Day 1a Wrapped Up; Hansimikali Surges Into Lead!
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Day 1a of the PokerStars.net APPT Sydney Main Event has come to a close!
Kicking off the first flight with a small, but highly-skilled 75-player field, it would be reigning champion Aaron Benton uttering those immortal words of shuffle up and deal to get the green-felt battle into first gear.
Australian online players Sam 'MILF ISLAND' Rotar, Bradley 'BaZa88' Bower, Ricky 'rickwaa' Kroesen and Kristian Lunardi all found themselves on the rail along with Australasian tournament stalwarts Mike Ivin, Tino Lechich and Greg Cook.
As play came to a close after seven testing levels of poker, it would be Australian Manuel Hansimikali leading the remaining forty players with an amassed 136,600. Snapping on his heels include Reza Vakili (129,800), Brent Bibby (129,300) and Jai Kemp (108,600), while the likes of David Saab (94,900), Jonathan Karamalikis (83,500), Joel Dodds (61,900), Billy 'The Croc' Argyros (54,200) and reigning champion Benton (59,400).
With the $15,300 High Rollers in progress still - and attracting the cream of the crop of Australasian poker players - the next two day-one flights will not only be filled with more players, but also some that include the likes of Joe Hachem, Jeffrey Lisandro and Daniel Negreanu.
The PokerNews Live Reporting Team will again be on the floor tomorrow providing exclusive live coverage from the Star City Poker Room and Day 1b of the PokerStars.net APPT Sydney Main Event!