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Day 4 Seating Draw | Prize pool & Payouts

2016 Aussie Millions Final Table

Seat 1: Dylan Honeyman (Australia) – 885,000
Seat 2: Alex Lynskey (Australia) – 2,390,000
Seat 3: Tony Dunst (United States) – 5,990,000
Seat 4: Samantha Abernathy (United States) – 2,485,000
Seat 5: Ari Engel (Canada) – 8,155,000
Seat 6: Kitty Kuo (Chinese Taipei) – 1,005,000
Seat 7: John Apostolidis (Australia) – 960,000

2:10am: Bubble bursts! KC Wong eliminated in 8th
Level 26: Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000)

It took almost three hours here but the final table bubble has finally burst as KC Wong falls.

Wong raised to 105,000 under the gun and it folded to Ari Engel in the big blind. Engel pushed all in with more than enough to cover Wong who snapped it off for his tournament life.

Wong: 7♥ 7♦
Engel: A♣ 8♦

The rail pushed forward as the final table loomed. It was a fair fight preflop but the A♦ Q♣ Qâ™  flop left Wong in dire straits. Down to only two outs Wong couldn’t be saved on the 10â™  turn or 5♣ river.

Now the final table is set for Sunday. We’ll have a full wrap of the day coming soon!

2016 Aussie Millions KC Wong.jpg

2:00am: Wong doubles through Engel
Level 26: Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000)

Ari Engel brought it in for a button raise and KC Wong moved all in from the small blind. Engel took some time to consider but the spot but ultimately called it off.

Wong: A♥ J♥
Engel: A♦ 3♣

Railbirds and players from the other table rushed over to sweat the runout. The flop of J♣ Q♣ 3♥ saw both players spike a pair. Wong just needed to dodge a three repeating to double through. The deck obliged as the 10♣ turn and 2♥ river completed the board and Wong collected 1,200,000 in chips.

1:45pm: Play resumes with the clock paused
Level 26: Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000)

Players are back in their seats now and back to the action. As the hand for hand play has slowed the procession of hands dramatically, the tournament clock will be paused and players will continue on 25,000/50,000 (5,000) blinds until we reach the final table.


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1:30am: Another break

As the night drags on, our remaining 8 players have stepped away for another 15-minute break.

1:05am: Chip count update
Level 26: Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000)

Ari Engel: 6,550,000
Tony Dunst: 5,515,000
Alex Lynskey: 2,500,000
Samantha Abernathy: 2,470,000
Kitty Kuo: 1,730,000
KC Wong: 1,615,000
John Apostolidis: 990,000
Dylan Honeyman: 965,000

12:40am: Super slow-mo
Level 26: Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000)

As we tick into the early morning hours, and the 14th hour of the day’s play, the players are certainly starting to show some fatigue. There has been nothing to report over the last 40 minutes or so, with most hands relatively uneventful.

Of course with hand-for-hand play happening across the two tables, the hand rate per hour is also not exactly at an all-time high right about now.

Hopefully Jason Somerville is finding plenty to talk about on the live Twitch stream, because it seems like a true grind right about now.

Besides the bright lights and attention of the final table, this bubble is also worth an extra AU$50,000 so there’s plenty to play for!

12:10am: Queen Samantha
Level 26: Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000)

Over on the feature table, fan favourite Samantha Abernathy has landed a crucial double up through Tony Dunst.

Abernathy was all in preflop after three-betting with Q♦ Q♥ . Dunst had opened with a raise and then made the call with A♣ Q♠ . The board arrived 4♥ 8♥ J♦ 5♣ 3♥ which was safe for Abernathy to double through.

She’s now up to 3.4 million with Dunst slipping back to 4.5 million.

12:05am: Apostolidis avoids elimination
Level 26: Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000)

John Apostolidis was all in and at risk but managed to survive on the final table bubble.

The hand began when Alex Lynskey raised to 100,000 under the gun before Apostolidis moved all in for 390,000 from the button. It folded to KC Wong in the big blind and he went into the tank.

Wong leaned over to a tournament official and asked what happens if both players bust in the same hand. He was told whoever had more chips would receive the higher position and he went back to pondering the decision. In the end he threw his hand away as Lynskey’s screwed up his face.

“No! Why didn’t you save me?” Lynskey asked Wong jokingly, sensing that Apostolidis had a better hand.

Lynskey double checked the amount was only 390,000 and felt he was priced in to call.

Lynskey: A♦ 6♥
Apostolidis: A♠ 9♣

Lynskey was right as Apostolidis had him dominated. The latter faded danger on the Q♣ Q♠ K♣ 9♦ 10♠ runout and the shortstack scored himself a double up.

12:00am: Play Resumes
Level 26: Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000)

The final eight players are back with one more elimination required before our final table of seven is set! Ari Engel and Tony Dunst are the two clear chip leaders with about six million chips apiece.


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11:45pm: Break on the bubble

We’re still on the final table bubble and players have stepped away for a 15 minute break.

11:30pm: Engel takes one from Lynskey
Level 25: Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000)

The hand began when Alex Lynskey made an under the gun raise to 90,000. Ari Engel came along from the small blind and KC Wong peeled from the big blind.

They saw a flop of 8♦ 4♣ 9♠ and when it was checked to him Lynskey continued for 120,000. Engel called while Wong got out of the way and the 5♣ arrived on the turn.

It was then that Engel took the betting lead, firing for 165,000. The bet was met with a call and the J♣ landed on the river. Engel barrelled one more time for 265,000 and Lynskey released his hand.

Engel remains the current chip leader climbing to 6,900,000.

11:10pm: Action grinds to a halt on final table bubble
Level 25: Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000)

Well we’re officially on our final table of seven bubble and players seemed to have slowed down dramatically in a bid to ensure a final table finish.

Shortstack John Apostolidis has very inactive recently but he did just get two all-in shoves through. The first one of which was folded to Alex Lynskey in the big blind and while the railbirds hoped for a call to sweat a potential final table bubble burst, Lynskey turned over two three offsuit and tossed it in the muck.

Our final eight players are currently spilt over two tables and the action is hand for hand.

10:45pm: Kings no good for Ko; eliminated 9th
Level 25: Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000)

Ari Engel has been running over the secondary table and he just eliminated our 9th place finisher Yuki Ko.

It folded to Engel on the button and he raised it up to 90,000. Ko bumped it up to 315,000 to go from the big blind and Engel made the smooth call. The flop came 9♥ 2♦ 5♣ .

Ko led for 320,000 and after some time Engel cut out the chips to make a call. The 10♦ arrived on the turn and Ko gave his decision considerable thought before betting 655,000, leaving himself only 750,000 behind. Engel tanked briefly before announcing himself all in, a bet that Ko quickly called.

Ko: K♥ K♣
Engel: A♣ A♦

Ko was desperately searching for a king to stay alive but the 6♦ river meant his tournament dreams were dashed.

“Nice hand” Ko conceded while tapping the table.

He laughed and hugged a friend on the rail, clearly still in good spirits despite the bust out.

2016 Aussie Millions Yuki Ko.jpg

10:30pm: Bobby bows out in 10th spot
Level 25: Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000)

Lucky ladies for Bobby Zhang proved to be quite the opposite with only two tables remaining here. He was just eliminated holding pocket queens by the ace ten of Yuki Ko.

The hand began when KC Wong opened to 90,000 from the cutoff before Ko moved all in on the button. Zhang woke up in the big blind and made the call for his last 900,000 while Wong got out of the way.

Zhang: Q♥ Q♦
Ko: A♦ 10♠

Zhang was in good shape to score a double and the low 5♦ 7♥ 2♥ flop was a welcome sight. The A♥ turn however was a huge blow and while he could still catch a heart or a queen to stay alive, the Jâ™  river couldn’t save him.

Zhang leaves us in 10th place while Ko stacks up to 2,100,000.

2016 Aussie Millions Bobby Zhang.jpg

10:10pm: Play Resumes
Level 25: Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000)

The players are back in their seats and ready to battle for their spot on the Aussie Millions final table. We need to lose three more players tonight before our final table of seven is set!

Tony Dunst maintains his chip lead with around 4.8 million, ahead of Ari Engel with 3.7 million and Kitty Kuo with 3 million.


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9:55pm: Break time!

The final ten players are now taking another scheduled fifteen-minute break.

9:45pm: Engel takes more from Ko
Level 24: Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000)

Ari Engel and Yuki Ko have tangled once again as the Japanese player seems to want to fight back against the aggression of Engel.

Picking up the action on a flop of 8♣ 2♣ 3♠ , Ko check-called for 80,000 before the 9♠ appeared on the turn. Ko checked again and Engel released another bet, this time worth 155,000. Ko deliberated for some time before making the call as the 6♠ landed on the river.

Ko checked and Engel barrelled for a third time for the amount of 220,000. Ko went deep into the tank over the decision. It looked like he really wanted to call, but with a stack of just over one million, he decided to let it go.

Engel’s dominance continues on the outer table as he’s now up to 3.6 million in chips.

9:35pm: Lynskey back in action
Level 24: Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000)

Alex Lynskey was fast becoming one of our shortstacks after some bad luck in the last couple of levels, but things seem to have turned for the Australian young gun after a recent hand.

Lynskey was all in and at risk for his tournament life against overwhelming chip leader Tony Dunst and needed a bit of luck to stay at the table.

Lynskey: A♠ Q♣
Dunst: A♣ K♣

He was dominated but Lynskey found a queen on the flop of 8♥ Q♥ J♦ . Dunst could still spike a king for a higher pair of a ten to make Broadway but the 6♠ turn and J♥ river would see Lynskey come through with the double up back to 2,000,000.

Dunst dropped down to 4,600,000 but still holds the lead here.

9:15pm: Engel recovers
Level 24: Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000)

Ari Engel opened with a raise to 70,000 and picked up calls from Yuki Ko and Bobby Zhang to see a three-way flop of 3♣ 6♥ J♦ .

Zhang checked it to Engel who continued for 90,000. That was enough to get a fold from Ko, but Zhang wasn’t going away so easy as he check-raised to 240,000. Engel made the call.

On the 4♥ turn Zhang checked to Engel who bet 255,000. Zhang thought for a few moments and matched the bet as a big pot was in the middle to see the 8♦ complete the board.

Zhang checked and Engel was happy to check behind and table J♥ 10♥ for top pair. That was enough as Zhang mucked.

It’s been a nice comeback from Engel after that earlier blow as he has now chipped up to 2.9 million in chips.

ari-engel-aussie-millions2.jpg

8:45pm: Zip for Zhang
Level 24: Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000)

Cankai Zhang has been eliminated from the feature table and will take home $120,000 for his 12th place finish.

Zhang’s final hand came when he three-bet all in from the small blind holding pocket tens. Tony Dunst had opened from the button and had no hesitation in making the call with his pocket aces.

The board ran out Q♣ 8â™  6♥ 6♣ J♥ to leave Zhang to head to the cashier to collect his winnings. Meanwhile the Dunst empire continues to grow as he’s now up over five million in chips.

8:35pm: Wong fills up to stay alive
Level 24: Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000)

It hasn’t taken long after the break for fireworks to erupt on the secondary table in a massive clash between Ari Engel and KC Wong.

Picking it up on a flop of 10♣ J♥ 9â™  , Engel checked to Wong who bet 105,000. Engel responded with a check-raise of another 175,000 on top but Wong wasn’t going anywhere as he moved all in. Engel snap-called and suddenly there was over 2.5 million chips in the middle!

Engel tabled K♦ Q♦ for the nut straight as Wong threw his head back in dismay as he revealed 10♠ 10♦ for a set.

Wong would need to pair the board to stay alive. The 8♠ was a blank but the river was the 9♦ to give Wong a full house for the huge double up to about 2.5 million with Engel reeling but still in good shape with 1.55 million.

8:25pm: Play resumes
Level 24: Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000)

Our final 12 are back in their seats and ready to play. Here’s where they’re sitting and where they stand in the chip counts.

Feature Table:
Seat 1: Kitty Kuo – 3,024,000
Seat 2: Alex Lynskey – 1,118,000
Seat 3: Tony Dunst – 4,326,000
Seat 4: Cankai Zhang – 767,000
Seat 5: Samantha Abernathy – 1,020,000
Seat 6: Dylan Honeyman – 2,479,000

Secondary Table:
Seat 1: James Obst – 301,000
Seat 2: John Apostolidis – 576,000
Seat 3: Bobby Zhang – 1,922,000
Seat 4: Ari Engel – 3,049,000
Seat 5: KC Wong – 1,325,000
Seat 6: Yuki Ko – 1,695,000

chips-aussie-millions.jpg


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7:40pm: Time for dinner

The 12 remaining players have just commenced their 45-minute dinner break. We’ll be back after that to play down to our final table of seven!

7:40pm: Obst’s dinner break steal backfires
Level 23: Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000)

Just as everyone was trying to scamper away to the dinner break, James Obst had other ideas. Obst opened from the button with a raise holding Jâ™  10â™  but Bobby Zhang came back with a three-bet from the big blind. That didn’t worry Obst who responded by declaring himself all in but Zhang made the call and showed J♥ J♦ .

Obst would need to find some help but it didn’t arrive on the board of 4♣ 3♦ 9♦ A♦ 9♣ . Zhang’s stack of 943,000 was doubled, leaving Obst with less than 300,000 and a sour taste in his mouth heading off to dinner.

7:20pm: Engel rising as Monaghan falls
Level 23: Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000)

It’s been a good couple of minutes for Ari Engel on the secondary feature table with two big pots going his way recently.

In the first hand, Bobby Zhang raised to 55,000 before Engel three-bet to 168,000 on the button. Zhang came back with a four-bet to 399,000 but Engel moved all in to get a quick fold from Zheng.

Two hands later, Engel was in the big blind and facing a raise from Adam Monaghan. Engel moved all in with A♦ 5♠ but Monaghan called off his last 500,000 or so and tabled 10♠ 10♦ .

An ace in the window was not what Monaghan wanted to see and it didn’t get any better for the Aussie on the board of K♦ 8â™  A♥ K♥ 9♥ . Monaghan takes 13th place as Engel is now up to 3.2 million and one of the tournament chip leaders.

The clock has been paused as the players will now break a table to form the final two tables of the tournament.

7:00pm: Koren can’t hold on
Level 23: Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000)

Artur Koren has just been eliminated in 14th place at the hands of Adam Monaghan.

Koren had found himself severely shortstacked after a recent pot against Ari Engel and in the hand that saw his demise, it folded to him in the small blind. Koren moved in for his last 160,000 and was called by Monaghan in the big blind.

Koren: A♦ 2♥
Monaghan: 10♦ 7♦

Koren was in front and faded danger through the 5♥ 5♠ 2♦ flop. The Q♦ was also safe but the 10♥ landed on the river to shatter his Aussie Millions dream.

He will have to be content with an $85,000 payday.

6:45pm: The ship sails for Habb
Level 23: Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000)

The run of Mikel “Ship it to Papa” Habb has come to an end in 15th place.

The room stopped what they were doing when Habb started yelling “C’MON” at the top of his lungs over on the feature table. Habb was all in with pocket kings against the pocket sixes of Samantha Abernathy.

Habb was in great shape to double up and continue his journey in the Main Event. He rose to his feet and pointed to the sky as the flop landed Qâ™  9♥ 10â™  . Nothing changed on the 10♥ turn but Habb’s heart was broken when the two-outer 6â™  appeared on the river.

Habb shook the hands of the table and left the stage to collect $85,000 in prize money as Abernathy is now back in business with over one million in chips.

6:30pm: Lechich leaves as Kitty claws her way to the top
Level 23: Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000)

We just witnessed a monster pot here that saw a preflop three-way all in between a shortstack and two of our chip leaders.

Tino Lechich kicked things off with an all-in move for 349,000 before Kitty Kuo called from the small blind. It was then on Alex Lynskey in the big and he came over the top with enough to KO Kuo. She tanked for a bit but ended up throwing in a call and players tabled their cards in what was the biggest pot of the tournament so far.

Lynksey: K♠ K♥
Kuo: A♦ K♠
Lechich: A♦ Q♥

Kuo needed an ace for a massive double up and Lechich needed a miracle to stay in the tournament. The 2♦ 9♣ 3â™  flop didn’t change much and neither did the Jâ™  turn. Lechich was already drawing dead and Kuo was down to two outs. The river A♥ was her saving grace however stopping Lynskey from scoring the double knock out and owning a quarter of the chips in play.

Instead Kuo climbed to around 3,500,000 while Lynskey was knocked down to 1,450,000 and Lechich hit the rail.

“Exactly the same as last year” Lynskey said, referring to his ninth place elimination in this very event in 2015 after a bad beat against James Rann saw him crippled.

kitty-kuo-aussie-millions2.jpg

6:15pm: Dunst dominating
Level 23: Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000)

Tony Dunst has been running rampant over on Table 31, and now he’s shot even further in front after the elimination of Derek Wolters.

Dunst opened with a raise to 55,000 before Wolters three-bet to 150,000 on the button. Action folded back to Dunst who four-bet to 375,000. With a stack of about 1.2 million in total, Wolters moved all in. Dunst took a glance and gave a nod acknowledging a call.

Wolters showed J♣ J♦ but that was topped by Dunst’s Qâ™  Q♥ . Dunst improved further on the Q♣ 2♦ 10♣ flop, and it was all over by the 4â™  turn. The meaningless K♣ completed the board to leave Wolters to depart in 17th place for $85,000.

Dunst is now up close to four million in chips for a big lead over the final sixteen players.

tony-dunst-aussie-millions.jpg

6:05pm: Feature table swapped out
Level 23: Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000)

While the break was the feature table was swapped out and is anticipated to give viewers off the stream a much more entertaining experience.

One man getting a lot of attention is the loud and excited local Mikel Habb.

With his catch phrase “Ship it to papa!” we expect he’ll be an internet sensation by this time tomorrow.

Also at the table are Kitty Kuo, Alex Lynskey, Tino Lechich, Samantha Abernathy and Dylan Honeyman.

6:00pm: Play resumes
Level 23: Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000)


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5:40pm: Let’s take a breaK

The remaining 17 players have just stepped away from the tables for a 15 minute break.

5:20pm: Kitty gets caught
Level 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000)

Kitty Kuo raised it up to 50,000 before Alex Lynskey three-bet to 130,000 next to speak. The table folded back around to Kuo who made the call.

The flop of 4♣ 2♣ Q♠ was checked before Kuo led out for 85,000 on the 4♦ turn.

The river produced the K♥ and Kuo played around with her chips for a few moments before deciding that 153,000 was the right number.

Apparently it wasn’t the right number afterall as Lynskey snap-called. Kuo tossed her cards straight into the muck in resignation to hand the pot to Lynskey.

Kuo has dropped to 1.4 million as Lynskey is now a clear chip leader with 2.5 million.

5:00pm: Samantha survives
Level 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000)

Samantha Abernathy is still fighting on in the Aussie Millions Main Event thanks to a recent double up through Kitty Kuo.

With a stack of 246,000, Abernathy moved all in from the button and Kuo made the call in the big blind. Kuo showed K♦ 10â™  but she was dominated by Abernathy’s A♥ 10♥ .

Kuo was well behind but soon found herself drawing dead after the A♠ A♦ 6♥ flop. The 4♠ turn and 3♦ river completed the board to give Abernathy some life with a workable stack of over 500,000. Kuo is still sitting pretty as one of our chip leaders with around 1.7 million.

samantha-abernathy-aussie-millions3.jpg

4:45pm: Lynskey deals a huge blow to Abernathy
Level 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000)

Alex Lynskey is our new chip leader after raking a huge pot from Samantha Abernathy.

Lynskey raised to 40,000 from the hijack before Abernathy clicked it back to 85,000 in the small blind. Lynskey peeled to see a flop of K♣ 10♥ 6♦ .

Abernathy continued for 95,000 and Lynskey made the call before the A♦ turn card arrived. Another 225,000 from Abernathy was met with a call and players saw the 3♦ river.

Abernathy moved in with enough to cover Lynskey’s 751,000 behind and he snapped it off with [ksd]9♦ for the backdoor nut flush. Abernathy’s A♥ A♣ for turned top set had been cracked and she took a huge hit, dropping down to 215,000 in chips.

Lynskey eclipses Kitty Kuo as our new chip leader with 2,350,000.

4:25pm: Honeyman eliminates Michael
Level 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000)

The eliminations continue to flow here on Day 4 of the Aussie Millions Main Event with Andrew Michael the latest to fall.

In a battle of the blinds, Michael moved all in for 341,000 with Dylan Honeyman making the call in the big blind. Michael had a real hand with his J♣ Jâ™  a favourite over Honeyman’s A♦ 10♦ but the board brought a change in that as it landed A♣ 4â™  5♦ 3â™  8â™  . Honeyman paired his ace for the knockout blow.

Michael was eliminated in 20th place for a cash of AU$60,000 in prize money.

4:20pm: Miller coolered out of the tournament
Level 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000)

The board read 9♥ K♦ 3♦ K♥ and Thomas Miller was all in for 299,000 and called by Bobby Zhang.

Miller: A♥ K♣
Zhang: 9♣ 9♦

Miller had trip kings with the ace kicker but he was in trouble against the nines full of Zhang. Still with outs to a higher full house, Miller couldn’t find one on the J♥ river to see him eliminated.

2016 Aussie Millions Day Thomas Miller.jpg

4:15: Ship it to Papa!
Level 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000)

“SHIP IT TO PAPA!!!” came the cry from Mikel Habb after scoring a much-needed double up against Tino Lechich.

With a stack of 119,000, Habb moved all in from the small blind with A♥ Q♣ and Lechich made the call with A♣ 8♣ .

Lechich would need an eight or some clubs to knock out the Crown Poker regular who stood away from the table and couldn’t watch as the community cards were spread J♦ J♣ Kâ™  2♥ 5♥ .

Habb doubled to 250,000 with Lechich slipping to 520,000.

4:10: Play resumes
Level 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000)


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3:55pm: Scheduled break

The players have stepped away for another 15 minute break. Coverage will resume momentarily.

3:50pm: Engel takes out Wang
Level 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000)

Ari Engel continues to build with the Canadian just eliminating Michael Wang.

The money went all in preflop with Wang’s 4â™  4♥ in trouble against Engel’s 6♥ 6♦ .

The 2♦ 6♣ 2♥ flop all but sealed Wang’s fate with Engle flopping sixes full and leaving his opponent needing running cards to stay in the tournament.

The Jâ™  turn and 5â™  river weren’t enough to save Wang and he headed to the payout desk.

3:35pm: Set over set crushes Aydogan
Level 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000)

Sinan Aydogan opened with a raise to 35,000 before KC Wong three-bet to 90,000 on the button. Aydogan made the call and they saw a flop of 7â™  4♣ Qâ™  . That’s when the fireworks erupted.

Aydogan checked and Wong bet 80,000. Aydogan responded with a check-raise all in for almost 500,000, but Wong snap-called and tabled Q♣ Q♥ . Aydogan couldn’t believe it as he showed 7♥ 7♣ for middle set in the ultimate cooler!

Aydogan would need the case seven to stay alive but the 6♥ turn and 10♦ river completed the board.

It was a brutal elimination for Aydogan who departed in 24th place for $60,000 in prize money.

3:20pm: Wolters wins one with a great call
Level 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000)

Derek Wolters just picked off a big river bluff from Artur Koren in a recent hand.

With the board reading 4â™  6♦ 7♥ 9♦ A♣ Koren slid out a sizable 350,000 in chips. Wolters thought about it momentarily and committed the chips to see he’d made the right play.

Koren: Q♦ 10♠
Wolters: J♣ J♦

Wolters hung on with the jacks despite the overcard on the river and was heavily rewarded. He climbs to 1,500,000 in chips while Koren was left shaking his head and knocked down to 230,000.

2:55pm: Bustouts all around the room
Level 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000)

Simultaneous eliminations around the tournament room have brought our field down to the final five tables.

As Jessica Dawley was departing the feature table, Xingrong Ren was eliminated from an outer table when his J♦ 10♥ was topped by Samantha Abernathy’s A♦ 7♣ . Abernathy had limped from the small blind before Ren announced himself all in for 262,000. Abernathy made the call and her hand held through the board of 3♦ Q♣ 3♣ A♥ 10♦ .

A short-stacked Alex Lee was also sent to the rail. He was all in preflop with his 9♣ 8♠ against the A♦ 4♦ of Kitty Kuo. A double-paired board offered no help to Lee and he was sent to the exit.

While that was all going down Ari Engel was deep in the tank in a huge hand against John Chu. We picked it up on the turn with Jack O’Neill betting 48,000 on a board of 7♥ 3♣ 10♣ 3â™  . Engel called on the button before Chu moved all in for 368,000. O’Neill folded but Engel had a huge decision.

After plenty of talking to himself and a good ten minutes of think time (all while the other tables were waiting for the table to break), Engel finally announced a call. He showed 8♦ 10â™  for top pair and that was marginally ahead of Chu’s J♣ 9♣ combo draw.

The river bricked the 4â™  and Chu made a hasty escape as Engel broke to the feature table with a very healthy stack of 1.15 million chips.

ari-engel-aussie-millions.jpg

2:40pm: One falls from the feature table
Level 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000)

*Spoiler alert for the livestream!*

If you’re checking the blog here while watching the livestream and don’t want spoilers, avert your eyes for this post.

Jessica Dawley has just been eliminated after getting her shortstack all in preflop against Thomas Miller.

Dawley: A♦ 10♥
Miller: K♥ K♣

Dawley was in trouble and chasing an ace to stay alive. The board wouldn’t cooperate however as the K♦ 7â™  4â™  7♥ 8♥ runout gave Miller kings full.

Dawley leaves us in 31st place and collects $30,000 for her efforts.

2:25: Play resumes
Level 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000)


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2:10pm: Break time
The players are now taking their first fifteen-minute break of the day. 33 plays remain.

2:00pm: Dawley dominated
Level 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000)

Jessica Dawley has enjoyed some good air time on the feature table in this event. She was on a tough table yesterday but got through successfully and today she’s back to give her fans more action via the live stream.

However she’s just taken a big hit that has left her tournament hanging by a thread.

Due to our limited access of the stage, we’re not sure of the action, but Thomas Miller was all in preflop for his last 365,000 with Aâ™  Q♣ against Dawley’s dominated A♥ 10♥ .

The board ran out 2♣ 3♦ 7♠ J♠ 5♦ which was no help to Dawley. Miller doubled up to almost 750,000 with Dawley left with just 70,000 in change.

2:00pm: Habb gets two through
Level 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000)

The always animated Mikel Habb is chipping up after getting two three-bet preflop jams through.

The first saw Habb shove for 141,000 over an opponent’s button raise to 30,000 before he began clapping above his head.

“Come on brother!” shouted a supporter on the rail.

His opponent was in the tank with one hand on his head and the other spinning his card protector.

He eventually folded before an outburst from Habb.

“Come on!” he cried and flashed the A♥ .

The second hand saw Habb with all his chips in the middle again.

“Come on let’s do this!” he shouted to the rail that had gathered around.

Once again his opponent folded and Habb flipped over the Aâ™  .

“For you, for you, for you, let’s do it!”

With those two hands Habb brings his stack up to 300,000.

1:40pm: Heater for Honeyman; Blanch busts
Level 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000)

Aaron Blanch moved all in preflop for his last 121,000 in chips and was called by Dylan Honeyman.

Blanch: A♣ 9♣
Honeyman: A♥ A♦

Honeyman had woken up with aces and Blanch needed a lot of help. Then 3♥ J♣ 6♥ flop didn’t bring much and the Jâ™  paired the board to signal Blanch was drawing dead. The J♥ river made it official and he was eliminated.

“Nice. Thanks guys” Blanch said before shaking tablemate Andrew Bassat’s hand and exiting the tournament area.

Honeyman took a small hit since eliminating Reynolds so still sits with around 1,000,000.

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1:35pm: Bassat lands a big double up
Level 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000)

Joe Sandaev opened with a raise to 26,000 from the cutoff and action moved to Andrew Bassat in the small blind who announced himself all in for a total of 291,000. Sandaev gave it some consideration before declaring a call.

Sandaev showed J♥ J♣ but he was notched by the Q♣ Q♠ of Bassat.

The board ran out A♦ 10♥ 3♦ A♥ Aâ™  which was safe for Bassat to double through. He’s now up over 600,000 with Sandaev slipping to 220,000.

1:20pm: Honeyman bounces Reynolds; Redraw to six-handed
Level 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000)

Dylan Honeyman and Adam Reynolds both picked up monster hands but Honeyman’s was good enough to eliminate Reynolds in 37th place.

Honeyman raised preflop to 26,000 before Reynolds put in a three-bet to 66,000 on the button. A smooth call from Honeyman brought a flop of 6♠ 10♠ J♣ .

Honeyman checked and when Reynolds continued for 78,000, Honeyman moved all in with enough to cover his opponent’s 280,000 stack. Reynolds made the call and players turned up their hands.

Honeyman: K♠ K♥
Reynolds: Q♠ Q♥

Reynolds needed a queen or running straight cards to avoid elimination but he couldn’t do it as the A♦ turn and J♦ river completed the board. The knock out brings Honeyman’s stack to the 1,000,000 mark.

That means we’re now down to 36 players and will redraw to six-handed tables until our final table of seven.

1:10pm: Lucky doubles
Level 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000)

Bobby Zhang opened with a raise to 28,000 before Thomas Miller moved all in for a total of 161,000. Folded back to Zhang and he made the call with A♣ K♥ to have Miller in trouble with his A♥ J♥ .

However Miller found life when the board fell 8♥ 8♦ J♠ 5♦ 3♣ , pairing his kicker for the double up.
Miller is now up to 350,000 and back in business while Zhang takes a hit to now be on 650,000.

Meanwhile over on the feature table Derek Wolters has also had some good fortune to stay alive. Wolters was all in with pocket nines against the pocket tens of Arthur Koren, however a third nine on the flop kept him alive in the tournament. Wolters doubled up to nearly 400,000.

12:50pm: Dawley doubles Shaikh then sends him packing
Level 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000)

Adeel Shaikh just clashed with Jessica Dawley in back to back hands, and while he got the best of her in the first one, the second saw him leaving the tournament area.

Shaikh found himself all in and at risk preflop in the first one with ace king, in good shape for a double up against Dawley’s ace nine.

The K♣ 3♦ A♣ saw Shaikh improve to top two pair and Dawley drawing slim to eliminate him. The turn 3♠ rolled off meaning a third three would chop the pot.

“Three, three, three” Dawley called for but the J♥ river meant she would send 82,000 Shaikh’s way.

The very next hand the two were at it again. All the money was in and the board read 10♦ A♥ 7♣ when we arrived at the table and players had their hands face up.

Shaikh: A♠ Q♥
Dawley: 10♠ 10♣

This time it was Shaikh drawing slim with top pair against Dawley’s set. He would need to find a runner-runner to keep his tournament dream alive.

The Q♦ turn gave him a glimmer of hope with four outs to a full house but the 8♥ didn’t deliver as Shaikh was sent packing. That rollercoaster couple of hands sees Dawley now on 575,000 in chips.

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12:35pm: Soucek eliminated in first hand of the day
Level 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000)

The Czech Republic’s Lucas Soucek found an early exit here today, leaving the tournament almost as soon as he sat down.

Alex Lynskey raised to 25,000 from the cutoff before Soucek jammed all in from the button for just shy of 160,000. John Apostolidis rejammed from the big blind for 559,000 and Lynskey got out of the way.

Soucek: 4♠ 4♣
Apostolidis: Q♠ Q♥

Soucek was chasing a four to stay alive but he couldn’t find one on the 10♣ 7♣ 7♦ 6♥ 3â™  run out.

“I didn’t want to go home on the first hand. Sorry” Apostolidis said to Soucek before addressing the dealer. “Why did you give me queens? He could’ve had kings.”

Soucek makes his way to the payout desk while Apostolidis collects the pot and climbs to 760,000.

12:30pm: Day 4 begins!

It’s time again for players to take their seats in this year’s Aussie Millions Main Event. A field of 732 began here but now only 40 still have a shot at winning $1,600,000 and the prestigious title.

Unlike previous days we don’t have a set finishing time today. The action will come to a halt when we make our way to a seven-handed final table.

Tournament Director Joel Williams has just taken to the microphone to remind players that when we reach 36 there will be redraw to six-handed tables. It looks like most of the players have taken their seats and things will begin momentarily.

Who will navigate their way to the final seven here on Day 4? Stay with us to find out!

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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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