2014 Aussie Millions Main Event Day 1b: Dean Schneider Leads; Defending Champ Falls
The 2014 Aussie Millions Main Event continued on Monday as 153 players entered the second of three starting flights. That number was down slightly from Day 1a’s 176 runners, but that wasn’t exactly a surprise considering it overlapped with the Super Bowl. Still, it was a full day of action as dozens of players hit the rail over the course of seven 90-minute levels. By the time the clock expired for the night, 81 players remained with Dean Schneider and his stack of 188,800 leading the way.
Others who bagged up big stacks were Gareth Dwyer (161,100), Daniel Neilson (119,900), Michael Hussey (106,400), Michael Laming (105,000), and Tim English (104,200). Well-known pros Erik Seidel (116,800), Antonio Esfandiari (77,700), and Paul Klann (56,200) also advanced to Day 2.
We caught up with Schneider late on Day 1b to find out how he acquired his stack:
It was a busy day of action in Crown’s Poker Room on Monday as 30 players returned in the $25,000 Challenge to play down to a winner and a sea of tables were set up to accommodate the second starting flight of the 2014 Aussie Millions Main Event.
The tournament floor was full of hopefuls, but as the day progressed many of those hopes were dashed. German pro Christoph Vogelsang, who traveled to the land down under to play the high rollers, was one such player that saw his dreams slowly dissipate. First he took a big hit in Level 1, and then he fell a short time later in Level 2.
It happened when three players created a pot of 6,550 and took a flop of Q♣J♠4♠. Vogelsang was first to act in the big blind and promptly bet 2,800. The under-the-gun player folded, and Sassine Ghazale proceeded to move all in from the hijack. Vogelsang leaned back in his chair, stretched his arms over his head, and then quietly whispered, "Call."
Vogelsang: A♣Q♠
Ghazale: A♠8♠
Vogelsang got his last 10,000 or so all in good holding top pair, but he needed to avoid a spade as Ghazale held the nut flush draw. He managed to do so on the 6♣ turn, but not when the 3♠ spiked on the river. "Yes," Ghazale celebrated. Vogelsang simply shook his head, pushed his chips forward, and then took his leave from the tournament.
As the day wore on the German was joined on the rail by Michael Egan, Aaron Benton, 2011 champ David Gorr, Andy Lee, Lee Nelson, Luke McLean, David Steicke, and defending champ Mervin Chan.
Chan was the only player not to experience elimination last year on his way to a $1.6-million payday, but this year he had to deal with it in Level 6 (250/500/75) in brutal fashion. The betting details remain a mystery, but we do know that Chan was sent to the rail by Sotirios Kappas.
The last of Chan's chips went in on the river with a board reading A♠J♣Q♥9♦Q♣, and he was likely confident with his K♠10♥ flopped Broadway straight. But Kappas, who won a big pot earlier in the day by hitting running cards, managed to make a runner-runner full house with the Q♠9♠. A shell-shocked Chan watched his chips pushed across the table and then took his leave from the 2014 Aussie Millions Main Event ensuring that a new champion will be crowned.
Day 1c is set to kick off at 12:30 local time on Tuesday, and it’s expected to be the biggest and best starting flight yet. Among those expected to take their shot are Daniel Negreanu, Angel Guillen, Jason Mercier, Dan Smith, Philipp Gruissem, Scott Seiver and Dan Shak. Join us then as we bring you all the latest and greatest from Melbourne.
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