Aussie Millions $100k Event's Stellar Final Table; Hansen, Trickett, Hachem

Sunday night in Melbourne, 22 players skipped the $10,000 Main Event to take a shot at the $100,000 Aussie Millions Challenge, instead.
Last year the event was won by Sam Trickett, who walked away richer to the tune of AUS$1,525,000 (US$1,508,258), after overcoming a field of 38 players on his way to capturing the title. Despite the lower numbers this year, the quality of pros making it through to the final table would seem to more than compensate for the reduced quantity of entrants.
However, the eight remaining finalists will still have to survive half the table if they are to see some reward for their efforts as the payouts will be as follows:
1st: $1,012,000
2nd: $616,0000
3rd: $330,000
4th: $242,000
Amongst those players taking part in the tournament but failing to make it through to the final table were such stellar pros as Tom “durrrr” Dwan, last year’s third place finalist Erik Seidel, Daniel “jungleman15” Cates, J.C. Tran, last year’s runner-up Tony Bloom, and local hero Jonathan “Monster_Dong” Karamalikis.
Daniel Negreanu, too, found himself out after going all-in holding A-J to his opponent’s A-Q, while Jason Mercier finished just short of the final table, later tweeting:
“Busto. 10th. Decided to 3 bet call with 88 and ran into TT. Hate busting 100k tourneys.”
Phil Ivey then had to contend with being the bubble boy after moving all-in with pocket eights on a 9-7-6 flop, but with Gus Hansen’s 6-7 holding firm until the end.
However, despite a top cast exiting the $100k tournament, an equally impressive one still made it through to the final table after 10 hours of play. As the action resumes on Monday at 1445 AEST (1900 PST Sunday), the blinds will be at 2,500/5,000  with the competitors  lining-up as follows:
Gus Hansen: 567,000
Joe Hachem: 538,500
Dan Smith: 346,500
Mikhail Smirnov 265,000
Sorel Mizzi: 228,500
Tony G: 102,000
Nam Le: 79,500
Sam Trickett: 73,000
Gus Hansen seems to be on a bit of a roll after winning $4 million recently at the Macau Big Game. We’ll see if he can now take his chip lead and follow up with victory in the $100,000 Aussie Millions Challenge.


Poker News
Matt Waxman Claims 2018 WPT Tournament of Champions Title
28 May 2018
The WPT Tournament of Champions (TOC) is an invitational only tournament consisting of past WPT champions, who can enter the competition for $15k if they wish, or this season’s winners, who automatically receive a free seat, airfare and hotel accommodations through to the end of season finale. The World Poker Tour Tournament of Champions subsequently
MSPT Hosts Largest Poker Tournament in Michigan History
26 May 2018
Mark Brazis has won the biggest poker tournament in Michigan state history after besting a field of 1,287 runners over four days at the $1,100 MSPT Battle Creek for $221,323. The Indiana resident had just $31,264 in winnings from three cashes going into the MSPT Main Event, and after claiming his famous victory, the 36-year-old
Valentin Vornicu Wins Record 12th WSOP Circuit Title
16 May 2018
Valentin Vornicu, has extended his lead over Maurice Hawkins as the World Series of Poker Circuit’s top title holder after winning a 12th ring at the WSOPC Harrah’s New Orleans $365 No Limit Hold’em event. Furthermore, Vornicu’s latest victory worth $24,084 comes just one day after he won a record 11th ring at the $365
Phil Ivey Takes Down Short Deck Event in Montenegro for $605k
14 May 2018
Phil Ivey may not be a regular on the tournament scene anymore, preferring instead to devote his time to playing high stakes cash games in Asia, but when the former world number one does get round to entering a live tourney he continues to represent a huge threat in the eyes of his opponents. Of