Friday, 29th March 2024 14:09
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1:40am: That’s a wrap!

Day 3 is in the books. It looks like Tony Dunst has shot to the lead. We’ll have all the chip counts and a full recap of the day soon!

1:30am: Five more hands
Level 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000)

The tournament clock has been paused and players have been informed there will only be five more hands for the night.

1:10am: One is good, but two is better
Level 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000)

A short-stacked Sam Steindl has just landed a much-needed double up, and he only needed one card to do it!

With a stack of 87,000, Steindl apparently only looked at one card and liked what he saw as he moved all in. Daniel Engels made the call in the small blind and tabled K♣ J♣ . Steindl flipped over the A♦ and then squeezed his second card. Would you believe it, but he found the A♣ !

The board ran out K♠ 7♠ 8♥ 9♦ 6♥ to give Steindl the double up with his aces to around 190,000 chips.

1:00am: Dunst’s ducks bust Egan
Level 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000)

Michael Egan’s dream of Aussie Millions glory has come to an end. His tournament life was on the line when he moved all in preflop with A♣ K♦ and was up against the 2♣ 2♦ of Tony Dunst.

The baby pair would be enough when the board ran out 8♦ 3♣ 3♠ 3♥ 4♥ to send Egan to the rail. Meanwhile Dunst continues to grow his wealth as he is now up to 1.4 million and holds the chip lead over the field.

12:50am: Bassat takes out Picakci
Level 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000)

We’re down to the final six tables of eight with the elimination of Umut Picakci. In a battle of the blinds, Picakci moved all in with A♥ Jâ™  but Andrew Bassat snapped it off in the big blind with K♥ K♦ .

Bassat stood from his chair and could barely watch as the dealer spread the community cards 9♠ 2♦ Q♠ Q♦ K♣ . That was more than enough to take it down and eliminate Picakci from the tournament.

With his elimination, just 48 players remain in contention for the title, with a cash now worth $25,000.

12:35am: Dunst dominating
Level 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000)

Tony Dunst is continuing to climb after winning a recent pot from Daniel Engels.

It folded to Engels on the big blind and he popped it up to 25,000. Dunst raised it to 80,000 in the big blind and Engels made the call to see a flop of 3♥ 8♥ K♠ .

Dunst continued for 75,000 but Engles wasn’t happy to give it up just yet, calling before the dealer turned the J♦ . Both players checked and the 5â™  rolled off. It was then that Dunst bet out for 165,000 and Engels made a quick call.

Tabling A♠ K♦ Dunst won the pot and eclipsed the 1,000,000 mark.

12:25am: Obst loses flip
Level 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000)

James Obst has just taken a big hit to his stack, losing a coin flip to double up Alexandros Kolonias.

Obst opened with an under-the-gun raise to 20,000. Kolonias then three-bet to 60,000 from the small blind before Obst declared himself all in. Kolonias made a pretty quick call and tabled Aâ™  K♥ for the overcards to Obst’s 10♦ 10â™  pair.

The board fell in favour of Kolonias when it ran out 6♠ A♦ 3♣ 4♥ 7♠ giving him a big double up to 510,000. Obst was left with 270,000.

12:15am: Play resumes
Level 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000)


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12:00am: Last break of the night
Players have just commenced their last fifteen minute break. We’ll return shortly.

11:45pm: Lynskey eliminates Tolhopf
Level 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000)

Bowdy Tolhopf just ended up on the wrong end of a flip which sent him packing.

He pushed his last 100,000 into the middle preflop and the player on his left made the call. It got to Alex Lynskey on the button who moved all in over the top for 420,000 in chips. Victor Teng in the big blind with 160,000 couldn’t decide what to do in the tough spot. In the end he opted out and then it was the initial caller’s turn to go into the tank.

The caller also ditched the hand so it was Tolhopf against Lynskey for a huge pot.

Tolhopf: 9♥ 9♦
Lynskey: Aâ™  Qâ™ 

Tolhopf faded danger on the 2♦ K♥ 6♠ flop but the 3♠ spelled danger as Lynskey picked up a flush draw. The flush would come to fruition on the J♠ river and Tolhopf was eliminated from the tournament.

Lynksey picked up the pot and climbed to 630,000 in chips.

11:25pm: Egan takes one from Abernathy
Level 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000)

Facing a raise to 18,000 and a call in front of her, Samantha Abernathy squeeze it to 50,000 to go from the small blind. Michael Egan was the lone caller and they took a flop of 10♠ A♦ 2♥ .

Abernathy continued for 45,000 and Egan called before both checked the J♦ turn. The river was a repeat 10♣ and Abernathy checked again and Egan quickly tapped the table behind.

Abernathy flashed 9♥ 9♠ but knew she was beat as Egan revealed A♥ Q♥ for top pair.

Abernathy slips to 540,000 with Egan gathering some momentum as he now sits with 400,000.

11:20pm: Fan starts to fire
Level 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000)

Terry Fan has found a double up just in the nick of time. In a battle of the blinds, John Chu moved all in from the small with A♥ 2♥ but Fan insta-called in the big with a dominant A♠ 9♥ .

The board brought a heart sweat but bricked out 6♥ J♥ K♣ 4â™  10♦ . Fan’s stack of 98,000 was doubled with Chu slipping to 255,000.

11:15pm: Siu doubles through Lynskey
Level 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000)

After a player open raised to 18,000 it folded to Alex Lynskey in the small blind.

Lynskey put in a three-bet and the super-shortstacked Jimmy Siu in the big blind called off for less. The initial raiser threw his hand away and the cards went on their backs.

Lynskey: 8♥ 7♥
Siu: Jâ™  2â™ 

The Q♦ J♥ 2♥ saw Siu improve to two pair but Lynskey still with a good shot as he picked up a flush draw. The board would brick however on the 4♦ turn and 8♠ river to see Siu pick up a double to around 80,000.

Despite losing that hand Lynskey still has a very healthy 550,000 in chips.

11:00pm: Rollercoaster for Hong spells elimination
Level 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000)

Back to back hands just saw Ryan Hong double up and then find the rail in a matter of minutes.

The first was against Tony Dunst and the pair got all the money in preflop.

Hong: A♠ 9♦
Dunst: 6♠ 6♦

The board ran out A♦ K♣ J♠ 2♥ 3♥ where Hong would spike an ace on the flop to double up his short stack.

After only just stacking his chips Hong was all in again, this time for 163,000 over an opponent’s 18,000 chip open. It was on Samantha Abernathy in the big blind who thought about the decision for a few moments before announcing all in herself for another 250,000 on top. The initial raiser folded and Hong saw he was flipping once again.

Hong: K♦ 9♦
Abernathy: 8♦ 8♣

The J♥ Q♠ A♠ flop gave Hong some extra outs to Broadway but the 5♦ turn and 8♠ river bricked off to see the Australian eliminated.

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10:40pm: Cohen runs into queens
Level 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000)

Sam Cohen won’t be matching her 8th place finish from 2013 after her run in the 2016 Aussie Millions Main Event was brought to an end.

With a stack of 105,000, Cohen moved all in from the button with 10♦ 8♦ on the steal but Daniel Engels woke up with a monster Q♣ Q♥ in the small blind and made the easy call.

The flop on 6♥ 4♥ 2♥ brought no love for Cohen, but she did pick up a few straight outs with the 5♦ turn. Unfortunately for her, the river was the 2♠ .

Cohen is out with Engels recovering some chips to climb back to around 650,000.

10:35pm: Perfect tens for Chu
Level 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000)

Daniel Engels raised under the gun to 18,000 and the action passed all the way around the table to John Chu who moved all in for his last 183,000. The big blind folded and Engels thought briefly before announcing a call.

Chu tabled 10♠ 10♦ and the race was on with Engels and his A♦ Q♥ .

The board fell 10♣ 7♥ J♠ A♣ 5♠ and despite hitting an ace, Engels would see the pot shipped to Chu with his set of tens.

Chu is up to 380,000 while Engels is still going strong with 550,000.

10:25pm: Play resumes
Level 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000)


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10:10pm: Break o’clock
It’s time again for a scheduled break. Play will resume in 15 minutes.

10:00pm: Tony two-outered
Level 17: Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000)

Tony Hachem will be joining his brother Joe on the rail after a sick beat left his tournament dream shattered.

Hachem got all the money in good with 8♥ 8♦ on a flop of 2♦ 9♣ 4♣ against Martin Rowe’s 5♥ 5♦ .

“Picture card…picture card…picture card…” Hachem muttered to himself as the dealer burned the top card.

The turn 3♦ brought a sweat giving Rowe an open ended straight draw but it was a set that finished off Hachem as the 5♣ landed on the river.

“That’s disgusting” Hachem said up and out of his seat. “Well played mate.”

Hachem found the exit as Rowe chipped up to 810, 000.

9:40pm: Jimmy Siu lands a double
Level 17: Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000)

The short-stacked Jimmy Siu has landed a much-needed double up. When action folded to Siu on the button, he moved all in for his last 53,000. The small blind folded but UK pro William Chattaway decided to make a gambling call in the big blind with his 5♣ 6♣ . He had some work to do to get past the Q♥ Q♣ of Siu.

There wasn’t even a sweat as the board ran out Jâ™  3♥ 8♥ 10â™  J♥ giving Siu some breathing room with a stack of around 120,000.

9:30pm: Tony Hachem surrounded by Kings
Level 17: Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000)

It’s a good time of the tournament to start to run good as Tony Hachem has found pocket kings two hands in a row. However things didn’t exactly go to plan for Hachem.

It was reported to us that Hachem was forced to fold the first pocket kings to heavy action on a queen-high board. He folded face up and his opponent kindly showed a set of jacks.

Next hand Hachem was back in the thick of the action. KC Wong raised the cutoff to 13,000 and Hachem three-bet to 33,000. Wong gave it up and Hachem again flashed the cowboys to the table!

Tony is now the last Hachem standing with a stack of 150,000.

9:20pm: Joe Hachem hits the rail
Level 17: Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000)

2005 WSOP Main Event champion Joe Hachem may be the most recognisable face in Australian poker, but he falls short of taking down the most prestigious tournament on his home soil this time.

Hachem got all his chips in with the board reading J♦ 8♠ 7♥ 5♠ .

Hachem: A♦ A♣
Cankai Zhang: Kâ™  7â™ 

The champ had a lot to dodge but he couldn’t do it as the 6â™  river rolled off to grant Zhang a flush. While Joe exits, the Hachem family still have a runner in the mix with Joe’s brother Tony alive with 72 remaining.

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9:00pm: High profile elimination from the feature table
Level 17: Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000)

For those watching the live feed….spoiler alert!

We have some more news from the feature table…

…and it’s not great for fans of Team PokerStars…

…or Liv Boeree.

Soon after the bubble burst here in the Main Event, Boeree was all in with A♦ Q♠ against the K♦ K♠ of Dylan Honeyman.

The board ran out J♥ J♦ 3♥ 4♣ 2♥ and our last Team PokerStars Pro was eliminated. Boeree will take home a min-cash of AU$15,000.

8:50pm: Bubble bursts!
Level 17: Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000)

Well we’ve only been back from the 75-minute dinner break for 10 minutes and already the bubble has popped. Players huddled around the table as Mark Bevan was all in and at risk for his tournament life, and those who had gathered were sweating a $15,000 payday.

Bevan was holding A♣ Kâ™  and needed to improve to beat Artur Koren’s K♥ K♦ .

The atmosphere was tense as the dealer presented a flop of 5â™  5♥ Q♦ . Tournament Director Joel Williams took to the microphone to announce Bevan’s fate to the room. The 2â™  turn meant only an ace would keep his tournament dreams alive.

The 6♣ river completed the board as a mix of claps, cheers and relief swept across the tournament floor. Bevan comes up one short of seeing a return on his investment while the remaining 80 players guarantee themselves at least $15,000.

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8:40pm: Play resumes
Level 17: Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000)

The players are back from dinner, but for one player there is about to be a sour taste in his or her mouth. The bubble is about to burst at the Aussie Millions Main Event.


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7:25pm: Dinner break on the stone bubble

$15,000.

That’s what players here are one place away from locking up.

They’ll all be hoping they can hold on a little longer as they head off for a 75-minute dinner break. A potentially sick slowroll for whoever eventually bubbles but at least players have a chance to grab something to eat.

7:10pm: No action during hand-for-hand play
Level 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500)

We’re now just one bustout away from the money, but the action has been very slow with hand-for-hand play across the room with tables spread over two sections of the Crown Poker Room, plus the feature table for the live stream. Tournament staff are doing a good job coordinating the tables and dealers, but the players seem happy to sit on their hands at the moment with very few all-ins to report.

6:45pm: Galindo survives
Level 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500)

The bubble rolls on here in the Crown Poker Room with two more eliminations required before we are safely in the cash.

Josep Maria Galindo was very fortunate to avoid elimination when he was all in with A♣ 9♠ from the button for his last 30,500. Sam Cohen made the call in the small blind with K♣ K♠ and it looked like we were going to lose a player.

However the board ran out 10♣ 6♣ 4♣ 7♦ 7♣ to bring four clubs and a flush for Galindo for the double up. He’s up to 65,000 and has some breathing room again while Cohen slips to 170,000.

6:20pm: Bubble looms; Engel snacks
Level 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500)

It’s no surprise that things have slowed dramatically with the bubble fast approaching. We’re only 2 off the money at the moment and players are trying to hold on and lock up at least a $15,000 payday.

One player who doesn’t seem too fazed is Ari Engel. He’s currently munching on a whole capsicum in between hands. It’s quite an odd thing to see here in Australia and he’s receiving a few strange looks from the other players at the table.

Engel is currently sitting with 400,000 in chips, well above the 270,000 average, so he looks a favourite to make it into the money here. We’ll be watching closely to see who is our unfortunate bubble boy or girl. Stay with us!

6:00pm: Nothing stupid
Level 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500)

Tony Hachem has bounced back with a big double up. His last chips were all in on a flop of 3♦ 8♦ 4♣ holding 4♥ 3♥ for two pair against his opponent’s 9♦ 9♣ .

“Nothing stupid….” begged Hachem to the dealer, and she obliged as the J♣ turn and 2â™  river bricked the board.

Hachem’s stack of 110,000 on the flop was doubled, boosting him to around 250,000, leaving his opponent crippled.

5:55pm: Play resumes
Level 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500)

With just 88 players remaining in the Aussie Millions Main Event, we’re expecting to see play tighten up over ths level with only the top 80 players set to finish in the money. Will the bubble pop this level?


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5:40pm: Scheduled break

Players have left the tournament area for a 15 minute break. Back soon!

5:30pm: Smith blows up on the bubble
Level 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500)

Jay Smith has been eliminated just short of the money bubble after a dramatic hand against Tony Hachem and Adeel Shaikh.

It started with Hachem min-raising to 8,000 and Shaikh tossing out a yellow and three blue chips on the button. That amounted to a call but the dealer mistakenly announced it as a raise to 13,000.

Hachem was quick to correct the dealer’s mistake and berate her for potentially influencing the action that was to follow.

Action was then with Smith in the big blind who must have smelt some blood in the water as he raised it to 22,000. Hachem released his hand but Shaikh again made the call.

The flop landed 6♠ A♠ 5♠ and Smith moved all in for what we believe was around 45,000. Shaikh made the call with A♥ J♠ for top pair and a flush draw and Smith was devastated.

“How can he have an ace there?” cried Smith as he tabled 10♣ 2â™  for a huge bluff.

Smith would need a miracle runner-runner to stay alive but the Q♣ turn and 4♣ river wouldn’t deliver.

A disappointed Smith packed up his miniature replica bobblehead and headed to the rail just short of the money as Shaikh moves up to 215,000.

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5:10pm: Tony Hachem takes a hit
Level 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500)

Tony Hachem has been running up a stack today but he just encountered a setback in a recent hand.

On a 4♠ Q♥ 7♥ flop Hachem wagered 16,500 before his only opponent moved all in over the top for an extra 37,000. Hachem was clearly torn over the predicament, tanking while alternating between counting his chips and staring at his opponent.

“Flush draw?” Hachem asked as he tossed in a call, only to immediately see he was dominated.

Hachem: Q♦ J♦
Opponent: A♣ Q♠

Hachem was chasing a jack to eliminate the other player but the board bricked off on the 7â™  turn and Aâ™  river.

With that hand Hachem dips below the average of 240,000, now sitting on 170,000.

4:50pm: Quads for Obst
Level 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500)

James Obst looks like he’s kicked things up a gear approaching the money bubble and China’s Yucheng Rong was the unlucky one to feel the wrath.

Obst started the hand by raising to 8,000 from middle position and Rong defended his big blind with a call. Both players checked the 3♠ 9♦ 3♦ flop before Rong led for 10,000 on the 5♦ turn. Obst called and the river was the 3♣ .

Rong led out again for 16,500. Obst took a glance at his opponent’s stack before declaring himself all in. Rong had about 60,000 behind and had a decision to make just 16 players from the money.

After a few minutes he grabbed his stack and plonked it into the middle, only to discover the bad news as Obst showed J♥ 3♥ for a very deceptive quad threes! Rong mucked and departed the tournament as Obst now sits on a very healthy 450,000 chips.

4:40pm: Wong wins some more
Level 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500)

Asia Player of the Year runner-up KC Wong is chipping up. He just beat Alek Givotovsky out of a pot.

On a flop of J♥ 10♣ A♣ Givotovsky led for 11,000 and Wong called from the button. The 9♦ on the turn saw Givotovsky up the sizing to 33,000 but that didn’t deter Wong, he counted out his chips and made the call.

The Qâ™  river sent Givotovsky into the tank. He waited a couple of minutes before deciding on a third barrel of 38,000.

Wong counted out his stack again and eyed the pot.

“Seven-nine” Wong said pushing chips forward, the bet for all of his chips.

Givotovsky snap-mucked with frustration and Wong received a substantial increase to his stack.

4:20pm: Action from Liv Boeree on the feature table
Level 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500)

Team PokerStars Pro Liv Boeree is enjoying herself under the bright lights of the feature table which is currently being streamed live on Twitch.

The stream is on a 30-minute delay, so if you’re not a fan of spoilers then we suggest you don’t read on.

For those who can’t wait, we have some good news – Boeree has just doubled up.

It was Boeree’s ace-king all in preflop against the pocket tens of Jessica Dawley. The board fell Kâ™  9♦ Q♦ 2♦ 9â™  which meant that Boeree’s pair of kings had landed a very nice double up just in time with the money bubble quickly approaching.

If you’d like to watch it unfold for yourself, wait half hour then tune into RunItUp.TV.

4:05pm: Play resumes
Level 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500)

The players are back in action with the blinds up to 2,000/4,000 with a 500-chip ante. The big screen is showing 105 players remaining which means that we are less than three tables from the money!


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3:50pm: 15 minutes of rest

It’s time for another break. Coverage resumes in 15 minutes.

3:40pm: Egan earns a nice pot
Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000 (500)

We arrived in time to see the player on the button with a 20,000 bet in front of him and Michael Egan in the small blind with 52,000 pushed into the pot. The button called and players went to a flop of 7♣ 7♠ 7♥ .

Egan led for 50,000 which was met with a call before the 8♣ turn card. Both players checked and the river 8♦ brought a full house on the board.

Egan checked and his opponent instantly looked down at his chips. He reached into his stack and wagered 50,000. The bet was snapped off and the button tabled A♣ Jâ™  which wasn’t good for a chop as Egan held Q♥ Q♦ for a higher full house.

That pot means Egan has just eclipsed the 400,000 mark.

3:25pm: One for Chidwick
Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000 (500)

There’s a pretty talented table sitting quietly over on Table 7 that may be a contender for the Twitch live stream later on in the day. The table includes the likes of Erik Seidel, Fabian Quoss, Dietrich Fast and Stephen Chidwick, and we just saw a pot unfold between the latter two players.

Fast opened with a raise to 7,000 before Chidwick three-bet to 20,000. Fast made the call and they saw a flop of 10♣ 6♦ A♠ .

Fast check-called for 16,000 and the 7♦ hit the turn. Fast checked again and Chidwick this time bet 48,000. Fast thought better of it and let his hand go. Chidwick is now up to 450,000 and among our chip leaders.

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3:10pm: Easy come, easy go
Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000 (500)

Poker is a cruel game. One minute you can be eliminating a World Champion and next minute you’re on the rail.

That’s the story of Bernhard Haider’s day.

Just a few moments ago we wrote about Haider winning a huge pot to eliminate Martin Jacobson from the tournament. Now Haider’s tournament is also over after the fall of an unfortunate river card.

We picked it up on a board of A♥ 8♣ J♣ 7♣ with a hefty pot already in the middle. Haider bet out 23,000 and Alek Givotovsky slid a tower of yellow 5,000-denomination chips to put his opponent all in. Haider gave it a little thought and then moved his last 55,000 into the middle.

Haider held 8♥ 8♦ for a set while Givotovsky held A♦ K♣ for the flush draw. The dealer burned and revealed the 6♣ on the river to put four clubs on board and flush Haider from the tournament.

Givotovsky is now up to around 360,000 chips.

2:55pm: Kanit puts the pressure on
Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000 (500)

Mustapha Kanit and Tony ‘Enigma’ Poulengeris recently went to a flop of Q♥ 6♦ 2â™  .

Kanit first to act checked his option before being faced with a bet of 18,000. The Italian called and the dealer turned the 7♦ .

The action went check-check and the 6♥ fell on the river.

Kanit checked a third time and with action back to Poulengeris, he shrugged and made a bet of 25,000. After a slight pause Kanit pushed all in with enough to cover Poulengeris’s 90,000 behind.

Poulengeris counted his stack but ultimately threw his hand away.

“Good bet” Poulengeris complimented to Kanit as the latter raked the pot and climbed to 328,000 in chips.

2:40pm: Broom swept aside by Dawley
Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000 (500)

Over on the feature table, which now includes the likes of Alex Lee, Dylan Honeyman and Team PokerStars Pro Liv Boeree, we’ve just seen the elimination of Aussie pro James Broom.

Down to his last 41,000 chips, Broom moved all in from the button with 8♥ 8♠ , but Jessica Dawley in the small blind woke up with J♠ J♥ and made the call.

The board was spread 3♣ 5♦ 4♦ 5♥ 5♠ to give the pot to Dawley and eliminate Broom from the tournament. Dawley is up to around 150,000 in chips.

2:35pm: Habb had a feeling; Jacobson eliminated
Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000 (500)

2014 World Champion Martin Jacobson has been eliminated from the Aussie Millions Main Event.

The hand started with a raise to 7,000 from local Mikel Habb in the cutoff seat. Jacobson was in the small blind and he moved all in for a total of 60,500. Action was then with Austrian Bernhard Haider in the big blind.

He took a moment to consider his options before declaring himself all in for around 85,000. Action was then back on Habb who was in a tricky spot. After a moment to think he turned over his Q♥ Q♣ and placed it face up on the table. The cards were there for a few moments, but he wasn’t doing it to try to get a reaction. He had already made his decision to fold what turned out to be the best hand.

Jacobson showed 3♠ 3♥ and Haider had A♦ 10♣ .

The table were on their feet in shock but it got even more interesting when the board ran out 7♥ K♣ 6♥ 10♥ 10♦ . Haider caught running tens which eliminated Jacobson and would’ve also taken a huge chunk from Habb.

“I knew it man,” said Habb. “I had a feeling.”

Habb was looking pretty pleased with himself as he avoided disaster, while Jacobson headed off to the rail.

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Mikel Habb pretty happy to have dodged that landmine
2:25pm: Play resumes
Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000 (500)


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2:10pm: First break

The remaining players have just commenced their first break of the day. Action resumes in 15 minutes.

1:50pm: Boeree checks down rockets
Level 13: Blinds 1,200-2,400 (400)

Our only remaining Team PokerStars Pro Liv Boeree just picked up aces but a bad board dissuaded any postflop action.

James Broom raised from the cutoff to 5,500 before Boeree made it 15,200 to go from the small blind. Broom clicked it back to 28,000 and Boeree decided to slowplay, smooth calling to see a flop of K♦ J♠ K♥ .

A quick check from both players brought the J♥ turn and with two checks the river came the 5♣ . Both players would check a third time on the 5♣ river and the cards went on their backs.

Boeree: A♥ A♦
Broom: 10♥ 10♦

“Horrible” Boeree said referring to the board runout.

“I thought you had aces” Broom said as the pot was shipped Boeree’s way.

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1:30pm: Full houses
Level 13: Blinds 1,200-2,400 (400)

Jarred Graham and Derek Wolters have just collided in a massive pot, but the end result didn’t harm either player.

We arrived on a flop of Q♦ Q♠ 7♠ to see Graham bet out 5,000 before Wolters raised to 18,000. Graham quickly called and the 6♥ appeared on the turn. Graham checked and called when Wolters bet 30,000 as a big pot was already in the middle when the A♠ fell on the river.

Graham checked again and Wolters cut down chips before sliding 75,000 into the middle. Graham responded by moving all in for a little more and Wolters wasted no time in calling with A♣ Q♣ for a full house, but Graham tabled A♥ Q♥ for the very same hand.

Wolters is sitting on 205,000 with Graham on 140,000.

1:20pm: Kitty gets the best of former champ
Level 13: Blinds 1,200-2,400 (400)

We arrived to see the board spread out 10♠ 5♥ 6♥ K♣ 7♠ and Kitty Kuo betting 34,000 into 2014 Aussie Millions champ Ami Barer.

Barer was torn over what to do and he shot Kuo a sideways glance.

“I like you, you know that” Kuo told him. “You don’t need to win this one. You win the next one.”

Barer smiled and went back into the tank. He gave it some further thought but in the end he folded his hand, prompting Mustapha Kanit to chime in.

“I call with jack high here for sure!” Kanit blurted out standing from his seat. “Maybe not jack high. Deuces I call. She would need a gun for me not to call.”

The table laughed as Kuo collected the pot bringing her stack to around 295,000.

1:00pm: Abernathy flush with chips
Level 13: Blinds 1,200-2,400 (400)

Samantha Abernathy opened with a raise from the cutoff to 5,500. Her opponent was Joe Sandaev who raised to 13,500 on the button. Action passed back to Abernathy who made the call and they took a saw a flop of 8♠ 3♦ 5♠ .

Abernathy checked and Sandaev bet 14,000. Abernathy made the call and the turn produced the K♦ . Again the action was check-bet-call, this time for 28,000.

The river was the 4♦ and Abernathy thought for a moment before checking for a third time. This time Sandaev checked behind, much to the annoyance of Abernathy who flipped over a deceptive flush with her Q♦ 10♦ .

Sandaev breathed a sigh of relief and mucked as Abernathy took down the pot with a smile to climb to 320,000.

12:45pm: Gruissem KOs one
Level 13: Blinds 1,200-2,400 (400)

Phillip Gruissem is off to a great start after eliminating an opponent in the first orbit of play.

The player raised to 5,200 from under the gun plus one and it folded around to Gruissem in the big blind. The German asked to see his opponent’s stack and then considered his options.

Gruissem decided to put the other player all in, tossing in a stack of 5,000 denomination chips to cover his competitor’s 31,000 stack. The player snapped it off to put himself at risk and the cards went on their backs.

Gruissem: K♥ 10♠
Opponent: A♠ J♣

The player had a good shot at doubling up and he managed to avoid danger on the 2♥ 3♥ 2♥ flop. The K♠ turn, however, paired Gruissem and the 5♣ river bricked off to see his pair of kings hold.

The player exited the tournament area as Gruissem climbed to just shy of 300,000.

12:30pm: Cards in the air on Day 3
Level 13: Blinds 1,200-2,400 (400)

We’re back in the Crown Poker Room for Day 3 of the 2016 Aussie Millions Main Event. 150 players have returned to continue their battle, with just 80 of those set to be rewarded with a profit. The bubble is set to burst today and by the end of the day we will have a pretty good idea of our contenders for the Aussie Millions title.

Joel Williams has given final instructions to the players and the cards are now back in the air. We’ll be playing seven 90-minute levels today with a dinner break, which will see play wrap up at 1:30am this evening.

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Take a look at the Aussie Millions official website for tournament schedules, structures, news and information from the Crown Poker Room in Melbourne.

Live updates brought to you courtesy of Brad Kain and Heath Chick. Photos by Jonno Pittock and Christian Zetzsche.

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