Gary Benson Wins Event #6 of the 2013 Aussie Millions
Eighty-three entrants may not sound like many by today’s standards, but these 83 players brought their wallets with them and made a total of 257 rebuys/add-ons between them, boosting the prize pool substantially.
The sixth event of the 2013 Aussie Millions has been completed after the 83 players who bought into $1,150 No Limit Hold'em Rebuy were whittled down to just one man. Introducing the latest champion, Gary Benson.
Eighty-three entrants may not sound like many by today's standards, but these 83 players brought their wallets with them and made a total of 257 rebuys/add-ons between them, boosting the prize pool substantially.
By the time the nine-handed final table was reached, each of the players had locked up a payout of at least $10,500. Among those who managed to navigate their way to the final table were British duo Neil Channing and Craig McCorkell and the former November Nine member, Jake Balsiger.
Seat 1: Alex Rich - 81,200
Seat 2: Tony Sama - 37,000
Seat 3: Patrick Healy - 153,600
Seat 4: Gary Benson - 70,500
Seat 5: Valdemar Kwaysser - 81,700
Seat 6: Neil Channing - 54,000
Seat 7: Jake Balsiger - 129,900
Seat 8: Craig McCorkell- 128,700
Seat 9: Tino Lechich - 43,700
Tony Sama was the first player to be eliminated from the final table. Sama was the shortest stack at the table, so when the action folded to him in the small blind he had a very simple decision to move all-in with his Ah-3d. Unfortunately, for Sama at least, Balsiger had been dealt Ad-Kh in the big blind and he called. The board ran out 6c-9s-Qc-7s-Jc and Sama was knocked out of the tournament.
Eighth place was decided in cruel circumstances, Valdemar Kwaysser suffering an awful beat at the hands of Gary Benson. Kwaysser was all-in preflop with As-Kc and was up against the Ac-Ks and a chop looked the most likely outcome. That was until the dealer put the five community cards into view, 6h-8c-Qc-7c-2c improving Benson to an unlikely ace-high flush and resigning Kwaysser to eighth place money.
A very short-stacked Alex Rich was the next player to be eliminated from the final table, his eight big blind shove with Qh-Jh being called by the As-2d of Benson. An ace on the flop strengthened Benson's lead; the 3c on the turn leaving Rich drawing dead.
Benson kept up his one-man wrecking spree by claiming the scalp of Tino Lechich. When the chips went into the middle, Lechich's Ad-Qd was in bad shape against the dominating Ac-Kc and although the Ts-9c-Jh flop gave Lechich some outs to a straight, they failed to materialise and his quest for glory was over.
Heads-up was set when Patrick Healy lost his short stack to the seemingly unstoppable Benson. Healy got his chips in good with 3d-3c and Benson called with Ah-Qd. The As landed on the flop and it was enough to confirm Healy's exit.
The aforementioned Channing was the next player to lose his stack, his fellow Brit McCorkell eliminating him. Channing got his chips into the middle with Ac-10d and McCorkell calling with As-Kh. The board ran out 7s-2s-Kd-Jd-2d and Channing exited in fifth place.
The final table lost its second British player when McCorkell lost a coinflip against Balsiger. McCorkell opened, Benson called in the small blind and Balsiger squeezed to 162,000 in the big blind. McCorkell came over the top and was all in, and when Benson folded Balsiger tossed in the extra chips and called. McCorkell held As-Kh and he was up against the 6h-6s of the former November Niner. A board reading 3d-2h-10s-9h-4h brought McCorkell's tournament to an abrupt end, in fourth place.
Heads-up was set after Patrick Healy lost with pocket threes against the Ad-Qh of Benson. Going into the one-on-one section of the tournament, Benson held a 420,000 to 340,000 chip lead over the man who finished third at the 2012 WSOP Main Event. Benson increased the deficit before Balsiger doubled up and clawed his way back into contention courtesy of a pair of black kings.
His comeback was too little too late however, as Benson first reopened his chip lead then won the rest of Balsiger's stack. The final hand saw Benson open, Balsiger three-bet all-in for 130,000 and Benson call. Balsiger held Kh-7d and Benson Jh-Jc. The final board of the tournament ran out 2s-8d-2d-6c-Qh.
2013 Aussie Millions Event #6 final table results
1st: Gary Benson - $109,000
2nd: Jake Balsiger - $71,000
3rd: Patrick Healy - $44,500
4th: Craig McCorkell - $30,000
5th: Neil Channing - $24,000
6th: Tino Lechich - $20,500
7th: Alex Rich - $17,000
8th: Valdemar Kwaysser - $13,500
9th: Tony Sama - $10,500
Prices quoted in copy are correct at time of publication but liable to change.
