop of 5-6-7 failed to help - and a K on the turn sealed the young pro online player's fate. Before sitting down, he told me: "I'm not very good at tournaments. I have been lucky here." Nice to see some modesty in the game, but believe me, he is a good tournament player.

7th, Thomas Holm, Denmark: €70,000


Thomas Holm

Richard Toth claimed another scalp - this time Thomas Holm was shown the door. After some raising, the pair settled on seeing the flop of 7-8-9. Toth checked, and Holm moved all in for his remaining 200,000 chips with A-Q. He met an insta-call, Toth's pocket sevens for the set explaining why.

6th, Alexandre Poulain, France, PokerStars cash qualifier: €89,000


Alexandre Poulain

He moved all in with K-7 and was called by ElkY with A-Q and Magnus Petersson with an ace and lower kicker. The flop, 3-8-6, turn and river were checked by the other two all the way. ElkY's ace high with best kicker won the pot.

5th, Samir Shakhtoor, Sweden: €113,000


Samir Shakhtoor

No sooner had the dust settled on Alexandre's exit, than Samir was busted by ElkY as well. He got himself all in with A-3, called by ElkY's Q-Q. The flop was dealt slowly, and the first card we saw as an ace. Brief cheer, followed by Samir's groan as the second card was a Q for ElkY's set. Nothing changed after that, and Samir goes home with loads of cash to invest in his new online dating business.

4th, Theo Jorgensen, Denmark: €137,000


Theo Jorgensen

The Dane pushed pre-flop with A-A and Richard Toth - who had just lost a huge pot to ElkY - called with Q-9 hearts "following my gut instinct". What followed was brutal - 10-4-7, one heart, turn J hearts, river 10 hearts. Quite a good gut instinct, that.

Now they were down to three:


ElkY, left, Petersson and Toth

3rd, Richard Toth, Hungary: €180,000


Richard Toth

Knocked out by ElkY following two brutal outdraws in previous hands, one by the Frenchman, the other ny Petersson. Here, he and ElkY went on a pre-flop raising war, ending up all in. Toth was the short stack by some distance, and flipped over A-5, gutted to see ElkY's A-Q. The flop of 3-6-7 gave Hungarian Toth the gutshot straight draw, but nothing happened to improve his hand.

2nd, ElkY, France, Team PokerStars: €309,000


ElkY

After having his chip lead reversed by Petersson when his trips were overtaken by the Swede's full house on the river, ElkY was fighting an uphill battle. The end came after some pre-flop raising and a flop of Q-7-6 with two hearts. Petersson checked with Q-6 for two pair and moved all in when ElkY bet with A-J hearts for the nut flush draw. ElkY called, no help, and is the runner up.

Swedish financial advisor Magnus Petersson, 29, takes the EPT Copenhagen title and the small matter of €550,000.


I'm off to the bank: Magnus Petersson

And I'm off to bed. Hope you have enjoyed the coverage from Denmark.

Magnus Petersson has won a massive pot to take control in the heads-up battle with ElkY in Copenhagen. The pot was building after a flop of 7-10-2, another 2 on the turn and more money went in. Then a 3 on the river saw Petersson bet 70,000, ElkY re-raise to 220,000 and Petersson move all in over the top. Call.

Petersson had pocket threes for the rivered full house, ElkY showed A-2 for the trip. A massive pot swung the Swede's way. As it did so he jibed: "You shouldn;t play bad aces."

Petersson now has 3.2 million chips, ElkY is down to 800,000.

Third place: Richard Toth

by Simon Young

We are heads up! ElkY has knocked out Richard Toth in third place. The two went on a pre-flop raising war, ending up all in. Toth was the short stack by some distance, and flipped over A-5, gutted to see ElkY's A-Q.

The flop of 3-6-7 gave Hungarian Toth the gutshot straight. Could he repeat ElkY's unlikely gutshot that won him that huge pot - and possibly the title - an hour before? No. Although the turn of 8 gave him more outs for a straight, the river was a J.

Toth, from Hungary, takes home an impressive €180,000 for his efforts. He had played with style, and was unlucky to lose not only that earlier hand to ElkY, but the one soon after when he called an all-in 7-2 bluff from Petersson, only to see his ace high outdrawn by a 2 on the flop.

Team PokerStars' ElkY now has comfortable lead over Petersson, who qualified in a PokerStars cash satellite. ElkY is on 2,675,000, and Petersson on 1,310,000. Blinds are still 10,000-20,000, 2,000 ante.

A reminder of what they are play for:
1st €547,000
2ns €309,000.

2nd

Magnus Petersson needed a double up, so what better hand to push with than 7-2 offsuit? Yup, Toth had raised to 55,000, so Petersson moved all in over the top for 429,000.

Toth went into the tank, and reluctantly called with A-9. Petersson was horrified and looked up to the sky. But wait, what's this? Ah yes, a flop of 2-5-Q putting the Swede ahead. The following K and J kept him there and he doubled up to more than 850,000, sending Toth down to less than a million.

Note: Do not generally go all in with 7-2, folks!

Now armed with chips, Petersson re-reraised ElkY all-in, pushing the Team PokerStars' Frenchman off the pot.

ElkY, Petersson and Toth

by Simon Young

The last three players are now on a one-hour dinner break. After just two hours, we have lost five of our final contenders, and you have to suspect it will not be long before we have a winner.

ElkY, after that amazing pot when he rivered the nut straight against Hungary's Richard Toth, is chip leader with 2,126,000. As the break started, he revealed his thinking when playing 7-5 offsuit: "We were both deep, so I thought he would fold when I re-re-raised to 285k. Two big stacks against each other is not nice. I did not like his call, but I thought I could bluff him. When that did not work, I had to get the nuts. LOL."

But despite that devastating hand, Toth's outright aggression has seen him creep back up again to within striking distance. He has 1,217,000.

Sweden's Magnus Petersson, a PokerStars cash qualifier, is the short stack on 442,000. When they come back, blinds will be 10,000-20,000 with a 2,000 ante.

Theo Jorgensen

Richard Toth has just recovered some of his chips by busting Theo Jorgensen of Denmark. The Dane pushed pre-flop with A-A and Toth, after much dwelling, called with Q-9 hearts. What followed was brutal - 10-4-7, one heart, turn J hearts, river 10 hearts.

Toth's runner-runner flush leaves Jorgensen as our fourth place finisher, collecting €137,000.

Since then, Toth has been picking up a succession of pots to keep his recovery going. Magnus Petersson is the short-stack of the last three. He's keeping away from the action at the moment, perhaps sensing that ElkY and Toth will have one last, explosive clash to get him heads-up.

ElkY shows his relief after winning the pot

ElkY has just won the biggest pot of the tournament with 7-5 offsuit after rivering a gutshot straight against previous chip leader Richard Toth. But the way it happened left Toth speechless, and his stack decimated.

Before the flop ElkY raised with his dreadful cards to 45,000, Toth reraised to 116,000, ElkY re-reraised to 285,000 and Toth called. The pot was getting large. The flop was 4-3-J, checked by both players. The turn was a Q. Toth checked, ElkY bet 250,000, a huge semi-bluff. Toth called. The river was the magical 6. Toth checked, ElkY moved all in and Toth went into the tank.

What now? ElkY sat sipping his water, Toth tried to work out where he was at. Eventually he called. To his amazement, ElkY turned over 5-7 for the rivered gutshot straight. Toth said nothing as he mucked his cards, but his face said it all. Later at the table he revealed he had A-J.

ElkY is now runaway chip leader after raking in a pot of about about 2.5 million.

ElkY on the up and up

Team PokerStar' ElkY has eliminated two players in successive hands. First Alexandre Poulain, a PokerStars cash qualifier from France, moved all in with a K high (we did not see his second card). He was called by ElkY with A-Q and Magnus Petersson with an ace and lower kicker. Flop 3-8-6 and checked all way to the turn (4) and river (3). ElkY's ace high with best kicker won the pot.

Poulain finishes in sixth, collecting €89,000.


Alexandre Poulain

No sooner had the dust settled, than Samir Shakhtoor of Sweden was busted by ElkY as well. He got himself all in with A-3, called by ElkY's Q-Q. The flop was dealt slowly, and the first card we saw as an ace, brief cheer, followed by Samir's groan as the second card was a Q for ElkY's set. Nothing changed after that, and Samir goes back to his online dating business with €113,000.


Samir Shakhtoor and EPT TV presenter Natlie Pinkham

Players are on a ten-minute break. Chip counts:

Richard Toth: 1,683,000
ElkY: 1,285,000
Magnus Pettersson: 588,000
Theo Jorgensen: 430,000.

Thomas Holm

Richard Toth has claimed another scalp - this time it's Denmark's Thomas Holm who has been shown the door. After some raising, they settled on seeing the flop of 7-8-9. Toth checked, and Holm moved all in for his remaining 200,000 chips. He met an insta-call, Toth's pocket sevens for the set explaining why. The turn of 6 brought hope a straight and a split pot for Holm, bu the river of a K put paid to that. Holm leaves with €70,000.

Richard Toth is now challenging ElkY for the chip lead, with the blinds at 8,000-16,000 and a 2,000 ante.

Anders Wijk

Sweden's Ander's Wijk is our eighth place finisher. He pushed with A-J but found a caller in Richard Toth holding K-K. The flop of 5-6-7 failed to help - and a K on the turn sealed the young pro online player's fate. He takes home €50,000.

Just two hands later, Denmark's Theo Jorgensen pushed all in for his remaining 85,000. That man Toth again called. Theo had A-K, Toth Q-10. The flop was K-3-4, no worries for Theo, but the turn was a Q, raising his heartbeat somewhat. The river, a 9, saved his Danish bacon.

Play on the final table up until then had been tight, a series of raise and then fold-all-round affairs. Any action had generally involved the aggressive Hungarian Toth, who twice pushed Thomas Holm off pots.

Waiting for the winner

by Simon Young

After three and a bit days, we are down to the last table of eight from the 400 starters. Top of the pile is our own ElkY but, as we have seen countless times before, anything can happen - and it probably will. Here are the finalists:


ElkY, 26, France (Team PokerStars): 1,086,000

ElkY was a highly successful professional gamer until a friend suggested he test his skills by taking up poker. He quickly proved just how skilful he was by qualifying for the WSOP two years running. He joined Team PokerStars last summer. Never without his trademark sunglasses, ElkY has an impressive gaming background (2nd in the first World Cyber Games) but poker has proved a lot more profitable. He cashed at EPT3 Baden in October, coming 16th for €12,578 and is a prolific online player. He said: "With gaming, I could practice 12 hours a day, but if I lost the game, the value would be zero. However, in poker every hour has some benefit."


Richard Toth, 24, Hungary: 814,000

Richard burst onto the scene in the last year, including a superb second in the World Series of Poker $1,500 No Limit event in the summer. That result got him $330,000, but he made another big cash by winning the Austrian Classics €3,000 European Masters Event in October, pocketing another €100,000. This is his third EPT - but the first time he has made it through the first day.


Magnus Petersson, 29, Stockholm, Sweden, (PokerStars cash qualifier): 622,000

Financial advisor Magnus has been playing poker for three years, mainly online, although he is planning to play in more live tournaments from now on. His biggest win to date was $35,000 online but he also cashed at last year's WSOP, coming 438th for $30,000. This is his first EPT - he qualified online with PokerStars in a $530 cash satellite.


Thomas Holm, 30, Copenhagen Denmark: 409,000

Thomas has been playing poker for three years but his final table appearance here in his home city is his biggest poker success to date. This is his first EPT - although he did qualify for last summer's WSOP. Since becoming a dad four months ago, Thomas has been based at home - but used to work as an IT salesman.


Samir Shakhtoor, 30, Malmo, Sweden: 367,000

Samir has only been playing poker two years but has already had some impressive wins including $209,000 in a Foxwoods WPT event in November 2005. He also cashed at EPT3 London, coming 29th for £5,940. His day job is running an online dating site he founded two months ago. He said: "It's actually in Denmark and I commute here from Malmo. No, I do not have a girlfriend but actually I do not date online - I'm still more of the bar type!"


Theo Jorgensen, 34, Copenhagen, Denmark: 305,000

Theo first came to the poker world's attention at EPT2 Deauville where he came fourth for a win of €118,300, showing not just his poker skills but proving he is one of the best chip rifflers on the circuit. He has been playing poker for ten years and turned professional six years ago. He is also distinguished by his famous mushroom-shaped beanie hat. He bought it in Switzerland and started wearing it in Deauville so it has become something of a mascot. He said: "I only wear it when I really need it, so I didn't wear it here for the first two days - but when skill goes out, and luck comes in, then I need my hat. So I'll be wearing it today."


Anders Wijk, 24, Stockholm, Sweden: 255,000

Pro for three years, mainly playing cash games online. Only recently started tournament play. One significant cash coming 7th at the Nordic master of Poker in Sweden last April for €24,000. This is his third EPT this season - he fell just short of the money at EPT3 Dublin, and went out in the first two hours in Baden. "I don't think I have the skills for tournament play. I've been very lucky here." A good player, but modest with it.


Alexandre Poulain, 31, Paris, France (PokerStars cash qualifier): 128,000

Alexandre rode the poker rollercoaster on Day 2 of EPT3 Copenhagen - turning a sickly pile of chips into a final table stack. When Alexandre is not running his discount electronics store in Paris, he - like everyone in his family - is a keen online player with PokerStars. He is also a regular at the Aviation Club which is where he won his first major tournament, picking up the Pot Limit Omaha title - and €25,000 - at the European Finals of Poker Masters last month. A huge football fan, he is wearing the French shirt for his final table appearance.


Ready for the players

Out in ninth: Cole Morrow

by Simon Young

PokerStars qualifier Cole Morrow has busted in ninth, one place off making the final table.

Canadian Cole, a communications student, won his seat here with his frequent player points and goes home with €30,600.

He was the day's short stack, but survived countless all ins and saw three other players eliminated before biting the dust himself. He found A-10 under the gun and pushed his last 94,000 over the line. Theo Jorgensen, a master of chips tricks, folded, but Thomas Holm called - after asking the rest of the table if they wanted to call, too.

No one replied, and Holm pushed his 94,000 in. Everyone else did pass, although Anders Wijk, on the big blind, seemed to have a tough decision before chucking his cards away.

Showdown. Over went Cole's A-10, and agonosingly for him, over came Holm's A-K. The flop came K-10-6, giving both the pair, but Holm was dominating the Canadian. He needed another 10 but the turn was a J, adding a Q to his wish list on the river. It didn't come, instead a 5 nestled next to the other cards.

So now we are down to the last eight. We'll have all their details and the final table chip counts just as soon as we can.

Jan Sjavik: Out in tenth

Norway's Jan Sjavik is out in tenth place. On the hand that blinds went up to 8,000-16,000 with 2,000 ante, he pushed from the small blind with K-5 spades. Only Thomas Holm in the big blind stood in his way, but he found 7-7 and called Sjavik's 95,000 bet.

Sjavik needed help, but the savage flop of 7-6-6 gave Denmark's Holm the full house. The turn and river were of no consequence, and Sjavik takes home €30,600 for his efforts.

2.50pm - local time

ElkY, France: 1,200,000
Magnus Petersson, Sweden: 800,000
Richard Toth, Hungary: 520,000
Theo Jorgensen, Denmark: 390,000
Samir Shakhtoor, Sweden: 250,000
Thomas Holm, Denmark: 225,000
Alexandre Poulain, France: 180,000
Jan Sjavik, Norway: 150,000
Cole Morrow, Canada: 150,000
Anders Wijk, Sweden: 140,000

by Simon Young

Twenty minutes in, and Team PokerStars' ElkY has just busted TWO players in one hand with pocket aces. Mark Petersen and Erik Lindberg, both from Sweden, got sucked in with Q-9 spades and A-K diamonds respectively.

He soars in chips, as has Theo Jorgensen who has doubled up and Jan Sjavik who did the same. Anders Wijk is now down on chips as a result.

Hold on to your hats, this is going to be a spectacular ride.

Looking strong: ElkY

by Simon Young

Welcome back for the final day of the EPT Copenhagen, when 12 players will return to try and reach the final table, and then push on to claim the first prize of about €550,000.

The weather outside here in Denmark is again wet and bleak. No better place to be, then, than inside the Copenhagen Casino for some of the best action in town.

Chip leader Richard Toth, from Hungary, will surely have slept well after the late finish last night. He has 611,000 chips, but is not that far ahead of Sweden's Anders Wijk with 562,000.

Team PokerStars' ElkY - Bertrand Grospellier from France - starts in third place with 455,000. He had one of those incredible "up and down" days yesterday after starting with only 14,000, well below the room average.

However, he shot out of the starting blocks and started rising through the field - first up to 25,000, then 50,000 and quickly to 185,000. Some setbacks saw him yo-yo down and up again before he used his aggression to take advantage of players looking to consolidate their cash positions. That late charge saw him end the night looking strong enough to mount a serious challenge today.


Chip leader: Richard Toth

Toth, however, will be a difficult nut to crack. He has burst onto the scene in the last year, including a superb second in the World Series of Poker $1,500 No Limit event in the summer. That result got him $330,000, but he made another big cash by winning the Austrian Classics €3,000 European Masters Event in October, pocketing another €100,000.

The Hungarian crept up almost unnoticed yesterday, as did Anders Wijk. He is more inexperienced, although he finished a credible seventh at the Nordic Masters of Poker in Sweden last April for a €22,000 pay day.

We have four PokerStars qualifiers still in this hunt. While Sweden's Magnus Petersson and Erik Lindberg are more comfortable in chips, France's Alexandre Poulain, on 166,000, needs to find some action.


Having a ball: Cole Morrow

Bottom of the pile, but having the time of his life, is Canadian student Cole Morrow. He won his seat here in Denmark in a PokerStars frequent player point satellite, so is effectively here for nothing. In return he will get at least €24,000 today.

With blinds starting at 6,000-12,000 and 1,000 ante, he does not have the luxury of waiting for a good hand. Looking relaxed and sipping coffee at the bar just now, he said: "I think you will see me making a move with any picture card quite early on. I had a great day yesterday - doubling up against ElkY at one point, and then winning a three-handed all in with my K-K.

"Whatever happens, I have had a great experience here."

This blogger's tip for the title at the start of yesterday's play, Norway's Jan Sjavik, is still in, but on 128,000. It looks tough for him get back in good shape, but Sjavik has had a run great result recently, including third in the London EPT last September, and a final table at the Masters Classic in Amsterdam.


Jan Sjavik


Magnus Petersson


Samir Shakhtoor


Erik Lindberg


Alexandre Poulain


Anders Wijk


Theo Jorgensen


Thomas Holm


Mark Petersen

by Simon Young

Play has now finished for the night, with 12 players coming back tomorrow. They will fight it out for the eight places on the final table later in the day.

It's been an exciting Day 2 of the EPT Copenhagen, with ElkY still in and flying the Team PokerStars flag. Not only that, but FOUR PokerStars qualifiers also remain in the hunt: Magnus Petersson, Erik Lindberg, Alexandre Poulain and Cole Morrow (who is here on frequent player points).

The first prize is a spectacular €550,000, give or take a few cents.

CHIP COUNTS:

Richard Toth, Hungary: 611,000
Anders Wijk, Sweden: 562,000
ElkY, France: 455,000
Magnus Petersson, Sweden: 428,000
Samir Shakhtoor, Sweden: 368,000
Erik Lindberg, Sweden: 344,000
Theo Jorgensen, Denmark: 339,000
Thomas Holm, Denmark: 299,000
Mark Peterson, Denmark: 195,000
Alexandre Poulain, France: 166,000
Jan Sjavik, Norway: 128,000
Cole Morrow, Canada: 91,000

And to view the cash placings so far, click HERE.

It looks like that with just ten minutes to go in this level, the tournament will be stopped and the 12 remaining players will return tomorrow to fight for the eight final table places.

If that is the case, then we will get you their chip counts, plus a full list of those who have made the money so far as soon as possible.

No one wants to make a mistake at this stage, with just 12 players left. PokerStars qualifier Alexandre Poulain was a relieved man, then, when his A-J overtook Anders Wijk's 9-9 on the river to double him up. He's on about 200,000 now.

It's still not clear if we can get down to the final eight tonight.

The good news for us hard-working bloggers is the party in the next room has finally finished. This sneaky shot I took of just a SMALL portion of the bar area may explain why it was such a noisy affair....

Shumthing tellsh me it was a good night

Out: T J Cloutier

by Simon Young

T J Cloutier has been eliminated in 20th place. Shortstacked after missing a flush draw (though he also had a pair), he pushed in a battle of the blinds with Jan Sjavik. T J, in the small blind pushed all in with his remaining 40,000 or so with K-3 hearts. Sjavik called with 3-3. The flop was 9-Q-7 rainbow, followed by a 5 and a 7. No help, and the legend departed with a 76,032 Danish Kroner pay day, about €10,000.

Sjavik, from Norway, who was my pick for this title at the start of the day (honest!), moves up to a menacing 190,000.

Meanwhile PokerStars qualifier Cole Morrow from Canada, who got here for free using his frequent player points, is having a fantastic run in his first ever major tournament. He started the day with just 14,000, but has grown in confidence, and just survived a three-way all-in pot with K-K against a A-J and A-Q to move up to over 160,000. Two more qualifiers took the hit - Peter Fischer, who was busted, and Anton Smolyanskiy, who survives comfortably enough.

ElkY is now up to 245,000 and looking reasonably relaxed in his shades, and toying with his little scorpion chip protector.


Huge pot: Magnus Petersson

PokerStars qualifier Magnus Petersson has just won possibly the biggest pot of the night against Simon Mycock. Petersson's Q-Q saw him all in on the 3-J-10 flop against Mycock's A-J. The turn of a K gave Mycock a few more outs, but the river 2 changed nothing. Petersson is now up to over 500,000. Mycock has shrivelled to 40,000.

Jonas Helness is OUT running his A-Q into fellow Swede Anders Wijk's Q-Q. It was a monster 380,000 pot that sent Wijk spinning to the top of the leaderboard.

We are now down to 23 players and may soon be without T J Cloutier, who has taken successive hits to his stack - now down to 60,000. He got in a huge tangle with PokerStars qualifier Anton Smolyanskiy that cost him just short of 180,000. Anton had A-Q against T J's A-4 with the flopped ace and a flush draw. T J has now been moved to ElkY's table.

The casino here in Copenhagen has to close by 3am under local law. It's nearly midnight and so touch and go that we will get down to the desired eight players before we are all kicked out.

In the press room, packed with about 30 assorted journalists and bloggers, there are green-with-envy eyes as a boozy party is being held right next door. Now that really is cruel.

We are down to 32 players and the last four tables. With the intention of getting down to a final of eight players, we could be in for a very long night.

So, with plenty of play left, and blinds at 3,000-6,000 with a 600 ante, there are plenty of chunky stacks, yet no one is running away with the lead at this stage.

Team PokerStars' ElkY continues his up and down day, and is now up to 230,000. He shot up again after his Q-Q not only held up against A-K, but improve further to a set on the flop. T J Cloutier is on 245,000 and looking as fresh as he did when he first walked into the room.

Lucky boy: Jonas Helness

One of the luckiest players still in is Jonas Helness, who faced elimination when all in on a flop with the UK's Iwan Jones. Jones had flopped a set of threes, miles ahead of Helness' pocket nines. As if by magic, the third nine came out on the turn, putting the Swede over 230,000. Jones, meanwhile, was left to reflect with his remaining 50,000 or so.

We have said farewell to PokerStars qualifier Harrison Williams, from Delaware in the US, who left us in 35th place, and a cash position. He had played superbly for two days, but got bogged down in the last few levels.

Gone, too, is England's Nick Slade, who lost that huge pot with Q-Q against T J Cloutier's A-A.

Others still with hefty stacks include PokerStars qualifier Magnus Petersson, from Sweden, and Simon Mycock from the UK. Both are on about 220,000.

Ireland's Roy Brindley, who was up to 155,000 a couple of hours ago, is now stuck on the 80,000 mark. And John Shipley, who lost a K-K v A-A battle to leave him seemingly down and out, is creeping back up, now to 80,000.

by Simon Young

The bubble has burst, and the unfortunate player out in 41st place - the last before the money is paid out - was Norway's Hilmar Tveit. Short stacked, he looked down to find A-Q and decided it was "now or never". Called by an A-8, he had a great chance to double up and make the cash.

Alas! An 8 on the flop sealed his fate, and he was walking to the rail with sympathetic applause ringing in his ears. Some of the players clapping, however, may have been doing so relief.

I'll get my coat: Hilmar Tveit is off

Elsewhere, T J Cloutier has now got up to 215,000. A class act, and it is showing. And Team PokerStars' ElkY is causing this blogger all sorts of problems. No sooner have I reported his rise, then his quick fall, than I have to report his rise again. That's right, the yo-yo Frenchman is now back up to 180,000 once more.

PokerStars qualifier Branislav Pajic, here from Canada with his brother, fell soon after the bubble in 40th place, and collects 41,472 Danish Krona (about €6,000).

Congratulations to the remaining players.

I love a big pair: T J Cloutier

by Simon Young

T J Cloutier has just risen to the dizzy heights of 170,000 chips after finding K-K and then A-A in successive hands. The K-K saw off A-K, then the bullets allowed him to get all in with England's Nick Slade, who held Q-Q. Two huge pots, then, have changed the face of the big man's tournament.

Slade went from riches to rags - doubling up with aces an hour ago, then losing it to aces after being moved on to the TV table. "I couldn't lay down the queens to T J," he said, "especially as he had kings the hand before."

And now for the curse of the blogger. No sooner had I posted gleefully about ElkY's seemingly unstoppable rise - a bit like a container ship - he was, er, stopped. The Frenchman has now fallen back to about 90,000 after being up to 185,000 not too long ago. No details of his downfall yet.

PokerStars qualifer Magnus Pettersen from Sweden is joining the race for the top spots, and now sits on 130,000.


On a roll: Magnus Petersson

Players are now on a dinner break, and 44 remain. It's more or less bubble time, but there has been no sign of a slowdown in the pace of the knockouts.

Ship it: ElkY

by Simon Young

Team PokerStars' ElkY is on one of those hot runs poker players dream of. Starting today on just 14,000 chips, he has now soared to more than 160,000. The Frenchman, well known for his online game, has been splashing around in a succession of pots and, like a huge container ship, looks very difficult to stop.

One early gain saw him take a huge pot off Troels Berg. on a flop of 8-4-7 and turn of J, ElkY bet 7,500 and met a call. When the river came a 3, Berg bet 25 and ElkY made a great call, showing K-J for the winner. Berg muttered something and mucked.

Soon after, ElkY won another biggie, taking on a shorter stack pushing with 8-8. ElkY had K-Q suited and the queen on the flop sealed another win. A minor setback followed when his K-J was no match for A-10. Two aces on the board was a bit of overkill.

Another big winner was England's Nick Slade, he pushed with A-A and got a call from unlucky PokerStars qualifier John Shipley, holding K-K. No help, and a mountain of chips moved Slade's way, sending him to more than 130,000. Shipley's strangled cry of anguish was the most emotion he has shown in two days of play.


Man with the bullets: Nick Slade

Meanwhile PokerStars' T J Cloutier is still on the feature TV table, making it difficult for us to count his stack. But, reckon it to be about 59,700, give or take a bit. Another PokerStars high-flyer is Peter Fischer, who cash twice in last summer's WSOP. He's on 153,000.


Big stack: Peter Fischer

Blinds are currently 1,500-3,000 with a 300 runing ante. Some 50 players remain, and with the cash positions starting in 40th, expect a slight slowdown in the carnage as the bubble approaches.

by Simon Young

The end of another level, and the end of the tournament for another bunch of players. Now just 78 remain as we head for level 12, with blinds kicking in at a hefty 1,000/2,000 and a 200 ante.

T J Cloutier had continued to impress with his steady climb, losing the odd chunk of chips, but then happily raking them back in again just a few hands later. But he has just taken two big hits, leaving him with 30,000. In one hand the flop came Jd-6s-3s. His opponent bet 10,000, T J reraised to 20,000 - and then folded when when the other guy pushed all in. T J showed the table Q-Q, the other guy obligingly showed A-J spades. So T J had been ahead, but his opponent had a great draw to improve. Our man now moves to the TV feature table.

Simon Mycock

The lead is chopping and changing, but Simon Mycock, a Brit now living in Denmark, seems to have it at the moment after concocting a stack of 160,000. Ireland's Roy "The Boy" Brindley is also on the move, with 150,000 behind him. PokerStars qualifier John Shipley, who I have not seen say a thing in two days, remains in contention with 78,000.


Roy Brindley


Team PokerStars' ElkY has continued to improve and now has 80,000, but PokerStars qualifier, plumber Brian Cook, is sunk. He chased his first flush draw of the tournament and was flushed down the pan.


ElkY

Taking over: Anders Wijk

by Simon Young

It's utter carnage here in Copenhagen, with more than 60 playes walking the plank in the first two levels of Day 2, leaving 92 to fight on. It's the Scandinavian way, apparently, they are only interested in winning rather than settling for a cash place.

That makes for a chaotic room with huge pots moving around the tables, all-ins on a frighteningly regular basis, and cries and whoops as the move either works or falls flat on its face.

Among all the excitement, we have lost Team PokerStars' Tom McEvoy and Luca Pagano. Tom had been short-stacked and pushing all in for a while trying to find that elusive double up. Up to 16,000, he called an all in with A-K but could not improve against 7-7. Luca lost some momentum to lose a large slice of his stack before falling when his K-Q came up against J-J.

ElkY, however, is looking confident and guided his stack up from less than 20,000 to more than 50,000. He has now joined the table of overnight chip leader, Swede Bastian Landehagen, who has had a torrid start today, losing half his stack to Anders Wijk, who for now takes the chip lead.

Other players falling include Johnny Lodden, Peter Eichhardt, Martin Wendt and Dave Colclough.

PokerStars qualifier Harrison Williams, from the United Stars, is on T J Cloutier's table and up to 80,000. Other big movers are Cloutier himself, Denmark's Christian Grundtvig, PokerStars qualifier John Shipley from the UK, Simon Mycock and Ireland's Roy Brindley.


Harrison Williams


Christian Grundtvig

Stacking the chips: T J Cloutier

by Simon Young

T J Cloutier has had a dream start to Day 2, winning a huge pot when he got all in pre-flop with aces against his opponent's pocket jacks. No help on the board for the other guy, and T J, who qualified for this event on PokerStars, gathered in a huge pot to take him over 60,000. It's not the news other players in room wanted to hear.

Action in the early stages has been frenetic, with players fighting with each other like cats in a bag. In the first 15 minutes we lost 16 players as cries of "All in" rang around the card room. The number out soared to 40 after an hour.

Short-stacks finding anything half-decent from the dealer were pushing, hoping for the double up that would enable them to at least play some thoughtful poker.

For some it worked, like England's Nick Slade, whose Q-Q stood up against an up and down straight draw. And France's Patrick Bueno took his chance with 7-7, which held up against A-J. But for others, like PokerStars qualifier Boris Shostack, a mettalurgist from the US whom we first met at the EPT Baden in October, there was no such luck. With just 15,000 or so, he chose to push with A-Q but found a caller with the dominating A-K. A king on the flop sealed his fate.

The table-drawing Gods have construed to put chip leader Bastian Landehagen and second-placed Erlund Melsom on the same table. They spent the first few rounds of cards staring at each other, sizing each other up. No big clashes yet.


So who has been pinching the antes?: Luca Pagano

Elsewhere, there are contrasting fortunes for our Team PokerStars players. Italy's Luca Pagano is showing ruthless aggression, re-raising and leading out when he sniffs weakness. He is now up to over 30,000, and has a huge pile of black 100 chips - a sign that he is snapping up the table's 100 antes on a regular basis. On one hand he was raised in the big blind by Norway's Jan Sjavik - a dangerous player. Suspecting a simple steal Luca moved over the top and collected the pot.

ElkY has been busy, adding about 8,000 to his stack, and sits on 24,000 or so. But Tom McEvoy, who told me just before the start that he was desperate for some early cards, has not had his prayers answered just yet. He's down to 9,000 now and will have to make a move very soon.

On the Scandinavian Table of Death, Johnny Lodden, Martin Wendt and Peter Eichhardt seem to be avoiding each other, but taking every opportunity to attack the rest of the table.

Cards, please: Tom McEvoy

by Simon Young

Team PokerStars' Tom McEvoy sits down today with just 13,500 chips, and "wishing I had a few more". He sat patiently at his table throughout yesterday's Day 1B and was frustrated by a lack of decent starting cards.

And he is itching to get going today. First into the card room before play started, he was looking for his table to get settled before the others arrived. "Yesterday was a bit frustrating. I went up to 13,000 after level one but never went above 15,000 after that. So up in level one, but down up and down for the next seven." And he can be specific about these things - watch closely and you will see him write his chip count on a scrap of paper at the end of each level.

Tom is a world poker name. He won the World Series of Poker Main Event in 1983, and has been a prolific author, with T J Cloutier, of poker books. He is a class act, but everyone needs their fair share of cards to move up the leaderboard. Tom explained: "I had no cards all day, maybe three big pairs - tens, jacks and queens. I remember getting A-K once, maybe. I therefore had to make a couple of little plays to get chips, and did well on one hand where I flopped a set with a low pair.

"Now I have to get moving. The blinds are starting high today at 400-800."

Is this his first European poker experience? "Well it's my first EPT event. I have played in the Aviation Club in Paris, Dublin and the Isle of Man before, but this is the first actual EPT event.

"I found the play early on a little tighter than I expected, but late in the day the Scandinavians were playing much more aggressively which, of course they are known for. I really wished I had the hand to catch one of them out!

"I may not have finished yesterday with as many chips as I would have wished, but it has been great fun."

Chip leader: Bastian Landehagen

by Simon Young

The fighters are heading to the card room for the bloody battle that awaits. Day Two of the EPT here in Copenhagen will see the gladiators using their fearsome skill and weapon of choice - the huge chipstack. The victims? The shortstacks, thrown into the arena with little protection, and apparently no hope of survival. But, as Martin Wendt from Denmark showed yesterday, anything can happen. He was down and seemingly out with just 1,800 at one stage before fighting gallantly to finish on a healthy 47,400. He is one to watch today.

Chipleader is diminuitive young Swede Bastian Landehagen with 98,400. Although he undoubtedly has the skill, and his armoury is the biggest of all, you would not back him in a real life fight. In fact, I don't think he'd last five minutes.

PokerStars qualifiers are doing us proud. Brent Wheeler, from Illinois, is starting in third place with 74,000, while Italy's Marco Lucidi (he should be good at gladiatorial contests) is fourth with 69,700 and Anton Smolyanskiy from the US is not far behind in fifth.

Team PokerStars' Luca Pagano, Tom McEvoy and ElkY also safely through. Luca, from Italy, is bang on average in chips, but the other two need to find some early cards to get going.


T J Cloutier

We have one special PokerStars qualifier who quietly moved up the field yesterday to finish with just under 40,000. Mr T J Cloutier won his seat here in a PokerStars cash satellite and showed the young guns of Scandinavia just how to play well with little fuss. He has a future in this game, that lad.

The table draw has been made there is one intriguing Scandinavian Table of Death. Facing each other will be some big-hitters - Norway's Johnny Lodden, Martin Wendt from Denmark, Sweden's Peter Eichhardt and fellow Swede Magnus Peterssen, a PokerStars qualifier who played well yesterday to finish with 39,400.

Play is due to start at 2pm local time with blinds at 400-800 and 100 running ante. Some 154 players are left to enjoy the hour-long levels, but with the shortest stack on just 3,300, that number will reduce fairly swiftly.

We'll bring you all the action as it happens.

Gus Hansen is the new Aussie Millions champion, with Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke in second place. The heads up battle ended at 9pm.

1st place $1.5 million Gus Hansen
2nd place $1 million Jimmy Fricke
3rd place $700k Andy Black
4th place $500k Julius Colman
5th place $400k Hans Martin Vogl
6th place $ 300k Marc Karam
7th place $220k Kristy Gazes

by Alison Lightman.


Gus Hansen is the new Aussie Millions 2007 champion. He has knocked out Pokerstars' own Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke with pocket Aces, claiming the title and the $1.5 million dollar first prize.


Jimmy earns $1 million dollars for his absolutely superb performance in only his third major tournament, and he certainly made the feared Danish player, who counts four WPT titles among his string of multi-million dollar major tournament victories, work very hard for his money.
It happened at 9pm.

Jimmy limped on the button and Gus made it 350k more. Jimmy called and they saw the flop come down, Q 8 6 with two diamonds.
Gus led out for 400k, and Jimmy pushed all in, instantly getting a call.
Gus turned over (nearly) everyone's favourite hand, AA, and the look of disappointment on young Jimmy's face was heart-breaking. He turned over 7c 9c, giving him an up and down straight draw and a back door flush draw.
The crowd went beserk in the poker room, cheering as if the players could hear them all the way from the bar to the tv studio table.
The turn came the 2c, increasing Jimmy's outs and prompting a wry smile as if he hardly dared to hope.
The river card was a spade, the 9, and it was over.
Still, there can't been too many nineteen year old poker players with a story to rival Jimmy's - engaging one of the world's most feared poker legends in a two-hour heads up duel, and being busted to the rail by his opponent's pocket Aces.
**update**8.47
Another million chips have moved from Jimmy Fricke's stack into Gus Hansen's. Gus called the blind and Jimmy checked to see a flop, K 2 Q, rainbow. Jimmy checked and Gus bet 125k. Jimmy paid the extra and the turn was 9d. Jimmy bet 400k and Gus called to see the river, Ah. Jmmy checked again but called Gus' bet of 1.1million. Gus showed J 10 for an Ace high straight, Jmmy mucked.
**update** 8.46pm
Jimmy Fricke has lost 800k to Gus Hansen. Jimmy raised 350k from the button pre flop and Gus called. The flop was A A 3, with two hearts. Gus checked and Jimmy bet 400k and Gus called. The turn was a third heart, the 10, and both players checked. The river was Kc and both players checked again, Gus showing 4h 2h for a flush. Gus has about twice Jimmy's stack.
**update**8.38pm
Jimmy Fricke has taken a 3 million dollar pot from Gus Hansen. Gus limped and Jimmy checked to see a flop which came 5 5 K. Jimmy led for 175k and Gus called. The turn was a 9 and Jimmy bet 400k. Gus called. The river was a 7, Jimmy led for 1 million chips and, after some deliberation, Gus called. Jimmy showed trip 5's.

**update**8.28pm
They've been all in again and the chip lead has returned to Gus Hansen. Jimmy limped and called Gus' bet of 375k. The flop was 6 K J rainbow, and Gus led for 450k. Jimmy re-raised all in with a gutshot straight draw and Gus called with K 10 leaving Jimmy, with Q 9, three outs. The turn was a 5, and the river a 6, and Gus now has more than 10 million chips.
**update**8.15
A moment of high drama in the heads up battle with young Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke doubling
up against the ferocious Dane Gus Hansen.
Gus bet 425k from the button and Jimmy called. Jimmy check-raised all in when the flop came 10 10 J, with two diamonds, and Gus called him.
The 19 year old's composure didn't slip even when he saw how far behind he was, as Gus flipped AK, to Jimmy's KQ. Jimmy had plenty of outs when the 10 repeated on the turn. When the river card fell, a 9, giving Jimmy the straight, the crowd watching on the poker room monitors erupted. Jimmy is now firmly back in the driving seat with 10.5 million and Gus 4.4 million chips.

**update**8.10pm
Jimmy Fricke has clawed back some of his chips from Gus Hansen. Gus made it 350k to go from the button and Jimmy called. The flop was A 7 rag, Jimmy checked and Gus fired 450k at the pot which JImmy instantly re-raised all in, forcing the Dane out of the hand.

**update**7.45

Gus Hansen is consolidating his chip lead over Jimmy Fricke heads up. Jimmy has 4.8 million and Gus has 10.1million. Gus Hansen has taken another huge pot from Jimmy, with an all in re-raise over the top of Jimmy's pre flop 1.5million bet forcing the youngster to put down his hand.

**update** 7.38pm
Gus Hansen finally has room to breathe after doubling up against Jimmy Fricke early in their heads up battle.
Gus raised re flop and was called by Jimmy. The flop came 7 A K. Jimmy checked and Gus bet 350k. Jimmy called. The turn was an 8 and when Jimmy checked again Gus moved all in for his last 3.1 million.
Jimmy called with K Q but found Gus holding A 2. The river was a 5.
Moments later Gus took another pot from Jimmy and has edged into the chip lead.

**update 7.30pm
The duel for the Aussie Millions 2007 title and $1.5 million dollar payday has engaged in earnest between Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke and the vastly more experienced Gus Hansen, who has struggled to make any headway against the softly spoken 19 year old from Mahomet, Illinois.
Jimmy is already a millionaire after busting Andy Black.
Gus is a huge underdog with a quarter of Jimmy's stack. The chips are moving back and forth across the table with post-flop raises taking down the pot for both players. Second place takes $1 million dollar prize money.

**update**7pm
Jimmy Fricke has busted Andy Black to the rail in third place of the Main Event, and we are heads up.
Jimmy led for 350k prompting Andy to push all in. Jimmy had AhQh and Andy showed KQo.
The was 3 7 7 9 10 and JImmy's Ace high was all he needed.

After raking in Andy's chips Jimmy Fricke has a huge lead over Gus Hansen.

Moments earlier Andy had doubled through Jimmy in a rare change of direction for the table chips.
Jimmy led from the button and Andy pushed for a total just more than a million chips. Jimmy who may have been priced into calling turned over 5 6o and Andy had K 10 suited. Jimmy flopped a 5 but Andy flopped the 10.

**update** 6.58pm
PokerStar's new superstar Jimmy Fricke, who has nigh on eleven million chips and has been dictating the terms of poker to pro's Gus Hansen and Andy Black all day long in the final table.

Among the crowd watching his sensational performance in the tv studio is Lee Nelson, the 2006 tournament champion, and fellow PokerStars player, who spoke very highly of young Jimmy.
"He's pretty much the favourite with most of the chips" said Lee. "He's made Gus and Andy play conservatively because they're frightened of the re-raises he makes, he's playing fearlessly."
Official chip counts at the last break were Jimmy Fricke with 10.895 million, Gus Hansen with 2.84 million, and Andy Black with 1.21 million.

The blinds are hurting, 50k / 100k with 10k antes, so we can expect some all-in fireworks in this Level.

**update**6.30pm


**update**6.18pm

For the first time today it looked like final table short stacks Gus Hansen and Andy Black had a chance to double up - against each other. Gus made it 250k under the gun, and Andy raised all in. Gus called, and when they flipped he was in front with A 8 against's Andy A 3. The board was 2 4 Q 4 and it looked like Andy's Aussie Millions was about to end, when the river came a 10 for a chopped pot.

**update**6.14 pm
On the final table it looks increasingly like Gus Hansen and Andy Black are in a contest for second place, as Jimmy Fricke continues to eat them alive. He's taking down pot after pot with pre flop raises and has more than two thirds of the 15 million chips in play. Andy Black made it 250k to go and was called by Gus Hansen, then Jimmy came over the top with a $1.5 million re-raise and forced them yet again to give their chips to him.


**update**5.50pm
Youth continues to dominate age guile and cunning on the final table. Jimmy Fricke's taken yet another family pot of 780k, being first bet to bet on a Queen high flop and getting no callers. Team Hansen is in overdrive; with Gus Hansen's brother in law recording the complete hand histories and every bit of action. Information is power in poker. But then there's Jimmy Fricke. No laptop, no notepad, just about 10 million in chips and absolute control of the Aussie Millions.

**update**5.44pm

In the first 'family' pot of this level Gus and Jimmy called Andy's raise with 780k in the middle. On a flop of A Q 7, Jimmy bet half a million chips and, took it down. The tournament commentator was moved to say" Jimmy's chips are like boomerangs, every bet is coming straight back to him."
Both WSOP 2005 Champion Joe Hachem and Aussie Millions 2006 Champion Lee 'final table" Nelson are in the tv studio, watching fellow PokerStars player Jimmy in absolute control of his much older and more experienced table mates.

**update**5.27
Jimmy "gobboyboy" Fricke is terrorising the poker Hall of Fame superstar Gus Hansen. He re-raised Gus' 300k pre flop raise up to 1.1 million, forcing Gus to go away, again.
Seasoned pro and 2005 WSOP final tablist Andy Black is looking fairly grim on the final table with huge chip Jimmy and Gus ramping up the aggression in the 40k / 80k with 10k ante level.

**update**5.15pm
Confirmed chip counts at the break were Jimmy Fricke, 8.115 million, Gus Hansen 4.5 million, Andy Black 2.3 million.

**update**5pm

Jimmy Fricke's dominance of the Aussie Millions Main Event continues with the 19 year old PokerStar's player pushing Gus Hansen and Andy Black around the table, asserting control with a chip mountain that just gets bigger and bigger. Players have just taken a short break and we'll update chip counts as soon as they are available.

Andy Black bet 220k pre flop getting a call from the teenager in the big blind. It was checked through to the river, the board was J 9 8 5 Q. Jimmy showed pocket deuces and Andy Black just smiled, before chucking his hand to the muck.

**update **4.32pm
Another million dollar pot has been shipped across the felt to Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke, the 19 year old PokerStars sensation, who is using his monster chip stack, 8 million, to push around Andy Black and Gus Hansen, who is currently the short stack with around 3 million chips.
Jimmy has successfully raised the last 4 hands in all positions, and is making the pro's look defenceless against a nineteen year old who had his first cash finish only 7 months ago.

**update** 4.20
Jimmy Fricke now controls almost half the chips in play after taking down a 3.7 million dollar pot from Gus Hansen.
Jimmy made it 175k from the button and Gus pumped it back up another 500k from the big blind. Jimmy called. On a flop of 6 10 A, rainbow, Gus led out 800k and Jimmy re-raised to 1.6 million. Hansen was forced to put it down, visibly unhappy about it.

**update4.10**
Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke is extending his lead over the three-handed Main Event final table and as of a couple of moments ago, had 6.5 million chips, with Gus Hansen and Andy Black pretty evenly stacked with 4 million and change.

Andy Black has busted out the only remaining Australian player, Julius Colman. The money was in pre-flop, with Andy holding QQ and Julius A6. First card out was the Ace Julius wanted, but cruelly it was followed by A Q, filling Andy up.


**update**3.58pm

Jimmy Fricke has busted out Hans Martin Vogl, and added more than a million chips to his lead. Hans and Jimmy got the chips in pre flop and with Hans turning A9 and Jimmy KJ. The flop was 9 8 5, giving Hans the lead, but the turn was a Q giving Jimmy a straight draw. The river was a Jack and Jimmy's pair was enough to send the German player to the rail. He collects $400 000, and there are four left, Jimmy steamrolling the table with 6.5 million of the 15 million chips in play.

Australian Julius Colman has dodged a bullet, all in against Gus Hansen. Julius pushed with Ah3h getting a call from the Dane who had K 10. When the flop came J 10 8 Hansen looked set to take his third scalp of the day, but then the turn came a 9 and the river a 7, and a miracle straight on the board kept Julian in the game.
**update**3.40pm

At the first break for the final table Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke had the definitive chip lead with 5.72 million chips. Gus Hansen is second with 4.5 million chips. Next is Andy Black with 3.1, and Hans Martin Vogl has 955k. Australian Julius Colman, who had to serve a ten minute penalty for acting out of turn, twice, is the short stack with 570k.

19 year old Jimmy this morning with his friends, before commencing battle for the Aussie Millions title. Two from the right is Adam Junglen, a fellow PokerStars player who also finished in the Main Event money, winning $20 000. Adam and Jimmy are sharing a room at the Casino, as well as this incredible adventure Downunder and what one imagines to be endless hours of poker strategy discussions.





The poker room crowd watching Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke in action.

**update** 2.50pm

Gus Hansen has busted out another final table player, Marc Karam, and everyone has moved up a money spot.
He called Marc's all in with A 9o, against Marc's K Jo, and Gus hit a nine on the turn to eliminate the Canadian. Marc takes home winnings of $400 000. We are down to five.

**update** 2.40pm
Jimmy "gobboyboy Fricke has won a blinds confrontation with Andy Black and now has 5.6 million. Gus Hansen has 4.5 million, Julius Colman 1.8 million, Andy Black 1.6m Marc Karam 600k and Hans Martin Vogl 450k. The blinds go up next Level to to 20k/ 40k with a 5k ante.

**update** 2.23pm

Jimmy Fricke has taken down a monster pot by rivering fellow big stack Gus Hansen and is the chip leader again.
Gus made it 105k to go under the gun, and Jimmy called from the button. The flop was 3 4 8 rainbow, and Gus led for 140k. Jimmy called and the turn was Qd. Gus led for 330k and was called again. The river was an Ace. Gus bet out 770k, and Jimmy called the extra. Gus showed 2 3 for bottom pair and Jimmy showed that he'd caught the river, with A J. There was 2.5 million in that one pot.
While play is taking place around a tv studio table, railbirds are following the action on tv monitors on the poker room floor.

**update**2.10pm
Gus and Jimmy Fricke have chopped a pot. The both had K8 and the board was K Q 4 6 7.

**update**2.03pm
Kristy Gazes has been busted out by current chip leader Gus Hansen, leaving six still in the fight. The money was all in pre flop with Kristy holding Ah Qh, and Gus pp9's and the race was on once again.
The board came J 8 5, turn a 2 and the river a 4, and with Kristy drawing only to an Ace or Queen, Gus' pair held up.
Kristy wins $220 000.

**update**1.50pm
Gus Hansen has moved into the chip lead in the opening round of play, taking down a pot from our Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke.
Jimmy bet 90k from middle position and Gus called from his small blind. The flop was 2 10 10, with two clubs. Gus checked and Jimmy bet 150k. Gus re-raised to 350k and Jimmy called. The turn was the King of clubs. Gus bet 465k and Jimmy folded his hand.

Moments later Jimmy doubled up short-stack Julius Colman. Gus raised from the cut off to 110k, and Julius pushed from the small blind. Jimmy, in the big blind, asked for a count and it was 725k total. He called, and Gus folded, and Jimmy saw he was in a race. He had pp’s 10 and Julius was holding AQ.

The flop came Q 8 3, all clubs, giving Julius more outs as he held the Ace. The turn was the Js, giving Jimmy a straight draw, but the river was the 6c and Jimmy lost another huge chunk. Julius has around 1.6 million in chips, Jimmy around 4 million.

Apologies for the late post, Blogger has been down for maintenance.

Battle is about to commence on the final table of the Aussie Millions Main Event, with our Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke chip leader. There are 7 remaining from the original field of 747 battling for the title of Aussie Millions Champion 2007 and $1.5 million dollars.
Jimmy is feeling confident, saying "I have one third of the chips, which is a pretty big lead. I feel I have the best chance to win it."
He says he has a good read on the ferocious Dane, Gus Hansen, who has most of the other chips. "I know what he will be doing on the final table."

Here are the seat positions and starting chip counts.

Seat 1. Hans Martin Vogl 455k
Seat 2. Gus Hansen 4.845 million
Seat 3. Marc Karam 535k
Seat 4. Julius Colman 785k
Seat 5. Jimmy Fricke 5.175 million
Seat 6. Andrew Black 2.1 million
Seat 7. Kristy Gazes 1.05 million

Here is the chip count for day two.

1 Bastian Landehagen 98400
2 Erlend Melsom 80000
3 Brent Wheeler 74000
4 Marco Lucidi 69700
5 Anton Smolyanskiy 68500
6 Jan Olav Sjåvik 67400
7 Kenneth Gregersen 59800
8 Peter Fischer 59400
9 Thomas Holm 53800
10 Stefan Maglicic 53200
11 Jonas Helness 53100
12 Philip Hilm 51600
13 Jeppe Mikkelsen 51000
14 Ghassen Yafaoui 49800
15 Anders Berg 48600
16 Johnny Jensen 47700
17 Iwan Jones 47500
18 Martin Wendt 47400
19 Jan Richard Johannessen 47200
20 Erik Lindberg 46400
21 Roy Brindley 45900
22 Atle Walgren 44100
23 Troels Berg 43200
24 Guido Meacci 42400
25 Patrick Kortsen 41400
26 Bernard Boutboul 40100
27 Magnus Petersson 39400
28 Carl Nilsson 39000
29 TJ Cloutier 38900
30 Donny Morris 38400
31 Tune Seidelin 38200
32 Richard Toth 38000
33 Flemming De Hoog 37500
34 Williams Harrison 37200
35 Jacob Rasmussen 37100
36 Ben Johnsen 36900
37 Samir Shakhtoor 36300
38 Eirik Bjørklund 36100
39 John Shipley 35400
40 Simon Mycock 34900
41 Morten Sivertsen 34325
42 Thomas Ostervold 33800
43 Peter Hardgrove Hansen 33400
44 Ricki Nielsen 32100
45 Uffe Holm 31600
46 Theo Jorgensen 30800
47 Lars Hoe Madsen 30700
48 Birgitta Johansson 30600
49 Robert Olsson 30400
50 Andy Goetsch 29500
51 John Conroy 28900
52 Karsten Schou 28800
53 Anders Wijk 27600
54 Daniel Raymon Bodin 27600
55 Eoghan Arthur O Dea 27300
56 Branislav Pajic 26900
57 Peter Eichhardt 26700
58 Marcin Horecki 26500
59 Ola Petter Bremer 26400
60 Andreas Elofsson 26000
61 Alexandre Poulain 25700
62 Brian Andrew Cook 25600
63 Kim Berntsen Vevle 24700
64 Nils Chr Paulsen 24300
65 Pernille Ravn 24300
66 Torben Sneibjerg 24200
67 Peter Roche 23900
68 Ingemar Jönsson 23800
69 Ulf Steringer 23800
70 Age Spets 23300
71 Chrsitian Grundtvig 23100
72 Steven Ronald Heard 23000
73 Claus Nielsen 22500
74 Luca Pagano 22500
75 Patrick Bueno 21800
76 Steven Mitchell 21800
77 Thierry Van Den Berg 21800
78 Gitte Andersen 21500
79 Vitaly Lunkin 21400
80 Emile Petit 21100
81 Erik Nicklelson 20800
82 Arve Leikarnes 20200
83 James D Campbell 20200
84 Soren Knudsen 20100
85 Dave Colclough 19800
86 Michael Bjørn 19500
87 Jan Wronowski 19400
88 Johnny Lodden 19300
89 Michael Naughton 19300
90 Gary Haglund 19000
91 Jens Kläning 18900
92 Zlatan Musa 18600
93 Christoffer Sonesson 17800
94 Colin Ogden 17800
95 Kim Hemmingsen 17500
96 Rehne Pedersen 17200
97 Gert Anderson 16800
98 Martin El-Kher Cook 16300
99 Nick Slade 16200
100 John Baarstrøm 16000
101 Mark Secher Petersen 16000
102 Jason Cheng 15800
103 Tyrone Kerrigan 15800
104 Daniel Philips 15700
105 Henning Granstad 15700
106 Paul Linton 15700
107 Sumen Saha 15600
108 Hilmar Tveit 15400
109 Morten Lund Jensen 15100
110 Henrik Engsig 14900
111 Torstein Iversen 14700
112 Cole Morrow 14600
113 Boris Shostak 14500
114 Betrand Grospellier 14400
115 Mike Borgesi 14400
116 Erik Roos Afhjelmsater 13800
117 Thomas Peterson 13600
118 Tom McEvoy 13500
119 Allan Nilausen 13300
120 Paul Hersleth 13100
121 Tobias Persson 13100
122 Halldor Mar Sverrisson 13000
123 Andre Alcaria 12700
124 Anne Gro Løvmo 12400
125 Terje Kvistbråten 12300
126 Janne Helen Overå 12200
127 Patrick Fredriksson 12100
128 Bo Knii Jensen 12000
129 Marko Rajaniemi 12000
130 Lotte Kalland 11700
131 Lars Storkehave 11600
132 Bent Mortensen 11200
133 Daniel Thunvik 10900
134 Robert Norberg 10600
135 Henrik Witt 10500
136 Stein Erik Ulekleiv 10400
137 Guenther Hornung 10100
138 Kerry James Kerrigan 10100
139 Peter Jepsen 10000
140 Trond Aanensen 8900
141 Nicolai Vivet 8800
142 Mikael Lindbäck 8300
143 Alexander Stevic 8200
144 John Persson 7900
145 Runar Pedersen 7600
146 David Berggren 7500
147 Michael Frandsen 7200
148 Martin Flint 6500
149 Yuri Ten Bokkel 6000
150 Maarten Meijer 5900
151 Olav Haugen 4400
152 Ken Gamskjaer 3800
153 Michael Melin 3700
154 Tobias Nebel 3300

Here you have the chip count after day 1B:1 Bastian Landehagen 98400
2 Erlend Melsom 80000
3 Jan Olav Sjåvik 67400
4 Kenneth Gregersen 59800
5 Thomas Holm 53800
6 Jeppe Mikkelsen 51000
7 Ghassen Yafaoui 49800
8 Iwan Jones 47500
9 Martin Wendt 47400
10 Roy Brindley 45900
11 Atle Walgren 44100
12 Guido Meacci 42400
13 Patrick Kortsen 41400
14 Magnus Petersson 39400
15 TJ Cloutier 38900
16 Donny Morris 38400
17 Flemming De Hoog 37500
18 Jacob Rasmussen 37100
19 Ben Johnsen 36900
20 John Shipley 35400
21 Simon Mycock 34900
22 Thomas Ostervold 33800
23 Peter Hardgrove Hansen 33400
24 Birgitta Johansson 30600
25 John Conroy 28900
26 Karsten Schou 28800
27 Anders Wijk 27600
28 Ola Petter Bremer 26400
29 Brian Andrew Cook 25600
30 Kim Berntsen Vevle 24700
31 Nils Chr Paulsen 24300
32 Torben Sneibjerg 24200
33 Ingemar Jönsson 23800
34 Age Spets 23300
35 Steven Ronald Heard 23000
36 Steven Mitchell 21800
37 Gitte Andersen 21500
38 Vitaly Lunkin 21400
39 Arve Leikarnes 20200
40 James D Campbell 20200
41 Soren Knudsen 20100
42 Michael Bjørn 19500
43 Michael Naughton 19300
44 Gary Haglund 19000
45 Zlatan Musa 18600
46 Kim Hemmingsen 17500
47 Rehne Pedersen 17200
48 Gert Anderson 16800
49 Martin El-Kher Cook 16300
50 John Baarstrøm 16000
51 Mark Secher Petersen 16000
52 Jason Cheng 15800
53 Tyrone Kerrigan 15800
54 Paul Linton 15700
55 Sumen Saha 15600
56 Hilmar Tveit 15400
57 Morten Lund Jensen 15100
58 Henrik Engsig 14900
59 Thomas Peterson 13600
60 Tom McEvoy 13500
61 Halldor Mar Sverrisson 13000
62 Andre Alcaria 12700
63 Anne Gro Løvmo 12400
64 Janne Helen Overå 12200
65 Bo Knii Jensen 12000
66 Lotte Kalland 11700
67 Lars Storkehave 11600
68 Robert Norberg 10600
69 Henrik Witt 10500
70 Guenther Hornung 10100
71 Kerry James Kerrigan 10100
72 Mikael Lindbäck 8300
73 Alexander Stevic 8200
74 Martin Flint 6500
75 Olav Haugen 4400
76 Tobias Nebel 3300

Dream day: Bastian Landehagen

by Simon Young

Play at the entertaining Day 1B of the EPT Copenhagen is finished for the night, with Swede Bastian Landehagen seemingly topping the pile with a massive 98,500 chips.

He soared through the last couple of levels, while previous leader Morton Lund Jensen, from Denmark, fell the other way, losing one big pot and then a monster to Norway's Jan Sjavik, who ends up on more than 60,000. Q-Q v K-K did that particular damage.


Jan Sjavik


Ben Johnson

New Yorker and PokerStars player Ben Johnson, who finished second in Austria in October, had been sitting in mid table for much of today, but burst into life late on to finish with 40,000 or so.

Another PokerStars qualifier, no less than T J Cloutier, had a great EPT debut, finishing with 38,900 having survived the day's table of death, including at times Marcel Luske, William Thorsson, Juha Helppi and Alexander Stevic. Stevic is the only one of those who will see Day 2.

Team PokerStars Tom McEvoy has 13,500 and will look for some decent action as survivors from the two Day 1 fields come together tomorrow. And qualifier Brian Cook, a plumber from Illinois, who was the first chip leader after doubling up with quad kings in level one, has made it through the minefield to finish up on 25,000.


The chips Wendt - and came back again

Comeback of the day must belong to Danish star Martin Wendt, who had less than 2,000 chips at one stage before firing back...and back, and back, to end up with an excellent 47,000. Ireland's Roy Brindley also survived a few set backs to finish on 45,800.

Play starts at 2pm local time tomorrow, when ideally tournament director Thomas Kremser would like to whittle the field down to the last eight to play Saturday's final table with a first prize of €550,000 on offer to the winner. The cash is paid down to 40th place.

We'll get you the day's official chip counts as soon as we can, but in the meantime, from a wet and windy Copenhagen, goodnight.

On the up: T J Cloutier

by Simon Young

T J Cloutier has seen it all in poker - World Series bracelets, final tables galore and top-selling books co-written with Tom McEvoy to name just some. Now he is enjoying his visit to Copenhagen, and starting to build a nice stack.

Currently he sits on 27,000, and is engrossed in a cheery, chatty table. That's not difficult when England's John Kabbaj and Kevin O'Connell are sharing the felt with you. When I dropped by, T J and Kabbaj were rather morbidly talking about people they knew in poker who had died. At the same time, some poor chap in seat 10 saw his tournament expire when his turned set of sevens were beaten by a flopped set of nines.

How long the banter will continue will surely depend on how the cards fall. A bad run, and any of these guys may retreat into a shell, which would be a shame for the crowd, who are lapping it all up.

Meanwhile, chip leader seems to be Bastian Landehagen, from Norway, who has just soared to 70,000 chips after taking a big pot off Morton Lund Jensen from Denmark. Jensen still has 50,000 chips behind him.


Danish charge: Morton Lund Jensen

PokerStars qualifier Magnus Petersson is doing very nicely. The Swede, who won his seat in a cash satellite, is on 40,000 and looking threatening.


Chip building: Magnus Petersson

Play has just moved on to the last level of the night. Blinds are 300-600 with a 75 running ante, and little over 100 players remain, all vying for that place in the official Day 2 tomorrow.

Set to go: John Shipley

by Simon Young

William Thorsson is OUT after his aces were cracked by John Shipley's flopped set of jacks. The Scandinavian Live Player of the Year, who came 13th in last summer's WSOP, had just lost half his stack when he found the bullets.

With the blinds at 150-300 with running 25 ante, England's Shipley raised pre-flop to 900. Thorsson re-raised to 2,400. Shipley raised again to 6,500 total,which was called by the Swede. The flop came 10-J-3, a nice flop for the aces, so when Shipley moved in for his remaining 6,000 or so, Thorsson called.

He flipped over the aces, and to his horror found himself staring at Shipley's pocket jacks, with the flopped set. The turn and river - 9 and 4 - made no difference, and Shipley, who won the Season One EPT London, rockets up to more than 30,000.


Down and out: William Thorsson

There are now 130 players left, but expect that number to start tumbling now the antes are kicking in. Already absent, presumed out, are last year's Copenhagen winner Mads Andersen, Erik-Bjorn Glenne, and Erik Friberg.


Big deal: Anthony Holden

Still going strong is PokerStars qualifier and serial WSOP bracelet winner T J Cloutier, who has now moved up to 17,000 after flopping trip nines. Team PokerStars Tom McEvoy is still there with 14,000 or so, and British author Anthony Holden, who wrote The Big Deal and is soon to publish The Bigger Deal, is on just under 10,000. He is flying the PokerStars flag at this event.

The UK's Iwan Jones still looks like the chip leader, with 47,000, all neatly stacked with the white marks on the chips lined up beautifully.

I'll get my coat: Marcel Luske

by Simon Young

Just when our Table of Death looked like getting even more dangerous with the arrival of William Thorsson, we have lost Marcel Luske. Then tournament director Thomas Kremser spoilt the fun and broke up the table, scattering the remaining players around the room.

Luske's exit was inevitable as he was down to his last 1,575 chips. With the blinds at 150-300, he found 9-10 clubs in the cut off and put in 1,200. T J Cloutier folded, but Brian Cook called in the small blind, and William Thorsson - Scandinavia's Live Player of the Year - called in the big blind.

The flop of 2c-Js-3c saw Thorsson put in 2,500. Marcel, with the flush draw, emptied the rest of his chips on the table, and Cook folded. Showdown, and Thorsson showed the A-J both clubs, giving him top pair - and the nut flush if another club were to come. It did not, and Marcel was off to the rail, giving a polite handshake to the rest of the table before he left.

Players are now coming back from their dinner break, digesting the news that the prize pool here is a mouth-watering 13,824,000 Danish Kroner, which is about €1,855,000. Out of that little lot, the winner will pick up a tasty €550,000, and the payout will go down to 40th place.

by Simon Young

Friends Charalampos Tsaoussis and Maximilianos Trigas, both from Greece, have had terrible luck here in Copenhagen. They would certainly empathise with William Shakespeare, who wrote in Hamlet: "Something is rotten in the State of Denmark."

The pair, who both qualified in the same PokerStars cash satellite, played on separate day ones. Yesterday Maximilanos, a serial EPT qualifier, was dumped out of the tournament when his J-J was overtaken by 5-6.

Then today it was Charalampos' turn to curse the poker Gods, when his A-A was beaten cruelly by Q-Q, a flopped queen doing the irrepairable damage.

Meanwhile, one of our PokerStars plumbers has been moved next to T J Cloutier and Marcel Luske. Brian Cook from Indiana, now sitting on a healthy 30,000, may soon get fed up with Marcel's singing - and tell him to "put a plug in it". Marcel is still on 3,000 or so, but T J has got himself up to 12,000.

by Simon Young

PokerStars qualifier Martin El-Kher (pokerbody) from Denmark has stood up to the perils of the Table of Death - and is enjoying being table boss. He now has about 22,000 and is showing no respect for the likes of Marcel Luske and T J Cloutier.

Luske, still bursting into occasional song, is down to 3,200, but as we have seen before, he is more than capable of turning it around in a hurry. Neighbour Cloutier is faring better, but still stuck on about 8,000. With Juha Helppi moved, only Alexander Stevic remains of the "Big Four" - and he is languishing on 4,400.

Team PokerStars' Tom McEvoy continues to build slowly, sitting on 15,300. He is on one of seven tables in a side room to the main casino, a by-product of the continuing popularity of the EPT.

Tom McEvoy

Bouyed after overdoing the plumbing jokes in a previous post - with no apologies - we have only gone and found another PokerStars qualifier who is a plumber. Or at least training to be one. He is Dennis Pedersen (DnP!) from Denmark, who is here after winning a satellite costing just 10 frequent player points! It's his first ever live tournament, and he is treading the water (sorry, another plumbing joke) on about 12,000.

Another local PokerStars qualifier, Michael Moehl (detlimegetjo), is being cheered on here by seven of his mates. But they are not urging him on to win - they want him to get busted so they can go out into the Copenhagen night and party. Some friends they are!

Michael, who is a student, is on 13,100 chips and this is his first big live event.

Blinds are now 100-200, and we still have 180 of the 200 starters left in. One of those struggling is last year's winner Mads Andersen. Nothing is going his way today and he sits on 4,400.

Flood of chips: Brian Cook

Plumber Brian Cook is awash with chips after finding quad kings. He hit the monster and trap checked before moving all in - and getting the magical call.

Brian, 32, from Indiana in the United States, qualified for this event in a PokerStars 40 frequent player point satellite. He began playing about five years ago after seeing Chris Moneymaker win the World Series and thinking: "Hmm. I can do that." Now he is following in Moneymaker's chip-building footsteps, and is up to 24,000.

He's here with his brother, Robbie, while his wife waits at home, apparently hoping he wins some cash so she can go shopping. It is safe to say the plumber will find it a wrench to leave here empty-handed.

Elsewhere, Team PokerStars' Katja Thater is OUT in the cruellest of circumstances. She got all in with top two pair - and was called by an unknown player on a Gutshot straight draw. Agonisingly for Katja, he hit, and she was out of the door.

Another early faller was French singer Patrick Bruel, whose A-Q looked good on a Q-10-rag flop - except his opponent had made the set of tens.

Shall I run this table or you? Luske and Cloutier chat

by Simon Young

The two giants of poker sat down together and greeted each other like old friends. Which, of course, they are. Marcel Luske and T J Cloutier are neighbours on today's EPT Copenhagen Table of Death, so called because sharing the felt with them are Juha Helppi and Alexander Stevic.

One poor player, who met Marcel in the lift on the way to the card room, told him: "It's not good - I have been drawn on the same table as you." Quick as a flash, Marcel replied: "I am afraid that is the least of your worries."

Early hands on this table, currently with 25-50 blinds, went to Sweden's Stevic, who was raising and collecting many pots uncontested to add to his starting stack of 10,000. Then the first big clash of the day occured.

Helppi and Luske faced each over a rainbow flop of K-5-A. Helppi bet 200, Marcel called. The turn was a 7, apparently no help and both players checked. The river was another king. Marcel seemed to like it and bet 500, but Helppi rerasied another 1,500.

Marcel went into the tank before folding - flashing a KING for the laid-down trips. A genius fold, or duped Dutchman? We will never know, as Helppi put his cards in the muck without showing.

Cloutier, sporting a neat PokerStars jacket, has been playing tight so far, something noticed by Luske, who teased him: "You've only played three hands in the first 90 minutes." Marcel then burst into song, as he tends to do at the table. His choice of music? "That's What Friends Are For."

Table of Death Chip Stars: Helppi 12,000, Luske 11,000, Cloutier, 11,000, Stevic 10,000.

Meanwhile, an incredible hand on neighbouring table 10. Three players saw a board of 7-K-Q-6-9 ALL diamonds. Now Mark Petersen bet 1,000, Ireland's Roy "The Boy" Brindley folded, but Allan Aspholm raised to 3,000. Petersen moved all in over the top. Called. Showdown. Guess the hands? Aspholm had A-A with the diamond for top flush, but Petersen had 5-8 diamonds for the straight flush. He doubles up and is early chip leader. Aspholm is clutching at thin air.


Petersen: Straight Flush

Not so much good fortune for well-known Swedish player Per Ummer. Raising on the button, he was then re-raised all in by the big blind. He tried to talk himself out of calling, but failed. His chips went in, and he showed K-K. His worst fears were realised when the other player - Steven Mitchell - flipped over A-A. No help for Ummer and he was, um, out.

Finally, just as a bonus, here's another pic of Marcel Luske and T J Cloutier, showing that poker really is a thinking man's game:


Lost in thought: Luske and Cloutier

Calm before the storm: Table Nine

by Simon Young

We have some poker big guns lining up to open fire here at Day 1B of the EPT Copenhagen. But as so often happens, the table draw has been mischevious - and many of these giants will be training their sights on each other.

Table nine is a classic that promises some explosive action. In seat one....


Marcel Luske

In seat two...


T J Cloutier

In seat six...


Juha Helppi

In seat nine...


Alexander Stevic

Phew. And stuck in the middle of this lot are a couple of PokerStars qualifiers, namely Martin El-Kher, from Denmark, and Kim Bernsten Vevle, from Norway. Marcel is, of course, a veteran of the EPT, and in fact won his seat here in a PokerStars qualifier using his FPP points.

T J Cloutier is a world-wide poker name, with enough World Series of Poker bracelets to weigh down even the strongest arm. He, too, got his seat in Denmark by playing a PokerStars satellite.

Juha Helppi, from Finland, has won more tournament money than would fit in my lounge, while Sweden's Alexander Stevic is an EPT veteran who won the Season One EPT Barcelona, and went on finish third in the Grand Final in Monte Carlo.

Will they keep clear of each other for the first few levels, or will there be carnage? We will keep a close eye on it all for you (from a safe distance, and wearing a tin hat, of course).

Elsewhere Team PokerStars Tom McEvoy and Katja Thater will be in action in a field that includes some EPT greats, including Denmark's Mads Andersen, who won this event last year; Holland's Rob Hollink, winner of the Grand Final in Monte Carlo two years ago; Norway's Bjorn-Erik Glenne, victor in Barcelona this season; the United States' Ben Johnson, second in Baden this season; England's John Shiply, winner of season one's London event; and a host of other top players like Jan Sjavik, Dario Alioto, William Thorson, Martin Wendt and Erik Friberg to name just a few.

Today's field of 200 players were set a benchmark last night by chipleader Brent Wheeler of 74,000 chips. Brent, from Illinois in the US, is a PokerStars qualifier. In fact, the first FOUR players from yesterday are PokerStars qualifiers.


Day 1A chip leader: Brent Wheeler

For a full list of Day 1A chip counts, and how our remaining qualifiers got on, click HERE.

by Alison Lightman.

"Wannabeearmite?" is a traditional Australian greeting, and Dennis Huntly, the 49 year old Australian player who busted out ninth in today's Main Event, has spent a chunk of his $155,000 already, shouting free beers for the evening for anyone in the poker room bar of Crown Casino.
"I'm stoked!" he told me as I thanked him for my drink, "It's the least I could do." (for non Australian speakers, stoked means happy).

Dennis paid his own way into the Main Event, but I am going to claim him for PokerStars as he plays online only at our site, as "smutmut". When his girlfriend of five years, Jennifer, complained about the cost of his satellite entries, "I told her I was practising for this!" he laughed. Bet she's not complaining now.
Generous Aussie hospitality is something the 49 year old father of three knows a lot about. He and his partners ,Justin and Julie, own one of the two remaining traditional bush pubs left in Australia, at Tilpa in far north New South Wales. Dennis recently moved to Bacchus Marsh, around 60 kilometres from the casino, and the pub is run by his friends Tony and Jill.
Until today, the pub's biggest attraction was a pair of autographed boxing gloves once used by Mohammed Ali, when he was still Cassius Clay, and presented as a gift by a city slicker who used to bring his sales team out to stay with Dennis for some bush style team bonding. Now one suspects that in Tilpa, population 5, (yes, five) the main attraction will be Dennis.

Not much happens there, apart from the odd country music shindig or car rally. "It's quiet" he said, "and we've had a rough year with the drought, the dams are dry ya know?"

Lots of Aussie farmers are in the same boat, especially those running sheep like Dennis. And ten minutes with him will show you his worry for the farmers is typical, he's much more concerned for others than for himself. "Our place is historic" he said. "We've got a wall in our pub where, for two bucks, you can sign your name and all the money goes to the Flying Doctors." The Royal Flying Doctor Service is the only access to medical treatment for residents of the outback, where farms can be the size of small countries. Dennis's partners muster their sheep by motorbike but on some stations that's done by helicopter.

So how does a sheep-running bush pub owner even arrive amidst the glitz and whizz-bangery of the Aussie Millions 2007?

"My grandmother taught me to play cards" he said, "as a little tacker. You know, 4 or 5? I always won. Do you think she let me win?"

Apart from a few home games, usually Manila, Dennis didn't really think about poker until he caught the Hold'Em bug just over a year ago. He bought his way in to the Main Event in 2006, and busted, but really wanted to try again this year.

"I played all the satellites at Crown Casino and couldn't win" he told me.

So Dennis decided to buy in and his newness to the game may have given him an edge. He drew a starting table for Day 1 that would have given me and most players I know a fit of the vapours. Not Dennis 'smutmut' Huntly.

He sat down with Gus Hansen, Phil Ivey and Kathy Liebert as cool as a cucumber because he didn't recognise one of them. " I knocked the lady out, the blonde, Kathy somoneone?" he said tonight, still not realising until I explained that he'd taken the scalp of of one of the the most successful female players in the world.

On Day 2, Dennis ended as second chip leader to the feared young Fin Patrik Antonius, who went out before him in 13th place. Until we had that beer tonight, Dennis didn't know who he was either.

He was touched to the point of tears about the support he has received from local players. He says g'day to Jennifer, Jill, Tony Justin Julie and the kids. We asked Dennis what he would do with his winnings. "Oh. some to my partner" he said "some to the mother of my children." And "some to Mum".

Eight PokerStars players have finished in the money at the 2007 Aussie Millions. Joint chip leader Jimmy Fricke and short stack Jakob Glassl are still in contention for the title and the $1.5 million first prize. These are their fellow PokerStars players and their winnings:

Dennis Petronack 59th place $20 000
Adam Junglen 55th place $20 000
David Pham 49th place $20 000
Lee Nelson (joint) 36th place $27 500
Kosta Varoxis 29th place $40 000
Joe Hachem 23rd place $60 000

By Alison Lightman

It doesn't tend to take poker players long to bounce back from defeat, certainly not PokerStars players who busted out of the Main Event that we bumped into today, queuing to register for the $550 No Limit Hold'Em Event, and who should be back with his normal gentle smile but our own Lee Nelson, the 2006 Aussie Millions champion who was eliminated in joint 36th place from the Main Event. Perhaps in this one his "final table" prowess will win the day?



Local player Nick Putt.

Louis Lou who put up a great fight but busted before the money bubble.

The elimination of Jakob Glassl shortly before 4pm today has ended final table action in the Main Event of the Aussie Millions. We are down to seven, and play resumes tomorrow. Final chip counts will be posted here when they become available.

Gus Hansen 4.5 million
Jimmy Fricke 5.175 million (bought in with PokerStars W$)
Andy Black 2.4 million
Kristy Gazes 1.6 million
Marc Karam 1.3 million
Julius Colman 1.09 million
Hans Martin Vogl 875k
Jakob Glassl OUT (PokerStars $530 satellite winner)
Dennis Huntly OUT

**update**3.50pm
Jakob Glassl is out of the Main Event in 8th place, an incredible effort given his short stack and the toughness of the field the 22 year old PokerStars qualifier from Germany has endured this week. It wasn't the ferocious Gus Hansen who knocked him out but fellow PokerStars player, Jimmy Fricke.
Jakob was all in with ppJ's against Jimmy's offsuit A 10, and and Ace fell on the flop to send the young German out. He said" Just another suckout to add to your list hey Jimmy? I knew an Ace would be the first card I saw."
It was clear that his opponents were impressed with the young man's tenacity, they all rose to console him as he left the TV table to collect his winnings, $155 000.
And that elimination concludes play for today. The final table action resumes tomorrow.

**update**3.25pm

Jakob Glassl, our short-stacked PokerStars qualifier on the final table, has doubled up against Julius Colman from South Australia, only to lose it again moments later in a clash with chip leader Jimmy Fricke.
Jakob led out for 80k (with 315k behind) and was called by Julius in the big blind. The flop was 5 2 3 with two diamonds. Julius checked and Jakob fired another 100k, getting a call. When the turn came 6s, Julius moved all in and Jakob called and saw that with Qd 10d, Julius had plenty of outs. But the diamond didn't come and Jakob's pocket Aces stood up.
His stack was nudging up to 900k, when he clashed with Jimmy. After some pre-flop betting the cards fell 2d 2h 10d. Jimmy raised Jakob all in, but Jakob, 22, couldn't make the call for his tournament life, and is the table short stack again with around 400k.

**update** 2.55pm

Jimmy "gobboyboy" Fricke is getting involved early on the final table, firmly taking the chip lead after coming over the top of joint chip leader Gus Hansen, the teenager demonstrating he's not intimated by his Hansen's feared aggression and experience.
Gus bet 100k at the pot from middle position which Jimmy pumped straight up to 300k in the cut off. Gus called, and the flop brought 3d 7d 4c. Gus checked, and Jimmy fired 400k, forcing him to lay down his hand.

**update**2.40pm

Jimmy Fricke is official chip leader. Seat allocations and chip counts for the final table:

Seat 1 Hans Martin Vogl 785k
Seat 2 Gus Hansen 3.8m
Seat 3 Marc Karam 1.41m
Seat 4 Julius Colman 1.11m
Seat 5 Jimmy Fricke 3.9m
Seat 6 Andy Black 1.79m
Seat 7 Jakob Glassl 535k
Seat 8 Kristy Gazes 1.38m

**update**1.55pm
We have a final table and two PokerStars playersare on it. They're re-drawing for seats and play will recommence shortly in the Main Event final battle that will see two players become millionaires.

Jimmy "Gobboboy" Fricke is joint chip leader with Gus Hansen. PokerStars satellite winner Jakob Glass has survived the opening session today while all the other short stacks busted out around him, and he will have to keep up the aggression as his stack is still dwarfed.

Getting down to eight saw Australian Dennis Huntly busted to the rail. It was two way, Marc Karam had AK against Dennis' 10 J, and made a full house with Dennis drawing dead on the turn.

Play will resume upstairs on the tv studio feature table, but unfortunately I can't follow them in. Any updates that come out of the studio will be posted here immediately.

**update**1.46
Jimmy Fricke has just taken a big pot. On the button Andy Black raised to 85k, with Jimmy and Kristy Gazes calling in the blinds. It was checked through to the river on a board of A 9 2 Q. An 8 came on the river and Jimmy led for 175k and got a call from them both. He showed Q 8 for two pair, and shipped it. It was a 780k pot which may well put him back in the lead. See Aussie Millions Day 4 chip counts for the break-time counts.

**update**1.15pm
The nine remaining players in the Main Event have taken their first break of the day with Jimmy Fricke on 3.415 million chips after taking another 250k pot down, against Kristy Gazes.
Andy Black limped on the button and Jimmy completed from the small blind, and Kristy in the big blind made it 100k total to go. Jimmy fired in a re-raise sending her into the tank. While it looks like she's packing her things to go in our picture, she eventually mucked.



There has been a lot of raising and re-raising on the table with not many hands going to a showdown. There's something very endearing about Gobboboy. We at PokerStars knew it and now it's rubbing off on lots of others. Yesterday he was asked for his autograph, which he gave up somewhat shyly. Overnight he seems to have realised the support he has on the rail and has been bantering with his fans during quiet moments in the game.
**update**12.46pm
Nine runners remain after Andy Black eliminated Curly Seal with AJ against QJ. All of them will now receive at least $150 000. Upstairs on the tv table our satellite winner, Jakob Glassl, is aggressively pushing his short stack. One hard after pushing Dennis Huntly out of a pot, Jakob then re-raised all in to a bet of 72k by Gus Hansen, an extra 400k. Gus deliberated but folded. Jakob must have 600k but is still a very short stack, with the average 1.66 million.

**12.23**update
It's taken less than one hour to slash today's starting field from 14 down to 10. Moments ago Australian player Julius Colman knocked out Swede Jonas Buskas on the tv table, and claimed his stack, around 800k, as his own.
**12.20pm**
Gus Hansen has taken over the chip leader from Jimmy Fricke and has around one quarter of the chips in play, with more than 4 million, after knocking out Patrik Antonius. But Jimmy isn't far behind him with around 3.6 million.
Hansen bet 500k on a flop of Jh As 9h and Patrik immediately moved all in. It wasn't clear who had who covered when Hansen called just as fast. Gus had made trip Jacks, and Patrik also hit the flop with his Ah 8h, but was too far behind and the turn Qc and river 8s were no help for the young Fin .
**update** 11.58am
Here's how Jimmy busted Paul Wasicka. He raised 75k under the gun and Paul, next to act, re-raised all in for an extra 269k. Jimmy made the call and Wasicka showed A 10 to Jimmy's K J.
The flop was 9 4 K, the turn a 6 and river 3, and Paul Wasicka was gone. it puts Jimmy up to 3.4 million and everyone moved up a pay slot.


There's been some early tension on Table 10. Jimmy Fricke and Andy Black got involved in an argument with Curly Seal, for "stalling". The Tournament Director was called to the table to ease the situation.

Day 4 of the fight to claim the title of the Aussie Millions Champion 2007, and the $1.5 million first prize is underway with 3 players already gone and our Jimmy "Gobboboy" Fricke consolidating his clear lead, knocking out Paul Wasicka in the past couple of minutes, which puts him on more than 3 million chips.
The news is a little late coming to you because we've been offline in the tournament room. Patrik Antonius has been knocked out in an all in clash with Gus Hansen, and Patrick Fletcher has also been eliminated.
We're down to two tables and 11 players already.
Jakob Glassl, our $530 satellite winner from Hamburg in Germany could be forgiven for feeling a little frazzled as he attempts to build on his short stack of 464k. He arrived late today perhaps due to the re-scheduled early start, and barely having time to draw breath after skidding to a halt in the poker room, he was rushed upstairs to the tv studio feature table. There, Jakob will have to defend his short stack from the fearsome Dane, Gus Hansen, and former tournament chip leader Marc Karam.

Here you have the chip count of the 78 survivors from day 1A.

Chip count day 1A:
1 Brent Wheeler 74000
2 Marco Lucidi 69700
3 Anton Smolyanskiy 68500
4 Peter Fischer 59400
5 Stefan Maglicic 53200
6 Jonas Helness 53100
7 Philip Hilm 51600
8 Anders Berg 48600
9 Johnny Jensen 47700
10 Jan Richard Johannessen 47200
11 Erik Lindberg 46400
12 Troels Berg 43200
13 Bernard Boutboul 40100
14 Carl Nilsson 39000
15 Tune Seidelin 38200
16 Richard Toth 38000
17 Williams Harrison 37200
18 Samir Shakhtoor 36300
19 Eirik Bjørklund 36100
20 Morten Sivertsen 34325
21 Ricki Nielsen 32100
22 Uffe Holm 31600
23 Theo Jorgensen 30800
24 Lars Hoe Madsen 30700
25 Robert Olsson 30400
26 Andy Goetsch 29500
27 Daniel Raymon Bodin 27600
28 Eoghan Arthur O Dea 27300
29 Branislav Pajic 26900
30 Peter Eichhardt 26700
31 Marcin Horecki 26500
32 Andreas Elofsson 26000
33 Alexandre Poulain 25700
34 Pernille Ravn 24300
35 Peter Roche 23900
36 Ulf Steringer 23800
37 Chrsitian Grundtvig 23100
38 Claus Nielsen 22500
39 Luca Pagano 22500
40 Patrick Bueno 21800
41 Thierry Van Den Berg 21800
42 Emile Petit 21100
43 Erik Nicklelson 20800
44 Dave Colclough 19800
45 Jan Wronowski 19400
46 Johnny Lodden 19300
47 Jens Kläning 18900
48 Christoffer Sonesson 17800
49 Colin Ogden 17800
50 Nick Slade 16200
51 Henning Granstad 15700
52 Daniel Philips 15700
53 Torstein Iversen 14700
54 Cole Morrow 14600
55 Boris Shostak 14500
56 Mike Borgesi 14400
57 Betrand Grospellier 14400
58 Erik Roos Afhjelmsater 13800
59 Allan Nilausen 13300
60 Tobias Persson 13100
61 Paul Hersleth 13100
62 Terje Kvistbråten 12300
63 Patrick Fredriksson 12100
64 Marko Rajaniemi 12000
65 Bent Mortensen 11200
66 Daniel Thunvik 10900
67 Stein Erik Ulekleiv 10400
68 Peter Jepsen 10000
69 Trond Aanensen 8900
70 Nicolai Vivet 8800
71 John Persson 7900
72 Runar Pedersen 7600
73 David Berggren 7500
74 Michael Frandsen 7200
75 Yuri Ten Bokkel 6000
76 Maarten Meijer 5900
77 Ken Gamskjaer 3800
78 Michael Melin 3700

By Heath Cram.

Nobody could disagree that the poker gods have been with PokerStars player and 2007 Aussie Millions chip leader Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke this tournament, as he is certainly using up all of his luck quota, however I would strongly disagree with anyone who says that his performance has lacked skill.


The Aussie Millions is the second major event on the calendar, following the World Poker Tour PokerStars Carribean Adventure (WPT-PCA) event. Jimmy Fricke scored a victory in the 2006 4th Annual East Coast Poker Championship in the United States in November 2006, before cashing in the PCA two weeks ago, finishing 22nd and earning himself nearly thirty thousand dollars. He is about to eclipse both of those performances over the next two days of play at Melbourne's Crown Casino.

I am not entirely sure just how many scalps Jimmy Fricke has claimed at this major, however I do know that Jimmy has had all of his victims covered in chips through very aggressive play, pushing around experienced opponents and getting his money in "good" several times to build a stack that gave him room to move. I am well aware that there has been a huge element of luck involved with numerous eliminations and major swings to his stack on Day 3, but it was his tremendous play during 21 hours of poker on days 1 and 2 that put him in the position he is in today.

Surprisingly, people often fail to recognise or acknowledge the fact that EVERY player who is eliminated from a tournament is "all in". That means that, the same player is covered in chips by his orher opponent at the time of the all in. Put simply, Jimmy has had his opponents covered every time.

For the online players and readers who claim that "bad beats" only happen online and not in live poker, try telling Shane Schleger that.

The room was electric, with people roaring and putting their hands over their faces and on top of their heads as highly regarded young 2006 LA Poker Classic winner Shane "Shaniac" Schleger stormed off the poker room floor without signing for his $60k pay cheque. Shane had played outstanding poker all tournament and was never at any stage too far from the chip lead, shaping up as one of the players to beat from the top 20 that remained.

Shane's run ended cruelly, after getting his money in ahead against Jimmy Fricke. On a flop of Q 9 2, the action was all in post flop, with Shane dominating Jimmy, with Q J against Q 10. Fricke caught a king and a jack on the turn and river to make a Khigh straight and bust Shaniac with a brutal suckout.

Only moments later, the cries around the room escalated after popular local player Nathan Bobik was eliminated in 18th place, earning $90k with KK pre flop, against Fricke's pocket 10's, with railbirds exclaiming "suckout king", "luckbox", and "cardrack", after seeing Jimmy claim two scalps in short order.

You can't help but love this boy's bemused attitude. Midway through the day, Jimmy was asked what his stack was and before he answered, he replied, "I should have a huge stack, I just called an extra bet with a straight flush draw, but missed".

At that stage Jimmy 'only' had about 300k above the average.

If you are attending Crown, take some time to stop by the rail of Jimmy Fricke's table and watch this fearless youngster in action. Every time he has made a loose play at a pot, he has done it with a huge stack of hard-earned chips.

Jimmy Fricke headed into Day 4 with over 2 and a half million in chips, as the tournament chip leader, and with that sort of breathing room, we can expect more of the same aggressive play we've come to love about Jimmy Fricke throughout this tournament.

If you see the name Jimmy Fricke listed on the final table (tomorrow) when play concludes today, along side the likes of Gus Hansen then do not leave your seat. Expect some fireworks and excellent poker viewing.

by Simon Young

That's it for the night. The dealers are racing off the green 25 chips and the 78 players will then bag up their spoils before getting a well-deserved rest.

PokerStars qualifier Brent Wheeler, from Illinois, has not only maintained his big stack - but extended it to about 74,000 and has the lead. We'll have the full chip counts for you as soon as possible.

Well done to Daniel Phillips, from the UK, who was here courtesy of winning the first big Amateur Poker Association and Tour event, which was sponsored by PokerStars. After struggling with just a few thousand chips for the last couple of levels, he burst into life and has made it safely through to day two with 15,600, thanks to two late double ups.

We'll be back tomorrow for Day 1B, with another 200 or so runners hoping to make it through to Friday's Day 2.

Among them will be Team PokerStars' Tom McEvoy, from the United States, and Germany's Katja Thater. Also playing is Dutchman Marcel Luske, last year's Copenhagen winner Mads Andersen from Denmark - and a certain T J Cloutier, who won through to this event in a PokerStars satellite. With five WSOP bracelets to his name, he will be one to watch.

by Simon Young

The players have been so efficient at knocking each other out that tournament director Thomas Kremser has announced we are on the last level, with blinds of 300-600 and a 75 ante.

It looks like PokerStars qualifier Brent Wheeler, who lost some of his commanding chips at one stage, has won them back again, and will end the night as one of the leaders. Creeping up is Irishman Peter Roche, who just doubled through to 45,000 after his pocket fives became a set on the flop, flattening his neighbour's aces.

Team PokerStars is still well represented in the 90 remaining players, with Luca Pagano building steadily to about 23,000, and ElkY having something of a recovery to 16,000.

Wheely well played: Brent Wheeler

by Simon Young

PokerStars qualifier Brent Wheeler has raced into the chip lead here in Copenhagen, sitting on just under 60,000 chips, a mile ahead of the 16,000 room average.

Brent from Illinois, but now living in Arizona, could have had even more chips when involved in a massive pot just now. He had K-K, an overpair to a raggedy board, and felt he was ahead until his opponent flipped over K-K as well!

Brent is a pro online player (bdubs3737 on PokerStars), and won his seat here in a cash satellite. He is used to EPT pressure, after appearing at Copenhagen and Austria last year, and recently celebrated a $40,000 live tournament win back in the United States.

He is looking more confident as the evening goes on and, barring any major misunderstandings, should be up at the top of the leaderboard going in to day two.

Someone who certainly will not be there is Noah "Exclusive" Boeken. The Dutchman, who won this event two years ago, missed a key flush draw to take his stack down to the minimum. Then he found Q-Q and pushed, and was chuffed to see Finland's Johnny Lodden call with A-10. There was an inevitability of the ace on the flop, and Noah was out. Lodden, after a slow and painful start to the day, is now up to about 12,000.

by Simon Young

German restaurant owner Thang Duc Nguyen, who won the EPT Baden in October, had no luck today - and the manner of his exit summed it up. Finding Q-Q he pushed, but was met with an A-K caller. In what seemed like cruel board overkill, both an ace and a king hit the board.

Thang Duc Nguyen: Out

With 133 players left from 215 starters, the short-stacks are starting to look worried. One is Holland's Noah Boeken, who has just lost a huge pot to regular PokerStars EPT qualifier Maximilianos Trigas, from Greece. It has left Noah on just 4,000, while Max (maximilian 74 on PokerStars) is up to 14,000.
Dario Minieri, meanwhile is OUT. He just could not seem to get going today, but fellow Italian Luca Pagano remains at the table with 14,000 or so.

Xuyen Pham, virtually killed off by her husband Steve Vlader a short while ago, is also now out, A-3 over taken by Q-J.

Play is still split between two rooms, such is the size of the field. But only five or six tables remain in the smaller of the two.

Xuyen Pham gives hubbie Steve Vlader (blue jacket) the stare


by Simon Young

Xuyen "Bad Girl" Pham is one of Europe's top women players. She likes this venue, having finished ninth here last year, and had been doing quite nicely today. Her husband, Steve Vlader, will tirelessly cheer her on from the rail when he is not playing himself.

But today he is playing, and he has just been moved on to his wife's table. If you thought these two might keep out of each other's way, then think again. Steve sat down and promptly took most of the wife's stack. Xuyen, from England, looked up at me and said: "He's just stolen my chips!" She now nurses a short-stack of about 4,000, while Steve has the family bragging rights with 14,000.

There could be an uneasy atmosphere in their hotel room tonight!

Blinds are now up to 150-300, with 143 players remaining. Contrasting fortunes for two PokerStars qualifiers on the same table. A huge raising war pre flop saw Mike Borgesi (Raising Me) fold jacks. A great lay down as he was up against A-A and Q-Q. The aces belonged to fellow qualifier Yuri Ten Bokkel (Yuri de Haan) from Holland, but they failed to hold up when the dealer produced 8-K-Q on the flop.

Daniel Phillips

by Simon Young

When a new amateur tour was launched in the UK last year, PokerStars was happy to provide official sponsorship. The Amateur Poker Association and Tour (APAT) provides players with the chance to play in well-structured live tournaments, often for the first time.

The winner of the first big event, in Birmingham, won not only a nice cash prize, but an EPT seat, too. Hence Daniel Phillips, 31, is sitting here today in Copenhagen having the time of his life.

Daniel, an online marketeer, said after his APAT win that he would have to re-read all his Harrington books before this tournament started. Well, we've had the dinner break and he is still going strong, holding his own on about 8,000 chips.

Branislav Pajic

by Simon Young

This is PokerStars player Branislav Pajic, enjoying his first ever major event thanks to qualifying in a satellite paid for with his frequent player points.

Branislav, 24, who plays under the screen name BaneTheSaint, is a machine engineer from Canada, and is here with his brother who is cheering him on from the rail. This is his biggest poker moment and he's currently on about 7,000 - not bad considering he has only been playing for a year!

Not such good news for James Bond villain Mads Mikkelsen. The Danish film star, who played Le Chiffre in Casino Royale, had been slowly bleeding chips for a couple of hours, and then crashed out with 10-10 against A-K on a king-high flop.

Blinds are now up to 100-200, and 165 of the 215 starters remain. One of the room's big stacks is Dane Phillip Hilm, who finished fourth here last year. He is currently sitting on about 45,000.

by Simon Young

Team PokerStars' Isabelle Mercier is out after running her A-K into aces on a king-high flop. All the chips went in, and with no help on the turn or river, Isabelle was left to pick up her fruit and leave the room.

Blinds are now at 75-150, and 180 of the 215 Day 1A starters remain. One of the fallers was Sweden's Peter Hedlund, who went from riches to rags in about an hour. After doubling up early with a set over a set, he lost a succession of 10 pots to find himself with nothing.

One of the game's more colourful characters, he will no doubt recount his story to many over a few drinks tonight.

Meanwhile, our favourite Bond villain Mads Mikkelsen has lost nearly half of his starting stack, and is now sitting on just under 6,000.

by Simon Young

Mats Iremark, Bjorn-Erik Glenne, Anina Gundesen, William Thorsson and Johnny Lodden

Most poker players need no excuse to party. But last night they were given a special reason with the first ever Scandinavian Poker Awards. Hosted by PokerStars, the event in a swish Copenhagen nightclub saw five players applauded for their contribution to the game.

With the alcohol flowing, the crowds cheered as each winner was presented with their trophy. The winners were:

Performance of the Year: Bjorn-Erik Glenne for his demolition of the Barcelona EPT, including polishing off Phil Ivey when heads up. Asked by awards hostess Natalie Pinkham what was more important in that Barcelona victory - the win or the money - Glenne quipped: "Well I've spent all the money, so it would have to be the win."

Best Female Player: Anina Gundesen for becoming the first woman to reach an EPT final here in Copenhagen last year.

Rookie of the Year: Mats Iremark for his stunning success in the EPT Deauville event last season. It's been a good few weeks for Mats, who was recently crowned European Rookie of the Year in France.

Best Online Player: Johnny Lodden for his fearsome and winning aggression, which he now wants to replicate in live games.

Best Live Player: William Thorsson for his outstanding run in the WSOP main event (13th place) and for his final table in the EPT Dublin in October.

After the official presentations, guests were treated to a performace from local rappers Tommy Orion who gave a rousing performance of their new song.... Johnny Lodden's Rockets. Quite a sight, I can tell you.

Here's some more pics to enjoy:



Thanks: Mats Iremark with his award



Fancy seeing you here: Tom McEvoy, left, and PokerStars' Poker Room Manager Lee Jones



Bonding with the crowd: Casino Royale's Mads Mikkelsen

....and last, and very much least....



Hard at work (honest): PokerStars blogger Simon Young and Stephen Bartley of The Gutshot

by Simon Young

JAMES Bond villain Mads Mikkelsen, who plays sinister poker player Le Chiffre in Casino Royale, is finding out just how hard top-flight poker is in real life. Yet despite being seated on a tough table, he is holding his own.
Sat with him are two of Scandinavia's finest - Theo Jorgensen and Edgar Skjervold - but Mads has sensibly realised that with an hour-long clock, starting blinds of 25-50 and 10,000 chips, he does not have to do anything silly.
Of course, if he finds himself in trouble he can always poison the opposition, just like he did in the film to the unfortunate Bond.

Oh-Oh-Heaven: Mikkelsen plays steady

Play has started somewhat gingerly, with little action, although Sweden's Peter "Nalle" Hedlund doubled up early by flopping a set of nines and calling an all in bet from a flopped set of threes.
Over at Dutchman Noah "Exclusive" Boeken's table, he and Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier are raising a lot of pots and picking up the goodies with little action. It all seems too much for Noah, who is busy reading a magazine - a feature of his early level tournament play.


Making a good read: Noah Boeken

Meanwhile Team PokerStars' Isabelle Mercier is mixing it up on her table, taking a regular break from munching on her fruit to make raises. Her opponents are giving her a wide berth, but sat next to her is Jani Sointula, from Finland, who won the Monte Carlo Millions in 2004 and came second in last year's WPT in Paris. He will take no prisoners here.


Fruity: Isabelle contemplates


Experience: Jani Sointula

Casino Copenhagen

by Simon Young

I can never get it right. At last year's EPT in Copenhagen, Denmark, there were snow storms - and I was the only man in the country without a coat. This year, after careful preparation, I touched down at the airport wearing a huge overcoat, jumper and scarf. The result? Not a snow flake in sight, in fact it's positively warm for this time of year in Scandinavia.

The temperature will rise further in an hour of so when Day 1A of the EPT Copenhagen gets under way. Already players are queuing for registration for the €5,000 event, won last year by home favourite Mads Andersen.

Today we have a host of top PokerStars names playing, including Isabelle "No Mercy" Mercier, Luca Pagano, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Noah "Exclusive" Boeken, Thang Duc Nguyen (who won the EPT Baden in October) and Dario Minieri.

They, and everyone else, may do a double take if a certain Mads Mikkelsen is on their table. The name may mean nothing to you, but you will recognise him as the evil Le Chiffre, the poker-playing villain in the latest James Bond movie, Casino Royale.

Dane Mads is, by all accounts, a decent player in real life, so we will follow his progress today with interest.


Evil: Bond nemesis Le Chiffre

As kick-off time approaches, the table draw has been made and there are some interesting clashes looming. Sharing table nine are Italians Luca Pagano and Dario Minieri, while Noah Boeken and ElkY will be battling together on table 12.

Keep checking back here as we bring you the best of the action.

by Alison Lightman.
Play has officially ended on Day 3 of the Main Event at the Aussie Millions, with 14 players remaining from the original starting field of 747. Jimmy Fricke has been big box office tonight, winning pots from behind and having million dollar swings in his stack. He's developed fans amongst the railbirds and the 19 year old seemed bemused to be chased by authographs hunters on his breaks. Jimmy has ended the session as chip leader with 2.6 million in chips after taking down another huge pot in the closing minutes of play.
He'd limped from the cut off, and Marc Karam bet 200k pre-flop, which Jimmy called.The flop came 4c 7d Qc, and both players checked. The turn came 5d and Marc bet 350k provoking an all in call from Jimmy. Marc went into the tank, asked floor staff about the payout structure then folded, showed the table he was laying down a 9 high flush draw.
Jakob Glassl dropped a few hundred on a bluff reported earlier and has around half a million chips, which is around half the average of 1.067million.
**update**11.50
As the minutes tick down to the close of today's session, Jakob Glassl got involved after a quiet couple of hours, only to be forced out of the hand by Andrew Black.
Andrew raised 45k from the cutoff, and while the button and small blind got out of the way Jakob re-raised 100k more, and was called.
The flop came Ad Qc 6c, and Jakob fired again making it 100k. Andrew went straight for his raising chips and Jakob conceded and mucked without waiting for the bet. It took him down to around 650k.
**update**11.40pm
Jimmy Fricke has forced Patrik Antonius out of a 650k pot, taking his stack back over the 2 million mark.
Jimmy minimum raised under the gun and was called by Patrik in the big blind. Patrik checked the flop, Ah 7d 8s, but called Jimmy's 100k raise. Jimmy fired again when the turn was 5c, and Patrik called the 150k. The river came another Ace, the club, and when Jimmy made it 500k to call, Patrik folded.

**update**11.20pm
Jimmy Fricke has dropped more than a million chips in a three way confrontation with Patrik Antonius and Julius Colman.On a flop of 3h 2d 3s, Julius checked and Patrik bet out 125k. Jimmy pumped it up to a cool million, and both his opponents pushed all in.
Julius showed A3, Patrik QQ and Jimmy pocket 10's. The turn card was 9s, the river Kd. Julius tripled up with his trips, and Patrik took the side pot, leaving Jimmy with 1.7 million.

**update**11.05
A moment of high drama on the tournament floor moments ago when Jimmy Fricke and Patrik Antonius went to an all in showdown. Marc Karam had kicked off the action with a 70k bet, Patrik Antonius called in the cut off and Jimmy pumped it to 300k from the button. That got Karam out of the pot but Patrik Antonius moved all in. After a moment's consideration Jimmy called the extra, around 600k.
Jimmy showed AhKh and Patrik AKo. The flop came 7 5 J with one heart, the turn was another heart, the 4, and when a red Jack came on the river the crowd gasped, then sighed, as they realised it was a diamond and Jimmy had't sucked out a runner runner flush.
They split the pot.
Jakob Glassl is still keeping a low profile, not getting involved with his 1.2million. Action is a little slower with 17 left and 50 minutes of play left.
**update**10.35pm
Players have returned from their break and resumed battle, with Jimmy Fricke on 2.6million still in front even after losing a big pot just before the break. The railbirds are cheering for the 19 year old who while clearly thrilled with his progress is less delighted that he's built much of his stack by getting lucky when he was behind. He'd rather be thought of as skilled than lucky, but with the flops he's hitting, the railbirds and his new retinue of autograph hunters can't be blamed for thinking him blessed.


**update**10.15pm
Jimmy has done it again, busting out local player Nathan Bobik, and once again he came from behind. Jimmy had pp10's and called Nathan's all in raise. Nathan flipped KK but Jimmy made a set on the flop and raked in another huge pot to add to his chip mountain.
**9.50**pm
Jimmy Fricke is on fire and is the chip leader by a country mile. He got them all in on a flop of Qs 9c 2h, with Shane "Shaniac" Schleger. His heart must have sunk when he saw his Q 10 was behind Shaniac's QJ.
There was more than 2 million chips in the middle. The turn came Ks and then he rivered a miracle Jack to make a straight, send Shaniac to the rail and take control of the Main Event, just as he told me he was going to do, last weekend.


**update**9.40pm
Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke is surging into the chip lead with nigh on 2 million chips after knocking out another player.
Jimmy called an all in bet from the table short stack, with Kc7s. His opponent had a pair of deuces. The board was 9c Jd 8s Ad 10s, giving Jimmy the Jack-high straight and adding another 100k to his stack.

**update**9.15pm
Joe Hachem is out. Joe pushed all in pre flop with Q7o and was called in the cut off by Jonas Buskas (who had earlier knocked out Joe's brother Tony). Buskas had AQ0. The crowd on the rail was roaring for a 7 to keep the WSOP 2005 Champion in the event and still fighting for a major win in his home poker room but it didn't come.
The board was J 2 6 10 4.
Joe wins $60 000. He finished 23rd. "You can't win every tournament" he said to me, smiling, moments later. "You can try! But you can't win them all."

On hand to commiserate was fellow Team PokerStars player, the 2006 Aussie Millions champion Lee "final table" Nelson, who was busted out in 37th place.

**update**9pm

Less than 5 minutes into the start of play and Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke has doubled through against chip leader Marc Karam.



The money was all in pre flop. Jimmy flipped pocket 9's and Marc (in the white cap) AKo.

The flop came 5c Qd 10s the turn was 3c and the river 2c, and Jimmy raked in what was announced as the biggest pot of the main event, 1.2million.
Joe Hachem in the meantime has returned from the tv table with a much diminished stack of 105k - less than one fifth the average - but he's proven time and time again his short-stack expertise.

**update**8.48pm
Players have returned from dinner to commence Level 5 on Day 3 of the Main Event. They will play to the end of Level 6 tonight.

**7.51**pm
The 24 remaining players in the Main Event have gone for dinner. Jakob Glassl and former chip leader Patrik Antonius lingered over the felt while Jakob stared the Fin down, debating whether to call his 85k pre-flop raise. Eventually Jakob mucked face up showing pp7's - perhaps giving Patrik too much information to ponder over his break. Jakob has 1.2 million chips, Jimmy Fricke has 720k. We still haven't heard from the tv studio table where Joe Hachem is playing, but from the occasional glimpse we have of his stack in poker room tv monitors, he looks pretty short-stacked. The average is 622k. The blinds are going up next Level to 8k 16k with 2k antes.
**update**7.10pm
Jimmy Fricke has been slipping up this level on the six-handed table, with bluffs and semi-bluffs coming unstuck and harming his stack.
Moments ago Jimmy again got tangled up in a pot with Shane 'shaniac' Schleger, who made it 37k to go pre-flop.
Jimmy called in the small blind, and the flop came Ah Js Kc. Both checked. The turn was an Ace of diamonds. Jimmy bet out 30k and Shane quickly called. The river was a blank 4 of spades. Jimmy fired 120k at the pot, but Shane immediately called and flipped over AQ.
Jimmy shook his head and declared "I'm six high". Jimmy has around 530k having spent most the last level with 1 million. "I only run bad in the big pots" he told me. "I've still got enough."

**update**6.50pm
Jimmy Fricke has just doubled up after his huge losses in the past half hour saw his stack tumble from more than a million to around 300k. Jimmy raised 35k from under the gun and was called by Haralabos Voulgaris. The flop was Q Q 4 with two spades. Haralabos checked and Jimmy bet 50k. Haralabos pushed all in and Jimmy took his time, but called with 10s 8s. Harlabos had pp7's. The turn was the Ks making Jimmy's flush and he only had to dodge a 7 or Q. When the river came 6d Jimmy raked in the pot and is now on about 650k.

**update**6.35pm
The past ten minutes have brought extremes of mixed fortunes for two of our three remaining plaers. Jimmy Fricke has just taken two huge hits in succession and his fellow PokerStars player Jakob Glassl has knocked a player out to pass the million chip mark.
Jimmy called an all in post flop raise with the board 10c 6c Jd. Jimmy was holding Qc9C giving him an up and down straight draw and a flush draw. His opponent flipped pp6's and having already made a set, the J repeated on the turn to fill him up and Jimmy was drawing dead. Jimmy pushed more than 300k across the felt. Moments later Jimmy doubled through another player and has seen his stack drop by two thirds down to approximately 300k.

On the neighbouring table Jakob Glassl knocked out Erik Vaughan. Jakob had AA, Eric had 10 10. Jakob caught a set on the turn and Eric caught the lower set on the river. Jakob doubled through the next player who tabgled with him but still has more than 1million chips.

**update**6.12pm
Players are on another short break before play resumes in Level 4. 27 players remain and the average stack is 553k.
Blazing his way into the company of chip leaders is Jimmy Fricke who has 1.1 million but just told us "I could have a huge stack right now, I just caught a straight flush draw but missed."
Jakob Glassl, who has 770k, says the cards have been really nice to him the last levels. He was down as low as 80k, he said pushing all in with nothing. "Thankfully no one called!" he said. "Since then I have caught some cards."

**17.44pm**
Jimmy Fricke has passed the million chip mark. The 19 year old fired 150k at a pot of around 100k, on a board of 9s 5d 3s 9h As. It was two way. Jimmy's opponent said "You either just caught an Ace or it's a bluff...you do not have a flush." Jimmy showed AcKc and his opponent mucked.

**update**5.34pm
Kosta Varoxis from the Gold Coast has just been busted out of the Main Event. The button raised to 35k and Kosta in the big blind re-raised to 100k. The button, who had Kosta covered, pushed all in and the 37 year old Queenslander called. Kosta had ppQ's and his opponent KJ. It was an 800k pot. The flop came K 8 7 K and just to seal Kosta's fate his opponent filled up with a repeater 7 on the river.

**update**5.25pm
Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke has busted out another player. Jimmy called an all-in raise pre-flop from Katherine Hartree who'd pushed in her last 75k. Jimmy flipped A4o and Kathryn had KQo. The board came J 5 8, J J. Jimmy added another 100k to his stack and has 773k.

22 year old German PokerStars' satellite winner Jakob Glassl has 800k. In a blinds confrontation and on a board reading 7 8 4 K 4, the small blind led out for 30k. Jakob in the big blind re-raised to 100k and the small blind called. Jakob showed 10 4o and other other player mucked. He's aggressive, taking down pots mostly without a showdown.
Kosta Varoxis has claimed another scalp in Level 3. The 37 year old Queenslander re-raised a 30k bet all in from his big blind. Kosta had JdQd and was called by 6h7h. The flop was KhJs6c, the turn Ac, and the river 2h. Kosta took more than 100k in that hand. He has around 450k.

**update** 4.16
Lee Nelson the defending Aussie Millions Champion has been busted out by hyper-aggressive Dane, Gus Hansen.
Lee raised pre flop to 32k from middle position with Gus in the big blind.Gus called the extra 22k and the action was heads up. The flop came Qc4cQd, Gus checked and Lee bet 30k. Gus re raised to 75k and Lee asked Gus how much he had left, and while he realised Gus had him covered he still moved all in. Gus immediately called and turned AcQs, giving him trips. Lee was left with the flush draw which didn't come,the turn was Jh and the river 3h, ending Lee's reign as the tournament champion in 37th place. He takes home $25 000. Tables are now going six handed. Someone was knocked out immediately after Lee, and 35 players remain. Still flying the flag for PokerStars are Joe Hachem, Jimmy Fricke and Kosta Varoxis.
**update**4.02pm
Kosta Varoxis has been chipping away at fellow Pokerstars' player Lee Nelson, on his right. Lee just folded to a big re-raise from Kosta and going into the break, the defending champion had 410k. Kosta had 355k. Joe Hachem has 330k and Jakob Glassl 460k.

37 players remain, and when we lose one more it will go six-handed.
Jimmy Fricke has been moved upstairs to the tv table and we can't yet report on his progress, but he had around 600k.When players return the blinds will be 5k/ 10k with a 1k ante.

**update**3.27pm

Kosta Varoxis has just taken down a big pot on the feature table and sent another player to the rail. Kosta, 37, who won the $530 satellite on PokerStars, called the player's all in with pp6's. The other player had Ah5h and Kosta's pair stood up. After raking in the chips he has 350k.
22 year old Jakob Glassl, from hamburg, who also won his seat in the $530 tournament, has amassed 475k.

**update**3.09pm
Joe Hachem has doubled up through Robert Goldfarb, who moments ago knocked out Joe's PokerStars' team mate David Pham.
Joe was all in with AcKh and was called by Robert with Ah Qc. The flop was 4c 10s 3c. The turn was the 2c and the river the 6d. Joe now has about 350k, just above the average of 339k with 44 players remaining.
Jakob Glassl has doubled up as well. On a flop of 10 4 blank, he got it all in with local player Joe Humunicki. Jakob had the cowboys and Joe had ppJ's. There was a King on the turn and Joe was drawing dead. Jakob has around 400k.
**update**2.45
Joe Hachem has doubled up on a miracle runner runner hand. Paul Wasicka bet 20k and Joe pushed all in, getting a call. Both players flipped A 9 and it was looking like a chop but then the flop came down, 3 4 6 with 2 hearts. Joe had the Ace of hearts. The turn card was the Jh and the river the 3h.
Joe now has 190k.

David "the Dragon" Pham has been busted. He bet 25k with pocket 10's and got a re-raise from Robert Goldfarb who pumped it to 45k from the button.
The flop was Jh 8c 7h. David, first to act, pushed in his last 60k and was called instantly with Goldfarb holding AA. The turn was another Ace and the river 3c no help to the Dragon.

Jimmy Fricke has been moved to the feature tv table, away from the main floor, we'll keep you posted as we can.

Lee Nelson is also on the move, to Gus Hansen's table. After working tirelessly all day yesterday to asset his authority over Patrik Antonius, Lee now has to deal with the equally aggressive Dane.

Kosta Varoxis, from Queensland, has doubled up through Hansen. He pushed with AQ against Hansen's pp10's and caught his Ace on the river. Kosta has 270k.

**update**2.33pm

We're down to 49 players from the 80 who started today (in the money) at the Main Event. Lee "final table" Nelson, the defending Champion is showing his class doubling through in the first level to 420k.
Jimmy "gobboyboy Fricke's chip mountain (615k).


Joe Hachem's railbirds, including Emad Tahtouh from Team PokerStars who busted out on Day 1.
**update**2.27pm
Players have taken a short break at the end of an opening session which saw the short stacks dropping like flies and our Lee Nelson and Jimmy Fricke consolidating big stacks. Of 80 runners today only 53 remain - six of them PokerStars'.
Reigning champion Lee Nelson has 420k, Jimmy Fricke has 615k, but David Pham who is on the same table has been pushed around all session and is down to 170k.

Joe Hachem has taken several big hits and is on 95k, have had 275 ninety minutes ago. He says he's been card dead, and lost a big pot with his only decent cards so far, AhKh.

**update** 1.35pm

Adam Junglen, our 19 year old player from Ohio, is out. He raised to 16.5k in middle postition and the player on his left (wearing white) pumped it up 50k more. Adam thought and re-raised all in and got an instant call.

Adam flipped AQ and his opponent AK and the flop was King high.
Adam cashed $20 0000, and is sanguine about his loss, displaying the maturity he has shown at the table away from the table as well.


**update**1.23pm

Dennis Petronack is out. He pushed all in with A9 against Ross Boatman's 10 10 and the board came Q K 5 7 4.

**update**1.12pm


Defending Aussie Millions champion Lee Nelson has doubled up in a clash with fellow PokerStars player Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke. Fricke had been raising a lot of pots early, and he raised with pp5's in middle position. Lee eventually pushed all-in pre flop, after finding A Q on the button, and Jimmy called. The flop came 6c 3h Qd. The turn was the 8s, the river 10d. Top pair was enough and Lee now has about 452k.
Jimmy dropped 218k and would have around 317k.

Joe Hachem has dropped nearly a third of his stack in a clash with Chris Zenonas who started today as the table short stack with just 19k. Ten minutes later Joe aggressed another pot but was forced to lay it down when Chris pushed all in on a flop of 8s Qd 8d.
Gus Hansen has been keeping a watchful eye on players at other tables.

**update**1.05pm

Jimmy Fricke has claimed his first scalp of the day busting out local player Peter Pratis in a 50k pot adding to his giant stack which must be approaching 600k.
Dennis Petronack, a PokerStars online qualifier from the USA, entered this session with a teeny 17k - one of the two very short stacks - and has turned it into 70k in the first half hour. Patrik Antonius just doubled him up, calling Dennis' all-in and seeing him flip the nut flush.

**update**12.55

David "the Dragon" Pham knows he's in a game today. An aggressive player by nature, David has found himself on a tough table with fellow PokerStars players, monster stack Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke, and defending tournament champion Lee "final table" Nelson.
First to act, Jimmy called "all in" on the river after Pham checked the turn with a board of Q 3 4 2 5. David had no option but to fold if he had no Ace, and Jimmy mucked and collected.
Just two minutes later David went to the flop in the small blind with Lee checking his option in the big blind. The flop came 9c 6s Jh. David checked and Lee bet 10k. David re-raised to 30k and Lee fired it back up again to 100k. David folded.

12.30pm
Cards are in the air on Day 3 of the Aussie Millions Main Event, with the defending champion Lee "final table" Nelson and 2005 WSOP Champion Joe Hachem leading the PokerStars team. The bubble burst nine minutes before play ended in the early hours of this morning.
We have eight players remaining in the field, all of whom are in the money.
Among the 80 Day 3 starters, some are nursing very short stacks like our Dennis Petronack who has 17k and the super aggressive Patrik Antonius at his table.

Their starting chip counts:

Jimmy "gobboboy"Fricke 535k
David "the Dragon" Pham 350k
Adam Junglen 309k
Joe Hachem 275k
Lee Nelson 192k
Kosta Varoxis 164k
Jakob Glassl 120k
Dennis Petronack 17k

The reigning Aussie Millions Champion, Lee "final table" Nelson, was knocked out in 37th place in Level 3, Day 3 of the Main Event.
Applause rang out around the room as the 2006 Champion made his way to the rail and his bride of 12 days, Pen.
He was knocked out by Gus Hansen, who made trip Queens on the flop with Lee holding a busted flush draw. He takes home $25 000.
Our reporter Heath Cram was following Lee during his battle yesterday in which he asserted his authority over table bully (and tournament comeback sensation) Patrik Antonius. He filed this report.

By Heath Cram
Reigning Aussie Millions champion Lee Nelson was seated against the tournament chip leader on Day 2, the ultra aggressive Fin Patrik Antonius. Those who know Lee best realised that this would not be a disadvantage, but more so give Lee Nelson access to a huge stack of chips. Early in the day Lee made the most of that opportunity, taking down a huge pot against Antonius and putting the Fin in his place on several occasions.

The tension in the air at table 2 (and later at the feature table 10), could have been sliced with a knife. Lee had arrived at Crown with his game face on and was at his vintage best, providing the early chip leader Patrick Antonius with several lessons in poker. The 2005 World Poker Open & 2006 Aussie Millions winner looked set to maintain his fitting tag of Lee “Final Table” Nelson, as he ended the day with nearly 200k in chips.

"I didn’t have so much as a plan going into the second day, knowing Patrik (Antonius) was at my table, but I probably did as well as I could, going from 75k to 350k at one stage", said a modest Lee Nelson.

Lee’s big early double up came after several pre-flop re-raises over the top of Antonius in earlier hands, as Lee was in total control of the table with his 100k+ stack.

With an 8-high flop and 2 spades, Lee Nelson went all-in post-flop for 131.7k against Antonius, with Lee holding a 9-10 of spades giving him 2 overcards to the board and a flush draw. Antonius revealed pocket Jacks and Lee's outs diminished a little.

"No doubt, I thought I had 15 outs. The flush cards and the two over cards", said Nelson.

"Patrick is one of those players who could have any two cards, but I was thinking maybe a pair of 6's or 7's, or A8, K8, giving Patrick top pair. I didn't think he was as strong as Jacks", Lee said.

It was all irrelevant as the board turned up a spade giving Lee the ten-high flush he was chasing.
"Yes!" shouted Nelson, as the jam packed rail cheered and the cameras hustled for position.

"That was Kill Phil at its best", said an onlooker… and it was.

Lee had over 270k in chips, but didn't let up there, climbing as high as 350k during the night.

It was 1am in the morning, 1 away from the bubble and the pre and post-flop betting duel between the players never let up. Patrik would re-raise and force Lee out of a hand, then Lee would play back at him in the next couple of hands and Patrik would be forced to fold a big pot.

Lee lost a portion of his stack on the bubble with Patrik Antonius, relentless in his pursuit to rebuild his stack after falling as low as 3-6k at one stage.

"I couldn’t do too much with Patrik still firing so loosely at the end of the night", said Nelson.

"It hurt when he (Antonius) caught that 6 on the river on a crippled short stack… he should have been packing his bags", said Nelson.

"I had done all the hard work against him. If he goes out there, as he probably should have, then I would have gone on to totally control the table and have a million chips", said Nelson.

Lee folded A-10 when desperately wanting to call, but opted against the Antonius tirade at a critical point in the tournament. Lee still hadsd a healthy stack of almost 200k, and one felt that would be more than sufficient to push Patrick and everyone else in his way aside, in his quest for back-to-back Aussie Millions victory.

"The competition is tougher this year", said Nelson.

"With the exception of Barry Greenstein, who was here last year, you can safely say the top 30 players in the world are here", said Nelson.

Don't misread Lee's reference to the opposition. He only made mention of the other players, because he was asked about the quality of the field.

This fearless superstar of tournament poker need not worry about who is seated at his table, or any other table for that matter. While it didn't turn out as he planned, senses suggest that it won't be long before he takes all before him… again.

End of day 3 chip counts.

Jimmy Fricke from Mahomet Illinois, who bought into this event with his PokerStars W$, is the clear chip leader in the Aussie Millions. 14 players remain.
Here are the final chip counts reported at the close. These figures will be confirmed overnight and a definitive count will be posted at the start of Day 4.

Jimmy Fricke 2.6 million (bought in with PokerStars W$)
Gus Hansen 1.86 million
Andrew Black 1.75 million
Patrik Antonius 1.63 million
Marc Karam 1.24 million
AVERAGE STACK 1.067 million
Julius Colman 1.01 million
Hans Martin Vogl 849k
Jonas Buskas 820k
Kristy Gazes 713k
Paul Wasicka 560k
Jakob Glassl 464k (PokerStars $530 satellite winner)
Patrick Fletcher 462k
Dennis Huntly 449k
Emmanuel Seal 434k

by Simon Young

To fold, or not to fold, that is the question. Or it would have been had William Shakespeare played poker for a living rather than write plays that, to be frank, cause more trauma to modern-day school kids than stewed vegetables dished up by the dinner ladies.

"Wild Bill" Shakespeare would no doubt have been quite cunning at the felt, confusing and upsetting other players with his superior table talk: "But, look, the morn, in russet mantle clad, walks o'er the dew of yon high eastward hill." Which to you and me means: "My goodness, look at the time. We've been playing all night and should go home and get some shut-eye."

As you like it: Shakespeare the card shark

The Bard as a poker pro is quite a romantic image, but as the game was not even invented when he was alive, we'll have to settle for his ingenious reality as a scribe. He wrote a couple of nice stories, one of which was Hamlet. Set right here in Denmark, it told of how a wronged prince came to claim his right as king.

It may be hundreds of years later, but the setting is the same. Here in Denmark, hundreds of players are gathering like bees around a hive to claim the crown as their own: EPT Copenhagen champion.

The EPT season three tournament - two day ones, a day two and the final table - kicks off tomorrow (Wednesday) and the pace will be relentless. It took just 18 hours for the 400 seats to be sold, and that sort of competition means one thing... hot action.

As well as some of Europe's top players we have dozens of PokerStars qualifiers in the field, together with our own Team PokerStars' Tom McEvoy, Isabelle "No Mercy" Mercier, Katja Thater, Luca Pagano and Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier.

Expected back are local hero Mads Andersen, the Dane who won this event on home soil last year, and the likes of Marcel Luske.

Book your ring-side seat with the PokerStars Blog and miss none of the action.

By Alison Lightman

Day2 of the Aussie Millions has come to an end after a marathon 7 ninety minute levels of play that saw the starting field reduce from 299 to 80.

Jimmy Fricke is the sensation tonight. The 19 year old who is fresh from a cash finish in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (22nd place) has 535k and is battling for the chip lead against Haralabos Voulgaris.

Jimmy predicted he was going to win on the eve of the Main Event.


Jimmy "gobboboy"Fricke is ecstatic about his performance, and can sleep peacefully knowing there will be 535k chips waiting for him when play resumes tomorrow. His friend Adam Junglen, another PokerStars player, has 309.5k. They must be the two youngest players left in the tournament. Jimmy is from Mahomet Illinois and Adam from Ohio. Both bought in using the W$ they've earned on PokerStars and it's proved a wise investment.

An elated Joe Hachem, 2005 WSOP champion, ended the day with 275k, exceeding his hoped for target.

"I said before the start of the day I wanted to walk out of here with 200k. Until the last hour and a half I would have struggled to have that. I fluctuated between 40 and 90k for a long time on the two feature tables."

Meanwhile Lee Nelson the defending champion finished with 192k having been up over 400k. He lost a couple of large pots at the end of the Day. He was getting hands like A 10 and didn't want to get too involved with Patrik Antonius (comeback story of the day) being so hyper aggressive.

We'll post a full report on Lee's day tomorrow.

David "The Dragon" Pham is another big stacked player with 350k.

Dennis Petronack deserves a medal for endurance and will have to pick his moment wisely to make his 17k stack work for him tomorrow.

Kosta Varoxis from the Gold Coast finished with 164k, and Jakob Glassl, from Hamburg in Germany, has 120k.

**update**1.25am

The money bubble has burst nine minutes before the end of Level 7 and 80 players have made the money at the 2007 Aussie Millions. They're guaranteed at least $15 000. Amongst them Lee Nelson, Joe Hachem, Adam Junglen, Jimmy Fricke, Kosta Varoxis, Jakob Glassl.


**update**12.35am

Joe Hachem is on 290k after taking down pot after pot now he's back on the tournament floor.

He's tangling with fellow PokerStars player Adam Junglen at Table 11 but - as it's Joe - it's all light-hearted.

They just faced off again with Joe informing the rail "We're one all, now we're going for the tie-breaker".

Joe completed in the small blind and got a 10k raise from Adam in the big blind. The World Champ peered at the teenager, reached over to take his pulse, and mucked his cards smiling.

**update** 12.15am


Joe Hachem has just taken down a large pot to put him over 200k, which he told me this morning was his target for today. A short stack went all in for 44k with pp2's only to run into the World Champion's ppQ's.

Joe has been moved, taking a seat beside our Adam Junglen, and has already bluffed the teenager off one hand.



**update**11.55pm

Jimmy Fricke our 19 year old player from the USA has just taken the chip lead with 444k - if Haralabos Voulgaris' latest chip count of of 440k is correct. I met Jimmy at our players' party on Saturday night and he told me with absolute conviction "Ma'am, I am going to crush this tournament." He may well. The look of concentration and determination that you'll see on his face below has been there all day long.

Jimmy asked me to send a hello to his mum, Peggy Klausner, a couple of days ago, saying she was an avid reader of our blog. Peggy, if you're reading this, hello again, and your boy is doing you proud.

**update**11.45pm

Players are on a 15 minute break and tension is palpable on the floor with 88 remaining, only 7 players to go before the money bubble bursts at 81. There are a lot of players nursing short stacks desperate to stay alive to make the cash.

David Pham is less nervous than most as he's sitting behind a huge pile of chips, some 365k. Kosta Varoxis has taken a couple of hits and is hovering around 105k and Jakob Glassl on 105k is also well under the average of 167k.

Joe Hachem has returned to the main tournament floor after his stint at the tv table with 160k. Defending champion Lee Nelson is not getting involved too much, and maintaining his stack around 330k.

**update**11.35pm

Adam Junglen has taken down two decent pots without a showdown to put him on 295k. The 19 year old from Ohio is clearly a young man of enormous tenacious courage, he has been through a lot.


His friend Jimmy Fricke from Illinois has more than 44ok after busting out another player moments ago. Jimmy check-called a 20k bet from the big blind in a four way pot. Two players folded after the flop K 8 9. On the turn a 5 Jimmy checked, his opponent in the cut off bet 20k, and Jimmy came back over the top making it 60k total,. The river came a 3 and Jimmy fired another 60k putting the other guy all in. At the showdown Jimmy said "I have the nuts" and flipped the nut straight. The cut off had pocket 8's for a set. While Jimmy had been frustrated with his table pushing back at him, he was always confident he'd double through with the right hand.

**update**11.15pm

Joe Hachem has been picking up pots on the tv feature table and is reported to have 180k - getting closer to his objective for the day of 200k.

Giuseppe Famulari who won a $16 + R satellite on PokerStars has been eliminated. Giuseppe had struggled with a short stack for the entire day and was being blinded away through this evening, too short to hang on for the money bubble to burst. But at least he is going home with a great story for diners at his two Melbourne restaurants.

Englishman Simon Cook has also busted out in the past few minutes. Simon raised pre flop and was re-raised all in. Simon went into the tank for a good five minutes before he called with KJ, looking for a race or better. But his opponent held pocket Jacks, which held up.

Simon looking happier than he feels now with table mate Shane "Shaniac" Schleger.

Kosta Varoxis from the Gold Coast has always looked like he'd go deep into this event.

Jimmy Fricke and Adam Junglen who are close friends both have 260k. Joe Hachem, who is playing in the tv studio, has 97k. Lee Nelson has 270k. Kosta Varoxis has just doubled through a short stack and losing the 100k pot has left the Queenslander with around 160k.

David "The Dragon" Pham has 350k.

**update**10.35pm

Joe Hachem has reached 100k. He's playing at the tv studio feature table where it is not possible for us to follow the action. He told me this morning his aim for today was 200k, so the 2005 WSOP champion has a long way to go.

**update**10.20pm

Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke has picked up 80k since play resumed in one huge pot. He raised under the gun and was called in the cut off. One a flop of 6 5 6 rainbow Jimmy led out for 15k. The cut off re-raised to 45k and Jimmy pushed all in. The player went into the tank so far that time was called, asking "if I fold will you show?" to no avail. Eventually the player mucked and Jimmy scooped up a big one.

**update**9.55pm

Players have gone on a ten minute break. 106 remain and the average is 140k. Joe Hachem is struggling to make half of that and after a double through a few minutes ago is on 75k. He pushed with cowboys and made a set on the flop, against an opponent holding As7s who didn't make his flush.

Patrik Antonius has been resuscitated. Having been down to 6k he has quadrupled twice, doubled up through Lee Nelson, and through Barney Boatman, and has just busted Boatman to build up to 120k. That's Lee at the feature table below (in the dark jacket and cap) and a good view of the back of Patrik's head.
Jimmy "gobboyboy" Fricke has been bleeding chips this level with players aggressing into him, he is down to 170k having been as high as 315k earlier this evening. Adam Junglen is building his stack slowly but surely and has 180k.

**update**9.30

PokerStars' $16 + R satellite winner Minh Quach has busted out. Gus Hansen who doubled him up just moments ago took his chips back decisively and is on his way to the chip lead. Minh pushed with A 10 and this time Hansen had pp7's, which was all he needed.

"What can I say" Minh reflected as he gathered his things. "Hansen wins all the races." It was a great effort from the local player, and he can console himself with the knowledge that he not only terrorised Doug Lee throughout Day1, but also bluffed Jeff Madsen out of a hand while he was on the featured TV table.

Guiseppe Famulari, who also won a $16 + R satellite to get his seat, is struggling on 27k.

**update**9.20pm

Patrik Antonius, who bullied the field all day yesterday with his colossal stack and began today with a huge chip lead is in critical condition on the feature table after coming off worst in a series of clashes mostly with our Lee Nelson.

Patrik pushed all in for his last handful of chips and Lee called with A 7 and was way in front of Patrik's J 6. Patrik caught a six on the river to double up but is now the shortest stack in the tournament with 12k.

Jimmy Fricke has dropped another 60k in one hit in an all-in showdown with a short stack. Jimmy had 5s 7s a md his opponent had Ac 5c. The money went in on a flop of 6 4 10, with two clubs. The turn paired the board with 10c, and the river was another 10, so the Ace-high stood up. Jimmy has just under 200k.
**update**9.10pm

After mentioning how aggressive Gus Hansen was during the dinner break, local player Minh Quach has gone on to double up through him with a pre flop re raise all in, with A 8. Hansen called with Q J and the flop came 3 8 J, Minh catching second pair and Gus top pair. The turn came another 8 giving Minh a set, and the river was an Ace to fill him up. Minh, who has been short-stacked most of today, only has 50k now so will have to make another move soon.

**update**8.52pm

Tension is apparent on the feature table where our Lee Nelson has been getting the better of the early chip leader, super-aggressive young Fin Patrik Antonius.
It was evident in a hand hat took place moments ago. Lee raised 8k from early position and

Patrik Antonius pushed all in from the big blind for his last 92k. After only a couple of minutes Patrik called "clock" to try to force Lee to act. A supervisor was called by the dealer who informed him of the request to call time on the reigning champion. The supervisor had a quiet word in Patrik's ear to the effect it had only been two minutes. Lee chucked his hand anyhow, before time was even called.
Since then Lee has doubled up another player, David Callaghan. Lee called David's all in from his small blind, holding J5o. David turned over pp4's and the board was no help to Lee, who dropped about 40k but has approximately 360k, so can absorb the loss.
Some happy news for Simon Cook who has been complaining the whole tournament that he hasn’t had Aces. Bullets have arrived at the right time and stood up, and Simon has doubled through to reach 110k.


The blinds are 1200 / 2400 with 400 antes and there are 126 left, with the average stack at 118k.

**update** 8.23pm

Level 6 has commenced with 131 players remaining, and action slowing down slightly as the bubble approaches. The top 80 will be in the money. We sense another final table approaching for Lee "final table" Nelson, who has been carving up his opponents and engaging in memorable clashes with former chip leader Patrik Antonius, who is back down to 143k. Lee at 390k is just 15k short of the chip leader Shane Schleger. Joe Hachem is short-stacked with 75k but managing a small stack is his specialty. Jimmy Fricke is going strong with 250k, David Pham has 280k, and Adam Junglen, Minh Quach, Dennis Petronack, Kosta Varoxis, Giuseppe and a very short stacked Simon Cook are all fighting hard.

**update**8.05pm

We've just had another power blackout in the poker room but this time players were having a well earned break to eat and stretch their legs. They'll be back at 8.20pm to resume battle. In the meantime, here are some shots of our players in action during the past level, starting with David "The Dragon" Pham.

19 year old Adam Junglen, who bought his way into the tourney with his PokerStars W$.

Adam's buddy Jimmy Fricke, who also used W$ to buy in, and who told me on the eve of the Main Event he was going to "crush this tournament". He's demonstrating that it wasn't bravado with a huge pile of chips.


Minh Quach, looking relaxed in his home poker room.


An intently focussed Jakob Glassl.

Dennis Petronack
Queenslander Kosta Varoxis, who has every reason to smile about his tough performance today.


PokerStars' own Simon Cook has suffered a crippling loss in a heads up fight for a 320k pot.
His opponent Shane Schleger raised from the cut off and Simon re-raised him to 25k. Shane called and the flop was 10h 4h Qd. Simon led out 35k and Shane instantly pushed all in. Simon sat on it for five minutes before calling and turning over his pocket Kings. Shane flipped pocket 10's for a set. Simon is staring miserably at 30k chips where there had been around 200k.

**update**6.25pm

Lee Nelson continues to dominate the feature table and has clashed with Patrik Antonius in another telling pot.
After a pre-flop betting exchange the flop came: 5h Kh 4s
Patrik bet out 25k and in no time Lee instructed the dealer that he was all-in.
Patrik glared down the table at Lee before re-assessing the board, eventually mucking.
Another 70k pot to Lee who is well and truly in control.

But Minh Quach has lost a big pot. He called an all-in bet in the small blind with JJ, but his opponent who raised his entire stack under the gun, flipped over pocket queens.
The board read: Ad h 6h 5s 9s no help to Minh. Losing that 36k pot puts Minh back to about 40k in chips.

**update** 5.55pm
Lee Nelson has fired into action again in Level 5 and it's a toss-up, moment to moment, determining who is the chip leader. Both Lee and Haralabos Voulgaris have just under 400k.

Two more PokerStars players are making waves and getting into the ten percent of the field: David "The Dragon" Pham and Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke.

Minh Quach has survived his visit to the tv table and returned to the main tournament floor with 72k. He told us he'd bluffed Jeff Madsen off a big pot.

It's Joe Hachem's turn for the lights cameras and action and he has headed upstairs to the tv table. It's difficult to follow the action in the studio but we will keep you as informed as we can about the 2005 WSOP champion's evening.

Giuseppe Famulari is being blinded away and is down to 36, still trying to catch a hand. Kosta Varoxis has consolidated his gains from the earlier two levels and has 180k in front of him. David "The Dragon"Pham has 240k.

Young Jakob Glassl has been slowly but surely grinding it out today and has broken the 100k barrier to put him just above average.

He was holding QQ and flopped top set on a board of 6 Q 4 2 J. He pushed all in and got called by JJ which made the lower trips.

update**5.35pm

Players are on a 15 minute break. Jimmy Fricke has been hanging out relaxing with fellow 19 year old American, Adam Junglen.

152 remain from the starting field of 299. The average stack is 98289. When they return for Level 4 the blinds will be at 1000 / 2000.

**update**5.20pm

Joe Hachem has doubled up his table nemesis in seat 4 yet again in a pot worth around 80k. The money went in pre-flop with Joe holding Kd Jh and his opponent pocket 4's.
The flop gave his opponent a set, As 8h 4h, and while Joe's K came on the turn and J on the river, two pairs weren't good enough.
He's down to around 60k but that's still nearly triple what he started with.

**update** 4.45

Joe Hachem is back to more than 70k after knocking out Teresa Harp with AJo against 99. The flop came 8 8 8 giving Teresa a full house but Joe caught a J for a higher boat on the turn.

**update**4.35

Defending Champion Lee Nelson has just taken down a monster pot in the hand of the tournament so far against the former chip leader, Patrik Antonius.



Lee led for 15k on a flop of 4 5 8 with two spades. Patrik displaying his customary aggression re-raised making it 45k and Lee pushed all in for about 130k total. Patrik went into the tank and asked for a count before making what looked like a reluctant call. Patrik turned over J J with the J of spades, and Lee showed 9s 10s. A very pregnant pause followed while tv crews scrambled to cover the action. The turn was the 4 of spades giving Lee the flush, but increasing Patrik's outs dangerously. The river was a harmless 2 and Lede had doubled through, leaving the young Fin to ponder yet another poker lesson from the reigning Aussie Millions Champ.
**update** 4.30pm

PokerStars' David "the Dragon" Pham has knocked out local player Van Marcus. David had J 10 against Van's AK and the board came J 3 7 9 8. David's up to 230k.

Joe Hachem has doubled up Martin Cottam for a second time today. Joe bet out at a flop of 9d 9h 4d and Martin pushed his last 15k into the middle. Joe turned over 6 6 and Martin J J. A J came on the river to fill Martin up. Joe is back down to 42k.


**update**4.10pm

Normal service has resumed after the excitement of a blackout, and the 200 remaining players are once more intently focussed on the fight for the Aussie Millions title.

Joe Hachem has been carving up his table and was up to 80k moments ago but has taken a 12k hit. Joe had JJ against A8 and two Aces came on the flop.

Adrian Pitt has more than 100k after taking a 15k pot from Chris "Jesus" Ferguson minutes ago. Simon Cook has 185k and reigning champ Lee Nelson has powered his way up to 150k. We're about to file a report on Lee's encounter with massive chip leader Patrik Antonius, look for the headline "Poker Masterclass".
**update**4.04pm

The Aussie Millions tournament has just been plunged into chaos with a power failure turning the brightly illuminated floor into darkness. Players were on break and away from their tables. The main lights were down for easily four minutes with pockets of light here and there cast by independently powered lamps.

**update**3.55pm

Players are on another quick break before heading into Level 3 of Day 2. There are 184 players remaining with the average stack 78k.

Dennis Petronack has 85k, Jimmy Fricke has 110k, and Adam Junglen has 95k.

**update** 3.45pm

Louis Luo has just been knocked out. The small blind moved all in and Louis looked down from the button to find JJ, and called for his last 21k. He'd run into bullets and an Ace on the turn gave his opponent a set and sealed the deal for Louis.

Kosta Varoxis from Queensland is still moving up through the field and has 160k. Dennis Petronack has 85k, Jimmy Fricke is recovering from his earlier big hit and has 95k. Adam Junglen has 100k.

**update**3.25

Joe Hachem has turned his 22.4k start stack into 60k during Level 2 after pushing two young players out of a pot with a stiff re-raise on a King high flop. Joe had them both covered in chips and his re-raise asked them to risk their tournament lives, which neither was willing to do.

**update**3.20

Players seem to have settled down after the bloodshed of the first round when cries of "all in" resounded around the floor and nearly 60 players were busted.

Sadly PokerStars satellite winner, Jody Thompson from Newfoundland, has just been eliminated. There was a raise from early position to 4.5k and it was folded around to Jody who had AK on the button. He pushed all in for his 31k and was called by QQ. On a board of J J 4 3 4, Jody was going home.

Also gone are Don De Rota, Michael DeGilio, Jacques Mercier and Mitsuko Kotaka.

The field has reduced by almost a third, down to 208 from 299 starters today, but we still have 14 PokerStars players remaining.

**update**2.50pm

Kosta Varoxis, from the Gold Coast, has rocketed ahead early in Level 2 and has 170k. Adam Junglen continues to grow his stack making all the right decisions, he has 85k. Louis Luo is back up to 50k. Giuseppe Famulari has 70k.

Joe Hachem has been forced to lay down Aces and forgo a 17k pot. With the blinds at 600/1200, Seat 4 raised to 3.3k in middle position and it was folded around to Joe in the Big Blind.
Joe called the extra 2100, and it was off to the flop, 3s Ah 5c. The raiser fired another 5k at the pot, which Joe quickly called.
The turn was a 9c.
The pre-flop raiser again led out, betting 13k and Joe went in the tank before eventually showing the Ace of spades and folding.
Joe still sits with about 42k in chips after this pot.

Michael DeGilio has been knocked out.

**update 2.30**pm

On table 2 massive chip leader Patrik Antonius has run into a wall he can't bash through in the shape of our Lee "final table" Nelson, the current Aussie Millions champion.

Lee tells us Patrik has been raising 50 or 60 percent of hands pre-flop using his colossal stack to bully the table.

Lee doesn't fear the young Fin, as seen in a hand that just played out. Patrik raised to 4k from middle position with two callers behind. Lee Nelson on the button pushed it up to almost 20k and after staring at the huge pile of chips on the table, Patrik was forced to let go, the other limpers with him.

Adrian Pitt has taken a third scalp. He called a short stack's all-in move with pocket tens, and found himself in a classic race against AK. The flop came A Q J and the turn was the King Adrian need to make the straight and put him up to 100k.

**update**

Players have gone for their first break of the day after an action-filled opening round which saw 59 players busted to the rail, their dreams of Aussie Millions victory over for another year.

We still have 19 PokerStars players in the field including defending Champion Lee Nelson, who's getting involved early asserting himself at the table and has increased his stack to 120k.

Joe Hachem had a good first Level. He picked up another 5k with KJ against A10, when the flop brought two Jacks to give him a set. After his earlier double-up, Joe has approximately 45k and will be breathing easier. He told me earlier his plan was a) survival and b) to have 30k early to give him some play, and have 200k by the end of the day.

Adrian Pitt from Western Australia has knocked out a player and added 25k to his stack giving him 73k. Local player Minh Quach, who has been moved to a feature tv table, has 48k.

Jimmy Fricke has taken a big hit. The 19 year old from Mahomet Illinois started today amongst the top ten with 139k but is back down to 90k after his pocket Aces got cracked. The button raised to 3.5k and Jimmy in the small blind raised it to 10.5. The button called and the flop came 10 6 5 rainbow. Jimmy lead out for 14k, and the button raised it up to 35k with 33k behind. Jimmy pushed and the button called with top set.

Adam Junglen has 68k. He dropped down to 20k earlier but recovered with a miracle hand. He pushed all in with pp3's and the cut-off called with Cowboys. The flop came K 6 4 and Adam was picking up his things to go home, the turn was 2 and no help, but the river was the miracle 5 giving Adam the straight.

Jody Thompson has 43k. Michael DeGilio has 32k, Dennis Petronack has 100k. Kosta Varoxis has 150k. Louis Lou approximately 20k. David Pham has 90k. Don de Rota has 16k. Giuseppe Famulari is doing well and has about 98k. Simon Cook has 72k. Jakob Glassl has 33k.

Jan Uyl, 37 from California, didn't recover from losing an 80k pot early on and with only 16k, was forced to push, and was eliminated.



**update** 1.35pm

The action is fast and furious in the opening round of Day2. Defending Aussie Millions Champion, our own Lee Nelson, has made it clear early that he will not be pushed around by tournament chip leader Patrik Antonius.
Patrik raised 3.4k in second position and Lee called in the cutoff. The blinds quickly got out of the hand.
The flop came 10h Jc 3d and both players checked the flop.
The turn was a 9h. Patrik again checked, but this time Lee bet 6k and was called.
The river was a 6d. Patrik again checked and Lee put a further 12k into the middle, to take down the pot.
This has taken Lee up to about 96k in chips.

Online qualifier Adam Junglen has knocked out a player and picked up 25k with pocket Kings.

But Jan Uyl who won a Poker News freeroll on PokerStars has just lost an 80k pot when he flopped two pairs, and his opponent flopped a set. Jan is down to 16k but as they say, a chip and chair.

**update**1.20pm

Joe Hachem has dodged a bullet, making a correct laydown with top pair against a player slow-rolling Aces. He was holding 10 J and hit a ten high flop but made the right read and threw them away.

Moments later his last 13.5k went into the middle and he picked up the blinds, and Joe in the past couple of minugtes doubled up. A player pushed on the button with Q 10, Joe called with K 9 and caught a King high flop.

He's on about 30k, just where he wanted to be early on today.

**update**1pm

Adrian Pitt, a PokerStars qualifier from Western Australia has doubled up and has 42k. He was all in with pp6's against pp10's, and turned a 6.

Play has commenced on Day2 of the Aussie Millions Main Event.

"It's going to be mayhem today, we'll lose a hundred players in no time".

That prediction came from someone who knows the form - 2005 WSOP Champion Joe Hachem.

We walked to the tournament floor together after meeting in the lift this morning.

"People get silly, start making moves" said Joe, "it's always the same on Day 2 of a major. It's to do with having survived the first day."

Joe had a tough day yesterday, grinding it out and managing a small stack of chips that at one point got down to 4k, feeling mentally and physically exhausted by the final whistle.

"I can't even remember how I got to bed".


So what's his strategy for today? "I'm going to try to pick up two or three good pots early, get my stack up to around 30k so I have some play. I want to finish today with 200k."

And true to Joe's prediction, PokerStars' own Simon Cooke has claimed a scalp already in the first round of Level 1.

Simon called a pre-flop all-in bet with a KQ and when the flop came King high, knocked out Colby White who threw his last 16k in the middle with PP 3's.

7 more players fell in rapid succession and one table has already been broken, leaving 278 players from the original starting field of 747.

The average stack is 53741, and the blinds are at 500/1000.

Lee "final table" Nelson resumed the defence of his 2006 Aussie Millions title with 44.6k chips. He has asserted his authority early, having seen one flop and taken down a 12k pot with a post-flop raise.

Two of our PokerStars players who made it through Day1 with big stacks are Jimmy Fricke, on the right, and Adam Junglen, both 19, who were swapping stories on the floor before taking their seats.

Jimmy, who played in the first Flight on Sunday, took an early lead and dominated his table all day - and according to one bystander even put the railbirds on tilt with his aggressive style.

The remaing PokerStars qualifiers who we will be keeping track of today are Adrian Pitt, Dennis Petronack, Michael DeGilio, Jody Thompson, Minh Quach, Jakob Glass, David Pham, Giuseppe Famulari,David Papallo, Don De Rota, Louis Luo,Kosta Varoxis, Jan Uyl, Mitsuko Kotaka, Jacques Mercier and Graeme Putt.

At 1.15am the money bubble burst and 80 players and the railbirds erupted in applause.

Finishing chip counts were as reported by players below, however these will be confirmed overnight and reported in Day 3's first report.

Lee Nelson 192k
Joe Hachem 275k
Jakob Glassl 120k ($530 satellite winner)
Giuseppe Famulari OUT ($16 + R satellite winner)
Kosta Varoxis 165k ($530 satellite winner)
David "The Dragon" Pham 350k
Jimmy Fricke 535k (bought in with PokerStars W$)
Adam Junglen 305k (bought in with PokerStars W$)
Simon Cook OUT
Minh Quach OUT ($16 + R satellite winner)
Dennis Petronack 17k
Don De Rota OUT (satellite winner)
Jan Uyl OUT (won freeroll on PokerStars)
Adrian Pitt OUT ($530 satellite winner)
Mitsuko Kataka OUT (won PokerStars satellite for Japanese Poker Players Association.)
Jacques Mercier OUT
Michael DeGilio OUT
Louis Luo OUT ($530 Satellite winner)
Jody Thompson OUT
Aaron Been OUT
Halil Delialioglu OUT (satellite winner)
Mike Comer OUT (satellite winner)
Sherif Derias OUT (satellite winner)

By Sarne Lightman.

Patrik Antonius has been dominating the Aussie Millions since Day 1. With a monster pile of some 400k he had been running over his tables, but with Lee Nelson now sitting 4 to his left, he has suddenly found a player he can neither dominate nor intimidate.

In the break I asked Lee how Antonius was playing:

"Patrik is raising around 50 to 60 percent of hands pre-flop. He is getting plenty of action but he is so good post flop he is able to take most of them down. With his image, every time he gets a hand he gets paid off."

So what do you do when you are up against one of the best post flop players in the world? You out play them pre flop.

Lee "Final Table" Nelson has earned his nickname by making the final table of one out of every three major poker events he has played in his professional career, and for those of us on the rail it is apparent how. The 2006 Aussie Millions Champion is giving a masterclass in preflop poker. With multiple positional reraises and squeeze plays Lee has been chipping into Antonius' stack.

A typical hand went like this earlier today.

With the blinds 600 / 1200 and a 200 ante Antonius made his standard pre flop raise to 4k. The 2 players to his left, both on around 40k, both flat call and the action passes to Lee on the button, who is having none of it. Lee re-raises to 16k.

The blinds fold and its back to Antonius. With three players in position on him, two of whom could well go all if he just flat called, Patrik's probably considering a fold or a re-raise. If he raises and Lee actually has a hand Antonius could end up playing for more than one third of his stack. With a resigned look he mucks his cards.

The other 2 players, who were happy to call Patrik's 4k with his loose table image can't stand the heat from Lee Nelson and also fold.

Another 16k moves over the felt to Lee and he passes the 150k mark.

by Heath Cram.

With several key PokerStars players eliminated in Day 1, including 2004 World Champion Greg Raymer, today it is up to the likes of the 2005 WSOP Champion Joe Hachem and 2006 Aussie Millions Champion Lee Nelson to fly the flag for Team PokerStars. 19 year old American Jimmy Fricke was the chip leader from the PokerStars contingent with 139.3k.

Yesterday was a very tough day at work for Joe Hachem who hovered around the 12k chip mark for the majority of the day. Joe was forced to put his stack in the middle several times but not for a second did he give up the charge. Joe showed all of his fighting qualities and short-stack expertise in the final 400/800 (100 ante) blind level, taking his finishing stack back up to 22.4k.

At the end of the night, Joe raised his arms in the air, just as he did when he claimed his World Title, and rightly so, was proud of his achievement on the short stack.

"To finish the day with over 20k...That's the most I've had all day!" said Hachem.

When given a well-deserved pat on the back for his short stack effort, he responded by saying, "that's my specialty".

Joe worked hard for many pots in the last session to stay alive and avoid being blinded off, protecting his big blind with pre and post-flop raises on numerous occasions.

Joe will call on all of his poker experience and expertise today, as he begins the climb back into tournament contention.

PokerStars own Greece-based Simon Cook staged a tremendous comeback on Day 2, after falling as low as 6k in chips, Cook spent a lot of the middle levels with about 13k to his credit. By the end of the final session, he had amassed 59.6k to be above the average stack.

Simon rallied with a cunning bluffing exhibition, the highlight of the key pots he won.

With J-10 in the hole, Simon called pre-flop.

The flop came: 8 7 4 and his opponent bet out 2k. Simon called, with obvious intentions of taking the pot down on the later streets.

The turn came: 5

Again Simon's opponent bet, this time 5k, but with the 1 card straight on the board, Simon came over the top for another 17k, setting his opponent all-in. After deliberating, thinking, shaking his head and squirming, the initial raiser flashed his K8 (top pair, second best kicker) to the gallery and threw it away.

Simon cheekily showed his JT bluff to the table and took down another pot.

Simon Cook is one player who mixes his game up enough and plays a wide range of hands, as all of the top (aggressive) tournament pros do, to give him a chance of figuring the finish on the back of his first day performance.

The much publicized Minh Quach didn’t have to wait long to be thrown into the deep end again. Minh has found himself on the table of Hall Of Fame Superstar Gus Hansen who has more tricks in his arsenal then Houdini. Quach’s display against Doug Lee on Day 1 suggests the 24 year old will not be fazed and will give a very good account of himself at the higher blind levels.

The "sleeper" in the PokerStars team has been Adrian Pitt.

Adrian played steady poker throughout the day and consolidated his position, with 34k in chips. Based on his display today, he won't be easy to take chips from.

"I had a few goes at the $16 satellites to get here, but couldn't qualify, so I thought what the hell and bought in direct (to the Sunday PokerStars tourney) for over $500", said Pitt.

"I only ever play online and I think the fact I had outlayed over $500 gave me greater incentive to do well and a top 3 finish ensured I'm here today", said Pitt.

With that said, Adrian has a much bigger incentive to do well today with the tournament paying 80 places, with a $15k award for the 80th placed finisher. $1.5million for first should guarantee that Pitt brings his A-Game today.

Somewhat typical of a successful online tournament player, Adrian Pitt played predominantly tight and solid poker in the early blind levels and proved he could lay down a big hand, without making that known to his more experienced opposition.

"I threw away QQ twice", said Pitt.

"One was pre-flop after a decent raise and a call, and the flop came A K 6, so I'm sure I dodged a bullet there. The second time, I threw it away post flop even though the flop wasn't TOO bad, I had a player to act behind me. The guy who went on to win the pot at the end, showed down AA", said Pitt.

Between Jimmy Fricke’s stack size, Lee Nelson’s tournament experience, Joe Hachem's superstar quality, Simon Cook's gear changes, Minh Quach's confidence and "game", and Adrian Pitt's solidarity, one feels that PokerStars can expect a great showing from its team and qualifiers on days 3 and 4.

2007 is starting out in a big way for the PokerStars Sunday Million. This week, more than 7,600 people showed up and built a prize pool of more than $1.5 million! The international battle ended when SwedisRotKuk walked away with more than $185,000. Final table results are below.

PokerStars Sunday Million Results
Results based on finishing order and a two-way deal that left $30,000 for first place

1. SwedisRotKuk (Sweden) $187,504.20
2. miamihans (United States) $136,092.60
3. D brickwall (United States) $76,320.00
4. Shepstar (Canada) $61,056.00
5. THE SHERIFFZ (Canada) $45,792.00
6. 20princemild (Norway) $33,580.80
7. Eskil (Sweden) $23,659.20
8. iamhiv (United States) $13,737.60
9. schmeek (United States) $9,005.76

Young PokerStars player Jimmy Fricke was a revelation, during Day 1A. He carved up his table during only his third major poker tournament and, according to one of his tablemates, even put the railbirds on tilt. Jimmy was exhausted by the end of the day, having amassed a huge stack of 139k, and feels like he's coming down with a cold.

He wanted to send a message to his mother, Peggy Klausner, an avid fan of the PokerStars blog, who is back home in Mahomet, Illinois.

"Hi Mom, I feel a little bit sick, but I am going to win this one!"

Defending Aussie Millions Champion Lee Nelson finished the day on a healthy 75k.

Other notable PokerStars chipcounts from day 1A:

David Pham 53k
Min Quach 50k
Giuseppe Famulari 47k
Jody Thompson 34.2k

**update**12.10am

A tired round of applause has just been heard on the tournament floor as the Director uttered the magic words" players, congratulations, you have all made it through to tomorrow".

They have the tiresome business of bagging up chips to get through before heading for bed and Day 2 of the largest poker event outside the USA.

In his typically sanguine way, Joe Hachem told me "it's been a grind, but I have ended the day with more than I had to start." Joe has 22.4k.

Louis Lou, below, is going to enter Day 2 with 84.7k.

Kosta Varoxis has been leading the charge for PokerStars today and is one of the chip leaders with 105.5k.

Jakob Glassl finished with 29.4k.

Adrian Pitt had 34k when the final whistle went.

Adam Junglen has 46.3k. Simon Cooke 59.6k. Mike Comer busted in the last Level.

Jan Uyl has, in the immortal words of the dealer "dropped a big pot on the wrong end of a flush draw." Having reached the high 80's, Jan begins tomorrow with 47k.
According to Jan, 37, he lost only two of the hands he has been involved in all day. "I surprised myself" he said.

**update** 11.50pm

Flight 2 players are nearing the end of their gruelling first day, with action slowing down considerably with everyone wanting to survive until tomorrow.

The railbirds are three deep around the feature table where Joe Hachem, who would love to win a major Downunder, has been showing his small stack expertise all day.

Adrian Pitt (below)is aiming to double his starting stack, and is currently sitting on 33.7k.




**update** 11.15pm

Players are yet again grinding it out, trying to survive until Day2 and picking up pots where they can. Dutch-born Jan "JanVanOranje" Uyl, who lives in California now, has doubled up this Level and is on 78k, despite what appears to be serious jetlag.

Kosta Varoxis has had 120k but after losing a chunky pot is back to 85k.

Louis Lou has been increasing his stack slowly and surely and has about 87k, and Adrian Pitt has around 38k.

Struggling tonight are Mike Comer, with 15k, Jakiob Glassl with 20k, and Joe Hachem, who would love nothing more than a major tournament victory in his home poker room. Joe is still looking for an opportunity to double up and is sitting on 12k.




Jan Uyl has been tearing up his table since dinner and has 78k.

**update** 9.50pm

Rosa Bennett has been eliminated from the main event. She was struggling with a short stack and raised when she found 44, and got called in the big blind.



The flop came 2 2 K, and Rosa thought, if he didn't have a King he couldn't call, so pushed all in for her remaining 8k. She was instantly called by her opponent, holding J2o. The turn was a blank and the river even worse for Rosa, the case 2, giving the other player quads.

She managed a smile for our camera but naturally, she's not really happy.

Mark Kassis has also busted out, pushing all in with 99 only to run into cowboys.

Jan Uyl has around 35k.

But for Kosta Varoxis, below, it's all going the right way, he's building on his 104k.

**update** 9.10pm

Players are back fed and watered from their dinner break and the breaking news is that our PokerStars qualifier, Kosta Varoxis, from the Gold Coast, has broken through the 100k barrier and has 104k.

Kosta raised pre-flop with 7h8h, and was called in the big blind. It was a magic flop, all hearts, K J 6, and Kosta was praying his opponent had hit something. He got his wish, as the big blind had flopped a set of 6's and check-raised, and called Kosta's all-in re-raise believing his trips were good.

Louis Luo, who doubled up shortly before the break when he hit top straight, has 60k. William Rothschild has inched up to 12k, David Wells has 18k, 19 year old Adam Junglen continues to amass chips with 50k, and Mike Comer seems to be parked on 20k. Jakob Glassl has 14.5.

Another lap of the floor by our reporter Heath Cram reveals mixed fortunes for our PokerStars players:

Rosa Bennett 12.4k
Joe Hachem 13.8k
Simon Cook 23k
Nick Putt 24.3k
Adrian Pitt 32.1k
Joseph Serock OUT

After a promising start, increasing his stack at every level in the first 5 hours of play, 18 year old American Joseph Serock has been eliminated. After being crippled in a hand, holding A-10 against A-Q, Serock pushed his last 8k into the pot on a flush draw, against top pair, and got no further help from the last two streets.

The feature table is the location for Team PokerStars' Joe Hachem and Rosa Bennett. After losing most of her stack in the last level, Rosa consolidated her position in level 5, to retain her stack of about 12k, with a long way to go. The current average stack size is at 31k. Joe and Rosa have already engaged in a couple of heads-up betting duels, with the score level at 1-all, and little damage done to either stack.

A player who has made a charge above the average stack is Adrian Pitt. Seated at the same table as a fellow PokerStars qualifier Nick Putt, Adrian has worked his way back up to over 30k, playing solid poker. The pair engaged in a big pot last level, with Adrian doubling Nick up with 88, against pocket rockets. Nick made the most of that pot and has continued to climb, with over 24k in chips.

PokerStars' own Simon Cook has been one of the bigger movers from the PokerStars team at this level. Simon made the most of the increasing blinds, to take several pots both pre-flop and on the flop. A recent table move will result in fresh opposition for Simon at the upcoming 300/600 level.


**update**7.45pm


Greg Raymer has been knocked out. He went all in pre-flop for about 13 times the big blind with 67, and was very surprised to get a call from AQ.

The Ace came on the river but by that time it was irrelevant that the other guy hit, and the WSOP champion was going home.

Graciously he stopped to sign autographs for fans and have a word to us on his way out of the tournament floor.

"I must have got rivered 18, 20 times today" he told me. "It's a good tournament, but unfortunately the cards ran very cold for me today."

Often Greg can feel he has a target on his back because of his status as a WSOP bracelet winner, but didn't feel that was the case today. "Players like me and Joe (Hachem) , other guys want to have a story about us, and call us with anything. But that wasn't my read on today."

Earlier Greg had amassed about 40k, and says it wasn't a particular hand that crippled him, but a series of about three losses.

Young qualifier Pablo "diablo" Caraballo has also been eliminated tonight.

The 250 remaining players have headed off for an hour long dinner break. When they return for Level 6 the blinds will be at 300 / 600. The average stack is 31 150.



**update:** 7.15pm

Kosta Varoxis is continuing to build his stack and a few moments ago had 84k.

Rosa Bennett has just joined Joe Hachem on the feature table and as they are both short-stacked might be glad of a familiar face as it's the home poker room for them both.

Joe has 6.5k.

Aaron Been has been elimated and we believe Geron de Werd, who was struggling on 4k at his break has also gone.

With less than thirty minutes until the dinner break, there are 262 players left from the starting field today of 389. The average stack is 29694.


**update** 6.33pm

Joe Hachem has just doubled up with pp J's against K 10 on a ten high flop giving him room to breathe and provoking a cheer from the railbirds. He has around 14k.

Rosa Bennett has decimated her stack after bluffing at a pot shortly before the last break.

Rosa called a pre-flop raise when she found QdJd, and wanted to see another card after the flop came 10 8 6 with two diamonds. She bet out 1200 and was called. The turn was a repeat 6, a spade, and Rosa made it 3.5k to go. The river was a blank so Rosa knew the only way she'd take the pot was to bet, and made it 8.5k, only to be called and find out her opponent was slow rolling bullets.

William Rothschild, below, has been short-stacked during the past Level, currently with 11k, but is still evidently enjoying himself.

Meanwhile 19 year old American qualifier, Adam Junglen, is having a great day and has amassed around 80k. Luck was definitely on his side moments ago when he pushed all in from the button pre-flop, with A 9o, against the small blind who was holding AK

The flop came rags but the all important 9 came on the turn and Junglen claimed another scalp.

Mike Comer, above, has 36k.

It's all been going wrong for WSOP Champion Greg Raymer early tonight. He'd built an above average stack but was seen looking miserable at a pile of some 9k moments ago - we'll bring you the details as we get them.

**6.15pm**

PokerStars' own Simon Cook has taken a dive in chips with a straight against straight scenario against the 2006 WSOP H.O.R.S.E Runner-Up, Andy Bloch.

Cook held 78 in the small blind, with what appeared a reasonable flop of 7-9-10.

Cook bet and Bloch called and it was off to the turn.

The turn came J giving Cook his Jack high straight.

After a healthy betting exchange and a blank river, Bloch revealed Q8 to have the higher straight, taking down a pot of over 12k.

PokerStars players Nick Putt and Adrian Pitt are seated at the same table and consolidating their positions.

Adrian Pitt has not been involved in many pots, but feels he has brought his A-game to the table.

"I have laid down QQ twice, and correctly both times", Pitt said.

"The first time was a pre-flop laydown to a raise and re-raise and the flop came AK6, so I'm sure I saved some money there", said Pitt.

"The second time I laid down post flop and AA was eventually shown, so I'm pretty proud of that", said Pitt

Nick Putt is playing solid poker and has consolidated his position above the chip average, currently 26827.

17.45pm
We've had another visit from the technical problems fairy and been thrown offline down on the tournament floor but we're up again now, and the big recent news from this Level is Joe Hachem has survived an all in, with the worst hand.

He was back under 10k, when he found AK and went to a showdown with another player holding QQ.

Luckily for Joe, the board came 4 5 6 7 8, giving both players a straight and they chopped the pot.

**update** 4.45pm
Players have had another ten minute break and have come back for Level 4, with the blinds at 150 / 300 and a 25 ante.

Going into the break Tasmanian Kosta Varoxis was leading the charge for PokerStars, with 61k in front of him. He told us he found AA in the small blind after two players had limped in, so he made it 2k to play and both called. The flop came 5 6 10 with two hearts. Kosta checked the flop and induced a 4k bet, which forced one player out. Kosta check-raised all in, saying "I've got you beat". The other player was acutally way ahead but made a dreadful read, believing Kosta had trip 10's and mucking a set of 6's face-up. Kosta showed the bullets.

Other noteable chipcounts from Team PokerStars:

Greg Raymer 36k
Adam Junglen 30k
Aaron Been 8k
Rosa Bennett 25k
Mike Comer 45k
Geron de Werd 22k
William Rothschild 17k
Jakob Glabl 24k
Louis Luo 21k
Mark Kassis 13.5k
David Wells 31k
Jan Uyl 31k
Nick Putt 11.5k
Joe Hachem 12.5k
Simon Cook 13.3k
Adrian Pitt 15.4k
Joseph Serock 33k

**update** 4.20pm








Emad Tahtouh has busted out of the Main Event after playing, in his own words, "like a monkey".





He's been short-stacked most of the afternoon, and saw a chance to double up a few minutes ago but it didn't go his way.





On a flop of K J 7, Emad bet 1k and was called by Stephen Topakas. Both players checked the turn, a 4. Stephen bet 1.5k on the river card, an 8, and Emad threw in his last 3k, thinking his two pairs were good. But when Emad flipped K 8, his oppponent showed 9 10 which gave him the straight and sending Emad home.





"I'm not happy with the way I played today" he said. "I played two good hands today and that's it."



He still managed a smile before leaving, and knowing Emad, he won't be down for long.




**update** 3.50pm


On table 29 Jan Uyl is doing well with 26k. Jan won his seat to the Aussie Millions through a PokerNews freeroll on PokerStars and is hoping to turn his $0 investment into a $1.5million pay day

Meanwhile Greg Raymer has pushed his stack up to 38.2k in the past few minutes, taking down an 18k pot with a Queen high flush.

Emad Tahtouh is really struggling now, back down to 3k and folding hand after hand, wandering away from his table obviously deeply frustrated, and the strain is showing a little on the face of the normally unflappable Joe Hachem, who seems to have less than 6k in his stack.

**update** 3.15pm


The action from the PokerStars team in Level 2 came not from Joe Hachem, but another Joe in Joseph Serock.

Serock has started the day in good aggressive fashion, combining blind steals with helpful flops and post-flop raises to be well above the average, that is just over 21k.

Joe Hachem's stack continued to dwindle, as the deck remained cold throughout level 2.

"It's just the deck", said Joe.

"The two guys to my left are catching everything".

Meanwhile over the other side of the room, Team PokerStars beauty Rosa Bennett has taken a big pot from well-known pro Andy Bloch.

Rosa made it 650 to go, with her AKo and received two callers including Bloch, who had position on her.

Flop came: Kc 8d 9c.

Rosa bet 1.5k and Bloch called without too much hesitation.

Turn came: 7h

Rosa slowed down on the turn and checked, with Bloch checking behind her.

River came: 8h

Rosa bet 3.25k and Bloch paid her off. Rosa flipped up her AK and Bloch mucked without showing, after a play that most likely represented a weaker king.

"The turn card was a little scary", said Rosa.

"When the board paired 8's at the end, I figured if he had a weaker king, then my bet would still be paid off, and thankfully it was", said a delighted Rosa.

"I am hoping for around 40k by the end of the day. I don't expect too much action in the early levels, there's a long day ahead of us".

**update** 2.50

Players have gone for their second break with several PokerStars players amassing comfortably large stacks and winning the quote of the day contest by a clear margin is our Emad Tahtouh.

"I am a monkey" he said. "I challenge you to find someone who is playing worse than me at the moment."

Emad was down to 3k at his lowest point during this past level but has managed to get his stack up to 9k. He told us his reads have all been right while his calls have all been wrong. He's going to start pushing harder in Level 3 which he considers a stealing round, with antes of 25 kicking in and blinds at 100/200.

Joe Hachem is still struggling after taking a couple of early hits and has less than 7k in front of him. Latest chip counts from our other PokerStars players:

Kosta Varoxis 43k
David Wells 33k
Rosa Bennett 26k
Steve Micos 23k
Louis Lou 25k
Mark Kassis 15.5k
Jakob Glabl 20k
Pablo Carrabello 12k
Mike Comer 35k
Adam Junglen 30k
Geron de Werd 29k
Aaron Been 21k
William Rothschild 16k
Joe Hachem 6.2k
Simon Cook 11.6
Adrian Pitt 17.5k
Nick Putt 24.3k
Joseph Serock 28k

Travers Bawden from the Gold Coast was knocked out just before the break. He put them all in with QQ but his opponent sucked out a runner runner flush.

**update **

Emad Tahtouh has taken a painful blow to his stack and is down to just 3k. He called a 1k bet on a flop of 6d 2d 4d, as he had the King of diamonds. He made his flush when the turn came Jd, and just called when his opponent fired another 1k at the pot. The river was a blank, and Emad obviously felt something was up when the other player fired again, 5k. He called reluctantly and his opponent flipped the one card Emad didn't want to see, the Ace of Diamonds.


**update** 2pm

Emad Tahtouh and Rosa Bennett are representing team PokerStars today, and while Emad has taken an early hit, down to 10.4k, he's still his usual smiling self.

"I don't know what happened" he told us, "I looked around and they were gone!There's still plenty of time though. No problem."

It looks as if Mike Comer, who qualified on PokerStars, might have some of Emad's chips as he is sitting comfortably with 32.2k.






**update** 1.33pm

Popular local player Dom Italiano has been knocked out by WSOP champ Greg Raymer. Dom's two pair was looking good but Greg made a 10-high straight on the river to send Dom to the rail.

1.00pm

A ripple of nervous applause went around the tournament floor at the start of Day 1 B when 2005 WSOP champion Joe Hachem strolled into his home poker room.





But it might be Joe feeling the nerves now, with his start stack of 20k down to 8.5k.

He’d been bullying the table earlier in the level, taking down small pots pre and post-flop. In middle positition with the blinds at 50 100 he made it 300 to go and was called in the cut off by Ingemar Stahle.

The blinds folded and the action was two way. The flop came 4c 6c 8s, and Joe bet 500 into a 900 pot. Ingemar called, and 6s came on the turn. Joe checked and Ingemar bet 1k. Joe check-raised to 2.5k and was called The river was Qh, and Joe bet 5k at the pot. Ingemar re-raised to 8k, and Joe called the extra.
Ingemar turned over 56 showing trip 6’s, and Joe mucked.

Greg Raymer has claimed his first scalp. knocking out Wayne Becker. The money was all in on a J high flop ; Greg showed QQ but Wayne had made trips with his pocket J's. His joy was short-lived as Greg made a four card flush on the river.

Greg made a set of 9's a few minutes later building his stack up steadily in the first hour of play. He's read his table as weak-tight and nervous, so thinks it won't bee too tricky today.

PokerStars qualifier Adam Junglen is also happy with his table draw - while he came off worst trying to bluff a calling station, he's hoping to pick up chips in Level 2.

Chip counts as players went into their break a few moments ago:

Geron De Werd 20k
Adam Junglen 14k
Aaron Been 18k
Greg Raymer 24k
William Rothschild 20k
Emad Tahtouh 10k
Mike Comer 28k
Joe Hachem 8.5k
Simon Cook 19.2k
Adrian Pitt 19.7k
Rosa Bennett 19.8k
Nick Putt20.3k
Joseph Serock 22.5k
Travers Bawden 20k
Louis Luo 22.5
Mark Kassis 16k
Steve Micos 19.5k

Eagle-eyed readers of the PokerStars blog might have noticed yesterday that our update posting times were a little irregular. We'd like you all to know that while we're working tirelessly to bring you the latest news, the technical facilities here on the floor are not cooperating. To put it bluntly, they suck, with the internet dropping out consistently just as we're trying to file. Just so you know.

The winner of this year's Aussie Millions is going to take home $1.5 million dollars. The break-up of the prize pool, with 747 entrants, is also going to make a millionaire of the second place finisher. Eighty places will be paid, here's the full list:

1st $1.5m
2nd $1m
3rd $700k
4th $500k
5th $400k
6th $300k
7th $220k
8th-9th $155k
10th-12th $120k
13th-18th $90k
19th-24th $60k
25th-30th $40k
31st-36th $30k
37th-48th 25k
49th-64th20k
65th-80th 15k

by Heath Cram.

24 year old small business owner from Melbourne, Minh Quach, was one of the revelations to come out of Day 1 at the 2007 Aussie Millions at Crown Casino.

In Flight 1 of Day 1 at the Millions, the $16+R PokerStars qualifier built his stack up progressively throughout the day, to as high as 75k, before blinding down in the last level (400/800 + 100 ante), retaining an above-average chip count of 48.8k.

For a Main Event debutante, Quach was very sure of himself and confident in his approach, playing in his hometown casino

"I wanted to have 30-40k in chips at the end of Day 1, so I'm still very happy, despite having as much as 75k before the final break", said Quach.

Minh spends most of his time playing online poker at PokerStars in his own bottle shop by day, and home games at night at the back of the same shop, and was grateful for the cards falling his way later in the day, with his prized possession, girlfriend Stella looking on from the rail.

"All I have to do is keep flopping the nuts now on the other days!" said Quach with a grin that conveyed composure and confidence.

Seated at the same table as several seasoned poker professionals including the world renowned high stakes player Doug Lee, Minh Quach was referring to the remarkable three full-houses that he flopped.

After getting nothing but cold cards at the 150/300 level and being blinded down 6k, Quach looked down at his first playable hand (pocket 8's) in an early hand after the well-earned one hour dinner break.

It was a sign of things to come.

Minh limped in for 400 with his 88, only to be raised 2k pre-flop by a fresh face to the table, who was on the button and steaming. Minh obliged, calling his raise, with heads-up action to the flop.

The flop came: 6 6 8, filling Minh up.

Minh stuck with his read of the new player being on tilt, and checked to him, praying for a bet.

And a bet he got.

The button pushed all-in for another 13k, and Minh was giggling as he called. Minh showed his full-house, with the player on the button reluctantly turning over a hapless AJ off-suit.

The remainder of the hand was merely formality, with Minh catching an 8 on the river to make a good thing of it, officially giving him quads.

Only half an hour later it appeared everything he now touched turned to gold, flopping 7's full of Kings against Doug Lee and 10's full of 9's (holding pocket 10's), against a Scandinavian opponent who pushed over 16k into the pot (all-in), after Minh had, again, filled up.

"I was just very lucky that every time I made a monster, someone wanted to bet into me. Those Scandinavian players are crazy!"

Every poker player will agree that it is not hard to play good poker when you are flopping full-houses, but don’t be deceived by this bright young talent's modesty. Some early aggression by Minh followed by pure patience when the cards dried up for nearly 2 hours, meant that Minh had deserved each and every chip earned when the cards finally fell his way.

Arguably, Minh's biggest hand that set the scene for the rest of his day was a stone cold bluff with 46 off-suit into High Stakes Professional Doug Lee.

"I don’t normally show, but with a pro like him (Lee), it probably helps that I did", said Quach.

Minh was 100% correct. The outstanding bluff helped him to later get paid off by Lee, when flopping one of his three boats.

The last thing pro's of the calibre of Doug Lee expect or confront from an amateur online player like Quach, is to be pushed around, strung along, suckered in or bluffed off pots, but that is exactly what he encountered from the fearless Quach, whose poker savvy earned him a place among the chip front-runners midway through the day.

When asked what he would do if he won the Aussie Millions, Quach replied quickly, with a beaming smile and his typical air of confidence.

"Sell the bottleshop to add to the bankroll, turn pro and travel the world playing poker", he said.

Most importantly, when prompted about the likelihood of taking his lone railbird and number 1 supporter, girlfriend Stella, Quach wisely responded, "Of course Stella can come too, that’s for sure."

If you see a PokerStars shirt sported on the final table, it is expected to come from the likes of 2005 World Champion Joe Hachem, 2004 World Champion Greg Raymer or 2006 Aussie Millions champ Lee Nelson, however don’t be at all surprised if the PokerStars cap is actually worn by one Minh Quach. Watch this space…

**1.15am**

By Alison Lightman
Players are halfway through the final Level of the day and their weariness is apparent. With less than half an hour to go, there are 153 remaining from the starting field of 358.

The average stack is 41 871 with the blinds at 40/800 and a 100 ante, and the action has slowed considerably - apart from on Jimmy Fricke's table.

By now everyone in the room has heard of Jimmy, our teenage PokerStars qualifier from the USA. Jimmy promised me last night he was going to own this tourney, and he's looking deadly serious about that tonight with a stack of more than 130k. He has just knocked out Willy Tan and Jack Lee in the same hand.

Jack had bullets and Willy had pocket Jacks, and our Jimmy had AsQs. All the money went in the middle on a board of 8 7 9 with two spades. Jimmy more than had them covered. The the turn card came 10s, giving Jimmy the nut flush, and the river was a repeater 7, both pro's were sent to the rail.

**update** 11.50pm

Players have gone on their last break for the evening and will be back for one more ninety minute level.

Dennis Petronack 100k
Jimmy Fricke 95k
Giuseppe Famulari 48k
Lee Nelson 37k
Don De Rota 30k
David Pham 40k
Sherif Deria OUT

Minh Quach from Melbourne has flopped three boats in this Level to push his stack up to some 75k.


Meantime, Wayne Stichling, our qualifier from Perth, has been knocked out. He was badly crippled after losing a 45k pot. He put all his chips in with QQ only to find his opponent holding KK.

Wayne pushed all in for his remaining 4.5k when he found KQ on the button, but his opponent, holding pp4's, flopped a set.



**update** 10.40pm

We have lost another PokerStars qualifier, in young Sydney player Halil Delialioglu.He was getting short-stacked so pushed all in with AJ, and ran straight into KK. There was no Ace coming his way, but it was a great effort for someone playing his first major tournament, especially as he drew a table with defending champion Lee Nelson, Gary Benson (knocked out) and Jason Gray.

**update** 10pm











Jimmy "gobboboy" Fricke is showing great style and guts for a nineteen year old who has only been playing poker a couple of years, taking on consummate professional Erik Seidel with a handful of nothing, and winning.

The teenager from Illinois, who quit his Math and Computer studies to turn pro, has just told me how it went down. Jimmy had made it 1200 to go and got a re-raise from Seidel. "He'd been doing it to me a lot" he said. Jimmy more than had him covered so pushed in 25k. Seidel folded, and Jimmy showed the nervous table his Qh5h.




Our PokerStars qualifier from Perth, Wayne Stichling, has just claimed the scalp of Jeffrey Lisandro. Jeff got all his chips in with pocket 6's, only to run into Wayne's 10 10.


Gerry Fitt has been knocked out. He had KcJc against Patrik Antonius' QQ. The flop came A 5 9 with two clubs, the turn was an offsuit 4, and the river was a 5.

Melbourne restaurateur Guiseppe Famulari has knocked out Sticky Micky Guttmann.

**7.40pm**

Players have gone for a well earned one hour dinner break, after four arduous levels of play that saw the starting field of 358 whittled down to 280. There are still three more ninety minute levels to play tonight, which should mean the exhausted players can head off to bed shortly after midnight.

Level 4 saw the demise of a couple of our PokerStars qualifiers. David Tran is out, and so is Randall McCowan. After losing several small pots with unhelpful flops, Randall was left with 3.5k and tossed his last chips in at the first sight of AJ.

He was left heads-up after only one player behind him called, against an opponent with 99.

The 9's held up and sadly he was eliminated.

Sherif Derias was the latest PokerStars player to take a beat with a high Ace.

Sherif held AhKh and made it 900 to go, under the gun. Jozeph Berec came over the top, with a stiff raise to 4k.

Sherif sized up both stacks before putting Berec all-in for his last 13k. Berec called with QQ and we had a pre-flop all-in.

Flop came 9h 8s 6d

Turn was 10 of hearts giving Sherif a stack of outs, drawing to the heart nut-flush, and still with 2 overcards.

But the river was a Jc and no help to Sherif.
Jozeph Berec's ladies held up, with Sherif now back to 14.5k in chips and forced to fight back as the table short-stack.

One of the notable PokerStars players remaining is the Japanese small stakes Satellite qualifier Mitsuko Kotaka, who is well placed with over 30k in chips, and is well above the average of 25 571. We're looking forward to talking with Mitsuko on the break, if she can find her interpreter.

Another international PokerStars representative, Frenchman Jacques Mercier, is fairing a little worse as one of the shorter stacks from the PokerStars contingent, and little luck pre or post-flop during the 150/300 blind level.

Jacques Mercier 11.35k
Sherif Derias 16.5k
Minh Quach 20.2k
Mitsuko Kotaka 31.8k
Randall McCowan OUT
Jimmy Fricke 60k
Michael DeGilio 56k
Gerry Fitt 38k
David Papallo 32k
Jody Thompson 30k
Alexander Stahle 20k
David Tran OUT

After dinner the blinds go up to 200 / 400, with antes of 50.

**6.30pm

19 year old Jimmy Fricke, who predicted last night that he was going to win this tournament, is one of the chip leaders in Level 4. Jimmy, from Illinois, who dropped out of college to turn pro, has just elimated another player with a one-outer.

Jimmy raised three times the blind under the gun with QQ. The cut off and the blinds called. The flop came down Ah Kh Qh, and was checked around to Jimmy. He bet 2.5k and was re-reraised up to 8k by the cut-off.
Jimmy re-raised the cut-off all in, and got an instant call.
He showed KK, and it looked like Jimmy was going to take a hit. The turn was a 7, no help, but the river brought the card Jimmy was praying for, the case Q.
Jimmy now has 76k with the average stack at 23.5k.

**update** 5.45pm

Players have gone for another short break at the end of Level 3, and when they come back the blinds will be up to 150/300.

Pokerstars online qualifier Giuseppe Famulari from Melbourne has hit five flushes so far today and taken down the pot with every one. With the average stack at 22.7k, he's happy with his 41.5k

Dennis Petronack 17k
Lee Nelson 27.5k
Halil Delialioglu 21k
Don De Rota 22k
Sherif Derias approx 40k

But unfortunately the past level saw the end of our own Declan Tandy.

Declan threw the last of his stack (4k) into the middle pre-flop with AQ, but was called by Carlos Mortensen with KK. No ace arrived and the dream was over.

Declan remained optimistic about his first Main Event experience.

"I can't complain" he told our roving reporter Heath Cram. "Where else in the world do you get that entertainment for $200", said Tandy, referring to the buy-in for the satellite in which he qualifed.

"It was a tough table. There were a couple of brutal hands, but I am happy at the strong laydowns I was able to make and I can certainly take plenty out of it", said Tandy.

Back at the action table (22), Minh Quach and Sherif Derias continued to improve on their chip counts.

Minh's biggest hand came with one of his lowest holdings. With 46o in the pocket, Minh called a pre-flop raise from one of the table's key aggressors Doug Lee, out of position in the small blind.

The flop came: J 9 7

Minh continued the charade, betting out at Doug, who called.

The turn was an ace. Check, Check.

The river was a blank card and Minh proceeded to bet 1.5k into a 3k pot. Doug laid down and Minh proudly showed his 46 off.

Sherif was on the opposite end of a bluff, holding AQ. The player on the button put in a standard "blind-stealing" raise of about 3.5x the big blind. Sherif, seen below, quickly smooth called the extra bets in the big blind.

Small cards arrived on the flop with no help to Sherif, but he check-called the button's continuation bet, to try and take the pot down on the later streets. And that he did...

The turn came Ace, giving Sherif top pair with a solid kicker. Again, he check-called the 2k continuation bet from the pre-flop (button) aggressor.

The river was another Ace, giving Sherif trip Aces. Again he checked, and again the button raised, another 2k. Sherif quickly called and tossed his hand into the middle face-up. The player on the button declared that he had nothing and threw it away. A healthy pot of just over 7k, Sherif's way!


**update** 5pm

David Papallo has accumulated a heap of chips in the past half hour, in just two hands. First, he looked down in middle position and found bullets, and made the standard three times raise, getting four callers.
On a flop of 9 3 7 with two diamonds, it was checked around to David, who bet out 1.2k. It was re-raised to 2.4k on his left and folded back around to David who flat-called. The turn came 9h and David checked to his opponent, who bet 2.7k. David check-raised the turn to 7.7k and his opponent folded showing KK.

A little bit later he got involved again with David Tran another PokerStars qualifier. The board was 10 10 9 2, and it was checked to David Tran, who led out 5.2k into a 5k pot. David Papallo re-raised to 15k, Tran folded, and Papallo showed he'd made trip 10's on the flop.

David Tran is now lamenting his 6k, while David Papallo has 52k.

Gerry Fitt is also comfortably placed with approximately 58k after taking down a nice pot. The flop came A 9 9 with two diamonds. Gerry, in the small blind, checked to the cut-off, who bet out 2k. Gerry called. The turn was an offsuit 4 which Gerry checked again. The cut-off put 5k into an 8k pot, and Gerry check-raised to 15k, and his opponent mucked.

**update 4.45pm**

Some second break chip counts, with the blinds at 100/200,

Randall McCowan 11.9k
Declan Tandy 9k
Jacques Mercier 20.8k
Minh Quach 27k
Sherif Derias 28k
Mitsuko Kotaka 20.5k












Last night at our qualifers party, I had the pleasure of meeting Giuseppe Famulari, who won his seat in a $16 PokerStars satellite last October. Giuseppe told me he learned to play poker the year I was born - which should tell those of you who know me that he is very, very experienced.

His experience is showing, when I last checked he had a healthy 31k. Giuseppe took down an 11k pot with pocket JJ against "sticky" Mick Guttmann's pocket KK, when he caught a four-card flush on the river.

He's been playing on PokerStars for 2 years, when he's not playing mine host at his two restaurants in Melbourne, "Curly Joe's".

Dennis Petronack has 27k.

**update** 4.30pm

A quick lap around the tournament floor shows some of our players building healthy stacks early in the competition. With the average stack at 21.5k, David Papallo has 40k and Jimmy Fricke, who told me last night (see PokerStars Party report) "Ma'am I am going to crush this tournament" is on a very pretty 43k.

Jody Thompson still has 20k that he started with, but David Tran is down to 14k and Michael Degilio is even less happy about his 13k.

**update** 4pm

Roving PokerStars reporter Heath Cram has been keeping a close eye on the action involving our PokerStars qualifiers and is happy to report here they're doing us all proud, consolidating their start of 20k and relishing the 90 minute blind levels and superb tournament structure. The play is fairly standard early on, with "raise-fold-fold" type of poker, as can be expected, but our players are getting involved.

Some more chip counts from the start of Level 2:

Randall McCowan 20k
Declan Tandy 23.5k
Mitsuko Kotaka 20k
Minh Quach 26k
Sherif Derias 22.5
Jacques Mercier 24k

Randall McCowan, Jacques Mercier and Japanese Satellite qualifier Mitsuko Kotaka are playing steady poker early, taking enough small pots to remain at their starting stack, or better.

There are plenty of lights, cameras and a jam packed rail at Randall's table, to see Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, but Randall hasn't been overawed, playing solid poker and protecting his blinds, winning enough small pots pre-flop to stay well in the hunt early on.

Mitsuko found her way to Melbourne after first winning a $10 mini satellite in a special promotion put on by PokerStars and the Japan Poker Players Association. "I am having fun", said Mitsuko. "I am only winning small pots, with small pocket pairs, but I have about the same chips as I started with, which is good", she said delightedly.


Sydney-sider Declan Tandy made a late decision to escape the Sydney PokerStars office and try his hand at Crown Casino's live Satellites into to the Southern Hempisphere's richest Poker event. Declan did not have to wait long to confirm his place in the final field of the main event, worth $1.5million (AUD) to the winner, qualifying at his first attempt in a $200 rebuy, without requiring a rebuy or add-on!

Declan is looking comfortable early on with 3.5k more chips than he started with, but it wasn't his pre-flop blind steals, or post-flop raises that were most significant in his first session of play. Big laydowns have been the order of the day, with a monster laydown that he may look back at, at the end of the tournament.

Declan peered down at bullets under the gun and posted a raise of 3 times the blind, the same size raise he had been successfully employing to steal the blinds in hands earlier on. Declan earned himself 4 callers.

Flop came: 10 8 2 rainbow.

In first position Declan bet out 1k and it was folded around to the button, who put in a healthy re-raise. Declan proceeded to riffle and twirl his chips pondering a call, eventually folding (face-up) after much deliberation. His opponent had a look of surprise and approval as he mucked his hand and declared "great laydown". I guess we'll never "really" know.

Declan later found himself heads-up with seasoned professional Carlos Mortensen in a pot of peculiar circumstances.

Mortensen flat called under the gun, and Declan bumped it up to 800 with 10 10 in his hand, on the button. Mortensen declared "re-raise", and put a staggering 10k into the pot.

Declan immediately tossed his hand into the muck, whilst Mortensen had the table in hysterics, stating "oops, wrong chips"! Mortensen meant to min. raise, but threw in two "yellows" (5k each). If only Declan had AA in this spot! Mortensen didn't show his hand, but one feels Declan was probably behind after a limp UTG, followed by an "intended" min raise.

The action between the PokerStars players has been intense at Table 22, with online satellite qualifiers Sherif Derias and Minh Quach engaged in an intriguing heads-up battle early on.

Minh called with pocket 4's on the button, with Sherif checking his option (with J5) in the big blind.

Flop came: 4 6 J

Sherif bet out with his top pair and low kicker, and it was folded around to Minh who smooth called after catching bottom set.

The turn came King and the two players checked.

The river was a Jack, giving Sherif trip Jacks and filling Minh up, 4's full of jacks.

Sherif checked on the river to Minh who casually tossed 500 more into the 3k pot. Sherif quickly called only to see Minh's boat.

Minh Quach qualified via a $16k rebuy online satellite and was very happy with his position at the first break.

"I am aiming for about 30k at the end of day 1, so to have 26k at this point of time is perfect", said Quach.

Sherif bounced back after losing this pot to Minh, on what is largely an aggressive table, featuring Douglas Lee.

"I played solid early, with plenty of action up the other end of the table", said Sherif.

"I just waited on a hand, and finally looked down at KK in first decision. I decided to play it a bit slower than usual post-flop to try and get the action players betting", said Sherif.

Sherif made it 350 to go, under the gun with his KK and got two calls as he expected from David Heskin and Doug Lee. Sherif then checked a suitable (low) flop, and bet out at the turn to which he got one call. He received no more action on the river and took the pot without showing.

Sherif then found himself in 4-way action (typical of this table), raising two high cards and receiving several pre-flop calls. The flop came 2s 7d 5c to which Sherif bet the pot of 1400 and took it down. Immediately he is back up to 20k.





**update** 2.50pm

Players have been away for their first break of the day, and to give you an idea how our PokerStars qualifiers are faring, here are the most recent approximate chip counts:

David Papallo 16k
Jody Thompson 25k
Jimmy Fricke 35k
Michael Degilio 20k
Gerry Fitt 45k
Alexander Stahle 17k
David Tran 22k
Don de Rota 15.5k
Giuseppe Famulari 24k
Dennis Petronack 30k
Halil Delialioglu 13k

Defending champion Lee "final table" Nelson is still hovering around 19k, after running his straight with a straight flush draw into a higher straight before the break.

*** see above for updates***

The 2007 Aussie Millions Main Event is underway.






Kicking off the largest poker tournament outside the USA were a few guys who know something about claiming sporting pride for Australia. PokerStars' own Joe Hachem, the 2005 WSOP champion, cricketing legend Shane Warne, and tennis ace Mark Phillipoussis.

While players listened to their rousing words of encouragement I suspect most eyes were on poker-playing Hollywood star, Shannon Elizabeth.

Warney, who admitted to the crowd that he rated his poker game as "poor" nevertheless went straight from the stage to table 43 where at least he can commiserate with table neighbour the Poo.

Defending Champion Lee Nelson is seated with PokerStars team mate Gary Benson, who won the $1000 rebuy No Limit Hold'Em event to cash $148 480 and another top-rated Aussie player Jason Gray.

As half the room went to their first break today, Lee Nelson was down just slightly to around 19k from a starting stack of 20k. Holding 5h 6h, the flop came 7h 8h 9s giving him a straight with a straight flush draw. The turn was a 6d, the river a repeater 7, and it went to a showdown his opponent holding A 10 had made a higher straight.

David Pham is sitting pretty on about 25k, and fellow PokerStars qualifier seated alongside him Halil Delialioglu has taken a wallop and is on around 12.5k.

Our PokerStars blogging team will be following the progress of more than forty online PokerStars qualifers from at home and abroad during the event, so check here for regular updates.

By Alison Lightman

In a room full of wily and wildly attractive old pro's as gathered for last night's PokerStars Aussie Millions party, you'd think the wild optimism of youth might be scarce.

But that would be modesty, and that's not poker is it?

"Ma'am, I am going to crush this competition" Jimmy Fricke from Mahomet, Illinois told me. "The play I've seen here so far, this tourney is mine!"


In truth I had wandered over to Jimmy and his posse to gently make sure they were of legal drinking age. They were, in Australia at least, but none of them were old enough to have a beer or gamble at home in the USA.

As I chatted to nineteen year old Jimmy and his buddies, Cameron,19 and Aaron, 18, who should wander past but defending Aussie Millions Champion (and newly-wed) Lee "final table" Nelson, (pictured below with PokerStars host, Sarne Lightman) and 2005 WSOP Champ Joe Hachem, who'd earlier flashed me his Five Diamonds Classic bracelet collected during his stunning victory at the Bellagio.

It didn't seem to matter we were partying away from the Crown casino complex, with a gorgeous view of the Yarra at Southbank, poker players being what they are it didn't take long for the games to start.


So, daunting company Jimmy? Not in the slightest. "I'm a pro" he said. And a later trawl around the internet showed me that he has cashed more than $40 000 in the past six months, with his most recent result 22nd place in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure No Limit Hold'Em championship last week in the Bahamas.

Jimmy dropped out of Maths and Computer studies at College to focus on his game. "My peers at college probably earn a hundred bucks a week in their part time jobs, I'm making ten times that already."

So what's his strategy for today? "In the beginning, accumulate chips. In the middle game, pick up a lot of pots, and in the end game, I am not going to make a single mistake because that might cost me everything."

Sounds just like a pro. I'll let you know how he does.

2007 PCA Day 1A

2007 PCA Day 1B

2007 PCA Day 2

2007 PCA Day 3

2007 PCA Day 4

2007 PCA Final Table

2007 PCA Winner

2007 PCA Payout structure

Moneymaker Millionaire Players

Moneymaker Millionaire Winner

Moneymaker Millionaire Live Blog

Anyone who started the final table today had to be looking at Isaac Haxton's chip stack and thinking, "Well, what am I going to do up against that?" Haxton had around half the chips in play.

As it turned out, there was, indeed, a way to win, and Ryan Daut figured it out. over the course of the day, he picked his spots well, made a few good calls, and got heads up with Haxton. Haxton had a 3-1 chip lead going into heads up play, but in just the first few hands, Daut drew even. Then over the course of the next hour, Daut slugged away and carved giant hunks out of Haxton's stack. Finally, Daut had a huge chip lead and found AT. He set Haxton all in. Haxton called with Q8 and couldn't find a way to win the hand.




Ryan Daut





Suddenly, Ryan Daut, a man with dreams of being a poker professional, had won the first major poker tournament of the year, and more than $1.5 million. (For a complete live blog of the final table, read the 2007 PCA Final Table live blog).

2007 PCA Final Table Results

1. Ryan Daut--$1,535,255
2. Isaac Haxton--$861,789
3. Robert Ford--$550,980
4. Robert Mizrachi--$409,703
5. Jonathan Little--$317,873
6. Frank Rusnak--$247,234

Ryan Daut's poker story

There was a time when the only game Ryan Daut cared about was StarCraft. He was competitive and it satisfied his need to do battle. Back in 2004, some of his friends told him about he could make some easy money playing poker. So, he depositied $45 and started playing the lowest fixed limit tables he could find. He turned into a grinder and turned than $45 into $600 over the course of a year.


Ryan Daut playing at the 2007 PCA

Two summers ago, he ended up with a seat to the World Series of Poker. The thing was, he hadn't played much no-limit poker, and in his words, "I kind of freaked out."

"I picked up the game pretty fast," he once wrote. "In that month and a half, I learned a lot, and by the time I went out to Vegas, I had about a 2k roll and I was a 100nl grinder, a real nit."

After Vegas, he went on a rollercoaster bankroll run and ended up taking a break from poker. Over a spring break, he didn't have much to do. So he concentrated on his game and by the time he graduated, he had a $10,000 roll. Since then, he's started playing even biggers and going through the swings that high-volume no-limit players face.

He ended up buying directly into the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure this year. He's now in grad school with the goal of getting a PhD in math. That said, he really plans to be a pro poker player. Already a Supernova on PokerStars, he was well on his way. Now, he has $1.5 million and a WPT title under his belt.

That's a pro, folks.

Congratulations Ryan.

Note: A word of thanks to the entire PokerStars crew who worked without regard for their health or welfare for the last eight days. It's been a real pleasure, folks. Also, to all the players, I know full well that the PokerStars staff thanks you for making this another fabulous PCA.

The second annual World Championship of Battleship Poker was an even bigger success than the first event. Sixty-four people signed up and there was a waiting list a mile long. Big name pros like Joe Hachem, Greg Raymer, Barry Greenstein, Mimi Tran, and Robert Williamson all played in the event, but in the end, Sorel Mizzi walked away with the Battleship bracelet. He played Ben Sprengers in his final match and emerged with the victory. For his efforts, Mizzi walked away with the $44,800 first prize.

Click refresh here to see the lastest updates of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure final table Note, as we are outside, internet access is spotty at best out here. If we disappear for a bit, that's why.

Current blinds: 100,000/200,000/20,000

6:05pm--It's over. Ryan Daut wins. He pushes with AdTh and Isaac calls with Qd8h. Board comes: Jd6c5h-- 9h--5c

Isaac wins second place. Ryan Daut is the 2007 PCA Champ, winning $1,535,255. Pictures and details to come.

5:48pm--Huge pot for Ryan.

Ryan calls and Isaac checks. Flop is 7d9s5c. Isaac bets 400K. Ryan calls. Turn card is the queen of diamonds. Isaac checks. Ryan bets 1.2 million. Isaac calls. River is the ace of hearts. Isaac checks. Ryan bets 2.5 million. Isaac calls. Ryan shows Q5 for two pair. It's good.

5:43pm--Isaac just picked up a 2.5 million pot.

Isaac calls, Ryan checks preflop to see Jh2c5s. Ryan checks, Isaac makes it 250K, Ryan calls. Turn: 3s. Ryan checks, Isaac bets 800K, Ryan calls. River is Ks. Ryan checks. Isaac all-in. Ryan thinks. Could this be it? Ryan asks for a count. It's 5,675,000. Ryan gives it up.

Ryan now has abot 10 million to Isaac's 8 million.

5:29pm--Another huge pot for Ryan.

Isaac raises to 500K. Ryan re-raises to 1.8 million. Isaac calls. Flop is AhQd7d. Ryan bets 2.1 million. Isaac calls. Turn: 8c. Ryan checks, Isaac checks. River: Jack of clubs. Ryan checks. Isaac checks. Ryan shows a set of jacks on the river.

Ryan now has Isaac 2-1.

5:25pm--Big ol bluff...

Ryan calls, Isaac checks. Flop comes Qh4hAc. Isaac checks. Ryan bets 300K. Isaac calls. Turn: Kd. Isaac checks, Ryan checks. River: Qc. Isaac bets 700K. Ryan raises to a total of 2 million. Isaac buries his head on his arms for a moment then Isaac re-raises all-in. Ryan goes into the tank for couple of minutes and then mucks. Isaac shows 23 of diamonds for..as Dan Goldman says...the nut low.

Players are now even in chips.

5:20pm--And just like that, Ryan gets 1.75 million from Isaac. Ryan raised to 500, Isaac re-raised to 1.75 million. Ryan pushed. Isaac folded.

5:18pm--Isaac has pulled about 1 million back from Ryan over the first couple hands without a showdown.

5:10pm--Ryan doubles through.

Isaac calls on the button Ryan raises making it 750K total. Isaac calls.
Flop comes 6h3h8d. Ryan bets 1 million. Isaac moves all-in. Ryan calls.

IH: T7 suited in diamonds
Ryan: A7 suited in hearts.

Turn is 4s
River Ad

Ryan takes the chip lead.

5:06pm--Ryan takes down the first hand without showdown.

5:03pm--Updated chip counts:

Isaac Haxton: 13,905,000
Ryan Daut: 4,920,000


4:55pm--The money presentation is underway. We're heads up for the $1.5 million first prize.

4:43pm--Robert Ford is $550,000 richer after being all-in the big blind with his few remaining chips. He has the best hand, but it doesn't hold.

Ford: A8
Haxton: Kd3c

Board: q37Kx

Current blinds: 60,000/120,000/15,000



4:31pm--It goes fast. Ryan raise on the button, Robert jams for 2.6 million, and Ryan calls with KK. Robert has 22. Ryan is covered by just a little bit. Flop comes 9c8h5d. The turn is the four of spades. The river is the five of clubs and Robert is crippled.

4:20pm--The move-ins have started. Ryan has 2,355,000 and just jammed from the small blind. Isaac gave up his BB pretty quickly. Just before that, Ford had done the same thing from the SB, showing AT.

4:17pm--Ryan raises to 350K on the button. Isaac thinks for a good while before pushing all-in. Ryan gives it up fairly quickly.

4:12pm--Isaac just took a nice one off Robert Ford. In a battle of the blinds, Isaac called and Robert checked. The flop came Kd7h2s. Both players checked. The Ah fell on the turn. Isaac bet 200K and Robert called. After a 3 of clubs on the river, isaac bet 500K and Robert called. Isaac turned over K5, which was apparently good, as Robert threw his hand in the muck.

3:56pm--Back to No Flop Land, the most recent example being Ryan's raise to 325K, isaac re-raise to 1 million, and Ryan's fold.

3:41pm--Robert Mizrachi just went out in fourth place, winning $409,703. Isaac haxton came in for a raise and Mizrachi called. The flop came down Th3s3c. Both players checked. The turn was the jack of clubs. Mizrachi bet 400K and Isaac called. The river was the eight of clubs. Mizrachi checked and Haxton moved all in. Mizrachi called quicker than I would've imagine. Isaac showed Q9 for the rivered straigt. Miazrachi didn't turn over his cards. He just sat there stunned. After sitting for twenty seconds, he mucked and walked off.

Isaac now has around 12 million chips.



3:26pm--Coming back from break. Here are some updated chip counts.

Mizrachi 2.51 million
Haxton: 9.28 million
Ford: 3.525 million
Daut: 3.51 million

3:10pm--Jonathan Little is going to have bad dreams tonight. After being crippled with JJ against Mizrachi's AK when an ace fell on the river, he got his last 315,000 chips all-in against Ryan Daut's K6. The flop was pretty damned good for Jonathan. AQ6. The turn was a ten. The river...a six. Jonathan Little is out in fith place earning $317,873.



3:05pm--Robert Mizrachi just doubled up after getting all-in with AK vs Jonathan Litle's JJ. Td2s6c-8c-A. Mizrachi now has nearly 2.4 million chips after spiking his six outer on the river.

2:59pm--We're strating to worry about darkness. It's still two hours off, but we're not thinking we're going to be finished in time. In other news, Ryan just pushed Robert Ford of a raise with an all-in move.

2:54pm--Blinds are up to 60,000/120,000/15,000.

Current blinds: 40,000/80,000/10,000

2:51pm--Little moves all-in pre-flop. Isaac calls. Both players show KQo. Nothing weird happens and we chop it up.

2:46pm--I miss the days of seeing flops. To wit:

Isaac Haxton raises to 225K. Ford re-raises to 775K. Folded back around to Isaac...who...folds.

2:35pm--Remaining prizes:

1: $1,535,255
2: $861,789
3: $550,980
4: $409,703
5: $317,873

2:33pm-For the first time, it appeared Isaac's big stack would come into play.

Jonathan raises to 225K and Ryan announces all-in from the button. Isaac, not surprisingly, asks for a count. Then he mucks. So does Jonathan.

2:28pm--Ryan makes it 225K from the SB and Mizrachi calls. Flop comes AsAh9d. Checked twice.

8h on the turn. Checked twice again.

River is Qh. Ryan checks, Robert bets 300,000. Ryan counts it out and gets to thinking for a couple of minutes before folding.

2:15pm--Ouch. Mamacita. Frank Rusnak has been eliminated on a heart-breaking hand. It went like this:

Ford maks it 280K. Frank just calls. Folds to Isaac in BB who...again...asks for chip count and then tanks for bit before folding.

Flop: Jh9s9c. Ford moves all in and Frank calls.

Ford has AK
Rusnak has KK

Turn is 3 of spades. Ford needs one of three remaining aces...one of which hits on the river.

Frank Rusnak earns...$247,234



2:08pm--Jonathan calls from SB and Ryan checks his option. On a flop of A93, Jonathan makes it 120K, Ryan raises to 300,000, and Jonathan folds.

2:05pm--We're back, still playing at the 40K/80K/10K level.

2:01pm--Chip count update:

Robert Mizrachi: 1,315,000
Isaac Haxton: 9,430000
Robert Ford: 2,355,000
Frank Rusnak: 1,530,000
Jonathan Little: 1,955,000
Ryan Daut: 2,240,000

1:38pm--We're on break.

1:35pm--Frank open pushes for 1.5 million. Ryan thinks forever before folding. Everybody folds. I need a macro for "Everybody folds."

1:31pm--Jonathan limps from button. Ryan calls in SB. Mizrachi makes it an additional 350,000. Everybody folds.

1:24pm--Robert Ford does not like flops. Or at least he appears to not like them. Three times in the past half an hour, he's pushed for more than 1.1 million when facing a raise. Seems to be working out for him, though. He's won every one of the contests.

1:22pm--Alright, apparently, we're not breaking right now. But, the blinds are, in fact, going up.

Current blinds: 25,000/50,000/5,000

1:16pm--Here in just a few minutes, we're going to break and coming back to the 40,000/80,000/$10,000 level. That should move thing along here just fine.

1:08pm--Isaac raises to 225K and Robert Ford calls.

Flop: 8s4d3d. Isaac bets 400K. Ford folds.

12:56pm--Well-known online player RaiNKhAN loves the camera. How much the cameraman loves RaiNKhAN...well, that's a matter of some debate. Decked out in an unbuttoned PokerStars baseball jersey, RaiNKhAN mugs for the camera every time it comes by. He's railing Ryan Daut...and doing a pretty good job of making sure Daut's cheering section is noticed.

12:52pm--We're two hours into the final table and still have all six players with us. Ryan raises to 135K, and Robert Ford moves all in from the BB. Ryan asks for a count and finds it will be 1,430,000 more. Ryan peeks at his cards and shoots them into the muck.

12:49pm--Robert Ford raises to 190,000, Frank moves all in. Back around to Robert. It will be 620,000 more to call. Robert counts it out, goes into the tank, and then calls to build a pot almost has 1.7 million in it.

Robert Ford: 6s6d
Frank: 7s7h

Board: 3d3h5s/4h/Td

Frank doubles through Robert Ford.

12:41pm--Robert Mizrachi makes it 130,000, Isaac isolates by moving all-in. Everybody else accomodates him and folds, including Robert.

12:39pm--Frank raises to 150. Jonathan asks for a count, then re-raises to 500,000. Folded back around to Frank the Tank. Behind a big pair of Raybans, he thinks for a few seconds before giving it up.

12:34pm--Robert Ford raises, folded to Mizrachi who moves all in. Ford reluctantly.

12:23pm--First all-in of the final table and and it is a doozy. Jonathan raises to 150K. Folded to Robert Ford in BB, and he calls.

Flop: AdQdTd. Robert checks. Jonathan bets 200,000. Robert Ford announced raise to 375K more. Jonathan moves all in. Robert Ford calls.

Ford: KcJd
Little AcKs

Turn: Qh

River: J

All that action and the pot is chopped.

12:19pm--Funny how a short break can take 30 minutes. Regardless, we're back.

12:00pm--We're on a short break. It's ben an ugly one. An entire section of urinals in the men's room backed up. The smell of sulphurous gas was overhwelming. With that pleasant thought in mind, how about some fresh chip counts.

Robert Mizrachi: 855,000
Isaac Haxton: 9,a680,000
Robert Ford: 2,590,000
Frank Rusnak: 955,000
Jonathan Little: 2,005,000
Ryan Daut: 2,740,000

Current blind level: 15000/30000/3000

11:47am--Ryan comes in for a raise. Isaac calls in the blind.
9h6d2h. Isaac checks. Ryan bets. Isaac raises 300K more. Ryan calls.
Turn 5d. Isaac checks. Ryan checks. River is Ac. Checked twice. Ryan has KK. Isaac has 24 suited in diamonds. Ryan's kings take it down.

11:41am--Remarkably out of action today is Jonathan Little. An aggressive player in the early stages of this event, Little has yet to play a hand today. Of course, as I write that, he comes in for the first time and wins the blinds and antes.

11:39am--Ryan raises to 80K. Isaac makes it 240K straight from the button. Frank thinks for a long time in the big blind (drawing the first blogger Frank the Tank jokes of the day) before folding. Ryan, who has had time to think while Frank tanked, gives up his hand pretty quickly.

11:35am--With fifteen minutes remaining in the level, Ryan raises to 80K. Folded to Robert in BB, who makes it 225K more. Ryan folds.

11:31am--Isaac raises to 80. Mizrachi calls from the BB.

KdQh3d. Checked twice.

3h on the turn. Checked twice again.

Qd on the river. Mizrachi checks. Isaac bets 125K. Mizrachi calls. Isaac shows pocket eights and wins. That's our first river, folks.

11:28am--Isaac raises to 80. In the big blind, Ryan announces raise and puts out an additional 225K. Isaac gives it up. A blogger to my right just suggested it would be funny if Ryan asked Isaac how much he had behind. I happen to agree.

11:23am--Mizrachi makes it 80K to go. Isaac calls from the button.
Flop: AcJh6s. Mizrachi makes it 135K. Isaac asks for a chip count (which he does A LOT), and announces a raised an additional 250K. Mizrachi mucks.

11:19am--Frank makes it 90K. Folded to Isaac in SB who asks for a count then goes into the tank. Isaac announces raise, calls the 90K, and then puts out 275,000. Robert Ford folds and it's back to Frank, who thinks a bit and mucks.

11:14amIssac raises to 80K and Mizrachi calls from the BB

Flop: 7s3d2h. Mizrachi checks. Isaac bets 140. Robert calls.

Turn is Tc. Mizrachi checks. Isaac bets 300K. Sixty seconds of thought and Mizrachi folds. Apropos of nothing apparent, Isaac flashes the king of clubs.

11:10am--Mizrachi raiss to 100K and Ryan calles in the big blind.

Flop: Qh4dTh. Ryan checks. Mizrachi checks.

Turn: 6h. Ryan checks. Mizrachi makes it 250K. Ryan thinks for a minute, breathes a bit heavy, then mucks.

11:04am--So, with 63K in the pot before the cards are dealt, the pots are nice, but all stacks are still playable for the rest of the level. Nobody has to be pushing pre-flop. There was some rumor runnign around last night that we'd start the day at 30K/60K. Thhat would've been, in a word, worse.

11:00am--Robert raises to 100K, folded to Mizrachi who calls from the SB.

Flop: 2h3hJd. Mizrachi checks. Ford makes it 175K. Mizrachi calls.

Turn: 9s. Mizrachi checks. Ford bets 400K. Mizrachi, with a pained look on his face, folds.

10:55am--Jonathan raises to 85K from the button. Ryan re-raises to 285K. Everybody else folds and then Jonathan folds. That's another one for Ryan.

10:52am--Three hands, three raises, no callers. Ryan: 2, Isaac: 1

10:49am--Cards are in the air (to to speak--this wind really is a monster).

Around the table...
Seat 1: Robert Mizrachi
Seat 2: Isaac Haxton
Seat 3: Frank Rusnak
Seat 5: Jonathan Little
Seat 6: Ryan Daut

Ryan plays first hand and makes it 80K to go on the first hand and gets no callers.


10:46am--As we start, we're going to be at 15000/30000/3000. Here are the starting chip counts.

Issac Haxton $ 9,216,000
Jonathan Little $ 2,366,000
Robert Ford $ 2,324,000
Ryan Daut $ 2,300,000
Robert Mizrachi $ 1,450,000
Frank Rusnak $ 1,166,000

10:42am--It just occurred to me. Both years prior to now, the person who was in seat 1 going into the final table ended up winning. Mizrachi has his work cut out for him.

10:37am--PokerStars' Dan Goldman is welcoming the crowd and warming them up. This is the time where the TV tricks come into play. It's a little silly to watch. The crowd gets taped going through various emotions they might experience during this event. Ryan Daut's rail is getting into it a little more than most.

10:33am--The 10am start time is a lot like the official start of a cocktail party. The expectation of anything ever actually happening at 10am is just silly. That said, players are being introduced as we speak.

10:24am--To set the scene here....the weather has been great this week, up until last night when wind and rain blew in. The rain went away, but the wind remains. The palms are blowing like hurricane video from your local TV station. Mike and Vince are set up at tableside to do their play by play. They're being smacked by the wind. I suspect we'll use the French-style of dealing--a slide rather than a toss--to keep the cards from flying off into the lagoon.

10:19am--While we're waiting, a few ghosts from the past still haunt this area. Both years we've been at the PCA prior to this year, the power has gone out at Atlantis during final table play. I'm just waiting to see what happens this year.

10:15am--Looks like it will be closer to 10:30 before we get rolling here.

10:00am--The audience and players are fiinding their seats. We'll be playing shortly.

Here are the final six players going to the WPT televised final table.

Isaac Haxton -- 9,216,000

Isaac Haxton is 21 and on a break from Brown University while he plays poker. Over the last two days, Haxton has played big stack poker, and in his words, "hit every flop." Haxton currently has around half the chips in play. He qualified for the PCA in a $175 double shootout on PokerStars.


Jonathan Little -- 2,366,000

Jonathan Little is 22 and from Pensacola, Florida. He plays poker full-time and enjoyed a few cashes in the WSOP this year. For the past several days he's been hidden under a hat and behind sunglasses. What's more, he's been wearing Bose QC3 headphones and barely said a word at the table. He's let his play speak for itself.


Robert Ford -- 2,324,000

Robert Ford is also 22 and, like a few of his fellow players at the final table, on a break from school while he plays poker. He qualified for the PCA in a $ double shootout.


Ryan Daut -- 2,301,000

Yet another 22-year-old, Ryan Daut is a graduate student on his way to getting a PhD in math. That aside, he considers himself a full-time poker pro. His rail is thick with bigtime PokerStars players.


Robert Mizrachi -- 1,450,000

Many people who don't travel the circuit are probably more familiar with Micahel "The Grinder" Mizrachi. That said, everybody in the poker world is familiar with Rober Mizrachi. He had a rough go of it in the early day, but made it to the final table nonetheless.


Frank Rusnak -- 1,166,000

Frank Rusnak reports for the Chicago Sun-Times and plays quite a bit of poker. When the paper interviewed him, he said that he plays poker just about every day and has studied the game a great deal. His sister, Theresa Rusnak, and his cousin, Rachel Johnson, are watching him from the rail. His sister and cousin say Frank is very practical. When asked what he would do if he cashed really big in the PCA, his sister said, "He probably will not do anything different than he did last week." Rusnak qualified in a $650 multi-table satellite.

For the rest of the action from Day 4, check out the dreadful Day 4 Live Blog (that wasn't at all live because Blogger.com, our content publishing provider, went down and killed our action).

We'll be back on Wednesday with live blogging action all from the beginning to the end.

Due to issues with Blogger.com, the publishing client that powers the PokerStars Blog, we have been unable to publish the live blog of Day 4. We are working to resolve the issue. In the meantime, here are the final six players left in the 2007 PCA and their chip counts:

Issac Haxton $ 9,216,000
Jonathan Little $ 2,366,000
Robert Ford $ 2,324,000
Ryan Daut $ 2,300,000
Robert Mizrachi $ 1,450,000
Frank Rusnak $ 1,166,000

The final six will return to the WPT final table at 10am Wednesday morning to play for the $1.5 million first prize.

We spent Day 4 running around the poker room keeping up with the action. We couldn't bring it to you live because our content publishing provider decided it was a good time to go out for a powder. While we hated we couldn't bring it to you live, here's how we got from 16 down to six.


***Everything below was pseudo live blogging***

Antonio Ribeiro finished in seventh place after getting AT in against Robert Ford's TT.

Scott Clements ran TT into Frank Rusnack's AA and went out in eighth place.

4:24pm--We sincerely apologize for the lack of updates. Our publishing system (a division of Google, if you can believe it) has been in the tank all day long. We've been unable to tell you about the massive movements of chips taking place among the final nine players. That said...only one other player has busted since Paul Lui did. Jon Friedberg just busted after Isaac Haxton flopped a set of deuces to Jon's 55.

1:48pm--Paul Lui has just busted in tenth place.

1:45pm--We have just started Level 19 with the blinds at 10000/20000 and an ante of
3000. There are 10 players left who are all sitting at 1 table. We need 4
more to fall before we are done for the day. Judging by how things have
started it could be a short day but we shall see.

Chip counts at start of the level are as follows:

Isaac $ 6,700,000
Frank Rusnak $ 2,140,000
Jonathan Little $ 2,100,000
Antonio Ribeiro $ 1,800,000
Robert Ford $ 1,350,000
Ryan Daut $ 1,225,000
Scott Clements $ 1,200,000
Robert Mizrachi $ 1,120,000
Jon Friedberg $ 680,000
Paul Lui $ 642,000

In the 1st hand Robert Mizrachi raises to 60K and Paul Lui calls. The flop is 9d-As-Js and a bet of 80K from robert wins the pot.

Isaac makes it 55K to play and gets one caller in frank Rusnak. The flop comes out Jd-Kh-Jc and a 130K bet from Isaac gets a call from Frank. The turn is Qh and Isaac leads out with 400K and takes the pot down.

1:43pm--Here's some of what we've not been able to tell you due to Blogger.com's server problems.

Robert Mizrachi raises to 45K. Justin Bonomo re-raises to 120K and Robert calls. Flop is 7c-9c-5d. Justin bets 220K which is called by Robert. The turn is a Ac and Justin checks, Robert bets 400K. Justin moves all in and Robert folds. On the next hand Justin raises to 45K and picks up the blinds and antes.

Luis Chan raises to 50K and Antonio Riberio calls. Flop comes As-10s-8h. Luis bets 90K and Antonio moves all in. Luis calls off the remainder of his chips with J9 so is up and down. Antonio has KJ somehow is in the lead with his broadway gutshot draw. The turn is a King reducing Luis' outs. The river is an 8 and Luis is gone.

The players are dropping like flies and almost immediately after The shortstack at the start of the day Frank Parisi drops out. Scott Clements raises to 48K and is called in the BB by Frank. The flop is 3-2-J and Frank moved all in. Scott called and showed 10-10 against Frank's 45s. The turn and river blank and we say goodbye to Frank.

Mario is crippled. He raises to 48K. Frank Rusnak re-raises to 140K which Mario calls. The flop comes out 8d-Jd-8h. Frank bets 150K and Mario moves all in. Frank quickly calls and shows A8 against KdQd for Mario. The overcards are immaterial and Mario needs a diamond that does not pair the board. The turn is a 10s and river 6h and Mario is left with 16K.

Scott Clememts raises to 44K and Robert Mizrachi calls. Flop is 2s-9d-Ac and both players check. turn is 9c and the pot is again checked. The river is a 2d and from the lack of betting looking like a split. After checking a final time Robert turns over 7-7 for the win.

In a 4 way limped pot between Justin, Robert, Isaac and Scott the flop comes 9-2-K rainbow. Robert bets 45K which Isaac calls. Ks on the turn and Robert bets 125K which Isaac calls. The river is 3d and a bet of 225K is enough to make Isaac fold.

Justin or Justout? From the button raises to 45K. Isaac re-raises from the SB to 165 total. Justin then re-re-raises and pushes a further 400K in the pot. Isaac moves in and Justin calls. An icy cold deck has given Justin KK and Isaac AA (for the 2nd time this morning). The flop is 7-6-5 and the miracle 2 outer does not come. A queen and a 9 are the last cards Justin sees in the tournament.

1:00pm--Justin Bonomo, after a strong start to the day, just busted in 11th place, running his huge stack and pair of kings into Isaac Haxton's AA.

12:57pm--Mario Silvestri after being crippled. His final 16K went in with queens, quick fell to QT when Jon Little flopped broadway.

12:36pm--These Blogger.com server problems are giving us heartburn. Here's what we've been unable to tell you in the last 30 minutes.

**Joe Marcal is out after raising to 45K. Justin Bonomo called. Isaac Haxton made it 200K. Marcal moved all in, Bonomo folded, Haxton called. Haxton held AA to Marcal's AK. No miracle and Marcal is out in 16th place.

**Erik Riise rasied to 45K. Mario Silvestri reraised to 135K. Riise called. The flop cmae Th4d7d. Silvestri made it 140, Riise moved all in. Silvestri called with AT to Riise's QT. An ace on the turn locked Riise out of the pot and knocked him out in 15th place.

**Luis Chan busted in 14th place with J9 of hearts to Rovert Mizrachi's KJ on a jack-high flop.

**Frank Parisi, short-stacked from the beginning, just went out in 13th place.

12:03pm--Players are drawing their seats and sitting down. Today we will play down to the final six, aka the WPT televised final table.

Isaac Haxton says he's doing "reasonably well." That's a bit of an understatement if you're talking about his chip stack (he was actually talking about his state of mind). Right now, he has a commanding lead over the remaining 16 players in the field. Not bad for a guy who's only been playing No-Limit for about nine months. Before that, he played only Limit.

We talked to him after play here at the PCA ended for the day. This will be Isaac's first big cash. He played at the WPT event at Foxwoods and an event at Turning Stone, but he says he didn't get anywhere at either of those. Here, though, he says it feels like he's been hitting every flop. Isaac says after several hours of live play, fatigue begins to set in. He thinks that's an advantage for the younger players, though. I asked him if he had any plans for his winnings, since he's now guaranteed at least $45,915. He replied, "I'm not going to do anything stupid." He says he's going to mostly put it away or invest the money. That's that Ivy League education for you, folks.



So, exactly how big is that chip lead? He currently sits with more than 3.7 million in chips. His nearest competitor, Jon Little, has 2 million.


Jon Little

The average stack is just over 1 million. We'll be coming back to the 8,000/16,000/2000 level.

Isaac Haxton 3,754,000
Jon Little 2,084,000
Robert Mizrachi 1,798,000
Antonio Ribeiro 1,532,000
Robert Ford 1,313,000
Ryan Daut 1,226,000
Scott Clements 1,060,000
Justin Bonomo 1,052,000
Paul Lui 807,000
Frank Rusnak 806,000
Jon Friedberg 792,000
Joe Marcal 629,000
Erik Riise 620,000
Mario Silvestri 548,000
Luis Chan 433,000
Frank Parisi 289,000

It was quite a day as we dropped more than 100 players out of the field, including 2006 PCA Champion Steve Paul-Ambrose who finished in 20th place. To get a look at the eight hours of action from Day 3, including tons of pictures and shots from the World Championship of Battleship Poker, check out the PCA Day 3 Live Blog.

Everyone who remains in the event is guaranteed $45,915 and has a shot at the $1.5 million first prize. For a full list of people who have cashed in this year's main event, check out the 2007 PCA Winners list.

The final sixteen players will return on Tuesday at noon to play down to the final six WPT televised table. The PokerStars Blog will be on hand to bring you more live blogging action.

See you then.

Isaac Haxton 3,754,000
Jon Little 2,084,000
Robert Mizrachi 1,798,000
Antonio Ribeiro 1,532,000
Robert Ford 1,313,000
Ryan Daut 1,226,000
Scott Clements 1,060,000
Justin Bonomo 1,052,000
Paul Lui 807,000
Frank Rusnak 806,000
Jon Friedberg 792,000
Joe Marcal 629,000
Erik Riise 620,000
Mario Silvestri 548,000
Luis Chan 433,000
Frank Parisi 289,000

For Day 3, Ed, Michelle, and I will be live blogging the event from the poker room. Click refresh to see the latest updates. See the links above for starting chip counts and payout structures.

8:57pm--End of Day 3 Chip Counts

Isaac Haxton 3,754,000
Jon Little 2,084,000
Robert Mizrachi 1,798,000
Antonio Ribeiro 1,532,000
Robert Ford 1,313,000
Ryan Daut 1,226,000
Scott Clements 1,060,000
Justin Bonomo 1,052,000
Paul Lui 807,000
Frank Rusnak 806,000
Jon Friedberg 792,000
Joe Marcal 629,000
Erik Riise 620,000
Mario Silvestri 548,000
Luis Chan 433,000
Frank Parisi 289,000

8:55pm--James Jewett says he should have looked at the payout structure before he made that last call. He went out 17th here at the PCA. There's about a $9,000 difference between the payout for 17th place and the cash for the 16th place finisher. He says he thought he had the best hand going in, but he might not have made the call if he had known how much more money he could have made if he had just stayed in for one more place. His finish today was not half bad, though, and he just made his largest live cash ever. He told me he was going to go watch the Ohio State/Florida football game. He said, "I just want to watch football. I just want to stop thinking about poker for a minute."

8:40pm--In the span of one hand at each table, we lost three players. We're working on figuring out chip counts and who is left. Regardless, tthe final sixteen players are done for the night.

8:39pm--I caught up with Gobboboy while he was at the cashier table. He says this beat was "tough," especially because he thought he had the best hand. In fact, he thought the other guy had made a bad call. He won't have long to let his cash here sink in, though. He's leaving here on the 10th to play in the Aussie Millions. I asked him if he had anything to say to mom at home. He said, "Damn it."

8:31pm--After what seemed to be the makings of a storybook tournament, 2006 PCA champ Steve Paul-Ambrose has just busted in 20th place. Down to 177K in chips, Steve pushed with AT and the button called with jacks. Steve couldn't find an ace and now we're down to 19. Steve is now off to dinner. He's missed a week and half of school at the University of Waterloo, so now it's back to the books. Well done, Steve. We're all proud of you.

8:28pm--With the exit of Emil Patel, we're down to 20 players. Emil tells us, "Basically this money is useless." Obviously, he's not all that pleased with cashing where he did. He bought in directly, so his payoff isn't as big as the folks who qualified in satellites. I'm sure he'll get over it. Can three go out in the neext 50 minutes of play? We shall see.

8:23pm--A crowd favorite just went bust. Gobboboy, after making a valiant effort to come back from being down to 70K in chips, doubled up early in the level, but just got AK in against Jon Little's 33. The pair held up and Gobboboy is gone. Nice run, sir.

8:19pm--The Rail Report--I just met a pretty experienced rail bird. Cari is the wife of land developer, James Jewett from Boise, Idaho. Cari says she and her husband travel to quite a few tournaments in their neck of the woods. He's cashed in a few of them. His biggest live cash was at Tahoe, but his biggest overall cash so far was $57,000 in an online tournament. Cari says James has been playing poker as a hobby for a few years now. She seems pretty cool at the moment, but she says she's got her Valium up in the room for the final day.

8:08pm--Isaac Haxton...wow, Isaac Haxton. Matt Molinari is now gone and even he seems stunned. He could barely stand from the table. Haxton came in for a raise under the gun and got three callers. On a flop of 724 with two hearts, Haxton bet out 135K. Molinari, thinking Haxton wasn't in the hand tried to bet out the same amount, then realized he was calling the bet, not opening. The other players folded. The turn was a queen. Haxton checked, Molinari bet out a little more than 200K, and Haxton pushed all in (note: the action was hard to see here and I may be slightly off). Suddenly, Molinari's chips were in the middle and Haxton showed him 22 for a flopped set. Molinari held QJ in hearts for top pair with the flush draw. The river was a four, filling Haxton up and send Molinari to the rail. That pot looked to be in the range of 2 million. Haxton could likely fold for the next couple of days without worry.

8:02pm--The Rail Report--We have an update on Gobboboy for his mom reading back at home. He's still in, but he's just suffered a big blow by losing a $1.6 million pot. He's down to $70,000 chips. I just talked to him during a break, and he seems pretty cool in spite of the big hit he just took. He told me he'd either be the chip leader or gone in the next hour. Gobboboy tells me he thinks he's played awesomely up until now. He says he either made a misstep or got unlucky on that last beat. The 19 year old started playing poker about two years ago. This is his first cash in a WPT event, but he's been traveling around playing a lot of tournaments recently. He calls himself a "tournament specialist." He's flying to Australia just after this for the Aussie Millions. He says he's going to try to play everywhere he can until he's old enough to play in the World Series of Poker in 2008. He hopes to be the best player out there by then. Good luck, Gobboboy, and hello mom!

7:51pm--We're on a short break. The PCA Winners list has been updated. The end of this level was full of action, with gobboboy coming out with the worst of it.

With a board showing Qc-5c-4d-3c and 150K in the pot Johnathon Little bets 120K. this is subsequently raised all in by gobboboy and Johnathon calls. Gobboboy has 9h9c and Jonathon AQ. The river is a blank and Mr. Little is up to 1.9 million and gobboboy is left perilously short with 70K.

On the last hand of the level, Justin Bonomo doubled up with QQ vs AJ on a jack-high board.

Here are some chip counts at the end of the level.

Isaac Haxton 2.3 million
Jon Little 1.9 million
Robert Mizrachi 1.6 million
Frank Rusnak 1.1 million
Antonio Rivera 1 million
Justin Bonomo 917K
Scott Clements 713K
Luis Chan 450K
Pete A. 350K
Joe Marcal 1 million
Gobboboy 70K

7:44pm--The Rail Report--Two Moneymaker Millionaire Finalists are on the rail at the PCA. Eric Stern, 26th place finisher, is hanging out with Richard Colin, the Moneymaker Millionaire 6th place finisher. They're sweating Erik Riise from Norway. He's one of the 27 players left in the PCA. Eric Stern says he and the other Erik have been hanging out and having drinks the past few nights. Eric and Richard tell me their new buddy is sitting pretty right now. They say he looks pretty calm. In fact, they watched from the rail as there was an all-in at Erik's table. Everyone at the table stood up for the hand, except for Erik. That's calm.

7:30pm--Robert Mizrachi has just got to the 1 miilion mark by eliminating a player. On a flop of 2d-6c-4c the money went in. Pocket Queens for Robert vs A8 of clubs. No club or ace on either the turn or river and we are down to 28.

We are now redrawing for seats. Joe Marcal is the player who has done the dirty work and elimanted the player to his left. With a flop showing Q-7-3 Joe bet 30K and this was called. The turn was another 3 and Joe Marcal bet 100K and was raised all in for 200K more. Joe quickly called and showed 2-3 for trips against AQ. the river was a K and we are at 27. 9 more to go before todays action finishes.

7:16pm--Play has slowed down a lot. We're down to 28 players and need to lose ten more before the night ends. We're scheduled to play one more level after this one. It dpesn't appear we'll hit 18 by 9pm. If we don't, it's time for dinner and then a late night.

7:14--The Rail Report--Matthew Molinari is a professional poker player who lives in New York City. I talked to a friend of his who is standing at the rail. Molinari's buddy thinks he's probably in the top five in chips right now. Shawn Hattem says his friend has been playing online for a few years now. He mostly plays cash games, but Shawn says Matthew has won a few online tournaments. I asked Shawn what it was like to watch his buddy play for $1.5 million. He says he's "pretty excited, especially since I own five percent of him."

6:56pm--The Rail Report--Frank Rusnak reports for the Chicago Sun-Times and plays quite a bit of poker. When the paper interviewed him, he said that he plays poker just about every day and has studied the game a great deal. His sister, Theresa Rusnak, and his cousin, Rachel Johnson, are watching him from the rail. They've kept a close eye on his chip stack. They say he's remained very steady throughout the day, never winning or losing all that much at a time. His sister and cousin tell me Frank is very practical. I asked them what he would do if he cashed really big in the PCA. His sister told me, "He probably will not do anything different than he did last week."

6:46pm --Isaac Haxton now has more than 12% of the chips in play at 2.4 million.

We are now at Level 17 with the blinds at 6000/12000 and an ante of 2000.

On a board of 9d-Jd-6h-5d Isaac Haxton bets 70K and is raised to 210K total by Johnathon Drane. Isaac makes the call and the river is the 2s. Johnathon Drane then moves all in for 600K and Isaac thinks for an age before making one of the sickest calls I have witnessed this tournament. With a possible flush out there all Isaac has is J8 for top pair mid kicker. Johnathon Drane was on a bluff and mucks his hand. Isaac moves up to 2.4 million chips and is commanding chip leader.

Scott Clements has just eliminated a shortstack with A5 v A2. Both the low cards paired and there were 4 diamonds on the turn giving the player a hope of a tie but the 5th diamond did not make an appearance. 33 left.

A limp from Robert Mizrachi means we are 3 way to a flop. 10-2-4 rainbow and a bet of 30K wins it for Paul Liu.

Matt Molinari just crippled a player on a King high flop with his KK beating his opponents KQ.

6:27pm--Picture pages...

Chip leader, Isaac Haxton


Pete A.


Jon Friedberg


Gobboboy


Battleship matches







6:23pm--The Rail Report--Scott Clements is trying to get over a very bad beat. I caught up with him when he came over to kiss his fiance at the rail. I asked Scott how he felt, and he said, "I'd feel better if I didn't get sucked out on on the river." His best friend and poker buddy, Jeff Anderson, actually shared Scott's bad beat story with me. It goes like this. There was a raise and a call. The flop came Q-J-10. Scott had AK and he bet out. They were all-in on the turn. The other guy had a set and rivered a full house. Scott lost about a $600,000 pot. Ouch. Scott is a professional poker player and has a lot of live tournament experience, so he's not easily rattled. His best friend says Scott won a World Series bracelet last year in Omaha High-Low, and he just won a WPT event in Niagara Falls. Jessie Hayton is a friend who is also on the rail. She says Scott and his three supporters grew up together in Seattle, Washington. His fiance, Courtney Coston, is a cool cookie as well. She looks as relaxed as can be watching her man from the rail. She's looking forward to March when she and Scott will get married in Maui in a small ceremony. Good luck with the tournament, and good luck with the wedding, guys!

6:06pm--36 players remain. At the break going into the 6000/12000/2000 round, here are a few chip counts.

Isaac Haxton 1.6 million
Antonio Rivera 1.1 million
Jon Friedberg 860K
Justin Bonomo 800K
Jonathan Little 750K
Jonathan Drane 700K
Gobboboy 700K
Paul Lui 660K
Scott Clements 600K
Joe Marcal 600K
Steve Paul-Ambrose 470K
Luis Chan 400K
Robert Mizrachi 400K
Matt Molinari 400K
Pete A. 250K

6:01pm--More internet issues and a lot more poker.

Scott Clements recently suffered an ugly beat, after getting a player all in. Clements had turned a straight against his opponent's set. Then the board paired on the river, stealing a 600K pot from Clements.

An early position raise to 30K is called by 3 players. The flop is 10h-Jc-3d and the action is checked to the button who bets 100K. Folded around to Robert Mizrachi who raises all in. The other player calls off his last 150K and both show KQ for an up and down straight draw. Suits are not an issue and the pot is chopped.

Joe Macar faces a raise of 30K and decides to re-raise another 73K on top. The other player moves all in and is instantly called by Joe who has Kings. Pocket 8s for the other player but a King on the flop means he needs running 8s to survive. Unsurprisingly, this does not happen.

With a pot of 100K and the board showing 2h-Jh-9d, a bet of 50K was raised to 150K by Jon Friedberg. Gobboboy who was also in the hand folds, and the initial raiser called. The turn brought a 5h and Jon Friedberg went all in which was good enough for a fold. Jon now has close to 1 million chips.

Paul Liu just crippled a player who was left with 3 purple chips(enough for 1 ante).

37 players are left so we approach another table break. Matt Molinari raises the action to 30K to play and Steve Paul-Ambrose re-raises to 100K. Matt folds and SPA moves up to around 800K.

Very shortly after SPA and another player get their money in the middle QQ for SPA and AQ for the other player. An ace hits the flop and the case queen does not materialise and Steve drops back down to 500K.

Gobboboy just doubled through Isaac Haxton. He raises to 30K preflop and this was called by Isaac. The flop came Jd-2c-6s and a check from gobboboy led to a 70K bet from Isaac. Gobboboy moved in over the top for another 240K and Isaac called. KJ for gobboboy vs 88 for Isaac. No miracle 8 on the turn or river meant that gobboboy is still in the tournament.

5:33pm--The Rail Report--21 year old Isaac Haxton is taking a year off from Brown University to play poker. His buddies who are here with him say he's done well enough playing online to support himself and pay for some of his Ivy League education. Scott Seiver is one of Isaac's fraternity brothers. Seiver says Isaac just started playing No-Limit nine months ago. Before that, he had played Limit exclusively. His friends say Isaac starting killing the No-Limit tables almost immediately. Quinn Sivage goes to Brown with Isaac, but they actually met playing poker online. Quinn says Isaac is really smart and aggressive, and he never has to show his cards. His friends say Isaac recently played in the $5K at Turning Stone, but he didn't cash. His friends say this will be Isaac's first live tournament cash.

5:27pm--Robert Mizrachi makes it 30K to go and is called by both Michael Binger and Paul Liu. The flop comes Qc-8c-3s and an 85K bet from Robert is enough to make the others fold. Robert is now around the 500K mark.

In the very next hand Michael makes it 30K from mid position. The cut off raises to 100K and Michael folds leaving him with 200K.

Victor Ramdin is out. His KQ did not improve against his opponents QQ. He had seemingly been going backwards all day and was shortstacked when the money went in preflop.

Steve Paul-Ambrose just eliminated a player when his 66 held up in a coin flip scenario. Steve now has 800K+ and we have 42 players left.

Moments later, Micahel Binger busted getting QQ in against Erik Riise's KK. Binger is now wandering the cash game area with a sick look on his face.

5:13pm--Delay in posting here due to an ongoing internet service issue. We're working on it. In the meantime...

Level 16 has just begun with the blinds at 5000/10000 and an ante of 1500.

With 100K already in the pot Paul Liu was looking at a bet of 90K on a flop of Ks-7h-9h. He decides now is not the time and folds leaving him with around 300K.

Scott Clements raised to 30K preflop from the button and was called by Jon Friedberg and gobboboy. The flop came out Q-J-10 and the action was checked to the raiser. He popped 45K in the pot and the others fold. Clements shows AK for broadway as he collects the pot.

Things didn't turn out as well a few hands later when he turned a straight against his opponent's set. All the money went in and then the river paired the board and Clements lost a 580K pot.

We have just lost Paulo Carrillo when he moved all in after a raise from Clements. The BB called and Clements folded. AJ for Paulo against the BB's KK. No ace came and Paulo is gone.

4:56pm--The Rail Report--I caught up with Steve Paul-Ambrose during the break. He says he doesn't feel any added pressure as the defending PCA champ. He says it's not likely that he's going to repeat his first place finish, so he's not at all worked up. His mom says Steve's always the calm one in the bunch. It's his mom, sister and girlfriend on the rail who are really wringing their hands. Steve has about $515,000 in chips. Average is about $400,000. His railbirds left for a level and went to the pool. While they were gone, Steve went on quite a rollercoaster ride with his chip stack. At one point he was down to around $200,000. At another, he was up to more than $600,000. His cheering section says they are really happy they weren't here for that.

4:46pm--As we come back from break, here are a couple of hands that played out in the waning moments of the level, including the double up for Jon Friedberg.

A 25K bet from Isaac Haxton is called in the BB by Scott Clements. The flop comes A-9-2 and Isaac bets 45K. Clements raises to 105K and after some thought Isaac re-raises. Clements passes before we know how much the raise is and the cards that flip over from him are K8. Isaac has over 1 million and Clements has 800K.

Aaron Kanter was eliminated by Michael Binger. Aaron pushed all in from the cut off and Michael called in the SB. AJ for Aaron and AK for Michael. No improvement for either player and Aaron is eliminated.

HUGE HAND. Gobboboy raises to 23K and Jon Friedberg re-raises to 100K from the button. BB thinks for a while before folding. Gobboboy asks for a count then moves all in which sets Jon in for his last 240K. Jon calls and shows AKs against gobboboy;s pocket kings. The flop comes A-4-7 rainbow and gobboboy needs the case king to eliminate Jon. A 2 on the turn and a 4 on the river and Jon doubles to around 800K. Gobboboy is down to around 600K. These guys are on the same table as Isaac and Clements so we have 4 monster stacks there now.

47 players remain at the end of level 15.

4:39pm--The Rail Report--Erik Renstrom is guaranteed to win at least $14,128 here at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. He's a poker player in Tuscon, Arizona. I met up with his proud girlfriend, Missy McCargar, on the rail. Missy tells me Erik's dad taught him how to play poker when he was younger, but recently, he's been playing mostly online. Missy says this is Erik's first big live tournament, and she's pretty proud of him for making it this far. Despite that pride, she says she'd rather see him make the final table than hang out with him in the Bahamas. Erik's mom and dad live in Oregon, and Erik says his mom's his biggest fan. They haven't been able to tell her that he's cashed here at the PCA. Hopefully, she knows about the blog!

4:28pm--Getting ready to go to break and come back at 5000/10000/1500, here are some estimated selected chip counts. Word coming in now that Jon Friedberg doubled through Gobboboy just before the break. Details to come on that. I'd suspect that puts Gobbo back at around 500-600K after being up to around 900K

Scott Clements 940K
Isaac 970K
Jon Friedberg 750K
Jonathan Little 740K
Matt Molinari 630K
Justin Bonomo 620K
Jonathan Drane 580K
Steve Paul-Ambrose 550K
Robert Mizrachi 430K
Paul Lui 390K
Pete A. 280K

4:24pm--The list of PCA Winners has been updated.

Spiro calls a raise of 18K in the BB. The flop comes 8c-8h-2c but Spiro has already checked in the dark and gets a 30K bet thrown at him. Spiro moves all in for 81K more and the original raiser folds.

Shortly after Spiro doubles up Aaron Kanter who had moved all in from early position. Aaron had AA and Spiro AKs. A king on the river gave Spiro some hope but the turn and river blanked and Aaron doubled up to around 140K. It wasn't long before Spiro got in a battle of the blinds and ran into AA again. He's now out.

In a battle of the blinds between Scott Clements and Jon Friedberg they checked a flop of 9c-5h-10d. The turn was the 7s and Jon bet 15K which was called. A 3c on the river and Jon bet out 35K which was again called and he showed 10-9 for a flopped two pair and the pot.

With the flop showing Ks-5d-7s and a 60K pot. Martin Wendt fired 40K at the pot which was called. Turn was a 9c and a further bet of 40K from Martin was called. The river was a 8h and both players check. Martin announces a pair but is beaten by KQ. Martin is now down to around 100K.

Steve Paul-Ambrose was facing a raise of 25K UTG. He re-raised to 85K and was called by the initial raiser. Flop was 7c-Js-6s and Steve bet 120K. The other player folded and Steve is back up to around 500K. We now have 54 players left.

Potless went all in preflop with 66 and was called by Isaac Haxton with QQ. the flop came 4-5-7 giving him some hope but no improvement meant he was eliminated in 54th.

Michael Binger just doubled a short stack with JJ v A9s and the A9 made a flush on the river.

A preflop raise of 23K from gobboboy was called by Jon Friedberg in the BB. The flop came out 2h-6s-Ah and both players checked. Qc on the turn and a 30K bet from Jon was called. 7s on the river and Jon fired out 50K which was called. Jon showed 77 for rivered trips and the pot. Shortly after winning that pot, Friedberg got QQ in against a shorter stack's AK. An ace on the turn cut back into Friedberg's stack.

3:47pm--While the main event is playing out, the World Championship of Battleship Poker is going on on the other side of the room. Players are playing heads up sit and gos on PokerStars while sitting across from each other live. The buy-in was $2,020. This event will play out over the next few days. In action today, Joe Hachem, Greg Raymer, Barry Greenstein, Mimi Tran, Mimi Rogers Dario Minieri, Robert Williamson, and a host of other tough players. A total of 64 players will fight this out. Hachem and Williamson won their first match. Raymer lost his to a two-outer. You can watch the action live on PokerStars under the Tourney/Private tab. Look for PCA Battleship in purple.









3:40pm--We are now at level 15 with the blinds at 4000/8000 and a running ante of 1000 chips.

An all in UTG for 86.5K more is called by Martin Wendt on the BB. The UTG shows AQ against Martin who is dominated holding KQs. The flop brings 2 clubs and gives Martin a chance at getting a flush but 2 blanks on the river secure the double up.

On a board of 7d-5c-6d-Ah-Jd gobboboy makes a 150K bet into a 100K pot. this is called and gobboboy shows 2 diamonds for a rivered flush and the other player mucks. gobboboy takes down a 400K pot from another big stack.

Isaac Haxton fires out a bet of 60K into a 60K pot with the flop showing Jh-8h-Qs. Justin Bonomo calls. The turn is a 2d and both players check. the 2s on the river prompts a 100K bet from Isaac that is called by Justin. Isaac shows a Queen to take it down.

We now have 62 players left. Isaac Haxton has joined the table of Jon Friedberg, Steve Paul-Ambrose and BigRisky the current chip leader. Isaac raises to 24K from the cut off and Jon Freidberg makes the call in the big blind. the flop comes 2s-6s-9d and a 60K bet from Isaac takes the pot.

A now shortstacked Walter Lee Chambers is all in with A10 v AQ. the flop is 8-6-5 then a 7 on the turn gives a few chopping options. The river is a 4 and Walter survives with both players playing the board. Walter is all in again on the very next hand and picks up the blinds and antes.

3:14pm--As players get ready to come back from break, here were a few hands from the last level:

With a pot of 50K and the flop showing 5s-9h-2h Jon Friedberg bet 30K. This was called by the BB. turn and river were the Jc and 10c and there were no further bets. The BB showed 9-6 which was good enough to beat Jon's 88. 69 remaining at this point.

Michael Binger just doubled up when his A9o ended up making an Ace high flush. He now has 80K.

Facing a raise of 19K Steve Paul-Ambrose re-raised to 60K total. This was called by the initial raiser. The flop was Js-3c-7h and Steve bet 100K. A quick all in caused Steve to fold and his opponent showed JJ for top set.

With 60K in the pot and the board showing 4s-10s-5s-2h Victor Ramdin finds himself looking at a bet of 50K from across the table. He takes his time to fold and is down at 150K.

2:52--Coming up on the end of this level and getting ready to head into the 4000/8000/1000 level. Here's a list of selected chip counts going into the break.

Scott Clements--1 million
Jonathan Drane--900K
Justin Bonomo--850K
Jonathan Little--690K
Steve Paul-Ambrose--490K
Luis Chan--400K
Pete A.--340K
Jon Friedberg--330K
Potless--140K
Paul Lui--140K
Ted Lawson--230K
Walter Chambers--290K
Robert Mizrachi--400K
Victor Ramdin--180K
Spiro--111K

2:50pm--In a 40K pot and the flop showing Kc-Jh-3h Paul Lui faces a bet of 18K. he folds and is down to 70K.

Isaac Haxton and Steve Paul-Ambrose are going at it again. With 50K in the pot and the flop showing A-9-K the action is checked. A J on the turn prompts Isaac to bet 25K which Steve calls. the river is a 7 and Isaac fires out 80K. Steve thinks for a while before calling and showing AQ. Isaac mucks and Steve is up to 650K.

A pre-flop raise to 16K from gobbobboy gets re-raised by Potless to 40K. The money all ends up in the pot and it is AJ for gobboboy vs 88 for Potless. The board reads 7-6-8-J-Q and Potless doubles to 140K.

David Williams is out with A2 vs AQ on an ace high flop.

Justin Bonomo has just eliminated a player when his JJ held up against A10. He is now around 700K in chips. Some orange 10K chips that you might see in photos have been introduced.

In a big 3-way pot Martin Wendt has just eliminated a player and doubled through another. KK for the shortstack, 55 for Martin and the other player felt priced in to call Martin's all in had QJs. A 5 hit the flop and that was enough. Martin now at around 350K. we have 73 players left.

2:38pm--We have our first million chip man. Scott Clements is sitting at 1.1 million.

2:25pm--Picture time:











































2:17pm--The 2007 PCA Winners list has been updated.

2:08pm--Justin Bonomo is back. He now sits on 645K after busting someone with AK vs KQ.

2:06pm--With 50K in the pot and the flop showing 2s-Qs-3h Steve Paul-Ambrose bets 22K and is called by Isaac Haxton. Ac on the turn and a bet of 38K from Steve is enough to win it.

In a battle of the blinds, 70K in the pot and the flop showing Qs-6d-8c, Walter Lee Chambers bets 35K. This is raised to 85K which Walter calls. The turn is 7h and Walter sets the SB all in and he folds.

Spiro has had a bad day at the office and is down to around 50K.

Jon Friedberg raises to 15K preflop and is re-raised to 40K. He calls this and the flop comes down 5s-10s-8h. Jon checks and faces a 50K bet. After a short mull he folds but still has over 300K in chips.

Aaron Kanter moves all in from early position for 70K. He is called by Walter Lee Chambers. Two tens for Aaron and AK for Walter and it is race time. 8-5-4-J-9 and Aaron doubles to around 150K. There are 86 left.

In other news -db- was eliminated just before the break with AJ vs. AK.

1:53pm--We're playing at the 3000/6000/500 level. Victor Rmdin just busted a shortstack with AK vs AT.

1:45pm--Players are coming back from break.

1:31pm--Players are on a 15 minute break. Here are a few estimated chip counts.

Gobboboy--550K
Isaac Haxton--450K
Steve Paul Ambrose--450K
Pete A. -- 300K
Luis Chan 460K
Walter Chambers--400K
Jon Friedberg--340K
Justin Bonomo--390K
Matt Molinari--465K
Jonathan Drane-- 580K

1:25pm--A shortstacked Barry Shulman has just been eliminated. The money was all-in pre-flop with 98s for Barry and 10-10 for Martin Wendt. The board was 5-A-4-8-Q and the owner of CardPlayer is OUT.

Speaking to John Pham he was eliminated a while back with QJ v AQ. He was very short at the time and even shorter after.

1:20pm--

Isaac Haxton raises to 12K and it is called by Steve Paul Ambrose in the BB. Flop is 6h-9d-Ah and the action is checked. Turn is 2s and again it is check-check. the Qd prompts a 20K bet from Isaac and Steve quickly folds. He still has around 450K.

On a flop of Ah-Ac-2h a bet of 25K from gobboboy was raised up to 60K total. Gobboboy re-raises all in and is eventually called. Both show 2 hearts but gobboboy has the King. No hearts come and no one pairs their hole cards and gobboboy eliminates a player and moves up to 570K. 93 remain.

Jon Friedberg has just been involved in a Rockets v Rockets battle all in pre-flop. No miracle 4 flush comes and the players split the antes and blinds.

1:17pm--With 12 minutes remaining at this level, we're down to 93 players.

1:15pm--

Facing a riase to 12K. Paul Lui re-raises to 35K. The BB then moves all in for a further 130K. Paul passes but is still in decent shape with around 200K.

Victor Ramdin takes down a pot. On a board of Q-K-3-4 VR bets 25K and is called. The river is a Q and a further 25K bet is enough to win the pot for Victor.

Michael Binger makes it 12K to go from early pos. Walter Lee Chambers re-raises to 30K and Michael folds showing QJs. This knocks him down to around 80K.

Barry Shulman just lost an enormous pot. Having raised to 12K pre-flop he got one caller. Flop was 4d-9d-Qh. Barry bet 25K and was called. Turn 9c and Barry bet 50K and was called. the river was the 8h and Barry announced all-in for about 140K. the other player called and showed 10-9 for trips. Barry had pocket Kings and is down to around 30K. On the very next hand he moved all in to pick up the blinds and antes. 98 players currently remain.

Spiro raises pre-flop to 12K and gets one caller to his immediate left. Flop is Qs-3d-Ks and the action is checked. Js on the turn and a 15K bet from Spiro takes it down. He is sitting comfortably with around 240K.

12:53pm--Early action has been bad for Justin Bonomo and great for Matt Molinari. Molinari is up to around 500K. Bonomo, who started the day with 475K is down to around 300K.

12:44pm--Brandon Redmerski, one of the nicer guys in the room, just got pocket jacks in against Jonathan Drane. No jack came on board and Redmerski is out.

12:41pm--Sam Hiatt just ran kings right into Emil Patel's aces. No miracle on board and Sam is out.

12:34pm--

Brian Lindsay is all in on the 1st hand and John Phan mucks 65s in the BB.

Michael Binger has doubled up through David Sykes when his KQ improved against David's 77.

Martin Ruprecht is out. K10 did not improve against the AJ of George Lusby.

Meez is OUT - details unknown but he was shortstacked coming into the day.

John Phan is very low and pushes all in for 17K - no callers and he shows a suited 78.

Stephanie Fournier has doubled up to around 200K with AK v KQ on a AKQ flop.

Spiro wins a pot. With the flop showing K-3-3 John Conkright bets 20K and Spiro raises to 60K which is enough to win it.

Partick Pezzin pushes in for 25K. Called by Joseph Serack and then raised to 70K by Wesley Ismay. Joseph folds and we have 97s for Patrick vs KK for Wesley. The board comes Qc-3c-8c6s-4d. The straight does not materialise on the river and we have lost another.

12:33pm--John Phan has been eliminiated. We're down to 108 players.

12:24pm--We're currently running at about one bust-out per minute as the short stacks start to go.

12:15pm--After coloring up and racing off the pink 100 chips, players are just starting play. One hundred twenty-one people are starting today. Tournament Director Mike Ward announced the intention to play down to 18 players before we break for the night. He's hoping to accomplish this in six levels of play. "It's going to be close he said."

There are many kinds of victory in a poker tournament. There are those folks who worry about making it through the first day. There are other players who worry about cashing. Finally, there are the champions who look no closer than a first place finish. Over the past two days we have satisfied two of those groups. Everyone who started today had survived their first day. Everyone who finished today made it into the money. Now the time comes to determine who can make it all the way to Wednesday's final table and finish the job.

Remarkably, the man who achieved that goal one year ago this week, Steve Paul-Ambrose, sits second in chips after the finish of Day 2. It's only been a couple of days since people shook their heads and wrung their hands over a seemingly insane laydown in which Steve folded sevens full on the river against an unknown player who severely overbet the pot. Now as we get ready to enter day three, Steve Paul-Ambrose has more than 400,000 in chips and his Day 1 opponent is nowhere to be found. It occured to me today while watching Steve play that he looks like he's been here before. I guess that's because, unlike many of his opponents, he has been here before and gone all the way. It's still a little early to be counting chickens, but there very well be a story in the making here.

Only one person sits with more chips than Steve and that is Justin Bonomo. After a blistering run at Bellagio in December, Bonomo made an amazing run through the field today. At the end of the day, Bonomo controlled his table and finished the day with 475,000 in chips.






The end of the day was an impressive display of fast bust-outs and rush for the bigger cash. Roving Reporter Ed offered a few nuggets from the end of the day.

***

The Ed Report

At Victor Ramdin's table, UTG raises to 9K and the button calls. Victor Ramdin then makes it 23K total. The initial raiser folds and the button looks at his stack, looks at the number of players left on the scoreboard(133), realizes he is playing for his tournament, and folds. We now have 131 left and it looks like he will make at least the higher payout.

Shortly after Victor raises to 9K and Daniel Negreanu pushes in. The blinds fold and Victor instantly called showing the rockets. Daniel shows KQ and needs a lot of help. This does not come, although he does pick up a flush draw on the turn. Daniel is out and Victor up to around 260K.

On the very last hand of the night we lost wattabackyard. He pushed all-in from the button hoping to steal the blinds. The SB called and then the BB set the SB in. The SB folded and wattabackyard showed A6 vs A10. In a little overkill, two tens hit the board and wattabackyard is gone.

***

Here are some faces from the field as the day drew to a close:


Jon Friedberg


Glen Bean


gobboboy


Isaac Haxton


Barry Schulman


Martin Wendt













***

For a full list of people who cashed today, check out the 2007 PCA winners list.

Here's a chip count for everybody who made it through Day 2:

2007 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure End of Day 2 Chip Counts

Starting field: 937
Total prize pool: $ 7,063,842
Places paid: 180

$1,535,255

1. Daut, Ryan

$861,789

2. Haxton, Isaac

$550,980

3. Ford, Robert

$409,703

4. Mizrachi, Robert

$317,873

5. Little, Jonathan

$247,234

6. Frank Rusnak

$187,192

7. Ribeiro, Antonio

$151,873

8. Clements, Scott

$123,617

9. Friedberg, Jon

$98,894

10. Lui, Paul

$77,702

11. Bonomo, Justin

$59,336

12. Silvestri, Mario

$45,915

13. Parisi, Frank
14. Chan, Luis
15. Riise, Erik
16. Marcal, Joe

$36,026
17. Jewett, James
18. Rinaldi, Claudio
19. Kwan, Kin W.
20. Paul-Ambrose, Steven

$28,255

21. Patel, Emil
22. Fricke, James V.
23. Smyrski, Mark E.
24. Bryan, Mark A.
25. Athanasoulis, Peter

$21,898

26. Molinari, Matthew
27. Carlson, Michael R.
28. Kilarjan, James A.
29. Sykes, David R.
30. Porter, Ralph E.

$17,787
31. Peters, David P.
32. Drane, Jonathan C.
33. Guinther, James R.
34. Lios, Peter
35. Buchman, Eric J.
36. Brawer, Maxx O.
37. Renstrom, Erik D.
38. O'Dwyer, Stephen P.
39. Lawson, Edward J.
40. Lavallee, Jason
41. Binger, Michael W.
42. Ham, Mack
43. Ramdin, Victor
44. Wendt, Martin
45. Monnette, John E.
46. Carrillo, Paulo Simon
47. Lusby, George J.
48. Kanter, Aaron Paul
49. Meredith, Michael J.
50. Mullins, Donald C.

$14,128
51. Medic, Nenad
52. Mitrokostas, Spiro
53. McCarrell, Casey S.
54. Gaynor, Stephen J.
55. Baldwin, Eric S.
56. Fortin, Patrick
57. Rav, Thomas A.
58. Householder, Curtis A.
59. Chambers, Walter Lee
60. Lomas, Dane A.
61. James, Anne Marie
62. Conkright, John M.
63. Fournier, Stephane
64. Garlton, Donald J.
65. Lichtie, Matthew J.
66. Michaels, Alex D.
67. Livia, Thomas M.
68. Martin, Eddylee
69. Law, Jimmy
70. Bean, Glen A.
71. Levy, Marc Alan
72. Anjaria, Mitesh
73. Madden, Patrick W.
74. Lococo, Daniel M.
75. Hart, Jonathan J.
76. Ismay, Wesley R.
77. Lellouche, Anthony
78. Paredes, David
79. Fadeyi, Abdul
80. Williams, David A.

$11,797
81. Konig, Shawn
82. Brody, Jonathan
83. Downs, Joseph IV
84. Leventhal, Scott
85. Strochak, Jason M.
86. Hasman, Ronald
87. Trinh, Minh
88. Nguyen, Anh Van
89. Sanders, Adam
90. Drobushevich, Shae
91. Grøneng, Øyvind
92. Pukanich, Randy
93. Shulman, Barry
94. Campbell, James
95. Straub, Spencer
96. Simpson, Robert
97. McDougall, Jason
98. O'Donnell, Kyle
99. Sullivan, Joseph
100. Redmerski, Brandon
101. Baron, Issac
102. Lindsay, Brian
103. Hiatt, Samuel
104. Thurman, Dean
105. Tovil, Fabrice
106. Martin, Christopher
107. Serock, Joseph
108. Andrews, John
109. Pham, John
110. Wilson, Scott
111. Taylor, Jason
112. Gamble, Troy A
113. Pezzin, Patrick
114. Pullen, Brett
115. Smith, Clavis Alan
116. Marcotte, Kevin
117. Henrion, jean-Michel
118. Petronack, Jeffrey
119. Ruprecht, Martin
120. Sousa, Marco
121. Taylor, Paul
122. Albert Riccobono
123. Michael Joseph
124. Shawn Deeb
125. Shannon Shorr
126. Stanley Barton
127. Chris Smith
128. Michael Guadano
129. Ben Sprengers
130. Daniel Negreanu

$9,889

131. Guy Longworth
132. John Bolton
133. Terrence Eischens
134. Charles Sunderland
135. Michael Kats
136. Randall Urman
137. Brian Clark
138. Charles Butler
139. Pavel Feldman
140. Richard Whittington
141. Mike McStott
142. Efrain Lopez
143. Raplh Ratchford
144. James Mackey
145. Gerald Treglido
146. Anthony Cousineau
147. Neil Chriss
148. Jeffery Pursell
149. Kyle Brossia
150. Dan Assor
151. Larry Vezina
152. Nathan Adler
153. Bernard Shapiro
154. William Jensen
155. Patrick O'Malley
156. David Singer
157. Carl Landrum
158. Mathhew Graham
159. Todd Combs
160. Michael Farris
161. Joshua Smith
162. Chris Lee
163. Kian Kiarash
164. Joseph Melancon
165. Nicholas Stowe
166. Lee Anderson
167. Ryan Jones
168. Aaron Lerner
169. Gregory Smith
170. Randy Levin
171. Sean Galusha
172. Edward Barron
173. Willaim Kopp
174. Bernardo Herszkopf
175. Jonathan Aguiar
176. Chris McCormack
177. Jeffrey Anderson
178. Rufus Nagel
179. Joseph Bell
180. Ziad Alameddine

Bonomo, Justin -- $475,000
Paul-Ambrose, Steve -- $408,400
Drane, Jonathan -- $386,400
Hart, Jonathan -- $368,100
Little, Jonathan -- $352,200
Friedberg, Jonathan -- $345,200
Carlson, Mike -- $343,200
Fortin, Patrick -- $335,600
Strochak, Jason -- $313,100
Molinari, Matthew -- $310,700
Baldwin, Eric -- $308,900
Lomas, Dane -- $299,900
Haxton, Isaac -- $291,600
Fricke, Jimmy -- $291,200
Chambers, Walter Lee -- $285,600
Law, Jimmy -- $270,600
Ramdin, Annand (Victor) -- $266,100
Fadeyi, Abdul -- $262,400
Chan, Luis -- $251,300
Lui, Paul -- $251,200
Lichtie, Matt -- $247,500
Carlton, Donald -- $244,400
Sanders, Adam -- $239,000
Madden, Patrick -- $236,600
Marcal, Joe -- $232,400
Mitrokostas, Spyridon -- $228,700
O'Donnell, Kyle -- $226,600
Livia, Tom -- $224,600
Paredes, David -- $216,200
Trinh, Minh -- $215,600
Porter, Ralph -- $212,600
Martin, Eddylee -- $208,200
Ribeiro, Antonio -- $206,000
Baron, Isaac -- $203,800
Silvestri, Mario -- $203,700
Bean, Glen -- $202,400
Conkright, John -- $201,600
Mullis, Donald -- $193,600
Wendt, Martin -- $192,900
Rusnak, Frank -- $189,200
Shulman, Barry -- $187,700
McCarrel, Casey -- $180,600
McDougall, Jason -- $178,100
Touil, Fabrice Felix Siephanie -- $176,400
Straub, Spencer -- $171,800
Kilarjian James -- $160,400
Williams, David -- $158,100
Jewett, James -- $154,300
Patel, Emil -- $154,300
Martin, Chris -- $152,500
Meredith, Michael -- $151,300
Levy, Marc -- $150,000
Riise, Erik -- $148,900
Lellouche, Anthony -- $147,400
Mizrachi, Robert -- $146,800
Monette, John -- $144,700
Serock, Joseph -- $143,900
Smyrski, Mark -- $139,600
Redmerski, Brandon -- $139,500
Ismay, Wesley -- $139,400
Campbell, James (Colin) -- $137,700
Householder, Curtis -- $137,200
Rinaldi, Claudio -- $137,100
Taylor, Jason -- $135,500
Clements, Scott -- $134,500
Lawson, Ted -- $125,000
Brawer, Maxx -- $123,500
Daut, Ryan -- $121,800
Kanter, Aaron -- $113,800
Buchman, Eric -- $113,200
Rau, Thomas -- $112,000
O'Dwyer, Stephen -- $110,200
Guinther, Jimmie -- $108,100
Drobushevich, Shae -- $105,600
Brody, Jonathan -- $102,700
Simpson, Robert -- $98,000
Pukanich, Randy -- $89,000
Renstrom, Erik -- $89,000
Nguyen, Anh Van -- $87,800
Fournier, Stephanie -- $87,500
Ham, Mack Young -- $87,200
Thurman Jr., Dean -- $86,900
Peters, David -- $86,300
Hasman, Ronald -- $85,700
Sykes, David -- $82,600
Downs, Joseph -- $80,200
Ford, Robert -- $80,000
Pullen, Brett -- $79,500
Taylor, Paul -- $79,100
Kwan, Kin Kwong -- $76,300
Medic, Nenad -- $75,400
Leventhal, Scott -- $73,900
Carrillo Fadul, Paulo S -- $72,300
Grøneng, Øyvind -- $71,100
Hiatt, Sam -- $69,300
Michaels, Alex -- $67,300
James, Ann -- $66,100
Sullivan, Joseph -- $65,500
Gaynor, Steve -- $62,500
Wilson, Scott -- $62,300
Anjaria, Mitesh -- $62,000
Sousa, Marco -- $61,500
Konig, Shawn -- $60,700
Lavallee, Jason -- $59,300
Lusby, George -- $57,800
Andrews, John -- $56,400
Petronack, Jeffrey -- $51,000
Binger, Michael -- $48,300
Parisi, Frank -- $44,000
Lindsay, Brian -- $40,900
Gamble, Troy -- $40,600
Lococo, Daniel -- $32,100
Athanasoulis, Peter -- $31,700
Lios, Peter -- $31,400
Marcotte, Kevin -- $29,800
Phan, John -- $26,800
Pezzin, Patrick -- $26,400
Ruprecht, Martin -- $25,400
Smith, Clavis -- $21,400
Henrion, Jean Michel -- $12,600
Bryan, Mark -- $12,600

I've often mentioned how much I love the bubble. In my mind, it is often more exciting than a final table. At a final table, the tension is among tenn people. On the bubble, there are dozens and dozens of people sweating the clock and the blinds. That is tension that drips from the wall.

How much do I like it...


This much

I stood over more than one person who had less than a big blind could feel the antes cutting through their clothes.

***

The Ed Report


With 185 players remaining the bubble looms and play has tightened up.

Notable recent double ups include David Singer with 10-10 v AQ and Aaron Kanter with QQ v AK. David now has around 65K and Aaron has around 50K.

One exception to the to the tightening was between Barry Shulman and an uknown. With the pot at 16K Barry bet 18K on a flop of 3d-7c-10h. this was raised to 42K and Barry thought for a while before passing. Both players have huge stacks and are virtually guaranteed a cash providing they do not suffer a catastrophe.

We have just lost Tom McEvoy in 182nd when his AK failed to improve against his opponents 77. Tom had around 20K in chips when the money went in. We are now hand for hand.

***

And that's when it happened. Max, an unfortunate soul with around ten big blinds left, decided to push all-in from the button with AQ. He didn't figure he'd get called. Instead, a player found pocket nines and sent Max bolting for the rail.



As usual, once the bubble breaks, the action gets fast. That's where Ed comes in.

***

The Ed Report, Pt. Duex

Daniel Negreanu eliminates a player. Victor Ramdin had raised to 7K which was called by Daniel. A shortstack then pushed all in for 9.6K total. This was duly called bvy both Victor and Daniel. The flop came out 10d-3c-7s. Victor checked and Daniel fired 10K. Victor immediately folded and Daniel showed Queens to the shortstacks KQ. The turn was the case queen and the shortstack was drawing dead on the river. There are now 167 left as unsurprisingly play has loosened up. Daniel is still below average in chips and has close to 100K.



Steve Paul Ambrose is very close to chip leadership. Following a raise from early position to 8K. Steve re-raised to 27K total. The other player folded and by my count Steve has close to 370K. The highest chip denomination is still the 5K chip and with 100 chips still being used for antes some players are taking up more than their fair share of the table with their stacks.

It only took a lap of the remaining tables to come back and find SPA involved in yet another pot. With the board showing 7c-6h-Ks-7d and a pot of 80K Steve was facing a raise of 50K. He eventually re-raised a further 50K setting the other player all in. He called and both turned over AK to chop it up.

2006 WSOP Main Event Final Tabler Michael Binger has just doubled up. The money was all in pre-flop with Binger holding A9 vs his opponents 99. The flop was 2-10-4. Turn was a 5 giving Michael 4 more outs. The river was an Ace and Michael doubled to around 65K.

***

Now, we have just one level left in the night. We'll be back later with chip counts and a ton of pictures from the day.

It is now possible to see the dollar signs in the players' eyes. As we end this level, we're just a few players shy of the money. The stories coming out of today's play remain to be Glen Bean, who has worked his stack up to an impressive 390,000. Last year's PCA champion, Steve Paul-Ambrose is also sporting a big stack with around 260,000 in chips. Yesterday's chip leader, Chris Lee, is not faring as well. After ending yesterday with more than 170,000, he now sits with around 36,000.

Steve Paul-Ambrose


Chris Lee

Roving Reporter Ed, though, may have the best comeback story of the day, that of Victor Ramdin who was at one timie down below 10,000 in chips.

***

The Ed Report

Victor Ramdin has had a sensational start to the level. I missed how accumulated so many early on but witnessed him in a pot of 13K with the board showing 5-6-6. Victor bet 11K and the other player raised all in. Victor called and showed J-6 for trips against his opponents pocket aces. No miracle turn or river and Voctor eliminated him and is up to around 130K.

Vegas726 is yet another PokerStars qualifier doing well. He is using his large stack to good effect and re-raised an initial raiser 13.5K more pre-flop. The other chap folded and vegas726 crosses the 200K mark.

After losing a big pot a while ago gobboboy has also got back to winning ways. He has just elminated someone when he moved all in with the board showing Ah-Kh-8d-Js-Jd and the pot around 30K. The player to his left called all in and lost to gobboboy's A6. I did not see the hand play out so I imagine there was a likely good reason for this strange loss. Gobboboy is back to around 140K.

Victor continues his remarkable accumulation. On a board of 9h-8s-3h-7c-2d and a pot of 60K Victor is facing a 25K chip bet he calls and shows 9-3 for two pair and enough to win it. his opponent mucked immediately he was called so was clearly on an out and out bluff. Victor now has around 200K.

2002 WSOP runner up Julian Gardner appears to be out.

Tom McEvoy had let his stack dwindle and pushed all in from early position. There was a quick call and then the big blind moved all in for a further 27.8K more. This forced the other player to fold and indirectly helped Tom out. Tom showed 6-6 and the BB AcKc. The flop came 3-4c-5c Turn 10s and river 2h to treble Tom up to around 30K.

***

End of Levle 10 Selected Chip Counts

Victor Ramdin 180K
Daniel Negreanu 50K
vegas726 140K
Barry Shulman 200K
Tom McEvoy 32K
wattabackyard 26K
David Singer 25K
gobboboy 160K
Jon Friedman 230K
Steve Paul Ambrose 275K
Spiro 210K
David Williams 55K
Martin Wendt 110K

Also a special hello to Jill, wife to Jay Newnum, who couldn't make it down with her husband. Hope you're staying warm, Jill.

While we make out way toward the money, I've been camping out at one particular table for a bit. I was initially drawn there to keep tabs on Gobboboy. As I walked up, he got involved in a hand with a guy I didn't know. Gobboboy raised to around 4,000 and the unknown re-raised to 11,500. Gobboboy then re-raised to 35,000 and the unknown called. The flop came king-high rainbow and Gobboboy bet 40,000. After thinking for five full minutes, the unknown pushed all-in. From my perspective, it appeared that Gobboboy was priced in if he had much of anything. Then again, the price or my count may have been off, because Gobboboy mucked fairly quickly.

It was around that time that I noticed a certain animosity creeping up at the table. Gobboboy headed to the rail and his mannerisms alone gave away that he was in no way pleased with the opponent in the one-seat. Barely five minutes passed before the one-seat got involved in a battle of the blinds with the ten-seat. I walked up on the players as they got all-in pre-flop for an obscene number of chips. Actually had their hands been different, it wouldn't have been so odd. Instead, the ten-seat held A7o to the one-seat's A5. A five on the turn sent the ten-seat to the rail.

Again, the confusion and animosity began to mount. The player began to play some serious big stack poker and before the end of the level, he'd chipped up to around 315,000 in chips. The other players at the table were beside themselves. I later learned the player's name is Glen Bean. We'll be keeping an eye on his stack as the afternoon progresses.

As the level came to a close, another player began to stall so that he would have the button at the beginning of the next level. That finally set the table into a rolling boil, the chief bubbler being Mimi Tran who uttered more than a couple of expletives.

Glen Bean's stack is looking to be one of the biggest at 315K. Spiro is doing well at 160K. Tom McEvoy is now sufferinig at around 28K. Last year's champion, Steve Paul Ambrose, is crushing Day 2 with around 260,000.

We'll be back with more in a bit.

It may have been fatigue. It may have been that I didn't have enough caffeine in my system after staying up with the Moneymaker Millionaire finals until 6am. Regardless, for some reason, I didn't believe we were going to make it to the money. Now, it's pretty clear we will. Even if my head isn't clear, the faces of the players are.

***

The Ed Report

We have 370 players remaining at the start of level 8. Early on during the level Jon Friedberg doubled up with 77 v AJ. The AJ did not improve and Jon now has around 45K.

A large crowd seems to have sweated David Williams this tournament and he invariably seems to be involved in the action. Having raised to 4K the SB moved all in 10.2K more. David says 'let's gamble' and called with J7 diamonds. The SB turned over AKo which fell woefully behind as David hit a flush and even his back hand of a pair of Jacks would have been enough to send the SB packing.

KidPokerJD has started well today continuing from where he left off last night. About 20 min into the level he elminated a shortstack at his table with 99 v A7 and that put him up to around 65K.

Elky also appears to be involved in plenty of action. David Singer had raised from across the table to 3,500 and Elky in the BB raised it 6,100 more. David did not take longpassing. A little while later Elky lost a monster all in preflop pot when his AA was cracked by JJ when a Jack hit the flop. That brutal card knocked Elky down to just over 30K.

Tom McEvoy has seen his stack steadily dwindle today. Clearly intending to do something about that he raised from early position to 3,500 and was called by both the SB and BB. The flop came out 3-5-7(all clubs). The action was checked to Tom who fired 1 blue 5K chip into the middle. This was subsequently raised to 15K from the SB and the BB called this bet. Tom then moved all in for a further 44K which effectively set either of the others all in. The SB with a similar remaining stack to Tom folded whilst the BB called all in for his last 8,700. Tom had a set of sevens vs a made Kind high flush. No help for Tom on either the turn or river and he is down to 36K.

Bill Chen has just recently been eliminated. The cut off had raised his BB and Bill defended with Q-10. The flop was Q-J-10 and all the monet went in and Bill found himself up against 9-8(a flopped straight). Again no help for our boys on the turn or river and Bill is gone.

David Williams has just taken an enormous pot off Vanessa Rousso and left her looking pretty short. On a board of 8s-Kc-2c-Ah and around 70K in the pot, Vanessa was facing an 26K bet which was enough to put her all in. After a very lenghty think and some semi trash talking from David she folded and David showed KQ.

Notable Chips at start of level 9

**290 players remaining with average stack of 64K**

Bill Chen OUT
Jon Friedberg 34K
Leif Force 24K
Mimi Tran 20K
David Singer 80K
-db- 95K
Katja Thater OUT
Julian Gardner 40K
Tom McEvoy 40K
Steve Paul Ambrose 170K
John Pham 70K
Victor Ramdin 45K
Elky 30K
Spiro 130K
KidPokerJD 21K
Michael Mizrachi 65K
Daniel Negreanu 90K
wattabackyard 48K
tigerti 20K
David Williams 160K
Vanessa Rousso 22K
Martin Wendt 100K
gobboboy 110K

Just two hours into Day 2 of the 2007 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, sixty of the 443 who started have found their way to the beach. As the day began, PokerStars announced the details of the 2007 PCA Payout Structure. In a moment, the enormity was clear. One hundred and eighty players would walk away with cash. First place is going to cash for an astounding $1,535,255--the biggest prize ever offered at the PCA.

How do the faces look as the day begins:

Steve Paul-Ambrose


Bill Chen


Chris Lee


Vanessa Rousso


Elky


Jon Friedberg


Joe Pelton


Katja Thater


Kristian Ulriksen


Tom McEvoy


Mimi Tran


Daniel Negreanu


John Phan


Mark Seif

Here's a quick walk through the early part of the day:

The Ed Report

We are now in day 2 proper with the blinds at 500/1000 and an ante of 100.

Players are dropping like flies and unfortunately one of these happened to be Barry Greenstein. Details of his exit are unknown but he was shortstacked coming into the day so had to make a move early.

Elky has been on the right side of an exit. He raised to 2K from the cut off and this was called by an early limpers. On a board of 6-6-K Elky bet 4,500 and the other player moved in. Elky called and showed AK to out kick his opponents KQ. A 10 on the turn and 7 on the river was good enough for Elky and he eliminates a player and takes down a 35K pot.

Last years winner Steve-Paul Ambrose has started well. He raised to 3K from the cut off and got two calls from the blinds. the action was checked to him and he popped 4,500 which was enough to take it there and then.

Julian Gardner has taken a huge hit to his stack. facing a raise of 2,900 Julian re-raised to 7,900. The initial raiser moved in for 27,500 more which Julian took some time to call. A10 for the unknown vs QQ for Julian. All was looking good for Julian on a flop of 5c-7d-8s but then running 10s meant that Julian was left with around 16K.

Hooks no good for Victor Ramdin(fortunately he folded them).From early position Victor raised to 3K and then subsequently watched 2 players go all in for 17K and 34K respectively. Victor thought for a while, checked that it was the first hand of the day that the 2nd all-in chap had played and folded pocket Jacks. The two left in turned over Ah10h and AdKd and the A10 received no help and was drawing dead on the turn. Yet another elimination.

Wattabackyard has recently doubled up. The action was folded round to him in the SB and all the chips ended up in the middle. 66 for wattabackyard vs A9 for the BB. The flop was 10h-3c-6d so the BB blind needed runner runner 8-7. A 10c on the turn sealed the double up and the river was a meaningless Kd. That win puts him back up to around 27K.

Some more PokerStars qualifiers were duelling on another table. KidPokerJD raised to 2,800 from early position. The BB -db- reraised to 8K. KidPokerJD thought for a while before calling. The flop came down 5s-3h-7d and after -db- checked KidPokerJD pushed all in for 25K or so. -db- passed and drops to around 75K whilst KidPokerJD moves up to close to 45K.

After seeing a couple of limpers including David Williams, Vanessa Rousso raises it up to 6K. David is the only caller and the flop comes out As-2d-8c and both players check. The turn brings the 9s and David again checks. Vanessa fires 10K at the pot and David passes.

---

Notable Chips at end of level 7

Bill Chen 50K
Joe Pelton 23K
Jon Friedberg 22K
Leif Force 40K
Mimi Tran 28K
David Singer 24K
-db- 85K
Katja Thater 22K
Julian Gardner 36K
Tom McEvoy 60K
Steve Paul Ambrose 110K
John Phan 62K
Victor Ramdin 36K
Elky 80K
55Lucky55 113K
KidPokerJD 45K
Fred Goldberg 26K
Michael Mizrachi 21K
Daniel Negreanu 90K
wattabackyard 28K
tigerti 25K
David Williams 63K
Vanessa Rousso 93K
Martin Wendt 65K

Starting field: 937
Total prize pool: $ 7,063,842
180 places paid

1: $1,535,255
2: $861,789
3: $550,980
4: $409,703
5: $317,873
6: $247,234
7: $187,192
8: $151,873
9: $123,617
10: $98,894
11: $77,702
12: $59,336
13-16: $45,915
17-20: $36,026
21-25: $28,255
26-30: $21,898
31-50: $17,787
51-80: $14,128
81-130: $11,797
131-180: $9,889

With 443 players remaining in the field, the 2007 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure has kicked off. We expect a full list of payouts to be published in short order. Roving Reporter Ed and I are getting a feel for the field and will be back with a full day of coverage in just a bit. In the meantime, check out:


2007 PCA Beginning Day Chip Counts

2007 PCA Day 1A Coverage
2007 Day 1B Coverage

Quillan Nagel wins Moneymaker Millionaire

Moneymaker Millionaire Live Blog

by Brad Willis and Michelle Willis

He had $30,000 in student loans. He's supposed to defend his master's thesis next week. Just yesterday, he was donating his time to take notes for the PokerStars Blog.

This morning, Quillan Nagel is $1 million richer.

This entire event started last summer with each PokerStars player getting a free ticket to the $2.5 Million Moneymaker Freeroll. Over the course of the next several months, the event would see 800,000 entries battling through three rounds of massive tournaments. Only twenty-seven players would make it to the Bahamas to compete for a minimum of $5,000 and an almost unthinkable $1 million first prize.

It started just after 11am on Saturday. It would take sixteen hours for 27 players to turn into one. Every one of the players had an amazing story. From a man giving his wife's dying son a trip to the Bahamas, to a Subway worker in search of poker stardom, to a 50-something man who was making his first-ever trip to a casino, the final 27 were a diverse and aspiring group.

***

Getting through from three tables to heads up play was an adventure larger than the whole of the Atlantis Resort. For hours upon hours, players looked into each other's eyes and tried to decide whether calling would result in them winning enough to pay for one semester of a state university or give them a chance to call themselves a millionaire. The entire day was captured in full on the Moneymaker Millionaire Live Blog.

Ultimately it would come down to two players--a former dancer turned master's student from Canada and a two-time University of North Florida Student Body President.

***

Quillan Nagel's wife is an actress. She's the type of woman who is paid to cry on cue. What we saw tonight was no act. Lisa was crying and quivering as her husband was declared the winner.



How did it happen?

It was a surprise to nearly everybody in the room. The players began heads-up play with nearly even stacks. Though their stacks weren't incredibly deep, there was a lot of play left. Still, it happened just like this:

On the button, Quillan raised to 15K and Jerry called. The flop came 7d 5h 7s. Jerry checked, Quillan bet 20K, an Jerry made it 40K to go. Quillan called. The turn was a 2h and Jerry pushed for 65K or so. Quillan though for maybe a minute before calling and showing K5. Jerry turned over QsTs for queen high. He had six outs and missed. Just like that, Jerry finished in second place and Quillan won a $1 million first prize.

The hand was enough of a surprise to everybody that, for a moment, no one was really sure if it had happened.

In fact, it did.

And, so, what of second place finisher Jerry Watterson?

Jerry says December was a hard month for him. He'd been practicing very hard for this tourney. He drove two hours away from home to play in a tournament with a similar structure. Looking back, he would like an opportunity to play some hands differently. He told us played a lot of garbage to build his stack and people are going to be surprised when they see his hole cards on TV. He spent the entire day setting up false tells and using them to his benefit. It propelled him to a heads up finish.

When we finally talked to his wife, also a Lisa, she said she knew her husband had a brilliant mind and she wasn't surprised. Nor were his friends at the NeverBeg poker forum, which he told us was a "great poker community." Jerry, though, was more humble. He said Quillan had a better read on him than anybody else in the event.

Jerry's wife said she was doing well after her husband finished second and earned $300,000. She said it would take her ten years to earn that kind of money as a teacher. They are going to buy a house with the money he won here.

***

In the end, though, it was a celebration for the Canadian. It was a series of little moments that were both dwarfed by the enormity of the prize, yet quaint in a way only a person like Nagel could offer.

When a reporter asked why he thought Canadians are better at poker than Americans, Quillan said, "It's because when it's cold and there's nothing better to do than play poker."

Later, Quillan's wife was getting ready to call her best friend when she got a text message from the friend that said, "Hi, sweetie. I need good news." Well, she had good news, but she couldn't reach her. We're not sure if she ever did. She couldn't even call her mother because she'd left her three-month-old baby there and didn't want to wake the child. All the while, her husband barely broke a sweat.

Quillan's wife said this is "so-Quillan." He never gets ruffled or riled about anything.

To meet Quillan Nagel is more than puzzling over his name or trying to figure out how a ballet dancer turned into a poker player. It's to meet 30-year-old man who has an incredible head on his shoulders. In dance, he told us, things go wrong and you have to deal with them. Poker is the same way, he said.

He's a rational man, with a giving spirit, and a ready smile. He's not the prototypical poker player. Appropriately, he's not prepared to decide what he'll do with the million bucks.

"I'm 30 years old," he said. "There's a lot of life out there."

Chris Lee's rail grew as the night progressed. Some people in the poker room may not know who he is. The online community, however, knows. Some of them know all-too well.

Lee doesn't look like the type of guy who would punch you in the gut and the knee you in the face while youre doubled over. In fact, he looks a lot like the guy that would help you up while you caught your breath. He looks like the type of guy you'd trust to hold $10,000. Or $100,000.

Chris Lee

I don't know if The Grinder knows Lee by looking at him. But after today, The Grinder will be sure to look around to make sure Lee isn't waiting in the shadows. Or, at least that's what Lee's rail says. I'm not sure of the quote, but one of Lee's buddy said something to the effect of, "Chris ate The Grinder up today."

I don't know the veracity of the statement, but I do know this. Chris Lee finished the day with 174,000. That's enough for me.

So, that's how Level 6 ended tonight. I'll let Ed take you through a few of the final level hands as they happened.

---

The Ed Report


We are now entering the final level of the day and blinds are at 400/800 with an ante of 100. Green chips have coloured up and raced off.

There is yet another huge hand at table 7 and yet again David Williams is involved. With the pot at 5,000 and the board showing 3d-9d-Ah, it is checked to David who bets 6K. This is raised to 18K by an unknown player in the SB and the other player involved folds. David asks for a count and has him easily covered and decides to move all in. After a lengthy ponder the SB calls. 6d5d for David and AJo for the SB. The turn is a 6c and the river 2c and the SB doubles up to around 100K whilst David drops back to 60K.

Meanwhile Victor has suffered a slight hit. A player in early position raises to 2,500 which Victor calls from the SB. Flop is 8h-Kd-Kc and after checking Victor subsequently calls a 2,000 chip bet. The turn is the 6d and both players check. The river is the Jd and puts a possible flush out there. Victor again checks and his opponent bets 4K. Victor eventually calls and shows AJ for two pair. His opponent shows KQ for trip Kings and takes a nice pot. Victor now sitting at around 35K.

Just behind the table of death sits Elky who has been fairly quiet today with no major swings in his chip count. He was in the BB when the action was folded to the SB who raised a further 2,200 chips. Elky called and the flop came down Qs-10c-6d. The SB led out with 4K which Elky called. The turn brought the 8c and the SB checked to Elky who bet 8K which was called. The river was 5h and again the SB checked. Clearly sensing weakness, Elky shoved his remaining chips into the pot and the SB folded AcKc face up having missed his nut flush and gutshot broadway draw.

Facing a raise of 5,000 chips from the cut off Tom McEvoy pushes all in from the SB. This effectively sets the initial raiser all in as he only has 20K left. After a long think he calls and we are off to the races with Tom's QQ against AKo. The board cards are all Jacks or lower and Tom sends one packing and is up to around 85K.


Tom McEvoy

A little while later on the same table Jon Friedberg doubled up to 20K when his AK made broadway cracking Russell Rosenblum's Rockets.

Nearing the end of the days play Russell Rosenblum was KOed by David Williams. The table of death lived up to it's name once more and who should take his place but two time WSOP bracelet winner Mark Seif.

KidPokerJD effectively trebled up. He raised from early position to 3K and got 2 callers before Elky made it 16K to go. KidPokerJD shoved his remaining 4K into the pot and the other two folded. Another race with AQo for Elky vs pocket 9s for KidPokerJD. The board cards all looked like they belonged in a game of Razz and KidPokerJD shot up to 25K. His family had arrived about 30 min before so were able to see him playing like they remember from Barcelona earlier this year.

On the final hand of the night Daniel Negreanu knocked out Fabrice Soulier with AK v A9. Daniel hit a King on the flop to end the tournament for Fabrice.

---

Sunday, the remaining players from the two flights will come together and start the whole battle over again. The stacks range from four to six figures. The traditional day of rest will be anything but for the people looking to battle it out for first prize.

PokerStars Beginning Day 2 Chip Counts

Crowe, Owen --202000
Chris Lee --174000
Baron, Isaac --147800
Bryan, Mark --138400
Haxton, Isaac --126800
Fricke, Jimmy --122500
Kats, Michael --122200
Lui, Paul --112500
Passeron, Thierry --112400
Ulriksen, Kristian --112400
Iyer, Vishal --110400
Shulman, Barry --108400
Rousso, Vanessa --105800
Sheldon, Paul --105600
Hagen, Andreas --103000
Yuval, Friedman --100300
Bean, Glen --99600
Mcstott, Mike --99100
Shorr, Shannon --98800
Pickett, Michael --98000
Madden, Patrick --97600
Fortin, Patrick --96800
Drane, Jonathan --96100
Conkright, John --95500
Farris, Michael --94800
Kaemmerlen, Peter --94200
Lopez, Karlo --94200
Smyrski, Mark --91500
Jace, Daryl --90500
Fields, Kris --88800
Levy, Marc --88700
McEvoy, Tom --86500
Simmonds, Ryan --85400
Trinh, Minh --82400
Ismay, Wesley --81600
Pursell, Jeffery --81200
Taylor, Jason --80500
O'Dwyer, Stephen --80200
Seif, Mark --80100
Plejdrup, Dennis --79300
Ham, Mack Young --79000
Cruz, William --78600
Berger, Barry --78000
Dwan, Thomas --77400
Paul-Ambrose, Steve --76700
Negreanu, Daniel --76600
Williams, David --76300
Rinaldi, Claudio --75800
Taylor, Paul --74400
Livia, Tom --71700
Herszkopf, Bernardo --71600
Downs, Joseph --71200
Brawer, Maxx --71000
Strzemp, John --71000
Guinther, Jimmie --70800
Drobushevich, Shae --70200
Grøneng, Øyvind --70100
Sunderland, Charles --70000
Baglietto, Giuseppe --69800
Lomas, Dane --69000
West, Tim --69000
Deeb, Shaun --68900
Petronack, Jeffrey --68900
Paone, Alessandro --68600
Aiken, Ryan --67900
Banghart, Jeff --67700
Adams, Kenneth --67500
Ashman, Danny --67200
Medic, Nenad --67000
Lopez, Efraini Antonio --66900
Reed, Benjamin --65800
Fronshtein, Alan --64900
Smith, Matthew --64700
Feldman, Pavel --63700
Rives, Stephane --63300
Heath, Jonathan --63200
Billirakis, Steve --62700
Chen, William --62700
Alioto, Dario --62200
Kanter, Aaron --62100
Bolton, John --61900
Khan, Hevad --61800
Campbell, James (Colin) --61700
Zumbini, Flavio --61300
Anderson, Lee --61200
Tonnellier, Ed --61100
Anjaria, Mitesh --60900
Galvin, Patric --60900
Murray, Matt --60900
Smith, Chris --60600
Sousa, Marco --60400
Singer, David --60200
Depa, Jonathan --59800
Baldwin, Eric --59600
Cheresnick, Corey --59400
Heaton, Gary --59200
Konig, Shawn --58700
Sivage, Quinn --58700
Hamagami, Clark --58600
Cofer, James --58500
Jewett, James --57500
Binger, Michael --57300
Pullen, Brett --57000
Mitrokostas, Spyridon --56900
Foxx, Norman (Augie) --56800
Wideman, Brian --56700
Chan, Luis --56500
Athanasoulis, Peter --56100
Seth, Anirudh --56100
Adamo, Michael --55700
Chambers, Walter Lee --55500
Brody, Jonathan --54900
Riise, Erik --54700
Cousineau, Anthony --53500
Boudreau, Kevin --53300
Jones, Ryan --53200
Vesia, Mike --52800
Morales, Jose Arturo --52700
Chliss,Neil --52100
James, Ann --52100
Carlson, Mike --51700
Hahn, Ralf --51500
Wilson, Scott --51300
Michael, Joesph --51000
James, David --50800
Combs, Todd --50500
Goldberg, Frederick --50500
Meredith, Michael --50100
Kiarash, Kian --49800
Pavlicevic, Michael --49500
Flatnes, Kjetil --49000
Pezzin, Patrick --49000
Wheeler, David --48900
Jensen, William --48600
Sheirbon, Brent --48300
Martin, Eddylee --48200
Nagel, Rufus --48200
Eischens, Terrance Lee --48100
Hasman, Ronald --47700
Grospellier, Bertrand --47600
Butler, Rhett --47300
Tran, Thithi (Mimi) --47100
Buchman, Eric --47000
Hershon, Richard --47000
Clements, Scott --46800
Peters, David --46800
Moore, Christopher --46500
Rau, Thomas --46500
Adler, Nathan --46400
Solomons, Gary --46000
Ruprecht, Martin --45800
Ziebarth, Richard --45800
Golden, Ken --45600
Hudson, Spencer --45600
Lipkin, Robert --45600
Hawrilenko, Matt --45500
Rusnak, Frank --45500
Taylor, John --45400
Gaubert, Michael --45100
Kask, Per Henrik --45100
Mizrachi, Michael --44800
Chilton, Gene --44700
Nguyen, Anh Van --44300
Householder, Curtis --44200
Ghamsari, Nima --43800
Sjöberg, Gusten --43800
Graham, Matthew --43700
Townsen, Vade --43700
Brenes, Alex --43300
Haydon, Will --43300
Little, Jonathan --42600
Gardner, Julian --42500
Ovadia, Steve --42500
Alameddine, Ziad --42400
Benhamron, Eric --42300
Spinder, Gregory --42200
Hiatt, Sam --42000
Alterman, Paul --41900
Fadeyi, Abdul --41700
Eslami, Ali --41500
Sapers, David --41500
Paredes, David --41300
O'Donnell, Kyle --41200
Gronbech, Kurt --41000
Neckar, Jonathan --40900
Kohlberg, Curt --40800
Wendt, Martin --40800
Stopka, Wladyslaw --40600
Touil, Fabrice Felix Siephanie --40600
Herz, Scott --40100
Galajian, Anahit --39600
Sykes, David --39500
Romero, Joseph Jr --39400
Smith, Clavis --39300
Giannetti, Matthew --39200
Robinson, David --39200
Stowe, Nicholas --39200
Carlton, Donald --39000
Pecorale, Ralph --38900
Strochak (Strochale possible last name), Jason --38900
Lellouche, Anthony --38800
Whittington, Richard --38800
Gold, Benjamin --38600
Skolnick, Brett --38600
Treglio, Gerald --38600
Benhalacch, Dan Assor --38200
Smith, Greg --37900
Subilia, Sam --37900
Aguiar, Jonathan --37800
Barron, Edward --37700
Sass, Alan --37600
Smith, Alasdair --37500
Michaels, Alex --37400
Netter, Tyler --37300
Larsen, Andrew --37000
Law, Jimmy --37000
Pukanich, Randy --37000
Ribeiro, Antonio --36900
Gordon, Jonathan --36600
Simpson, Robert --36500
Carlson, Mike --36400
Chick, David --36400
Levin, Randy --36400
Impastato, Frank --36300
Marcal, Joe --36100
Hansen, Casper --36000
Zakheim, Scott --36000
Ertel, Christian --35800
Solomon, David --35700
Fink, Laura --35500
Yoder, Joshlin --35400
Guadano, Michael --35200
Carrillo Fadul, Paulo S --35100
Gravagna, John --35000
Salorio, Antonio --35000
Landrum, Carl --34900
Ramdin, Annand (Victor) --34100
Vezina, Larry --34100
Longworth, Guy --33800
Niergarth, Nick --33800
Daut, Ryan --33500
Kerth, Bret --33200
Dowda, Jimmy --32800
Leventhal, Scott --32800
O'Malley, Patrick --32800
Barkman, Jonas --32700
Shiff, Dov --32300
Lios, Peter --32200
Mackey, James --31900
Sullivan, Patrick --31600
Radushkevich, Sergey --31500
Campbell, Joel --31400
Ventura, David --31300
Benefield, David --31200
Lococo, Daniel --31200
Ratchford, Ralph --31200
Straub, Spencer --30900
D'Ottavi, Flaviano --30800
Kopp, William Jr --30500
Perry, Rafael --30500
Lusby, George --30400
Smith, Josh --30200
Hart, Jonathan --30100
Coburn, Ray --30000
Wright, Justin --30000
Bucci, James --29900
Cooper, Michael --29700
Dull, Jonathan --29700
Lindsay, Brian --29700
Sanders, Adam --29700
Carrick, Ben --29600
Parisi, Frank --29200
Wasicka, Paul James --29200
Firicano, Daryn --29000
Clark, Brian --28900
Redmerski, Brandon --28800
Urman, Randall --28800
Yitzhaki, Roman --28800
Arsenault, Nicholas --28600
Anderson, Jeffrey --28200
Correia, Sean --28000
Silvestri, Mario --28000
Hendrix, Micah --27900
Caby, Taylor --27800
Mullis, Donald --27400
Marfleet, Barry --27300
Wulff, Leland --27300
Feiff, Terence --27100
Hotz, Travis --26800
Gamble, Troy --26700
Lavallee, Jason --26700
Campbell, James (Douglas) --26600
Quinton, Carl --26600
Cerbone, Matthew --26500
Strassmann, Johannes --26500
Ford, Robert --26400
Shideler, Gerald --26400
Bassile, Wilson --26300
VanDuyn, Joshua --26200
Bohn, Blake --26100
Sullivan, Joseph --25900
Galusha, Sean --25700
Schulz, Kevin --25700
Romero, Randy --25600
Lee, Paul --25400
Francis, Jason --25200
Patel, Emil --25200
Nocerino, Alessandro --25100
Lawson, Ted --25000
Egide, Loren --24700
Shapiro, Bernie --24700
Strandli, Kenneth --24700
Garza, Jeffrey --24500
Lyter, Brook --24500
Holdaiy, Igor --24200
Leduc, Karla --24100
Indreboe, Anders --24000
Thurman Jr., Dean --24000
Wiggins, Andrew --24000
Gaynor, Steve --23900
Tallis, Jonathan --23800
Barton, Stanley --23400
Lewis, David F --23400
Melancou, Joseph --23400
Landier, Bryce --23200
Henrion, Jean Michel --23100
Flangas, Arthur --23000
White, Ryan --23000
Mizrachi, Eric --22900
West, Tom --22900
Yutuc, George --22800
Baird, Gregory --22700
Boyd, Robert --22700
Foster, Christian --22700
Bonomo, Justin --22600
Ivanov, Ognyan --22300
Ryan, Gilbert Chesley --22200
Cashwell, Billy --22000
Le, Nam --21800
Saleh, Steven --21600
Delaney, Peter --21500
Monette, John --21500
Sprengers, Benjamin --21300
McDougall, Jason --21200
Andrade, Steven --21000
Hammond, Christopher --21000
Bragar, Adam --20900
Flowers, Randal --20800
Joss, Eric --20700
Peters, Reuben --20600
Whitley, David --20600
Serock, Joseph --20300
Corber, Ron --20200
Sagle, Jason --20200
Thater, Katja --20200
McCarrel, Casey --20000
Ryan, Daniel --19900
Brossia, Kyle --19800
Ward, Cory --19800
Göransson, Emil --19700
Renstrom, Erik --19700
Tsolis, Konstadinos --19600
Kelly, David --19500
Andrews, John --19400
Helness, Jonas --19400
Lerner, Aaron --19300
Agreda, Alexis --19000
Gaines, Lee --19000
Rosen, Matt --19000
Neff, Peter --18900
Ium, Michael --18800
Jelinek, Steve --18800
Luetchford, Andrew --18800
Hattem, Shawn --18700
Bech, Michael --18300
Phan, John --18300
Marcotte, Kevin --18100
Ankner, Christian --17900
Starkey, Robert --17900
Biehn, Devon --17800
Brown, John --17600
Gross, Steve --17600
Hewitt, Michael --17400
Peckinpaugh, Mitchell --17400
Drzich, William --17300
Banwari, Narendra --17200
Bell, Joseph --17100
Hockley, Donald --17100
Gentner, Roland Wayne --17000
Pino, Michael --17000
Zango, Herman --16800
Montanari, Mark --16700
Jackson, Patrick --16600
Schaffel, Kevin --16400
Woelfel, Wade --16400
Boros, Leon --16300
Widder, Craig --16300
Watson, Michael --16100
Friedberg, Jonathan --15800
Bercovitz, Bradley --15700
Saunder, Jerome --15200
Stevenson, John M --15200
Kostic, Alex --15100
Reddy, Sumanth --14900
Rudder, Alan --14900
Fondacaro, Greg --14800
Petrillo, Mark --14400
Dorrance, James --14300
DaCosta Suares, Gilles --13900
Kwan, Kin Kwong --13500
Williamson, Robert --13400
Thomsen, Jakob --13200
McDonald, Greg --13100
Hornung, Guenther --12700
Lichtie, Matt --12700
Petereit, Bernad --12600
Greifendorff, Thomas --12500
Alper, Thomas --12200
Riccobono, Albert --12200
Azadpeyma, Alex --11500
Fournier, Stephanie --11500
Markgraf, Jace --11500
Barnes, Wendell --11300
Gallant, Scott --11300
Hansen, Morten --11300
Kontaratos, Bill --11300
Porter, Ralph --11100
Weir, Bradley --11100
Pelton, Joe --10900
Wilton, Benjamin --10600
Greenwood, Maxwell --10200
Curzio, Patrick --10000
Ohel, Randy --9700
Greenstein, Barry --9500
Stephens, Robert --9200
Eggers, Christine --9100
Svensson, Stig --9000
Seitz, Jason --8600
McCormack, Chris --8500
Molinari, Matthew --6800
Berthelson, Chad --6100
Fisher, Paul --4800
Rosati, Anthony --3700
Levandoske, Dax --2800

So, it's pretty clear that Level 5 was a pretty bad one for some folks. If you missed it, you can look back at this post. In an effort to keep this blog at a PG-13 level, we're all making an effort to avoid the blood and guts currently flowing across the poker room floor. (Don't worry, we'll get back to it after we clean off our shoes.)

So, how about some pictures?

Daniel Negreanu, warming up with coffee and chips


Greg Raymer discussing the merits of Team PokerStars cannibalism with Tom McEvoy


2006 EPT Grand Final champion, Jeff Williams



















Okay, you want a little blood and guts. This is a PG-13 hand for the kids.

The Ed Report

Elky calls an UTG all in for 5,825 and everyone else folds. JJ for Elky vs AJ. An ace hits the flop and Elky is looking for a one outer on the turn or river which does not come. This setback knocks Elky down to 23K

Notable chip counts at end of level 5.

Victor Ramdin 27K
Fabrice Soulier 40K
Tom McEvoy 53K
David Williams 110K
Daniel Negreanu 70K
Barry Greenstein 29K
Russell Rosenblum 30K
Michael Mizrachi 45K
Elky 23K
KidPokerJD 18K
Frederick Halling 7K
Leif Force 12K
Jon Friedberg 10K
John Pham 12K
Mark Seif 40K
wattabackyard 33K
Spiro Mitrokostas 48K

Notable eliminations

Isabelle Mercier
Joe Hachem
Humberto Brenes
JohnnyBax

We interupt this level to bring you a post with no pictures. It is simply too graphic to show images of what's happening here.

First...an early strong start from Joe Hachem as ended in an early exit. Exact details of how he became shortstacked are unavailable at this moment, but his exit came at the hands of Daniel Negreanu who turned a broadway straight with QT to best Hachem's ace.

Humberto Brenes has also been eliminated by Tom McEvoy. The 1983 WSOP winner seems to have his sights set on knocking out members of Team PokerStars. How so?

Let's let Ed take over.

The Ed Report

It was no surprise to find us watching table 7 at the start of this level and no sooner than the level had begun we had lost a couple of the big names.

Tom McEvoy raised to 1,800 from early position and Isabelle Mercier pushed all in for 11 total from the big blind. Isabelle showed presto (5-5) and needed some magic to outdraw Tom's pocket kings. The board came all high cards and Isabelle was eliminated by player Tom McEvoy.

A couple of hands later JohnnyBax raised to 1,800 from the button and David Williams called in the BB. The flop came 2s-7h-5h and David checked to JohnnyBax who pushed all in for around 10K. David instantly called and showed 8h2h for a pair and flush draw. JohnnyBax showed A10 off suit. The turn was a Jc and the river was a 2 giving david trips and eliminatng JohnnyBax and 2005 TLB winner from the PCA.

***

We'll be back at the end of level five...hopefully with some pictures that don't involve a lot of blood.