2017 Aussie Millions

ANTON Jewellery $100,000 Challenge
Day: 2
Event Info

2017 Aussie Millions

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
j8
Prize
882,000 AUD
Event Info
Buy-in
100,000 AUD
Entries
18
Level Info
Level
14
Blinds
6,000 / 12,000
Ante
2,000

ANTON Jewellery $100,000 Challenge

Day 2 Completed

Nick Petrangelo Wins the Aussie Millions ANTON Jewellery $100,000 Challenge for AUD$882,000

Level 14 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante
Nick Petrangelo - Aussie Millions ANTON Jewellery $100,000 Challenge Winner 2017
Nick Petrangelo - Aussie Millions ANTON Jewellery $100,000 Challenge Winner 2017

The 2017 Aussie Millions ANTON Jewellery $100,000 Challenge attracted a field of 18 entries, which was whittled down to seven after the first day of play. The final day started with seven hopefuls but just three places would get paid.

After a short five hours of play, Nick Petrangelo came out on top, beating Mike Watson heads up. Fedor Holz, who'll return to center stage tomorrow as he has also made the final table of the Main Event, was the only other player to cash. Sam Trickett bubbled the event, going out in fourth place.

PositionPlayerCountryPrize in AU$Prize in US$
1Nick PetrangeloUnited StatesAU$882,000$666,311
2Mike WatsonCanadaAU$529,200$399,787
3Fedor HolzGermanyAU$352,800$266,524

With seven players battling it out for the AUD$882,000 first-place prize, action was rapid from the get go. Not only because the remaining players were all seasoned professionals boasting millions of dollars in winnings between them, but also because the shot clock was once again instated. Like on Day 1, players had just 30-seconds to act on their hand with three time breaker chips, which granted them an extra minute to think about their decision.

David Steicke wouldn't use any of them as he was the first one out the door. While he doubled in the third hand after spiking two pairs with king-queen to Steffen Dontheimer's ace-king, four hands later he was a goner. He lost a huge flip with queens to Mike Watson's ace-king and dusted off the remainder with king-three to Sam Trickett's ace-four.

It took another 30 hands or so before the next player hit the rail. 2016 GPI Player of the Year David Peters flopped best with queen-ten but didn't see the backdoor straight of Watson coming. By the time the river was out, the ten was third pair for Peters and he needed a time breaker chip to make up his mind after getting put in by Watson. Peters called it off but had to surrender upon being shown the straight.

Start of day chipleader Steffen Sontheimer didn't have his day. Not only did he double Steicke early on, he lost some more hands to get to the position of one of the shorter stacks five-handed. Finding pocket sevens, he opened only to be three-bet by Watson. Sontheimer called out of position and check-raised all in after having flopped an open-ender. Watson called with pocket tens and send Sontheimer packing after blanks on the turn and river.

With four players remaining and three getting paid, one might expect a slower pace. While the bubble was a massive AUD$352,800, a hefty sum even for the highest of high rollers, play continued on at a high pace. In fact, the bubble only lasted five hands as Sam Trickett moved all in for his last 15 big blinds with queen-nine. Mike Watson would again do the dirty work, calling with ace-jack. No queen or nine appeared on the board and Trickett departed in fourth place, officially becoming the bubble of the 2017 Aussie Millions ANTON Jewellery $100,000 Challenge.

The three that remained were guaranteed AUD$352,800 at this point, but the real money was up top. Fedor Holz, the German wunderkind with just about the best year in poker ever last year, was next to go. Nick Petrangelo raised the button with ace-eight and Holz shoved pocket fours.

“I wouldn’t call this versus most people,” Petrangelo said, “but I think I’m calling versus you.”

And so Petrangelo did, and the big flip fell his way. An ace on the flop and turn left Holz just two outs for the river. While Holz had been very fortunate all week, this time no four popped up on the river and Holz had to bow out in third place.

The heads up was as fierce and competitive as they come with Mike Watson and Nick Petrangelo having at it. Watson started out with a healthy lead but Petrangelo would soon take over as commander in chips, partly because of several overbet bluffs that saw Watson fold the best hand.

What could've been a long heads-up because they started out quite deep, finished relatively quickly. With the chiplead now in the hands of Petrangelo, Watson went for a big bluff that saw him raise all-in on the river with nothing but ace-high. Petrangelo called with top two pairs and sent Watson to the rail in second place.

And just like that, after only five hours of actual play, a winner had been determined. Nick Petrangelo from Boston, Massachusetts walked away with the AUD$882,000 first-place prize and the coveted Aussie Millions ANTON Jewellery ring.

Tags: David PetersDavid SteickeFedor HolzMike WatsonNick PetrangeloSam TrickettSteffen Sontheimer

Mike Watson Eliminated in 2nd Place (AUD$529,200)

Level 14 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante
Mike Watson
Mike Watson

The action started with Mike Watson raising to 30,000 from the button and finding a call from Nick Petrangelo in the big blind.

The flop fell {8-Hearts}{2-Diamonds}{5-Hearts} and both players opted to check.

The turn brought the {7-Diamonds} and Petrangelo led out for 45,000. Watson called.

The {j-Diamonds} completed the board and Petrangelo splashed out 150,000. Watson waited until his time bank almost counted down to zero before announcing all in for 562,000.

Petrangelo waited until the tournament director cut out Watson's stack and gave him an exact count before making the call shortly after.

Just like that the heads-up battle was complete. Watson reluctantly turned over {a-Spades}{4-Clubs} for ace-high before Petrangelo flipped over {j-Hearts}{8-Diamonds} for two-pair and the winning hand.

Tags: Mike WatsonNick Petrangelo

Hands #112-116: Petrangelo Pushes Further Ahead

Level 14 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante

Hand #112: Nick Petrangelo raised on the button and took down the blinds and antes.

Hand #113: Mike Watson button raised to 30,000 holding {q-Spades}{8-Spades} and Nick Petrangelo defended with {q-Clubs}{j-Clubs} to see a flop of {9-Clubs}{7-Diamonds}{a-Spades}.

Petrangelo checked, Watson continued for 30,000, and Petrangelo called before the {j-Clubs} arrived on the turn. The action was checked through before the {5-Spades} river rolled off.

Petrangelo led out for 45,000 and Watson laid it down.

Hand #114: Nick Petrangelo raised to 25,000 on the button and took down the blinds and antes.

Hand #115: Mike Watson raised to 30,000 on the button with {q-Diamonds}{4-Spades} and Nick Petrangelo called with {k-Diamonds}{8-Spades} before a flop of {8-Diamonds}{8-Spades}{10-Clubs}. Both players checked and the {j-Hearts} peeled off on the turn.

Petrangelo bet out for 29,000 and Watson gave it up.

Hand #116: Nick Petrangelo button raised to 25,000 with {8-Diamonds}{6-Spades} and Mike Watson defended his big blind holding {k-Diamonds}{8-Spades}. The flop landed {k-Spades}{a-Clubs}{q-Clubs} and both players checked.

The turn was the {j-Hearts} and it was checked again before the {4-Clubs} completed the board. Petrangelo took a stab at it for 12,000 and Watson picked it off with his pair of kings.

Tags: Mike WatsonNick Petrangelo

Level: 14

Blinds: 6,000/12,000

Ante: 2,000

Hands #106-111: Watson Squares it Up

Level 13 : 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante

Hand #106: Nick Petrangelo raised to 20,000 from the button before Mike Watson three-bet to 70,000 from the big blind. Petrangelo mucked his hand and Watson took down the pot.

Hand #107: Mike Watson raised to 25,000 from the button. Nick Petrangelo looked down at his cards then raised over the top to 90,000. Watson conceded as his cards went into the muck.

Hand #108: Nick Petrangelo raised to 20,000 from the button and took down the blinds and antes after Mike Watson folded his hand.

Hand #109: Mike Watson raised to 25,000 from the button and was called by Nick Petrangelo in the big blind.

The flop came {j-Clubs}{4-Hearts}{q-Hearts} and both players checked.

The turn brought the {q-Spades} and Petrangelo check-called a bet totalling 25,000 by Watson.

The {j-Diamonds} completed the board and Petrangelo checked once more. Watson thought for a moment then slid out a tower of chips worth 100,000. Petrangelo used up his allocated 30-seconds then used one of his two remaining time-bank chips before eventually making the calls.

Watson then tabled his {j-Hearts}{2-Clubs} and took down the pot with a full house.

Hand #110: Nick Petrangelo raised to 20,000 from the button and was called by Mike Watson in the big blind.

The flop came {7-Hearts}{6-Hearts}{k-Clubs} and Watson checked over to Petrangelo who fired out 30,000. Watson called.

The turn brought the 3s and Watson opted to check once more, then muck his hand, after Petrangelo bet out another 60,000.

Hand #111: Mike Watson raised to 25,000 from the button and was called by Nick Petrangelo in the big blind.

The flop came {10-Clubs}{7-Clubs}{j-Hearts} and Petrangelo checked. Watson bet out 30,000 only for Petrangelo to come over the top with a raise to 120,000. Watson didn't take long to muck his hand as he relinquished the pot.

Hands #102-105: Back and Forth

Level 13 : 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante

Hand #102: Nick Petrangelo button raised to 20,000 with {a-Spades}{6-Hearts} before Mike Watson three-bet out of the big blind to 70,000 holding {10-Clubs}{2-Clubs}. Petrangelo let it go and Watson scooped the pot.

Hand #103: Mike Watson raised to 25,000 on the button with {5-Spades}{5-Diamonds} and Nick Petrangelo folded his big blind.

Hand #104: Nick Petrangelo raised the button to 20,000 with {10-Clubs}{2-Clubs} and Mike Watson defended his big blind with {k-Hearts}{7-Diamonds}. The {6-Diamonds}{q-Hearts}{9-Spades} flop was checked through and the {j-Spades} landed on the turn.

Watson led out for 30,000 and Petrangelo folded.

Hand #105: Mike Watson raised to 25,000 on the button with {6-Hearts}{4-Clubs} and Nick Petrangelo called with {q-Hearts}{6-Diamonds}. The flop landed {9-Hearts}{5-Hearts}{a-Clubs} and both players checked to the {7-Hearts} turn.

Petrangelo overbet it for 75,000 and Watson called to see the {10-Clubs} river. Petrangelo reached deep again and made it 150,000 which was enough to elicit a fold from Watson.

Tags: Mike WatsonNick Petrangelo

Hands #97-101: Three-Bets Taking Down Pots

Level 13 : 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante

Hand #97: Mike Watson raised to 25,000 from the button before Nick Petrangelo three-bet to 90,000 from the big blind. Watson folded and Petrangelo took down the pot.

Hand #98: Nick Petrangelo raised to 20,000 from the button and was called by Mike Watson in the big blind.

The flop came {8-Hearts}{6-Clubs}{k-Hearts} and Watson check-called a continuation bet totalling 10,000.

The turn brought the {3-Spades} and Watson opted to check-fold after Petrangelo fired out a bet of 45,000.

Hand #99: Nick Petrangelo took down the blinds and antes after Mike Watson mucked his hand on the button.

Hand #100: Nick Petrangelo raised to 20,000 from the button before Mike Watson bumped it up to 70,000 from the big blind. The bet was too much for Petrangelo who tossed his cards to the muck.

Hand #101: Mike Watson raised to 25,000 from the button. Nick Petrangelo reached for his chips and splashed out a raise to 90,000. Watson immediately gave up on his hand awarding the pot to Petrangelo.