With a 15,000 starting stack, 40-minute levels and a 20-second shot clock, we expect the action to be fast and furious for the penultimate event of the 2017 Aussie Millions, with this tournament concluding our coverage.
The tournament begins at 12:15 pm local time with late registration available until the end of level six. Players are allowed a second bite of the cherry with a single re-entry, should they so desire.
Poland’s Daniel Demicki defeated the 78-strong field this time last year for an AUD$98,980 ($70,082 USD) payday. If the numbers are anything to go by, this years’ event should attract a healthy field.
Phil Laak threw the idea out there for everyone to show one card after taking down a pot with no showdown. He got the table to agree, but then didn't follow up.
"I came up with the terms, but then I rejected them!" Laak said with a big smile.
"I'm one of the voting members" Laak continued on the subject.
Yevgeniy Timoshenko and the two other players at the table wanted to, but Laak didn't seem interested anymore. Right now, they're still discussing things - but Laak really doesn't seem up to the plan he proposed himself.
Sam Greenwood (photo from the $50,000 High Roller)
We caught the action on the turn as Sam Greenwood (cutoff) had just bet most of his stack on a board of . His opponent, Jeremy Joseph on the button, moved in for a tiny bit more and Greenwood called.
Jeremy Joseph:
Sam Greenwood:
The on the river filled up Greenwood's full house and Joseph had to part ways with most of his stack.
Phil Laak opened the hijack for 1,600 and the button three-bet to 6,000 with 1,000 behind. The big blind called all in for 4,100 and Laak pushed all in to have the button commit his last 1,000 as well. The button called and there was a three-way showdown at hand.
Phil Laak:
Button:
Big blind:
The board ran out and Laak knocked out both of his opponents hitting trips on the turn.
We caught the action on the flop on a board reading just as Yevgeniy Timoshenko led out for a pot-sized bet of 3,500. Timoshenko's opponent in the hand, sitting on the button, reraise the pot, leaving himself just 2,000 or so behind.
This sent the Ukranian player deep into the think tank and he nearly timed out before committing the last of his opponent's chip to the pot with a three-bet.
Timoshenko had for the flopped full house, which was leading his opponent's . The turn did not change anything but the river gave the all-in player a higher full house and he scooped the pot while Timoshenko dropped to around 19,000 after that spot of misfortune.
We saw Sam Higgs get up from another table while this hand was taking place, and he was headed for the exit muttering to himself so it looks like the Australian player could not get anything going and he has now busted for a second and final time.
After some raises back and forth, Sam Chartier, Dzmitry Urbanovich and Kahle Burns got a lot of chips in on with Chartier all in. The rest of the chips went in on the turn between Urbanovich and Burns and the cards went on their backs.
Dzmitry Urbanovich:
Sam Chartier:
Opponent:
The river was a blank and Urbanovich scooped the massive pot, busting Chartier and leaving Burns short.
Daniel Demicki, who won this event last year for AUD$98,980, got his chips in before the flop against Mark Radoja in a hijack (Radoja) versus button (Demicki) situation.
Daniel Demicki:
Mark Radoja:
The board ran out and Demicki's straight earned him the double-up.
Under the gun plus one, Jarrad Godema raised to 7,000 with about 9,000 behind. Raj Ramakrishnan called from middle position and big blind Gary Benson called all in for 6,400 and revealed his cards. He was corrected by the dealer and instantly grabbed his cards back but most had seen by then.
With 1,200 in the side pot, the flop came . Godema shoved all in and Ramakrishnan instantly called.
Jarrad Godema:
Gary Benson:
Raj Ramakrishnan:
Benson was well in front and Godema was the favorite for the side pot, but that would all change. The on the turn didn't do much just yet but the on the river sure did.
"Nine of clubs?!" Benson said.
As Ramakrishnan collected the chips, Benson continued; "That sucked!"
Two players hit the rail and, just like that, the tournament is in the money with only seven players remaining. They're guaranteed AUD$18,330 from here on out.
Jonathan Abdellatif was down to 7,400 and moved in first to act. Espen Solaas raised to 11,800 and all the other players folded.
Jonathan Abdellatif:
Espen Solaas:
The board ran out and Abdellatif doubled with the straight.
The next hand, Abdellatif would be all in again. Espen Solaas opened for 7,500 under the gun plus one and Allan Dabbajh called from the button. Abdellatif called from the big blind and pushed for 11,800 on . Both opponents called.
The on the turn saw Solaas check, and then fold to Dabbajh's pot-sized bet.
Allan Dabbajh:
Jonathan Abdellatif:
Abdellatif got the entire pot after the hit the river.
. His opponent, Jeremy Joseph on the button, moved in for a tiny bit more and Greenwood called.
on the river filled up Greenwood's full house and Joseph had to part ways with most of his stack.
and Laak knocked out both of his opponents hitting trips on the turn.
just as Yevgeniy Timoshenko led out for a pot-sized bet of 3,500. Timoshenko's opponent in the hand, sitting on the button, reraise the pot, leaving himself just 2,000 or so behind. 
with Chartier all in. The rest of the chips went in on the 
was a blank and Urbanovich scooped the massive pot, busting Chartier and leaving Burns short.
. 
on the turn and 
