The action folded around to Xiaodong Xia on the button who announced all in. Monica Eastick folded in the small blind, as did Graeme Putt, but not after showing a .
Monica Eastick was first to act, and raised to 30,000. It folded around to Pravin Harji in the small blind who called, and both players saw the flop come . Harji then led out for 45,000 before instantly being met by an all-in from Eastick for around 450,000 in chips.
The action started with Jamie Mulligan opening to 24,000. It folded around to Slav Sheynin in the small blind, who raised to 62,000. Mulligan called, and both saw the flop come . They checked to see the turn come the . Sheynin led out 70,000, and after a minute, Mulligan folded.
Welcome back to the SKYCITY Casino in Auckland, New Zealand where the 2012 PokerStars.net Australia New Zealand Poker Tour Main Event is just moments away from kicking off its championship final table.
It took four days of poker to narrow the field from 207 to the final nine and one of our finalists is guaranteed an impressive six-figure sum of NZ$107,640. The staff are currently making their final preparations and we expect the players to be arriving momentarily.
The remaining nine include seven locals, an Australian and a Canadian. Leading the pack is the youngest player at the final table, Jamie Mulligan. Mulligan had a great end to his Day 2, as he found a double through Andre Nunes-Carreira, before eliminating Jason Lee, then finally finishing off Nunes-Carreira to set up the final table, and amass a stack of 987,000 – 400,000 more than his closest rival.
The two most accomplished players today are Patrick Healy and veteran Graeme Putt. Putt has been around for a long time, and become a crowd favourite everywhere he’s travelled. Healy recently finished fifth at the 2012 Aussie Millions Main Event, and will be looking to go two spots better, as he tries to capture a major title.
We also have a female at the table, Monica Eastick. It’s the first time on the APPT and ANZPT circuit this year that a female has made the final table. Eastick has a very flamboyant personality, and will be using all her feminine charm to her advantage against her awe struck opponents.
Don’t count out the other four players either. Though relatively unknown, they have all proven themselves as worthy finalists, as they’re all in with a great chance to be crowned the first ANZPT Auckland Main Event Champion.
Stay with us as play is scheduled to begin shortly.