Sunday, January 31, 2016

UKIPT5 Series 3 Day 2: Level 13-18 updates (4,000 - 8,000, 1,000 ante)
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We're in the money! 33 players remain and you can see the current chip counts right here.

3:20pm: New chip in town
Level 16, Blinds 3,000-6,000(1,000 ante)

A 25K chip was introduced at the break, it's a lovely yellow colour making it stand out from the red and blue chips that are also in play.

3:05pm: Out, but in the money
Level 16, Blinds 3,000-6,000(1,000 ante)

We're down to just 35 players now with the average stack at 200,500. The latest in the money finishers are: Seb Parsons (41st), Carlos Del Vigo Gonzalez (40th), Leslie Rycroft (39th), Pradyumna Chand (38th), John O'Donnell (37th) and Daiva Barauskaite (36th).

Parsons and Gonzalez min-cashed for £480, whilst the others picked up £540.

UKIPT5_Series3_day2_Daiva_Barauskaite.jpg

Daiva Barauskaite

2:50pm: A few chip counts
Level 16, Blinds 3,000-6,000(1,000 ante)

Here are a few chip counts from around the room:

Chris Gordon - 120,000
Daiva Barauskaite - 58,000
Vincent Moses - 240,000
Timothy Timotheou - 275,000
Dean Perry - 93,000
William Funnell - 52,000

2:40pm: First in the money finishers
Level 16, Blinds 3,000-6,000(1,000 ante)

We've already had six in the money finishers in the opening 15 minutes of this level: Francis Hazelwood (47th), Tingjun Ye (46th), Robbie O'Brien (45th), David Buckley (44th), George Evans (43rd) and Mike Lee (42nd) have all cashed for £480.

2:30pm: Chips
Level 16, Blinds 3,000-6,000(1,000 ante)

We've just updated the chip counts page. It's Jay Samani - who burst the bubble - who leads with 570,000.

2:06pm: Break time
Level 16, Blinds 2,500-5,000(500 ante)

Right. Time to get our breath back. The players are on a 20 minute break.

2:05pm: Shane D'Moirah bubbles the UKIPT Series; O'Brien survives all in on same hand
Level 16, Blinds 2,500-5,000(500 ante)

Almost a double bubble here but Shane D'Moirah is the last player to leave empty handed but there were two all ins on different tables at the same time.

The first involved Robbie O'Brien, who with just 3,500 was forced all in from the big blind. Andrew King raised to 12,000 from early position and everyone else folded to leave them to it. They then had to wait an age for showdown as a big pot involving D'Moirah was brewing on another table.

UKIPT5_Series3_day2_robbie_o'brien.jpg

Robbie O'Brien waits for his showdown

In that hand Elliot Panyi opened to 12,500, D'Moirah smooth called and Jay Samani then three-bet to 35,700 from the button. Panyi folded but D'Moirah called. On the [9s][Ad][7d] flop Samani c-bet 41,100 and D'Moirah check-called. The [8h] fell on the turn and D'Moirah moved all in for around 110,000 and Samani snap called.

Back to O'Brien's table as his showdown was first. He was all-in with [Jc][2c] and King held [Kc][8c] the [Jh][2s][Ad][7c][Js] board meant O'Brien made a full house to survive. The pressure was now on D'Moirah.

Samani was first to show, he had [Ac][Th] but was behind to D'Moirah's [9c][8c], which had turned two pair. "I've never wanted to bust someone so much," said Samani. The dealer then revealed the river card which was the [Td].

D'Moirah took the beat incredibly well and shook Samani's hand before leaving the table.

UKIPT5_Series3_day2_shane_d'moriah.jpg

Shane D'Moirah (standing - left) watches on as his fate is dealt

1:58pm: Parsons, Timotheou and Crossan survive, Rees exit takes us to the bubble
Level 16, Blinds 2,500-5,000(500 ante)

So much action!

First Seb Parsons moved all in for 28,500 with pocket kings. A fine hand but Vincent Moses had the only one that could beat him - pocket aces. The [Kh][8d][9h][8c][6s] board meant Parsons stayed alive.

So there were still 49 players left when Timothy Timotheou three-bet all-in for 113,200. The action had been opened by Robbie O'Brien, who'd been called in two spots before Timotheou shoved. O'Brien re-raised all in and everyone else folded.

O'Brien: [Jc][Jh]
Timotheou: [Kh][Kd]

The kings held on the [4d][Qc][2h][3d][9d] board and O'Brien was left with just 4,000 and he had just one hand until he'd be forced all-in from the big blind.

Meanwhile though John Crossan had three-bet shoved for 73,800 with [8s][8h] and got a call from Tingjun Ye, who held pocket fours. A [6d][2h][Kh][7d][6s] board meant Crossan also survived.

However, George Rees would not be so lucky his [Q][J] flopped best against Nicholas Case's [K][Q] but a king on the river sent him to the rail.

We're on the bubble.

1:50pm: Phil Baker is in!
Level 16, Blinds 2,500-5,000(500 ante)

Apologies to Phil Baker's mum. Earlier we reported that he was out when he is in fact very much in. Sorry Mrs Baker.

1:45pm: Almost bubble time
Level 16, Blinds 2,500-5,000(500 ante)

We're oh so close the bubble here. 50 players remain and 47 get paid. There's 16 minutes until the first break, will it burst before then?

1:40pm: Getting closer to the money
Level 16, Blinds 2,500-5,000(500 ante)

The bubble gets ever closer as: James Price, Pierre Khoury, Vimal Patel, Mark Hitchens, Daniel Bland, Bujar Rajta, Thomas Willoughby, Mia Liu, Stefanos Moysidis, John-Paul Santos, Dominic Wells. William Lewis, David Tompkins, Julian Daley and Maxim Syn have all been knocked out.

1:25pm: Vinnicombe vanquished by Tom Waterman
Level 15, Blinds 2,000-4,000(500 ante)

Tom Waterman is up to 160,000 after winning a race to eliminate James Vinnicombe. The short stack got it in good with pocket sixes against the [A][Q] of Waterman but an ace on the board sent him to the rail.

1:10pm: Lots of exits; 65 players left
Level 15, Blinds 2,000-4,000(500 ante)

Many exits to tell you about now. For fans of: Mirko Mostaccio, Leslie Lamnea, Tom Dickenson, Mark Jefferies, Onur Guven, Thomas Bloomfield, Rahim Tadj-Saadat, Rob Munro, Fernando Berlanga, Anthony Wickert, Karol Podsiadio, Chris Gilbert, Philip Marcu, Noel Broadbent, Stuart Bayford, Steven Mayne, Steve Goose, Justin Kyrakidas and Barry Warden it's bad news as they're all out.

65 players remain.

1pm: Huge double for Stoupis
Level 14, Blinds 1,500-3,000(300 ante)

Day 1A chip leader Samuel Orledge just took a big hit that in the process doubled Fotis Stoupis to almost 200,000.

Orledge opened to 6,600, Stoupis re-raised to 24,000, Orledge tanked and then moved all in and Stoupis snap called.

Orledge: [Ad][Jc]
Stoupis: [Ac][Ah]

The Greek player was all in for 95,800 and the aces held on the [7h][2h][7d][Jd][9d] board. Orledge had gained some chips today but drops back to around 105,000 as a result of that hand.

12:50pm: Funnell felts Taylor
Level 14, Blinds 1,500-3,000(300 ante)

Down to just 21,700 Simon Taylor moved all in from middle position for 21,700 and William Funnell - who was to his immediate left - re-raised all-in for about 50,000 and everyone else folded.

Funnell: [Qd][Qh]
Taylor: [8s][7s]

Both players stood as the [Kh][9d][7c][3c][Td] board came down and they shook hands as Taylor departed.

12:40pm: More fallers
Level 14, Blinds 1,500-3,000(300 ante)

There was no way back for Luke Cameron after he doubled up William Funnell (see 12:10pm post). He's one of the early fallers here on Day 2 and joins: Mark Williamson, David Barnes, Ricky Davies, John Lucarotti, Jamie Pugh, Andrea Scappazzoni, Chaminda Tennakoon, Rob Crawford and Joshua Varghese on the rail.

12:30pm: Ace double for Rees
Level 13, Blinds 1,200-2,400(300 ante)

In level one of this tournament George Rees caught lightning in a bottle when he made a royal flush. In level 13 he found aces to double up.

Shane D'Moriah opened from the hijack, Rees shoved for 38,500 from the cut-off and when it folded back to D'Moriah he called with pocket eights. The [3c][9h][Js][6d][Kc] board kept the aces in front and kept Rees in the tournament.

UKIPT5_Series3_day2_george_rees.jpg

Aces kept Rees in it

12:20pm: Exits
Level 13, Blinds 1,200-2,400(300 ante)

The start of Day 2 is usually carnage and in the opening 20 minutes 10 players have been eliminated. They include: Jeff Barron, Line Olsen, Carl Davies, Philip Baker and Adriano Soares.

12:10pm: Funnell gets chips
Level 13, Blinds 1,200-2,400(300 ante)

From early position John O'Donnell opened to 5,500, Luke Cameron then three-bet to 12,500 and action passed to William Funnell. He asked Cameron how much he was playing and then moved all-in for 28,800, That got rid of O'Donnell but Cameron thought for a bit before making the call.

Funnell: [As][Ac]
Cameron: [9h][9c]

The board came [Kd][2d][Ks][7h][7c] and Funnell more than doubled up to around 65,000 whilst Cameron is down to about 17,000.

"Were you thinking about folding?" asked Funnell.
"I was, but I was priced in," replied Cameron.

12:02pm: Action is go
Level 13, Blinds 1,200-2,400(300 ante)

Almost bang on time the action has started.

11:50am: The Series is about to get serious
The prelims are over, this is the real thing. Sure the 106 players who've made it to Day 2 can give themselves a pat on the back for outlasting the 245 players who've been eliminated but that's about it. 59 of those who're back today will suffer the same fate, that is they'll leave empty handed.

For the other 47 they'll have some financial reward for their efforts, a minimum of £480, rising all the way to £16,590 should they be the last man or woman sitting. You can see the You can see the entire payout structure here.

The man who's sitting in pole position right now is Andrew King. He won a 160,000 chip pot on the final hand of Day 1B to finish on 201,600. He was the only player to break the 200,000 chip mark, but others who'll be back today include: Sam Orledge (170,900), Chris Gordon (148,000) Elliot Panyi (139,300) and Daiva Barauskaite (78,700).

UKIPT5_Series3_day2_chris_gordon.jpg

Chris Gordon

Cards are in the air at noon.

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PokerStars Blog Reporting Team at UKIPT Series: Nick Wright. Photos by Mickey May



































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8:20pm: Bathroom break

Play has slowed a little over the last twenty minutes or so with very little action to report. The tension became too much for Ari Engel who had to run off to take a very quick two-minute bathroom break.

The tournament staff put it to the two players if they would like to take a dinner break at the next scheduled break, but it sounds like the they would prefer to just have another quick fifteen-minute break before getting back to the action.

8:00pm: Engel takes some back
Level 30: Blinds 60,000/120,000 (20,000)

Tony Dunst raised to 280,000 from the button with the [kh][6d] and Ari Engel made the call with [ac][8c].

The flop landed [3s][qd][7d] and Engel checked to Dunst who continued for a bet of 275,000. Engel called with his ace high and paired up when the [ad] hit the turn.

Engel checked and Dunst bet 750,000 with his flush draw. Engel made the call with his top pair and the river landed the [9s]. It was a brick for both players and they were happy to check it down.

Engel's top pair scooped the pot to jump back out to a two-to-one chip lead.

7:50pm: Dunst sniffs out the bluff
Level 30: Blinds 60,000/120,000 (20,000)

Ari Engel raised the button to 285,000 from the button holding [8d][6s] and Tony Dunst called in the big blind with a pretty [kh][jh].

The flop landed [kc][9s][td] and Dunst checked and then called with his top pair to see the [2c] hit the turn. Both players checked and the river card was the [ac].

That looked like a scare card for Dunst's hand but he was confident to lead out with a bet of 550,000. With just eight-high, the only way Engel could win the pot was to put in a bluff raise and that's exactly what he did, making it 1.8 million.

Dunst had folded in these spots all night with the second best hand, but this time Engel was bluffing and Dunst had the best hand. After several minutes of thought, Dunst came to the correct conclusion once again and flicked out a chip to announce a call.

Engel showed his bluff and Dunst raked in the huge pot. He needed that one to claw back to just over nine million with Engel still in front with around 12 million.

7:40pm: Dunst finds a full house
Level 30: Blinds 60,000/120,000 (20,000)

The action has been slow lately but we just saw a hand go to the river.

Ari Engel raised to 285,000 on the button with [ks][4s] and Tony Dunst defended his big blind with [9h][8d]. The [7c][th][8s] flop saw both players check before the dealer turned the [7s].

That card saw Engel pick up a flush draw but Dunst was still ahead with two pair. The latter checked again but Engel decided to bet 285,000. Dunst called and the river came the [8h].

Both players quickly checked and Dunst took the pot down with his rivered full house.

7:15pm: Engel wheels in another nice pot
Level 30: Blinds 60,000/120,000 (20,000)

Tony Dunst raised the button to 300,000 with [7s][6d] and Ari Engel flat called in the big blind with [ah][5d].

The flop landed [4c][qd][tc] and both players checked. The [2c] hit the turn and Engel checked it over to Dunst who bet 350,000. Engel made the call with his gutshot and spiked the straight with the [3c] river.

Engel checked and Dunst fired again with his seven-high, this time for 750,000. Engel snapped it off and tabled his straight to take down the healthy pot.

Engel is now out to a two-to-one chip advantage which is the largest of this heads-up battle so far.

7:10pm: Five-bet shove from Engel
Level 30: Blinds 60,000/120,000 (20,000)

Just a couple of hands after the break we saw a huge preflop raising war between Tony Dunst and Ari Engel.

Dunst raised to 300,000 from the button with [ah][7d] and Engel bumped it up to 885,000 holding [ad][8h] from the big blind.

Back on Dunst he put in another raise to 2,000,000 but Engel decided to go with it and five-bet jammed for 11,000,000.

Dunst was dominated but he threw it away to fight another pot.

7:05pm: Play resumes

The players are back with the blinds now up to 60,000/120,000 (20,000). After all the back and forth action the chips are nearly dead level again as these two warriors continue the battle.

Ari Engel - 11,465,000
Tony Dunst - 10,410,000

trophies-aussie-millions-ft.jpg


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6:50pm: Another break

The players are now taking a fifteen-minute break.

6:45pm: Nice flop for Dunst
Level 29: Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000)

Ari Engel raised the button to 250,000 with [8h][8s] and Tony Dunst made the call in the big blind with [5h][4d]. Dunst got a great flop when it arrived [5c][5d][9d] to give him trips and he tapped the table. Engel bet 250,000 and Dunst made the call.

The turn was the [jh] and both players checked to see the [3d] fall on the river. Dunst decided to keep it small and checked again with Engel checking behind.

Engel showed his pair but the pot was shipped to Dunst with trip fives.

6:40pm: Big pot goes Engel's way
Level 29: Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000)

Things have been fairly even so far in this heads up match but Ari Engel just took the biggest lead so far. The hand that did it saw Tony Dunst raise to 250,000 on the button with [as][ts] and Engel three-bet to 750,000 holding [qh][qc].

Dunst decided just to call the reraise and players saw a flop of [ac][7h][5s]. Engel continued for 425,000 and Dunst called with the best hand. The [qd] turn however gave Engel a set of queens and meant Dunst was drawing dead. Engel fired for 750,000 this time and again Dunst made the call.

The [6c] river prompted Engel to wager 1,400,000 and Dunst had a tough decision. He considered his options for a couple of minutes before ultimately throwing his hand away and dropping down to 8,500,000 in chips.

6:30pm: Three threes
Level 29: Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000)

Ari Engel raised the button to 250,000 with the [kc][3s] and Tony Dunst made the call with [ah][8c]. The flop landed [6h][3d][2d] and both players checked.

Dunst led out for 275,000 on the [3c] turn with his ace high, but Engel had improved to trip threes so he wasn't going anywhere. He decided to play it slow and flat call as he further improved to a full house with the [kh] river.

Dunst slowed down and checked it across to Engel who bet 450,000. Dunst gave it some thought, but he's been making the right folds in these spots all night, and that continued here as he let it go.

6:15pm: Dunst back on top
Level 29: Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000)

Tony Dunst raised the button to 250,000 with [js][7h] and Ari Engel was happy to defend his big blind with the [qs][td].

Both players checked the [ts][9d][jd] flop and Engel decided his pair of tens and straight draw was good for a bet of 265,000 on the turn. Dunst called with his top pair and he improved to trips when the [js] appeared on the river.

Engel decided to bet again for 425,000 but Dunst snapped it off and tabled his trips to scoop the pot. With that pot, Dunst reclaims the chip lead with almost 12 million to Engel's 10 million.

6:10pm: Nut flush for Dunst
Level 29: Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000)

Tony Dunst has regained some momentum after making the nut flush in a recent hand against Ari Engel.

Engel raised the button to 250,000 with [kd][8d] before Dunst defended in the big blind holding [as][7s]. The [5s][3s][6h] flop went check check but the [8h] turn inspired some action. Dunst now with the nut flush draw and open ended straight draw led for 350,000 and Engel made the call with top pair.

The [4s] river completed both Dunst's draws and he bombed the river for value. He bet 1,000,000 in chips sending Engel into the tank. Engel continued shuffling his chips while deliberating for a few minutes.

"Sorry" Engel said to Dunst about taking so long, before making the call about 30 seconds later.

Engel saw the bad news and Dunst scooped a healthy pot.

heads-up2-aussie-millions-ft.jpg

6:05pm: Strong four-bet from Engel
Level 29: Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000)

Ari Engel opened with a raise to 250,000 holding [ah][6d] and Tony Dunst put in a light three-bet to 725,000 with [9c][6c]. Engel was confident he had the best hand as he four-bet to 1.8 million. Dunst had to let it go.

Engel is now into the chip lead with just over 11 million to Dunst's 10 million.

6:00pm: Engel applies pressure
Level 29: Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000)

Tony Dunst raised it up to 250,000 on the button with [ah][2s] and Ari Engel made the call in the big blind with a slightly superior [ad][3s].

For something different, Engel decided to lead out for 300,000 with his gutshot on the flop of [6h][4s][2c]. Dunst called with bottom pair and the turn was the [9c]. Engel released another barrel, this time for 600,000. Dunst couldn't sustain the pressure and was forced to fold the best hand.

5:45pm: Engel trips Dunst
Level 29: Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000)

Ari Engel raised the button with [jh][2c] and Tony Dunst defended his big blind with a call holding a strong [as][td].

The flop landed [jc][js][8d] to give Engel trip jacks but both players checked. The turn was the [ts] and Dunst led out with a bet of 300,000. Engel made the call and the river was the [ac]. Dunst had paired his ace and he bet 750,000 for value but Engel made a quick call and tabled the best hand.

That pot has almost evened up the chip stacks with Dunst just over 11 million to Engel who has just over 10 million.

5:40pm: Back and forth
Level 29: Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000)

The heads up action hasn't been too fierce yet.

A recent hand saw Ari Engel raise the button to 250,000 before we saw one of our first three-bets since getting down to two players. Tony Dunst in the big blind raised it up to 725,000 and it was back on Engel.

He gave the decision some thought but ultimately tossed his hand in the muck.

5:30pm: Play resumes
Level 29: Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000)

Here's the approximate chips counts as heads-up play commences:

Tony Dunst - 12.3 million
Ari Engel - 9.5 million

heads-up-aussie-millions-ft.jpg

5:15pm: Quick break

The two players are now taking a quick break so that the table can be setup for heads-up play with the cash and bracelet on the table. Both are now guaranteed a seven-figure pay day and are gunning for the title and top prize of AU$1.6 million.

5:10pm: Samantha Abernathy eliminated in 3rd place ($AU625,000)
Level 29: Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000)

Samantha Abernathy's stack had been dwindling and she has now been eliminated after a preflop clash with Ari Engel.

Abernathy moved all in preflop from the small blind for her last 1,500,000 and Engel next to act made the call.

Abernathy: [th][8d]
Engel: [ah][9d]

Abernathy was behind but had live cards as an interesting [9c][ac][jd] flop fell. Engel had improved to top two pair while Abernathy picked up an open ended straight draw.

The [jh] paired the board and didn't change much before the [8s] river completed the board to seal Abernathy's fate. Abernathy earns herself the best result ever from a female player at the Aussie Millions and picks up $625,000.

2016 aussie millions FT Samantha Abernathy.jpg

5:00pm: Dunst takes some from Engel
Level 29: Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000)

Tony Dunst brought it in for a 220,000 raise on the button with [qs][qh] and Ari Engel defended his big blind with [as][jh].

The flop came down [5c][9h][js] and when it was checked to Dunst, he continued for 250,000. Engel called and the dealer turned the [ts]. Dunt fired 600,000 this time and once again Engel made the call.

The [4h] river arrived and the action went check-check as Dunst's overpair held and he took down the pot.

4:55pm: Play resumes

The players are back in their seats at the feature table with the blinds now up to 50,000/100,000 with a 10,000-chip ante.

Chip counts at the break:
Tony Dunst - 10,955,000
Ari Engel - 9,245,000
Samantha Abernathy - 1,625,000


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4:40pm: Break it up

The three remaining players are now taking a scheduled fifteen-minute break. Back soon!

4:25pm: Dunst with a nice fold
Level 28: Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000)

In a limped battle of the blinds, Tony Dunst and Ari Engel continued their battle as they saw a heads-up flop of [2d][ad][5s].

Engel was first to act holding the [8c][7d] and he took a stab at it with a bet of 85,000. Dunst made the call. The turn was the [2c] and both players checked before Engel stole the lead when the [7h] river gave him a pair of sevens.

Engel bet out 145,000 and Dunst deliberated with his third pair. His instincts were right as he tossed his cards into the muck. Both players are pretty even in chips with just under ten million in chips apiece.

4:15pm: Alex Lynskey eliminated in 4th place (AU$445,000)
Level 28: Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000)

Alex Lynskey had been holding on with the short stack for a while but he was finally eliminated in a recent hand.

The man who knocked him out was Ari Engel. After the Candian limped under the gun Lynskey moved in on the button and was snap-called when it folded back around to Engel.

Lynskey: [ah][7h]
Engel: [ac][ad]

Lynskey needed a lot of help but he couldn't find any with the boarding falling [6c][qs][5d][2s][7s].

For his impressive fourth place finish this week Lynskey collects $445,000.

2016 aussie millions FT Alex Lynskey.jpg

3:55pm: Top two for Engel
Level 28: Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000)

Samantha Abernathy raised from the cutoff to 175,000 holding [9s][9d] before Ari Engel three-bet on the button to 515,000 with [ac][tc]. Action passed to Abernathy who called to see a flop of [as][4c][td].

That was a great flop for Engel with top two pair and he continued for 445,000. Abernathy's cards were quickly in the muck as she slips to 2.6 million chips.

3:50pm: Dunst clubbed
Level 28: Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000)

Ari Engel raised from under the gun with [as][tc] and action moved to Tony Dunst in the big blind who popped it to 325,000 with a monster [kd][ks].

Engel made the call and the flop landed [4c][6c][3c]. It was not a flop that Dunst liked as he checked and Engel checked behind. The turn was the [7s] and again both players checked. The river brought the [jc] to put four clubs on board and Dunst checked for a third time to Engel who tossed out 225,000. Dunst made a crying call with his kings but Engel would take it down with his flush.

3:45pm: Lynskey gets a little loose
Level 28: Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000)

Tony Dunst opened with a raise from under the gun to 175,000 with [ah][kh] and play folded to Alex Lynskey in the big blind. Lynskey only held the [7h][4c] but he decided to put his new chips to work as he raised to 470,000.

Dunst wasn't going to let Lynskey get away with that as he moved all in and Lynskey quickly let it go. Lynskey drops back to 1.2 million.

3:40pm: Lynskey doubles
Level 28: Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000)

The last Australian in the field Alex Lynskey just found himself a lucky double through Ari Engel.

Engel raised to 175,000 from under the gun before Lynskey moved all in from the button for his last 175,000. It folded back around to Engel and he snapped it off.

Engel: [ah][ts]
Lynskey: [as][7h]

"Seven!" called Lynskey's big group of rail birds as they sweated his possible elimination.

The [4d][6s][8d] flop gave Lynskey a gut shot draw and a little extra hope.

The [7d] rolled off on the turn and Lynksey took the lead as the crowd roared.

"Let's f***ing go!" shouted one of Lynskey's supporters.

He just needed to fade a nine or ten to double up and he and the [8h] river saw him survive for a much-needed double up.

3:30pm: Dunst battles with Engel
Level 28: Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000)

Ari Engel opened to 175,000 under the gun before Tony Dunst put in a sizable three-bet from the small blind to 550,000 with [7s][7h]. Engel held [jd][td] and peeled to see a flop of [3s][5c][8c].

It was a good flop for Dunst's hand and he continued for 450,000. Engel let it go and Dunst collected the pot.
3:20pm: Engel with a pair
Level 28: Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000)

After three-bet shoving with pocket jacks the previous hand, Alex Lynskey opened the action with a raise to 160,000. Samantha Abernathy made the call in the small blind with [9s][7s] and Ari Engel came along in the big blind with [th][5h].

The flop landed [kd][5c][4h] and action checked to Lynskey who continued for 175,000. Abernathy folded but Engel called with his middle pair before both players checked down the [3s] turn and [9d] river.

Engel tabled his hand and collected the pot to leave Lynskey on the short stack with about 1.2 million.

3:15pm: Updated chip counts
Level 28: Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000)

Tony Dunst - 8,925,000
Ari Engel - 8,290,000
Samantha Abernathy - 3,335,000
Alex Lynskey - 1,325,000

3:10pm: Play resumes

Players are back to the action. Blinds are now 40,000/80,000 with a 10,000 ante.


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2:55pm: First break of the day

Our remaining four players have stepped away for their first 15-minute break of the day.

2:50pm: Dunst takes over the chip lead
Level 27: Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000)

On the last hand before break, Tony Dunst has taken a chunk out of the stack of Ari Engel to take over the tournament chip lead.

Dunst raised the button preflop to 135,000 with [ad][9h] and Engel defended his big blind with a call holding [kc][7s].

The flop landed [ac][9c][6d] and Engel checked to Dunst who bet another 135,000. Engel came back with a check-raise to 405,000 with just king-high. Dunst made the call with his top two pair and the turn was the [qc]. Engel picked up a flush draw and fired a hefty bet of 735,000. Dunst called and managed to fade the flush on the [5h] river.

Both players checked it down and Dunst took it down to reclaim the tournament chip lead. Dunst has around 8.9 million to Engel's 8.2 million.

2:45pm: Dylan Honeyman eliminated in 5th place (AU$340,000)
Level 27: Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000)

The action hasn't slowed on the Aussie Millions final table as we've just lost another player. This time it was Australian Dylan Honeyman who fell after a rather dramatic run out of the board ultimately went against him.

The hand start with an under-the-gun raise from Tony Dunst to 125,000. Ari Engel called on the button and action was with Honeyman in the small blind. He thought for a bit before raising it up to 380,000. Dunst four-bet to 800,000 which forced Engel from the hand, before Honeyman went all in. Dunst made the call and the cards were on their backs.

Honeyman showed [jh][js] and was up against Dunst's [ad][kd] in a classic race situation but Honeyman took a big lead when the [th][jd][3c] flop was spread. Honeyman's set left Dunst needing a queen for the Broadway straight. The turn was the [kc] which didn't change anything, but the river fell the [qs] to give Dunst the straight for the knockout blow!

Honeyman did well to climb a couple of pay jumps as the short stack at the start of the day, but in the end, it was a cruel way to fall. He takes home AU$340,000 for a great tournament.

dylan-honeyman-aussie-millions-ft.jpg

2:30pm: Kitty Kuo eliminated in 6th place (AU$270,000)
Level 27: Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000)

We have lost Kitty Kuo from the final table in sixth place.

After successfully sneaking through a couple of blind steals, Kuo three-bet all in with [as][jd] from the small blind over the top of an open-raise by Ari Engel on the button. Dylan Honeyman tank-folded from the big blind, but Engel made the call with [9h][9d].

Kuo would need some help but the board would brick out [7s][4d][qc][qs][6c].

It was a great run by one of Asia's most popular players as she takes home AU$270,000 for her sixth place finish.

Engel now has a commanding chip lead with around 10 million of the 22 million chips in play with five players remaining.

kitty-kuo-aussie-millions-ft.jpg

2:25pm: Lynskey on the comeback trail
Level 27: Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000)

Alex Lynskey is back in it after landing a double up against Samantha Abernathy.

Abernathy raised to 125,000 from under the gun and it folded around to Lynskey in the small blind. He moved all in for his last 655,000 and after a few moments Abernathy made the call.

Lynskey: [ah][ad]
Abernathy: [tc][9c]

It was a sick flop with [4c][7d][8c] arriving to give Abernathy both straight and flush draws. She couldn't find help on the [4s] and when the [4h] river peeled off Lynskey's cheer squad on the rail erupted.

The Australian young gun's aces hold and he stacks up over 1,300,000.

2:20pm: Dylan doubles
Level 27: Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000)

Shortstack Dylan Honeyman found a double up through chip leader Ari Engel.

Engel jammed from the cutoff and it folded to Honeyman in the small blind. He gave it some thought but committed for his last 740,000.

Honeyman: [7s][7h]
Engel: [5h][2h]

Honeyman was way in front and while the [ks][2s][3s] paired Engel, Honeyman was still in great shape holding the only spade of the two. The [6h] turn did give Engel a gut shot straight draw but the [jc] bricked out and Honeyman scored himself a double up.

2:10pm: Bad runout for Lynskey
Level 27: Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000)

The hand began with Ari Engel raising to 135,000 with [7h][5h] and when it folded to Alex Lynskey in the big blind he opted to defend with [ac][7c].

The flop landed [6c][kc][5s] to see Lynskey find a nut flush draw and Engel hit bottom pair. Engel continued for another 140,000 and Lynskey made the call.

The best card in the deck for Engel arrived on the [5d] turn as he avoided the flush and improved to three of a kind. Lynskey check-called another 285,000 and got perhaps the worst card in the deck for him when the [as] arrived on the river.

Lynskey had improved but was still ahead and when he checked, Engel went for 505,000 value. A call from Lynskey saw him drop down to 745,000 in chips.

2:10pm: Pair versus pair
Level 27: Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000)

Kitty Kuo raised from the hijack position to 125,000 holding [5d][5s] and play passed around to Samantha Abernathy who made the call in the big blind with [8s][8d].

The flop landed [as][kh][6d] and Abernathy check-called for a bet of 100,000. The board got scarier for the small pairs when then [qh] hit the turn and both players checked. The river was the [3s] and again it was checked down with Abernathy's pair of eights taking it down. She's now up to four million in chips while Kuo is getting pretty short.

1:55pm: Another for Abernathy
Level 27: Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000)

Dylan Honeyman opened with a raise to 125,000 from the hijack position holding [ks][qd] before Samantha Abernathy three-bet to 275,000 in the small blind with [as][ts]. Honeyman thought briefly before making the call and the flop landed [ah][7h][7d].

Hitting top pair, Abernathy led out with a bet of 325,000 and that was enough to take it down.

1:45pm: Six on the river saves Samantha again!
Level 27: Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000)

On Day 4, Samantha Abernathy was involved in an interesting hand where she spiked a six on the river to hit a set and crack the pocket kings of Mikel Habb.

Well, Abernathy has done it again with a six on the river sparing her from doubling up Dylan Honeyman.

Abernathy opened with a raise to 125,000 from the cutoff. Honeyman three-bet to 260,000 from the big blind before Abernathy declared herself all in and Honeyman snapped it off.

Abernathy held [ah][kc] but Honeyman had the goods with his [ac][ad]. The flop of [5c][9c][8c] brought three clubs but that was no help to Abernathy as Honeyman held the best club. The turn was the [7d] which brought a few murmurs of a potential chop as Abernathy would need to somehow find an off-suit six on the river.

The dealer burned and there it was...the [6h]! The crowd roared as the popular Abernathy was saved from doubling up her dangerous opponent as they chopped it up!

1:40pm: Engel with the cold four-bet

Alex Lynskey opened with a raise to 125,000 holding [kd][js], before Tony Dunst three-bet in the cutoff to 275,000 with unknown cards. Action then passed to Ari Engel who decided to get involved from the small blind with [ac][9h].

Lynskey got out of the way, and Dunst gave it a little thought before also stepping aside.

1:30pm: John Apostolidis eliminated in 7th place (AU$210,000)
Level 27: Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000)

It hasn't taken long to lose our first player from the Aussie Millions Main Event final table with the lone amateur, John Apostolidis, the one to fall.

On the third hand of the final table, Apostolidis raised from early position to 205,000 and action folded around to Samantha Abernathy in the small blind. She moved all in and Apostolidis made a quick call.

It was a coin flip with Apostolidis making the call with [ah][kc] against Abernathy's [qs][qh].

The board ran out [5d][jd][8c][4h][7c] and after a quick count down of chips, it was deemed that Abernathy had Apostolidis covered.

It was a great run by the Melbourne local as he captures the biggest result of his career with his 7th place worth AU$210,000.

Meanwhile Abernathy is up to around 3.5 million in chips.

john-apostolidis-aussie-millions.jpg

1:20pm: John jams first hand
Level 27: Blinds 30,000/60,000 (10,000)

First hand and first pot to John Apostolidis.

It folded to Apostolidis in the cutoff and he moved all in for 950,000.

The whole table folded and Apostolidis showed [jd][jc].

12:50pm: Cards in the air!

Action is now underway here for our Aussie Millions final table.

To avoid spoilers we'll be reporting on a 30-minute delay.

Stay tuned!

aussie mills FT.jpg

12:35pm: Delayed start

As is usually the way with any televised final table production, there will be a slightly delayed start. The players are just fulfilling some media requirements with photos and interviews before things get under way.

12:30pm: Welcome to the final table

The 2016 Aussie Millions Main Event has come down to the final seven players. Before the day is through one of them will be crowned champion and take home AU$1.6 million in prize money.

It's an exciting final table line up with a great mix of players. We have two female players in Kitty Kuo and Samantha Abernathy, a couple of Australian young guns with Alex Lynskey and Dylan Honeyman, seasoned pros Tony Dunst and chip leader Ari Engel, and the lone local hope John Apostolidis.

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

To compliment our coverage there will be a live stream of the final table hosted by Jason Somerville on Twitch at RunItUp.TV. The stream is free and with hole cards on a thirty-minute delay. In an attempt to help our readers avoid spoilers, we'll also be posting content on a thirty-minute delay.

feature-table-bracelet-aussie-millions.jpg


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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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Saturday, January 30, 2016

TCOOP 2016: No deal is the best deal for Sr.Rouquinho, Event #42 champion ($82 NLHE [Turbo, Zoom])
^

Once this tournament was down to its final four players, Sr.Rouquinho was determined to finish it with at least $30,000 to show for his efforts. Second in chips as deal negotiations began, Sr.Rouquinho could have walked with a bit over $28k, his three opponents having agreed to an ICM chop, but decided to play hardball instead once he saw how... motivated the others were to close the deal, especially mendozoQ. With no volunteers coming forth to make up the difference, SrRouquinho gave the table two minutes to come up with the extra $2k, otherwise he was happy to continue playing. No one gave in and play resumed, with holdout mandozoQ the first to bust. From there it took less than five minutes for Sr.Rouquinho to put the rest of the table away, and he emerged with his first TCOOP title and over $41k.

The 2016 TCOOP's third and final NLHE Zoom event drew 3,536 players. 450 players earned a share of the $265,200.00 prize pool, with $41,638.31 set aside for the champion.

A little over two hours and fifteen minutes after the close of late registration, the tournament was down to its final ten players. With the blinds up to 30,000/60,000, -BigChri$- opened for 133,333 on the button and mindgamer shoved for his remaining 692,399 with [As][Jh]. -BigChri$- called with [8d][8c] and they were off to the races. -BigChri$-'s pocket pair held up on the [9c][9s][6s][Kh][4c] board and mindgamer hit the rail one spot short of the final table.

2016_TCOOP_Ev42_FT.jpg


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Final table chip counts

Seat 1: InsaneShark (1,630,160 in chips)
Seat 2: Sr.Rouquinho (1,331,624 in chips)
Seat 3: oChris77o (1,396,627 in chips)
Seat 4: spydhysa (941,070 in chips)
Seat 5: -BigChri$- (3,148,877 in chips)
Seat 6: zinkAA (1,837,765 in chips)
Seat 7: WrestUA (4,071,193 in chips)
Seat 8: mendozoQ (1,814,512 in chips)
Seat 9: patasss (,1508,172 in chips)

The final table lost its first player on the fifth hand when the action folded around to spydhysa in the small blind. He open-shoved with [As][Qh] and -BigChri$- called with pocket sixes in the big blind. Once again, the pair held up for -BigChri$-. and spydhysa was eliminated in ninth place. However, -BigChri$-'s luck turned over the course of the next few levels. First, he doubled up InsaneShark when his [Ad][Qc] fell to [Ac][Kh]. Then he did the same for patasss with nearly the same hand, [Ah][Qh] vs. patasss's [Ad][Kh]. -BigChri$- was left with 527,000 after that hand and put the rest of his chips in with [6s][6d]. Unfortunately for -BigChri$-, he ran into WrestUA's [Qs][Qc] and went out in eighth place.

Two hands later, oChris77o open-shoved for his last 4.5 big blinds and mendozoQ reshoved from the small blind with [8c][8h]. oChris77o's [Qs][Ts] did not improve and he hit the rail in seventh place.

The blinds rose to 100,000/200,000 and with the action folded to him in the small blind, zinkAA moved in for 1.52 million with [Qs][3c]. WrestUA called with [Kh][9s] in the big, but zinkAA hit two pair on the flop when it came own [Qc][6h][3s]. The [As] turn and the [8h] river were no help to WrestUA, and zinkAA doubled to 3.2 million. Left with 195,000, WrestUA busted in sixth place on the next hand when his [Qh][3h] fell to patasss's [As][Qd]. ZinkAA didn't get much traction following that double-up and ultimately open shoved for 1.68 million from UTG with [Kd][8c]. Patasss called with [Ah][Qd] and flopped an ace, ending zinkAA's run in fifth place, and ascending to the chip lead with 6.46 million.

A few hands later, the final four agreed to pause the action and discuss a potential deal. Here's how they stacked up at the time:

patasss 7,292,665
Sr. Rouquinho 5,170,700
mendozoQ 3,250,589
InsaneShark 1,966,046

MendozoQ requested ICM numbers and when patasss asked that chip chop numbers also be calcluated, mendozoQ laughed in his face... well, as much as that can be accomplished through a chat box.

patasss: and chip chop numbers. please
mendozoQ: lol
mendozoQ: patass r u serious? )
patasss: yes
mendozoQ: nice joke bro)
mendozoQ: ha

InsaneShark and mendozoQ were quick to agree to the ICM numbers, which awarded patasss $30,374, Sr.Rouquinho $28,122, mendozoQ $24,874, and InsaneShark $21,555. However, Sr.Rouquinho made it clear that he wasn't cutting a deal that awarded him anything less than $30k.

Sr.Rouquinho: i need 30k
Sr.Rouquinho: if you can make it we have a deal . other way we play
mendozoQ: no way im better that that

Chip leader patasss, who initially wanted at least $31k, was willing to come down to his $30,374 ICM share, but Sr.Rouquinho remained the lone holdout. With negotiations at a standstill, Sr.Rouquinho issued an ultimatum.

Sr.Rouquinho: 2 minutes for one or some of you to give the 1.8k. In 2 mins we restart

Still, no one was willing to give up so much as a penny, and cards went back in the air with no deal in place.

Patasss quickly lost the chip lead to Sr.Rouquinho in a hand that went to showdown. Patasss opened for 520,000 and Sr.Rouquinho called with [As][3c] in the big blind. Sr.Rouquinho made top and bottom pair on the [Ac][7c][3h] flop and checked over to patasss, who checked behind. The turn was the [9d] and Sr.Rouquinho bet 645,000. Patasss called. The river was the [7d] and Sr.Rouquinho checked, hoping to induce a bet from patasss. Instead, patasss just checked behind and Sr.Rouquinho raked in the 2.58 million pot with aces and sevens.

MendozoQ gave up the vast majority of his stack to InsaneShark, when he shoved for 2.37 million on the button with [Qc][Jc]. MendozoQ called with [Kh][Tc] in the big blind and held up through the turn, but InsaneShark spiked a river jack to take down the pot. MendozoQ was left with less than one big blind and was eliminated in fourth place on the next hand.

When three-handed play commenced, Sr.Rouquinho held the chip lead with 7.8 million, patasss was second with 5.1 million and InsaneShark was the short stack with 4.7 million. With the blinds up to 200,000/400,000, patasss open-shoved for 4.77 million on the button with [Qs][Jc] and Sr.Rouquinho called with [Ad][Th] in the big blind. Sr.Rouquinho flopped a ten and turned an ace, ending patasss's run in third place. This was patasss's second final table of the 2016 TCOOP. He previously finished in eighth place in Event #8 ($82 NLHE Big Antes).

Heads-up chip counts

Seat 1: InsaneShark (3,028,192 in chips)
Seat 2: Sr.Rouquinho (14,651,808 in chips)

It only took three hands for Sr.Rouquinho to finish off InsaneShark. After two exchanges of the blinds, InsaneShark moved in for 2.27 million and Sr.Rouquinho called.

InsaneShark [Ah][Jc]
Sr.Rouquinho [9s][Ts]

InsaneShark's ace-high held up on the [Kd][5s][3s] flop, but Sr.Rouquinho picked up a flush draw. The [Th] turn paired Sr.Rouquinho's ten and the [5c] river locked up his TCOOP crown.

Congratulations to Sr.Rouquinho on joining the ranks of TCOOP champions! He banked $41,638.31 for the win, while runner-up InsaneShark earned $31,028.40.

TCOOP-42 $82 NLHE [Turbo, Zoom]) results
Entrants: 3,536
Total prize pool: $265,200.00
Places paid: 450

1. Sr.Rouquinho (Czech Republic) $41,638.31
2. InsaneShark (United Kingdom) $31,028.40
3. patasss (Uruguay) $22,011.60
4. mendozoQ (Russia) $15,249.00
5. zinkAA (Russia) $11,353.21
6. WrestUA (Ukraine) $8,619.00
7. oChris77o (United Kingdom $5,967.00
8. -BigChri$- (Norway) $3,315.00
9. spydhysa (Norway) $2,121.60


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TCOOP 2016: maggess88 notches second -COOP title with Event #40 win
^

There's a debate over which is tougher: defeating a large field tournament or the smaller fields in tournaments like the Super High Rollers that have become so popular among the elite players. While mixed games do not bring the masses (337 players signed up), they definitely bring the talent. Several former -COOP champions were battling late for the $25,000.00 guarantee TCOOP 2016 $215 Event #40 HORSE title. And one of them would take a step closer to the Triple -COOP as WCOOP champ maggess88 claimed the win and $12,974.50.

Want any proof that the mixed games tournaments are tougher to claim a -COOP win despite their (usually) smaller fields? Check out this table on the money bubble:


TCOOP Event40-2016_MoneyBubble.jpg

That's WCOOP 2014 Event #11 and WCOOP 2015 Event #6 champ Matt "Plattsburgh" Vengrin.

Sam "ugritaly" Fazzino who already picked up two victories in this series winning Event #3 and Event #28.

sal_fazzino_TCOOP.jpg


Sam "ugritaly" Fazzino

Toby "810ofclubs" Lewis who has EPT, TCOOP, and WCOOP titles.

Grebinat took third a few days ago in Event #24's PLO8 6-Max tournament.

Villepn is going for the Triple -COOP after winning a SCOOP title in 2010 and the WCOOP title last year defeating Andy McLEOD (who finished ITM here taking 27th for $454.95) heads-up for the Event #54 Razz championship.

Rounding around the table guns_n_fight has a MicroMillions title.

Still like your chances?

SCOOP 2013 Event #16-M champ thefish01x would sadly take away zero dollars after finishing on the 48 player money bubble.

Floating over to other tables one could find a Red Spade holding on for dear tournament life as Team PokerStars Pro George Danzer safely made it into the money and, like Villepn, is trying to complete the Triple -COOP with a victory today. Unfortunately, this was not his day as cladarth would eliminate Danzer in the Stud round earning $657.15 for 22nd place.

Ouchbadbeat would add a precious few TCOOP Player of the Series points after finishing in 18th place ($657.15) to break the tie for third with TCOOP 2014 Player of the Series Christian "CMoosepower" Elgstrøm.

After Lewis was eliminated in 17th place ($657.15), the final two tables quickly got work as only 13 would make it to the third hour of play after chip leader SharkBoy217 eliminated Das Kapital author (not really) Karl Marx in 14th place ($909.90).

The switch from Star Trek to Star Wars did not help Vengrin after ditching the Klingon avatar for Yoda as Vengrin and Fazzino would both fall to maggess88's aces in the Stud Hi/Lo round. Lack of the Force was worth $1,179.50 for both Fazzino and Vengrin finishing 11th and 12th place respectively.


plattsburgh_TCOOP.jpeg


Matt "Plattsburgh" Vengrin


On the final table bubble with the stakes at 25K/50K ante 5K still in the Stud Hi/Lo round SlyderS1 would take on chipleader SharkBoy217 all-in after receiving the door cards. SlyderS1's deuces never improved [2s] [5s] / [2c] [Td] [9d] [Kh] / [7s] as SharkBoy217 found a trey on seventh [Qd] [Th] / [5c] [3s] [7h] [6d] / [3h] to start up the final table below:


TCOOP Event40-2016.jpg

Seat 1: scrubbyz (216476 in chips)
Seat 2: Piipboy (180045 in chips)
Seat 3: RL1D (42548 in chips)
Seat 4: cladarth (280118 in chips)
Seat 5: Donald (64840 in chips)
Seat 6: maggess88 (140012 in chips)
Seat 7: berserk64 (183599 in chips)
Seat 8: SharkBoy217 (577362 in chips)

In the seventh hand of the final table with the stakes moving to 30K/60K ante 6K Piipboy would raise to 39K over a raise by SharkBoy217 as cladarth came along for the ride. Cladarth would check-call fourth street looking for a decent Razz hand. Showing [7h][4c][6d] cladarth would lead out on fifth as SharkBoy217 looked for easier prey and folded. Piipboy's decent starting hand crumbled only notching a king-queen [3h] [8c] / [5d] [Ks] [8d] [Qs] / [3c] as cladarth's nine-seven [4d] [Ad] [7h] / [4c] [6d] [9h] / [As] was enough to knockout Piipboy in eighth place ($1,516.50).

On the next hand moving to Stud and 40K/80K ante 8K limits, RL1D was all-in for 22,548 with a [5c] showing as scrubbyz and Sharkboy217 stayed in. SharkBoy217 bet fourth street as scrubbyz called all-in for 41,476. RL1D would take down the main pot with trip eights and trip fives (ok, it's a full house but looks bigger) [8s] [4d] / [5c] [5h] [5s] [8c] / [8h]. Scrubbyz's split kings would not improve [3d] [Kd] / [Kh] [7s] [Qh] [5d] / [4h] but SharkBoy217's flush draw did [Tc] [Kc] / [6c] [2h] [9c] [Qs] / [Jc] handing $1,853.50 to scrubbyz in seventh place in a second TCOOP final table this week after placing third in Event #32 for $19K.

During the hold'em round with the bets going up to 50K/100K we would say farewell to yet another familiar face. Anders "Donald" Berg is well known for making the -COOP tournaments his bankroll multiplier, winning three WCOOP titles and two SCOOP titles while barely missing on a TCOOP title last year in Event #48's 8-Game tournament taking fourth. The wait for the Triple -COOP would continue as RL1D raised all-in preflop for 71,644 with cladarth in the small blind and Berg calling in the big blind. Berg's remaining 6,036 would be placed in the middle after calling cladarth's flop bet. Berg's [7d][Jd] would turn a straight draw after cladarth's [Ks][8d] flopped a pair of kings. But, RL1D's [Ac][Jc] found an ace on the river [Kc] [3h] [5d] [6h] [Ad] to stay alive. The former Team PokerStars Online Pro however could not overcome cladarth for the side pot finishing in sixth place ($2,527.50).

anders_berg_TCOOP.jpg


Anders "Donald" Berg

With SharkBoy217 still holding the chiplead in the Omaha Hi/Lo round, berserk64 would raise as maggess88 three bet from the big blind. Berkserk64 shoved all-in for 35K more as maggess88 called with queens [Qs][Qd][2h][6c]. Berserk64's low wrap hand [4s][Ah][5h][3s] could not catch any luck [Qc] [Jd] [4c] [5d] [3h] as maggess88's straight would send berserk64 off in fifth place ($3,538.50).

Five minutes later in the Stud round RL1D was not able to build after knocking out Berg and shoved all-in for 65,684 after the door cards were dealt. SharkBoy217, after losing the chiplead to maggess88, stayed around with jacks that flourished into a jacks full [Td] [Jh] / [Js] [Ks] [Jd] [Qh] / [Ts]. RL1D's hand failed to blossom [3s] [Tc] / [5d] [8s] [9d] [Kc] / [4c] ending the tournament in fourth place ($5,223.50).

WCOOP 2015 Event #56 champ maggess88 would carve into cladarth's stack, doubling through in the Stud Hi/Lo round for a 1.06 million chip pot. On the next hand and moving to hold'em with betting at 80K/160K SharkBoy217 raised from the button as cladarth called all-in for 16K and maggess88 called. After checking the flop with the board showing [6d] [7c] [Td] [5h] maggess88 bet the turn as SharkBoy217 swam for calmer waters. Maggess88 turned over a pair with a straight and flush draw [8d][7d] as cladarth's pair of fives was alive [5c][3d]. But, an [8h] river would excuse cladarth in third place ($7,245.50) narrowing missing out on TCOOP title number two after winning last year's Event #2.

SharkBoy217's dominate chiplead was gone at this point as maggess88 headed into heads-up play with a 1.2 million to 403K advantage. That lead would grow to 1.4 million to 283K after six hands as the two players decided to end things in the hold'em round. After capping preflop and 567K in the middle, SharkBoy217 turned over [7s][Qc] only to see a bigger queen held by maggess88 [As][Qd]. The kicker would hold up on the [3s] [5s] [3d] [9h] [6d] board as maggess88 claimed the second leg of the Triple -COOP by claiming the TCOOP Event #40 win and $12,974.50!

TCOOP-40 ($215 HORSE, Turbo) results

Entrants: 337
Total prize pool: $67,400.00
Places paid: 48

1. maggess88 (Netherlands) $12,974.50
2. SharkBoy217 (United Kingdom) $9,604.50
3. cladarth (Poland) $7,245.50
4. RL1D (Norway) $5,223.50
5. berserk64 (Russia) $3,538.50
6. Anders "Donald" Berg (Norway) $2,527.50
7. scrubbyz (Canada) $1,853.50
8. Piipboy (Russia) $1,516.50


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The Weekly PokerNews Strategy Quiz: 2016 Aussie Millions Edition

The 2016 Aussie Millions is in the midst of its exciting finish with the last events playing out.

The $100K Challenge finished up last night, with Fabian Quoss topping the 41-entry field to win $1,446,480 (AUD). Today comes the $10,600 Main Event final table where Ari Engel currently leads the final seven players, all who remain from the 732 who began the tournament. And still to come is the LK Boutique $250,000 Challenge.

For this week’s installment of The Weekly PokerNews Strategy Quiz we’re highlighting some of the hands from the last couple of days of action. Hopefully you’ve been following the live updates on PokerNews and watching the Twitch stream hosted by Jason Somerville — a great way to study tournament strategy thanks to the hole cards being shown and Somerville’s ongoing analysis.

Here are eight questions regarding some of the hands we’ve seen. Get six correct and you earn a passing grade, and if you happen to miss one you’ll get an explanation of the correct response.

Want to stay atop all the latest in the poker world? If so, make sure to get PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+!

The Weekly PokerNews Strategy Quiz: 2016 Aussie Millions Edition 101

Question 1

One of the more dramatic hands from Day 4 of the Aussie Millions Main Event came with 15 players left. Mikel Habb was all in and at risk preflop with Kh-Ks versus Samantha Abernathy’s 6d-6h, and the flop and turn came Qs-9h-10s-10h. With 44 unknown cards, how many of those 44 on the river would give Habb the hand and enable him to survive?

Question 2

With eight players left in the Main Event, Tony Dunst and Kitty Kuo got involved in a hand that saw Dunst raise before the flop with Kh-Js and get called from the blinds by Kuo, then both checked the 10d-9h-5h flop. The turn was the Ah, and Kuo checked. Dunst bet a little over half the pot, an action which could be described as a...

Question 3

In that Dunst-Kuo hand, the river was the 2s, making the board 10d-9h-5h-Ah-2s. Kuo checked again, and this time Dunst fired 350,000 into the pot of just over 500,000. What would best describe Dunst’s river bet?

Question 4

On the sixth hand of the six-handed $100K Challenge final table, Connor Drinan open-shoved with 4s-4h and a short-stacked Fedor Holz called all in with Kh-Qs, meaning Holz was a ____________ to survive.

Question 5

With five players left in the $100K Challenge, Sam Greenwood was all in preflop with Ac-2c versus Connor Drinan’s Qc-9c, making him a ______% favorite with the community cards still to come.

Question 6

In that Greenwood-Drinan hand, the first four cards came Jc-6d-3d-4d, meaning Greenwood only had to fade ____ outs to survive.

Question 7

With four players left in the $100K Challenge, Connor Drinan led with a river bet holding Qc-9s with the board showing 7c-10d-Jc-9c-6c, then Fabian Quoss raised all in. Quoss had Drinan covered, meaning the latter had to decide whether or not to call with his queen-high flush. If he called, Drinan would win as long as Quoss didn’t have...

Question 8

Ben Tollerene and Fabian Quoss battled for 62 hands heads-up before Quoss finally won the $100K Challenge. During their duel we saw instances of each raising from the button with hands like Kd-3d, Qc-2h, and even 7s-5d and 6s-2h, demonstrating...


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UKIPT5 Series 3 Day 1B: Level 1-2 updates (50-100)
^

2:35pm: Advance to level two
Level 1, Blinds 25-50

On Day 1A we did get a bust out during the opening level (and a Royal Flush!) but despite there being more players on Day 1B - and therefore more hands dealt - all 144 players who've entered so far have made it safely through to Level 2.

2:20pm: Busy
Level 1, Blinds 25-50

The players just keep on coming! The board is showing that 133 players have entered Day 1B so far. There's a steady stream of eager hopefuls queued up at the cash desk waiting to get their tickets so that number is sure to rise significantly before late registration closes at (roughly) 4.25pm.

As suspected play has spread up to The Poker Deck, there are currently three tables in use up there with a couple more ready to be used if required.

UKIPT5_Series3_day1b_join_the_queue.jpg

Join the queue buddy

2:04pm: Let's go
Level 1, Blinds 25-50

Shuffle up and deal! Action is under way.

1:45pm: Day 1B set to start
Welcome to live coverage of Day 1B of the UKIPT5 Series 3. Yesterday 134 players entered the fray with 39 of them making it through to Day 2.

On Day 1A the main Matcham Room was packed and with today expected to be busier the Poker Deck will also be in use at the start, meaning play will be split across two floors.

The target for anyone with aspirations of the overnight chip lead is 170,900 as that's what Sam Orledge finished on last night. A surge in the final level of the day saw him pip Chris Gordon to the chip lead. You can catch up on Day 1A action here.

UKIPT5_Series3_day1a_chris_gordon.jpg

Chris Gordon

Action will start at 2pm.

UKIPT5 Series 3 key facts:
- 20,000 starting stack
- Blinds starting at 25/50 for 400 big blinds
- Levels are 30 minutes throughout and they'll be 12 of them today.
- On Sunday the Day 1B survivors will join the 39 players who advanced from Day 1A and play to a winner from noon.
- No re-entry here, this is an old school straight freezeout.

2016_UKIPTSeries3_poker_MickeyMay_85080.jpg

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PokerStars Blog Reporting Team at UKIPT Series: Nick Wright. Photos by Mickey May













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UKIPT5 Series 3 Day 1B: Level 1-2 updates (50-100)
^

2:45pm: From Brazil to London for Baltic Blonde
Level 2, Blinds 50-100

Daiva Barauskaite is one of the familiar faces we've spotted in the field today. Her twitter feed suggests she's recently back from a trip to South America and has swapped the beaches of Rio for the bets of The Hippodrome. Easy decision right?

2:35pm: Advance to level two
Level 1, Blinds 25-50

On Day 1A we did get a bust out during the opening level (and a Royal Flush!) but despite there being more players on Day 1B - and therefore more hands dealt - all 144 players who've entered so far have made it safely through to Level 2.

2:20pm: Busy
Level 1, Blinds 25-50

The players just keep on coming! The board is showing that 133 players have entered Day 1B so far. There's a steady stream of eager hopefuls queued up at the cash desk waiting to get their tickets so that number is sure to rise significantly before late registration closes at (roughly) 4.25pm.

As suspected play has spread up to The Poker Deck, there are currently three tables in use up there with a couple more ready to be used if required.

UKIPT5_Series3_day1b_join_the_queue.jpg

Join the queue buddy

2:04pm: Let's go
Level 1, Blinds 25-50

Shuffle up and deal! Action is under way.

1:45pm: Day 1B set to start
Welcome to live coverage of Day 1B of the UKIPT5 Series 3. Yesterday 134 players entered the fray with 39 of them making it through to Day 2.

On Day 1A the main Matcham Room was packed and with today expected to be busier the Poker Deck will also be in use at the start, meaning play will be split across two floors.

The target for anyone with aspirations of the overnight chip lead is 170,900 as that's what Sam Orledge finished on last night. A surge in the final level of the day saw him pip Chris Gordon to the chip lead. You can catch up on Day 1A action here.

UKIPT5_Series3_day1a_chris_gordon.jpg

Chris Gordon

Action will start at 2pm.

UKIPT5 Series 3 key facts:
- 20,000 starting stack
- Blinds starting at 25/50 for 400 big blinds
- Levels are 30 minutes throughout and they'll be 12 of them today.
- On Sunday the Day 1B survivors will join the 39 players who advanced from Day 1A and play to a winner from noon.
- No re-entry here, this is an old school straight freezeout.

2016_UKIPTSeries3_poker_MickeyMay_85080.jpg

Fancy playing a UKIPT? There are always plenty of online satellites, click here to get an account.

PokerStars Blog Reporting Team at UKIPT Series: Nick Wright. Photos by Mickey May














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