The Aussie Millions on GSN: Hansen on Top in $100K Event
All 24 starters still remained in action as the second episode of GSN’s coverage of the 2010 Aussie Millions $100,000 High Roller Event continued. At the top of the hour, Gus Hansen led the charge while Erik Seidel was fighting for survival on the short stack. By the end of the hour, nearly half the field was eliminated, a slew of poker’s elite players finding the rail rather than the winner’s circle.
The featured table: Taking their seats under the bright lights of the TV stage were Seidel, Erick Lindgren, Gus Hansen, Jeff Lisandro, John Juanda, David Eldar, David Steicke, andChris Ferguson. Dani “Ansky” Stern joined the table later on.
One down: Seidel got the rest of his chips in the middle with pocket nines against Hansen’sA♥Q♥. The K♣J♣7♣ flop favored Seidel, but Hansen went runner-runner, turning the10♠ and rivering the J♦, to make a Broadway straight and KO Seidel.
No bonus squares in this game, son: Betcha didn’t know that Melbourne native Eldar is also a champion Scrabble player.
Jesus walks: Lindgren limped in with 10♥10♣ from under-the-gun, Juanda called with 5♣7♣, Steicke called with A♣4♣, and Ferguson looked down at pocket kings in the big blind. He raised, and both Lindgren and Steicke called. The flop came down 8♥7♥8♦ and Steicke checked to Ferguson, who bet out. With the action now on him, Lindgren tossed in his time-extension button giving him another 30 seconds to think. He decided to go for the gusto and shoved, getting a quick call from Ferguson. Lindgren was in terrible shape, but the 9♠ on the turn gave him outs to a straight. Lindgren miraculously filled it on the river with the 6♠, snapping off Ferguson’s kings and sending him to the rail.
Quads are good: Dani Stern went from short-stacked to suddenly comfortable after doubling through and then eliminating Steicke. First, Stern took his K♦J♣ up against Steicke’s A♣6♠. Stern hit an open-ended straight draw when the flop came down Q♥J♣10♦, then turned Broadway when the A♦ fell. A short time later, Steicke shoved for his last 7,500 with 7♦8♦. Stern picked up 10♦10♠ and reraised to 12,000, earning folds from the rest of the table. It was all over on the flop — Stern hitting quads when 10♣10♥3♦ peeled off. Steicke was drawing dead and he made a hasty exit.
Johnny on the clock: When it comes to live tournaments, John Juanda is deliberate, methodical, and takes his time with his decisions. In this event, however, the 30-second clock on each street may have largely contributed to his elimination. Gus Hansen raised to 11,500 on the button with A♣8♥, and Juanda called withK♣J♦ from the big blind. Juanda hit top pair on the K♦8♣3♠ and checked to Hansen, who flopped middle pair. He checked behind. The turn was the 9♠ and Juanda led for 19,000. Hansen called and they went to the river, which fell the A♥. Juanda tanked for a bit before betting 25,000. Hansen raised and Juanda tanked again, clearly wrestling with his decision, which was for most of his chips. After using both of his time extension buttons, Juanda called at the last second. This time, his instincts were wrong and Hansen scored the KO, eliminating Juanda with aces up.
Arrivederci, Jeffrey: Jeff Lisandro raised to 11,000 with 7♥8♥, and Gus Hansen defended his big blind with 8♣10♠. Hansen hit top pair on the 10♣7♣3♥ flop while Lisandro flopped middle pair. Hansen bet 16,000, Lisandro shoved and Hansen called. Lisandro was in terrible shape; he couldn’t even hit an eight to win, as it would make Hansen the better two pair. The turn was the 9♦, however, giving him an open-ended straight draw to chop, but the river was the 9♠ and Lisandro hit the rail.
New players: After that series of eliminations, a quartet of new players was shuffled onscreen as the field collapsed to two tables. Dan Shak was back, as were Tony Bloom, Barry Greenstein, and Jonathon Karamalkis.
Don’t let the durrrr hit you on the way out: Tom “durrrr” Dwan was eliminated at the hands of Tony G. Dwan held queen-ten against the G’s king-queen. A queen and two sixes on the board meant Tony’s king kicker played, and Dwan was out.
The Aussie Millions airs Saturday nights on GSN. Check your local listings.
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