Aussie Millions Event #4, $1,100 LHE: Pickering Surges to Victory
James Potter took a big chip lead into the final rounds of Event #4 at the 2008 Aussie Millions tournament series, but it was Jamie Pickering who hoisted the trophy after a surprisingly fast-paced final table. The final eight players winnowed down to a winner in a mere three hours. The seating assignments and chip stacks looked like this to start Day 2:
Seat 1: Jamie Pickering - 97,500
Seat 2: Simon Morris - 70,000
Seat 3: Michael Lipari - 22,000
Seat 4: Jim Sachinidis - 33,000
Seat 5: Ben 'Buford' Edwards - 45,500
Seat 6: Ivan Sop - 53,500
Seat 7: David Lacchia - 31,500
Seat 8: James Potter - 139,000
Michael Lipari looked down to find K♣K♥ and got as much of his money in as possible early, capping the betting after Jamie Pickering three-bet. James Potter abandoned his own preflop raise, and Pickering called to see a flop of Q♣J♠3♣. Pickering bet out, Lipari raised all in and Pickering called with J♥J♦ for the flopped set. No king came on the turn or river, and Lipari was first to the rail in eighth ($3,690). Ben Edwards was the next victim of Pickering's, when he ran pocket sevens into Pickering's pocket kings, which held up on a board of A♣9♦3♥8♠A♥, and Edwards collected $4,920 for his seventh-place finish.
Jim Sachinidis got his last few chips in the middle against Simon Morris with J♥9♣ to Morris' Q♥7♥. The J♣3♣3♥ flop gave Sachinidis the lead momentarily, but Morris passed him on the turn when the Q♠ fell. The 7♣ on the river further improved Morris' hand, and Sachinidis was busted in sixth ($6,150). David Lacchia fell in fifth when his 6♥6♦ was outflopped by Pickering's A♣J♦. The board ran out K♦J♠8♠4♦2♠, and Lacchia went to the rail in fifth place ($7,380).
Ivan Sop missed some of the early action, arriving at the final table 30 minutes late and having some of his chips blinded off, but held on to finish in fourth place ($9,840). Sop exited after raising from the button, while Pickering defended his big blind. Both players checked the flop of 9♣9♠8♣, and Pickering led out on the turn when the J♣ hit; Sop raised, and Pickering called. The river brought the K♦, and Pickering check-called Sop's all-in bet. Sop tabled 8♠2♦ for two pair, but Pickering showed K♥J♦ for the rivered higher two pair, and Sop was eliminated.
James Potter had been relatively quiet for most of the final table, but he picked up a big hand against Simon Morris to bust Morris in third ($13,530). Potter raised from the button, Morris re-raised from the big blind, and Potter called preflop. When the flop came down A♣Q♦4♣, Morris led out, Potter raised, and Morris three-bet all in. Potter made the call with A♦6♦ to Morris's Q♣J♠. The A♥ on the turn gave Potter trips, and the 6♥ on the river sent Morris to the rail.
It took only a few minutes for Pickering and Potter to tangle for the last time. On the final hand of the event, Potter raised preflop and Pickering called. On a J♣7♠4♣ flop, Pickering bet out, Potter raised and Pickering called. Pickering checked when the turn brought the K♠, then check-raised when Potter bet. Potter re-raised, and then the players traded raises until all the chips were in the middle. Potter tabled K♦4♥ for top and bottom pair, but Pickering was ahead with K♥J♦ for top two pair. The Q♦ on the river was no help to Potter, and he was eliminated as the runner-up ($23,370). Jamie Pickering came from second in chips to start the day to first place when it counted as he picked up $39,360 and the winner's trophy in Event #4 of the 2008 Aussie Millions.
