Thursday, 28th March 2024 09:34
Home / Uncategorized / APPT Sydney: You say hello, I say goodbye

Hand number one, elimination number one. No, we’re not kidding. The money went on the turn between local player Martin Comer and Moe Toaube, with Comer showing pocket queens against Ad-7d. Comer was already in strife with the board showing 4c-7s-2s-7h, then the Ks had him headed for the rail before some players had even taken their seats!

A quick scour of the floor has revealed an ultra-impressive line-up of starters, including seasoned Aussie pros Jeff Lisandro (WSOP seven-card stud bracelet winner in 2007), Jamie Pickering (runner-up in the $1500 PLO event at this year’s WSOP), Mark Vos (2006 WSOP $2000 No Limit Hold’em bracelet winner), Gary Benson (the first Australian to win a WSOP bracelet, in 1996), Billy ‘The Croc’ Argyros, Sam Youssef, Graeme ‘Kiwi G’ Putt, Dennis Huntly and Richard Holmes.

The reputation of Mark Vos certainly precedes – his tablemates groaned in anguish when the gregarious South African-born Aussie took his seat. Wonder how long before Vos tests out the rule named in his honour at this year’s WSOP where his massive main event chip stack threatened to topple over on several occasions.

The younger Aussie brigade is represented by Haibo Chu (2006 Melbourne champion), top ranked local online player Jonathan xMONSTERxDONGx Karamalikis and Marlon Goonawardana (winner of the $1500 bounty event at the 2008 Aussie Millions).

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A family affair for Eric Assadourian

Yesterday we had the girlfriend of Eric Assadourian, Lizzie Clarke, in the field – today it is Eric’s father Assadour who we’ll be keeping watch over. Assadour cashed at the APPT Auckland main event, how would it be to have father and son at the final table here on Sunday!

With entries still open for day 1B, already 170 players have taken their seats, taking the total entry close to 300 as we greedily eye last year’s figure of 561 players.

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