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Latest News
October 28, 2007
Billy “The Croc” Argyros won Australia’s first-ever H.O.R.S.E. tournament on Friday, overcoming a massive chip deficit going into the final table to eventually claim the $18,900 first prize.
Argyros started the final table with just 8,500 in chips, and looked in trouble as the first level was 3000/6000 Razz. However Billy survived the level, and as it changed to Stud, the last of The Croc’s chips went in on fourth street against Karib Karib, and his pair of sevens were enough to start him on the road back.
Shortstacks Eric Assadourian (8th), Imre Leibold (7th) departed, as well as Karib Karib (6th) who was left with just 5,000 after losing a monster pot with a straight against Paul Taylor’s quad aces.
Now that he’d moved up in the payouts, Billy started moving up in the chip counts. The level was 4k/8k Hold’em, and Billy put the last of his chips in with the board reading K-Q-9-2. Martin Harvey called and showed K8 for top pair, but Billy had 92 for two pair and it held up.
Shortly afterwards, Sam Khouiss busted out in fifth place and Billy was up another place in the payouts, although things still looked grim as he only had 16,500 while the other three remaining players had 100,000 or more.
However, Billy doubled up through Rainer Quel with Ac-As-Qc-2d versus Kc-Kd-Td-8s, and then won another two Omaha hands to jump to 97k and second in chips.
It would be over three hours before another player was eliminated - the honours going to Martin Harvey, who put all his chips in on fourth street with a pair of kings, but Paul Taylor had four to a flush and caught it on sixth street to send Martin to the rail.
Rainer Quel had survived a number of times, but his luck finally ran out during the stud level as well, and he was out in 3rd place.
When heads up play started, Paul Taylor had 303,000 and Billy just 76,000. Billy doubled up the first hand with trip threes against Taylor’s two pair and suddenly was within reach.
However soon afterwards Paul scooped a hand in Stud Hi-Lo and Billy was back to 55,000. As the game changed to Hold’em Billy found fortune - doubling up with a straight against Paul’s two pair, and then catching a pair of aces on the turn against Paul’s king high to get back to 180,000.
Billy then took the lead for the first time during the final table. On a flop of Q-T-9 Billy bet, Paul raised and Billy called. The turn was a 2 and both players checked. The river was a 5, Billy bet and Paul made a crying call, turning over JJ. Billy flipped over Q8 to rake in a massive pot and leave Paul with only 9,000 in chips.
Paul doubled up three times in a row to get back to 72,000 but on the next Razz level Paul was all in on third street with (3-4) 9 against Billy’s (2-9) A. Taylor ended up with (3-4) 9-J-6-Q (K) for J-9-6-4-3, but Billy had (2-9) A-K-Q-7 (T) and T-9-7-2-A for low and completed a miraculous comeback to win the tournament.
Event 5 $1,100 H.O.R.S.E Final Results
1. Billy “The Croc” Argyros $18,900
2. Paul Taylor $13,230
3. Rainer Quel $9,450
4. Martin Harvey $6,930
5. Sam Khouiss $5,040
6. Karib Karib $3,780
7. Imre Leibold $3,150
8. Eric Assadourian $2,520
Posted in Melbourne 2007 | Comments Off
PokerNews.com’s Editor-in-Chief John Caldwell took some time out from behind the keyboard to take down Championship Event 4 - $550 No Limit Holdem with One Rebuy/Add-on.
Caldwell went into the final table third in chips with 138,000 behind James Potter with 155,000 and Zhi Hong Ma with 234,000. With blinds at 3k/6k, the eliminations started out thick and fast. Russell Watkins was the first player all-in, pushing over the top of Aaron Farrell’s preflop raise. Aaron called all in with AcTc, and was dismayed to see Russell flip over AsAh. The flop of Kc-6s-5c gave Aaron some hope, but he couldn’t find another club and was the first player out of the final table.
On the very next hand, John Caldwell raised under the gun to 20,000, Gerry Fitt pushed all in for 27,000 and John made the call. Gerry had a pretty good hand with AJ but John had him dominated with AK. The board brought no surprises and Gerry was out in 9th place.
The all-ins continued as a series of shortstacks doubled up, Danny Silk was left on the wrong end of an all-in with Russell Watkins and pushed his last 18,000 chips in with A3 only to get called by Johnathan Tuckman with AQ and Marcel Roosen with AK. A king on the river gave Roosen the pot and eliminated Danny in eighth.
As blinds rose to 20k/40k and turned up the heat, James Potter moved all in for 46,500 and was called by chipleader Zhi Hong Ma from the big blind. Potter’s AsJs was in front of Zhi’s KdTs until the flop came down Ks-Kc-4d and sent Potter to the rail.
Joel Dodds looked a good favourite to double up when called Russell Watkins’ push. Joel’s AQ was in front of Russell’s K9, at least until a 9 fell on the river and knocked Joel out of the tournament. Watkins also found some luck to knock out Johnathan Tuckman a few hands later. Johnathan Watkins moved all in from the small blind with Kh4d and Russell called with Kc2c. The flop came down Tc-6c-5c giving Russell a flush and Johnathan was out in 5th place.
John Caldwell’s stack was like a rollercoaster - first he doubled through Russell Watkins to get to 400k, next he took a hit and doubled up Marcel Roosen, and then he doubled up through Watkins again to sit on 360k.
Roosen, who had been quiet for most of the day, knocked out two players in quick succession - Zhi Hong Ma and Russell Watkins, and we were down to heads up play.
Marcel took a 3-to-1 chip lead going in, but on the first hand Marcel moved all in from the button, John called, and was well in front with JsTs against Marcel’s 6s7s. The flop bought a jack and both players were now level.
Shortly afterwards Marcel was crippled as he called John’s all in from the small blind with 55, and John flipped over KK. The kings held up and Marcel was left with just 136,000 in chips. On the final hand, Marcel moved the last of his small stack in on a flop of Ah-Kc-6c, and John snap-called with Ac8h. Marcel had 3c4s and couldn’t catch up, leaving John as the champ to take home $43,150 to the USA.
Marcel, a Team PokerNews freeroll winner from the Netherlands, was still delighted, and celebrated his biggest ever tournament cash with his girlfriend and a slew of fellow Dutch players from Team PokerNews.
Congratulations to both John and Marcel.
Event 4 $550 No Limit Holdem with One Rebuy Final Table Results
1. John Caldwell $43,150
2. Marcel Roosen $30,825
3. Russell Watkins $22,605
4. Zhi Hong Ma $18,495
5. Johnathan Tuckman $14,385
6. Joel Dodds $12,330
7. James Potter $10,275
8. Danny Silk $8,220
9. Gerry Fitt $6,165
10. Aaron Farrell $4,110
Posted in Melbourne 2007 | Comments Off
October 26, 2007
Ten of Australia’s most well-known and talkative players gathered on Wednesday night infront of tv cameras and a crowd on onlookers to participate in the $10,000 PokerNews Australian Bad Boys of Poker Invitational.
Things kicked off in amicable fashion with a pre-event dinner, but once the trash-talking started, it was off and running. Potentially fuelled by some comments made on PokerNetwork (an Australian poker forum), where Emad Tahtouh rated Sam Khouiss as “zero chance” to win, Emad and Sam decided to have a $5k last longer bet.
Players were introduced to the crowd, each with their own chosen theme song. There were some interesting choices: Mark Vos strolled in to Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab”, Jeff Lisandro picked ”Coward of the County” by Kenny Rogers, and Tina Turner’s ”Simply the Best greeted Gary Benson.
Although there were 40 minute levels and 20,000 in the start bank, it didn’t take long for the chips to start flying. Ten hands into the tournament, Gary Benson, Lee Nelson and Tony G saw a flop of Th-8d-5c. Gary checked, Lee bet out 700 and Tony and Gary called. The turn was the 6d, Gary checked again, Lee bet out 3,500, Tony called and Gary folded. The river was the Qd, Lee bet out 5,000, Tony raised, Lee instantly pushed all-in and Tony called quickly with AdKd for the nut flush. Lee’s 8s8c for a set of eights was no good and he was the first player to the rail.
It didn’t take long before the table lost another player - Mark Vos reraised Emad Tahtouh from the big blind, Emad moved all-in, Vos quickly called and said, “I got kings.” Emad said, “I’m allowed to get Aces once in awhile, right?” and turned over the pocket rockets. The board brought no surprises as Mark Vos was out in 9th place.
Tony G claimed another scalp as he got into a hand with Sam Khouiss. On a flop of Ah-Th-2c, Sam made a pot-sized bet and Tony called. The turn came the Td, Khouiss bet out 4,000 and Tony flat called again. The turn was the 5s, Sam checked, Tony moved all in, and Sam called quickly with AQ. However Tony turned over AT for the full house, and Sam was out, and another $5k poorer courtesy of his bet with Emad.
David Saab was down to 3,000 but started clawing his way back. Saab pushed all in for 7,800 with 55 and looked in trouble when Jeff Lisandro called all-in with QQ for 6,800. However Saab found a 5 on the turn and busted Jeff in 7th place.
Melbourne local Arul Thllai had been pretty quiet but found himself in the thick of the action. On a board of 9-7-7-J, after everyone checked the flop, Billy the Croc checked, Tony G bet out 4,000, Arul pushed all-in for 13,575, Emad called and Tony and Billy folded. Emad rolled over AJ, but Arul had A7 for trips and doubled through.
Arul then took a pot off Billy the Croc, and pulled off a successful bluff against Gary Benson to jump into the chip lead with 60,000. Early chipleader Emad was now the shortstack with around 11k, but managed to double up through David Saab when he flopped trip jacks with JT against Saab’s AK.
It looked like full steam ahead for Arul as he busted Tony G in 6th place, but he lost some chips to Gary Benson in an unsuccessful battle of the blinds and relinquished the chip lead. His stack took a further downward spiral as he doubled up Emad, and was forced to lay down some hands as other players started shifting gears against him.
The momentum was now with Gary Benson, especially after he knocked out Billy the Croc in 5th place. With blinds at 800/1600 Billy raised to 4,000 and Gary called. Both players checked the flop of Kh-Qh-7c. The turn was the 8s, Gary checked, Billy pushed all in with Ac8h, and Gary called with Qc4c for top pair, which held up.
David Saab found himself shortstacked and was ended up being the unfortunate bubble boy as he pushed all in with Q8 and was called by Arul with QT.
With all three players in the money, Gary Benson held a commanding lead with 114,000 over Emad with 54,000 and Arul with 32,000. Emad and Arul are good friends, who are both known for their hyper-aggressive play. So it was no surprise when Gary Benson raised from the button and Arul quickly pushed all-in for 26,000 from the small blind. Gary made the call with A9 and had Arul’s 97 dominated, eliminating him in third place.
Emad doubled through Gary with AT vs KT but Gary turned the tables as both players got all their chips in on a flop of T-2-2. Emad had T5, but Benson had AT and was crowned the Bad Boys of Poker champ.
Posted in Melbourne 2007 | Comments Off
Picking numbers for mid-week tournaments can be a bit of a gamble - so it was a pleasant surprise when 501 players lined up for Event 3 - the $240 No Limit Holdem.
After playing well into the night, ten players earnt the honour of returning for the final table later that day:
Seat 1: Sean Dunwoodie - 148,000
Seat 2: Peter Verey - 221,500
Seat 3: Graeme Putt - 64,500
Seat 4: Janar Kinramees - 192,000
Seat 5: Eric Assadourian - 138,000
Seat 6: John Williams - 109,500
Seat 7: James Owens - 176,000
Seat 8: Andrew Oataway - 171,000
Seat 9: Roger Codeca - 104,000
Seat 10: Ram Dy - 164,500
Veteran Graeme Putt was the first to depart, followed by Roger Codeca whose AQ ran into Peter Verey’s AK. With blinds at 6k/12k, Janra Kinramees found himself short-stacked after a bad beat saw his AK go down to Ram Dy’s AT. Ram surged to over 300,000 while Janar fell to 47,000. However Janar avoided being the next player out by doubling up through James’ Owens with A6 versus T9, and was back in the game.
In fact, all the shortstacks were finding luck - 2007 NZ Poker Champs winner Eric Assadourian won an all in against Andrew Oataway with K9 against AJ, then his JJ somehow survived against Sean Dunwoodie’s AA. Sean was further crippled a few hands later and was eliminated along with Ram Dy in a three way all-in as Peter Verey’s AK held once again.
As blinds rose to 20k/40k, the all-ins were coming thick and fast. James Owens shoved with J7 over the top of Jamar Kinramees and was in the worst shape possible as Jamar turned over JJ. James couldn’t find the miracle he needed and was out in sixth. Peter Verey was next to go as he open pushed with 23 and was called by Eric Assadourian with KT.
Eric’s chip lead was quickly erased as he doubled up Andrew Oataway, who had him dominated with AT against A6. Eric found himself in another bad situation as he pushed all in with Q2, only to watch John Williams call and flip over QJ. Left with only 2,000 in chips, Eric managed to stave off elimination as he tripled up twice in a row, but eventually he was all in from the small blind and John Williams turned a set of sixes to knock Eric out in 4th place.
As blinds rose against to 30k/60k, it became an all-in or fold situation for the three remaining players. John Williams fortune seemed to be looking up as he survived two all-ins, but it was third time unlucky as his K8 ran into Andrew Oataway’s TT.
On the third hand of heads up play, Andrew Oataway raised to 120,000, Jamar Kinramees (who had Andrew covered) reraised all-in and Andrew emphatically called as he showed his TcTh. Jamar turned over Ad7s and Andrew cheered as the Ts was the first card out on the flop. However the As and 3s followed, giving Jamar a flush draw. Another spade, the 9s, came on the turn and Andrew implored for the board to pair but the river blanked out and Jamar was the champion.
Event 3 $240 No Limit Holdem Final Table Results
1. Janar Kinramees $20,036
2. Andrew Oataway $15,030
3. John Williams $11,022
4. Eric Assadourian $8,517
5. Peter Verey $7,014
6. James Owens $5,511
7. Ram Dy $4,008
8. Sean Dunwoodie $3,006
9. Roger Codeca $2,004
10. Graeme Putt $1,002
Posted in Melbourne 2007 | Comments Off
October 24, 2007
A small but star-studded field lined up for Event 2 - the $240 Pot Limit Omaha with $100 Rebuys. Spotted in the early levels were Joe Hachem, Mel Judah, Billy the Croc, and Lee Nelson, plus locals Emad Tahtouh and Van Marcus - who took 3rd in the $1500 PLO event at this year’s WSOP.
The black $100 chips were flying think and fast, and as the first break signalled the end of the rebuy period, it was PokerNews’ own Gareth Edwards and local Crown player Sherif Derias who shared the title of most rebuys with 19.
Both players needed to finish in 9th place or better to break even, Gareth elected not to rebuy, while Sherif pushed on and was eliminated with around 45 players left.
As the money approached, Stewart Scott and Julian Powell were atop the chip counts. They were both overhauled by Steven Djingga, who leapt to 90k in chips after busting Nat Seet and Nicholas Jankovits in 19th and 20th place respectively.
Djingga continued his roll, with his Ad-As-4s-4c knocking out Mario Caputo with Ac-Ks-Tc-9s in 18th, but he doubled up Tino Lechich and Stewart Scott in quick succession and was left crippled to be eliminated in 14th place.
Julian Powell continued to cruise to the final table, jumping to 120,000 after flopping quad threes against Lee Nelson. However towards the end of the day, Julian was involved in a huge hand with fellow bigstack Tino Lechich. With blinds at 4,000/8,000, Julian raised to 20,000. Tino raised the pot from the big blind, Julian pushed all in and Tino called.
Julian held Kc-Ks-Tc-8s, while Tino had Ac-Ah-Th-6h. The flop came down Ad-Kd-6d giving both players sets, but Julian couldn’t catch up and was left with 12,000 while Tino surged past 200,000 and was the chip leader going into Day 2 and the final table.
Tino led the final table from start to finish, eliminating four players en route to getting heads up with Karlos Farah.
Karlos managed to double up to draw things even, and took the chip lead at one stage. However with Tino holding a slight lead, all the chips were in the middle on a flop of Qd-Th-6c. Farah had Jd-Td-3h-3d, while Tino had Farah outkicked with Ah-Js-Ts-7c. Tino’s pair of jacks with ace kicker held, and he collected the $22,264 and the trophy.
Event 2 Pot Limit Omaha with Rebuys Final Table Results
1. Tino Lechich $22,264
2. Karlos Farah $14,520
3. Stewart Scott $10,648
4. Barry Carter $8,712
5. Rainer Quel $6,776
6. Lee Nelson $5,808
7. Jim Sachinidis $4,804
8. Sandra Propper $3,872
9. Adrian Sullivan $2,904
10. Julian Powell $1,936
For full results, see our Results page
PokerNews Cup Leaderboard Update
Tino jumps into second place with his win, and is just 27.5 points behind Steven Charles.
Posted in Leaderboard, Melbourne 2007 | Comments Off
October 23, 2007
In a turbo-charged final table that took just under two hours, it was Steve Charles that conquered the 554-player field to win AUD$16,615 and be crowned champion of the $175 No Limit Holdem.
With the blinds high and the stacks low, the action was aplenty. Remarkably Charles was left with less than one big blind early on, as he lost a race to Tim Simon with AT against 55. Tim Simon flopped a set, and Charles was reduced to 21,000 in chips with the blinds 15,000/30,000.
His tournament was looking over when he found himself all in with 85 against 99 and AK, but the board came down 8-3-6-5-2. One hand later he was back up to 220,000 after flopping quad fours. As players dropped around him, Charles sat back, eventually finding AK vs Renyuan Liu’s A3 to take 650,000 in chips to the heads up battle against Jim Mastorakos who had 1M.
Jim took a 3-to-1 chip lead early, but as the blinds rose to 30,000/60,000 Steve took over the lead as he hit broadway on the turn and Jim called him down. On the last hand, players got all their chips in on a flop of 7s-6c-3c. Steve had 7d9d for top pair, while Jim had Ac9c for a flush draw. The turn and river came down Ts and 4h, and Steve’s top pair held up to give him the win.
In addition to his prizemoney, Steve also leaps into first place on our PokerNews Cup Leaderboard. Each of the Championship Events will be ranked, and the winner will score a fantastic 2008 Aussie Millions package that includes entry to the opening $1,100 No Limit Holdem on January 5, ten nights accommodation at the Crown Towers, and a $1,000 food and beverage voucher.
Event 1 $175 No Limit Holdem Final Table Results
1. Steve Charles $16,615
2. Jim Mastorakos $12,050
3. Renyuan Liu $8726
4. Shane Pickering $6,648
5. David French $4,986
6. Timothy Simon $4,155
7. Hadeer Maroky $3,324
8. Jason Green $2,493
9. Ramy Tadros $1,662
Posted in Melbourne 2007 | Comments Off
October 19, 2007
The first ever PokerNews Cup kicks off at 12:30pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on Sunday October 21 with the Event #1 $175 No Limit Holdem Freezeout.
PokerNews.com will be there providing live updates, chip counts, photos and videos from the PokerNews Cup. Head to PokerNews Live Reporting for all the action!
Here’s a list of the events you can follow online (all times are AEST, AEDT from Sunday October 27):
Sunday October 21
12:30pm Event #1 $175 No Limit Holdem
Monday October 22
01:00pm Event #1 Final Table
07:10pm Event #2 $230 Pot Limit Omaha with $100 Rebuys
Tuesday October 23
01:00pm Event #2 Final Table
07:10pm Event #3 $230 No Limit Holdem
Wednesday October 24
01:00pm Event #3 Final Table
07:10pm Event #4 $550 No Limit Holdem with One Rebuy/Addon
08:10pm $10,000 PokerNews Australian Bad Boys of Poker
Thursday October 25
12:30pm $1,100 HORSE
09:00pm Event #4 Final Table
Friday October 26
01:00pm Event #5 Final Table
Saturday October 27
12:30pm PokerNews Cup Main Event Day 1
Sunday October 28
12:30pm PokerNews Cup Main Event Day 2
Monday October 29
02:30pm PokerNews Cup Main Event Final Table
Posted in Melbourne 2007 | Comments Off
October 18, 2007
Attention high-stakes players - the infamous Tony G will be hosting two $50,000 buyin sit-n-gos at the upcoming PokerNews Cup.
The $50,000+$200 sit-n-gos are expected to attract some of Australia’s most well-known players such as Billy “The Croc” Argyros, Jeff Lisandro, and Tino Lechich.
If you’d like to watch the action (or even play!) the first sit-n-go will be on Friday October 26 at 6:00pm AEST, and the second will be on Sunday October 28 at 6:00pm AEST.
Posted in Melbourne 2007 | Comments Off