Poker Web Watch / Dave Allan / 19 January 2009 / Leave a comment

Our man in Melbourne Tristan Heffernan reports from the opening day of the Aussie Millions Main Event.

Day 1a of the 2009 Aussie Millions saw a relatively low representation from Betfair Poker players, with most players opting to wait until Day 1b to start their tournament. While the quantity wasn't there, the quality was however - headlined by Sorel 'Imper1um' Mizzi, and ably supported by Craig 'Hangman' Burgess and Peter 'Bifta' Smyth.

Unfortunately Smyth was seated with Mizzi to his immediate left, meaning his Day 1 would be a tough one. While he held his own in the early stages, Mizzi got away to a nice start, doubling his starting stack to around 40k, while another player to his left also went about building a big stack - making things just that bit tougher for Smyth.

Burgess has made many a deep run in tournaments around the world, but unfortunately yesterday was not to be one as things didn't get going for him early and he exited when his pocket Kings couldn't hold up against pocket Fours.

Mizzi continued to add to his stack, and as players entered the dinner break he had accumulated 58k - not helped by losing a decent sized pot just before the break. Smyth was also playing solid and had around 22k.

After the break, the inevitable Betfair confrontation finally came around, and it was Smyth who was to catch the raw end of the stick. With a low board on the turn, Smyth was put all in by Mizzi, and made the call with pocket Kings. Mizzi, however, showed pocket Aces, and Smyth's run had come to an end as pocket Kings claimed another Betfair victim.

Mizzi put his fellow Betfair player's chips to good use in the remaining levels, and finished his Day 1 as one of 76 players remaining from 191 starters. His stack of 95k is double the size of the average stack, and is enough to place him among the session leaders, chasing local Christopher Chronis who has the chip lead at 175k.

Day 1b will see Annette Obrestad and John Tabatabai start their run at the major prize, among a strong contingent of other Betfair qualifiers all out to stake their claim for the $2 million first prize.

Related Entries

Mizzi close to Aussie Millions win