Ten years ago, Tony Bloom became the second-ever Aussie Millions champion. Since then Bloom has been a staple of the tournament, and today he took his shot at recapturing the title.
Most recently, Bloom opened for 1,100 under the gun and was met by a three-bet to 2,200 by the player on his immediate left. Action folded back around to Bloom, he called, and it was heads-up action to the flop.
Bloom check-called a bet of 2,000, and then both players checked the turn. When the completed the board on the river, Bloom chose to lead out for 7,000 and his opponent hit the tank for a little more than two minutes. Eventually he released his hand and Bloom was pushed the pot.
PokerStars Team Online's Randy Lew had the in an all-in confrontation with an opponent holding the . Lew had his opponent slightly out-chipped and won the race after the board ran out to move to 30,000.
Grant Levy called the reporters over to witness what he said was going to be "a bad beat.". On a board reading his opponent, who had initially checked, faced a bet of 2,125 from Levy and was pondering the call.
"If you fold I get no value and if you call you win," Levy said.
His opponent looked baffled but asked, "How do you know I'll win?"
"I just feel it," Levy replied. His opponent stared at the board a little longer before showing the and folding. Levy shook his head and seemed tempted to show his opponent his cards before sliding them to the muck.
He later told us he had bottom set and that he should "shut up next time".
Not long ago "King" Dan Smith was sitting on a short stack and flirting with elimination, but now it seems the the 2012 $100,000 Challenge champ has righted the ship.
In a recent hand, a player in middle position opened for 1,100 and then called when Smith three-bet to 3,300 from the small blind. When the flop came down , Smith bet 3,000, his opponent called, and the dealer burned and turned the , which both players checked.
When the completed the board on the river, Smith fired out 7,200 and his opponent quickly called. Smith tabled the for queens and nines, and it was good as his opponent mucked.
Max Altergott led out for 5,100 on a flop of , Matthew Gabriele made the call, and the turn brought the . Altergott tanked for a bit then fired out another 5,500, and again Gabriele called.
The completed the board, and Altergott announced that he was all in.
"Call," Gabriele said instantly, showing for Broadway.
Altergott unhappily showed for a rivered two pair, and pushed his remaining 15,000 or so forward before exiting.
We missed the action, but we do know that Sam Khouiss got his stack all in preflop holding the and he was primed to double against his opponent's . Unfortunately for Khouiss he would be a victim of a bad beat as the flop delivered his opponent a set. Neither the turn nor river was the ace Khouiss needed, and his 2014 Aussie Millions Main Event came to an abrupt end.
Meanwhile, Jim Collopy has also been eliminated from the tournament.
Jason Mercier and an opponent took a flop of , and after a series of bets and raises all of the money went in the middle. Mercier was ahead with against his opponent's , and the on the turn gave the Team PokerStars Pro treys full. The bricked off on the river, and Mercier picked up the pot.
The very next hand, Marvin Rettenmaier raised in middle position and Mercier called out of the small blind. The flop fell , Mercier check-called a bet of 2,300, and the turn was the . Mercier led out for 3,800, Rettenmaier called, and the completed the board.
Mercier led out again - this time for 10,800 - and again the German called. Mercier showed for a straight flush, and Retteinmaier revealed , just calling the river bet with a lesser straight flush.
The Team Pro added another pot prior to the break, and now has well over 100,000 chips.
Players are now on their last 15-minute break of the night. While you wait, we recommend you watch the following video where Shane Warne talks to Kristy about the England cricket coaching job.