Loading...

Aussie Millions Main Event Day 3

1 month ago

All the action from Day 3 of the 2010 $10,500 Aussie Millions Main Event.

Play Finishes With 18 Remaining
Written by Tim Duckworth at 1:13am

Beginning the day with 83 players, action was quick and heavy as we saw elimination after elimination to leave just 18 players in the 2010 Aussie Millions Main Event.

The bubble burst early with Team 888poker member’s Tyler Bonkowski and Pierre Aoukar still fighting hard. Unfortunately for Bonkowski, his button bluff shove was called and his Qh-6d was unable to improve as he was bundled out of the tournament in 49th place picking up $20,000 for his efforts.

Aoukar on the other hand rode a roller-coaster throughout the day – flirting with the chip lead and then swooping low near the button – but with the chips being bagged and tagged as we speak it is safe to report that Aoukar has snuck through the day with a short but still playable 310,000 in chips.

Day 4 action will see the final eighteen play down to just seven – and with a $2 million first prize on offer – make sure to join us at 888BehindTheScenes for all the live coverage from 12:30pm as we rally behind Pierre and his pursuit of being crowned the 2010 Aussie Millions Champion!


(Pierre Aoukar representing Team 888poker)

  • * * * * * * *

Anguish For Aoukar
Written by Tim Duckworth at 12:18am

In a limped pot both Kosmas Dratsas and Pierre Aoukar saw a Kh-3c-Kd flop and both players put in 20,000 each to see the Kc land on the turn and a check follow from Dratsas.

Aoukar fired out 20,000 only to be check-raised to 120,000 by Dratsas. Aoukar made the call and when the Jh landed on the river Dratsas announced a bet of 400,000. Aoukar called and tabled his 3h-3s, but unfortunately for he, and the 888poker team, Dratsas rolled over his Ks-2c for Quads!

As Dratsas raked in the pot to soar to close to two million in chips, Aoukar slumped to 333,000 in chips.

  • * * * * * * *

Starring On Broadway In ‘Runner-Runner’ . . . Pierre Aoukar!
Written by Tim Duckworth at 11:37pm

Pierre Aoukar opened under the gun to 35,000 only to have Andrew Feldman move all in for 106,000. Aoukar made the call and the cameras and crowd gathered to sweat the action.

Aoukar: Kc-Jh
Feldman: As-Qd

The window card fell the Jc, but when the full flop read Jc-Ah-5h, Feldman was thrust in the lead.

The Qc on the turn gave Feldman aces-up but still left Aoukar with outs to a straight or trips if a third Jack fell.

Fortunately for Aoukar – and his entourage that included Joe and Tony Hachem along with cousin Fouad Chaptini – the dealer burned and turned the 10s on the river to sent Aoukar leaping into the air as he eliminated yet another opponent while climbing to 933,000 in chips.

  • * * * * * * *

Savage Pierre’D
Written by Tim Duckworth at 10:54pm

Pierre Aoukar entered the pot with a raise on the button to 20,000 only to have Ben Savage ship his 135,000-chip stack all in from the small blind. Aoukar called and the cards were tabled.

Aoukar: Ac-8d
Savage: Ad-3c

The board ran out 8h-10s-10d-2s-6h to see Savage eliminated by Aoukar as the Team 888poker member soared to 813,000 in chips as the 26 players remaining head on their final break for the day.

  • * * * * * * *

Aoukar Rolls Out Savage
Written by Tim Duckworth at 10:42pm

Andrew Feldman entered the pot with a raise to 18,000 from under the gun, and both Pierre Aoukar and Ben Savage made the call from the blinds.

Aoukar led out for 60,000 when the Ah-5h-5d flop fell, but was quickly met with a re-raise to 180,000 from Savage. Feldman deliberated for a few moments before folding, and once the action was on Aoukar, he moved all in for 260,000 total.

Savage thought for a little before sliding in a stack to make the call as the cards were tabled.

Aoukar: Ad-2c
Savage: Ac-Qd

With Savage having a near lock on the hand, the 4c on the turn gave Aoukar a few more outs to make a straight.

“Just a red three dealer” asked Aoukar, and like so many times already this tournament, the river of death brought the 3c to ship Aoukar the huge double up to 579,000 and leave Savage crippled.

  • * * * * * * *

Aoukar Straighten Out
Written by Tim Duckworth at 10:23pm

Elliot Smith opened to 18,000 from the button and Team 888poker player Pierre Aoukar defended his big blind.

Aoukar check-called a 18,000-chip bet from Smith on the Ks-7c-5d flop before both player’s checked the 9c on the turn. When the river fell the 8h, Aoukar checked to Smith who took his time deliberating before opting to fire out 55,000. Aoukar quickly called before mucking at the sight of Smith’s 6c-2c as Aoukar slipped to 291,000 in chips.

  • * * * * * * *

Aoukar Flushes Smith
Written by Tim Duckworth at 9:58pm

Elliot Smith opened to 18,000 and both Pierre Aoukar and Ben Savage defended their blinds.

The Qh-7d-9c flop was checked round to see the 2d land on the turn and a bet of 32,000 follow from Smith. Both Aoukar and Savage check-called to see the 5d land on the river and checks follow once again from Aoukar and Savage.

Smith sat in the tank for a few minutes before checking and tabling his Jc-8c for air. Aoukar shook his head and tabled his 4d-3d for a runner-runner flush and the pot to climb to 338,000 in chips.

  • * * * * * * *

Aoukar Run Down By Smith
Written by Tim Duckworth at 9:21pm

Pierre Aoukar limped in from under the gun and both blinds came along for the ride to see a flop of Jd-6h-6s fall.

Elliot Smith fired out 8,000 from the small blind and only Aoukar made the call before the 7s landed on the turn and a 15,000-chip bet follow from Smith. Aoukar called and when the river landed the 7c he again called a bet from Smith; this time amounting to 30,000.

Smith tabled his 9d-7d for a full house while Aoukar flashed his Jc-10d before throwing them in the muck while slipping to 189,000 in the process.


(Pierre Aoukar scoping out his cards)

  • * * * * * * *

Play Resumes
Written by Tim Duckworth at 8:4pm

The cards are back in the air with blinds at 4,000-8,000 and a 1,000-ante.

The tournament has now moved to a six-handed format with Team 888poker member Pierre Aoukar’s table as follows:

Seat 1: Kristoffer Kero – 268,000
Seat 2: Elliot Smith – 548,000
Seat 3: Nico Behling – 92,000
Seat 4: Amir Minagar – 899,000
Seat 5: Pierre Aoukar – 235,000
Seat 6: Ben Savage – 320,000


(Pierre Aoukar at his new table)

  • * * * * * * *

Dinner Time
Written by Tim Duckworth at 7:15pm

We have just lost our 37th player to see play paused while we take a 75-minute dinner break.

Pierre Aoukar will be returning after dinner as one of the short stacks with 235,000.

See you at 8:45pm for the restart!


(Team 888poker member Pierre Aoukar)

  • * * * * * * *

Pierre Bluffed
Written by Tim Duckworth at 6:41pm

Facing a raise to 16,000, Pierre Aoukar made the call from the big blind before leading for 50,000 on a Jh-8d-8s flop.

His lone opponent in the hand sat in the tank for some time before pushing out a re-raise amounting to 132,000. Aoukar made the call before checking the 4c on the turn only to have his opponent move all in for over 350,000 to put Aoukar to a decision for his tournament life.

“If I fold you going to show me?” asked Aoukar as he pondered a decision.

“C’mon man . . . something” continued to Aoukar before he eventually folded his Ah-Jc face up.

As Aoukar slipped to 220,000, his opponent began raking in the pot, but not before cheekily tabling his Js-6s for a weaker two-pair.

  • * * * * * * *

Aoukar Coming Back
Written by Tim Duckworth at 6:23pm

Pierre Aoukar has continued his roller-coaster ride today to soar back up to 450,000 in chips.

In a recent hand, Aoukar held Ad-10h to an all in opponent’s Qh-Qd, and after the board ran out 7s-As-9d-10c-8h Aoukar culled another victim to take the field to just forty.

  • * * * * * * *

Tyler Bonkowski Eliminated In 49th Place ($20,000)
Written by Tim Duckworth at 5:50pm

With the action folding round to Team 888poker player Tyler Bonkowski in the cutoff, he pushed in his remaining 43,000. The button passed, as did the small blind before Kosmas Dratsas moved into the tank from the big blind.

After around ninety seconds, Dratsas splashed the pot with an assortment of chips to signify a call.

Bonkowski: Qh-6d
Dratsas: Kd-Jd

The flop of Jh-3d-8s pushed Dratsas into the lead and leave Bonkowski drawing to a Queen or running cards for a straight or trips.

Unfortunately the turn left Bonkowski drawing to only a Queen, and when the As fell on the river, the Canadian headed to the rail in 49th place collecting $20,000 for his solid and patient display during the Aussie Millions Main Event.

Congratulations Tyler for a great display on behalf of Team 888poker!


(Tyler Bonkowski battling it out before elimination)

  • * * * * * * *

Aoukar Hitting And Missing With The Ladies
Written by Tim Duckworth at 5:40pm

Pierre Aoukar made it 17,000 to go from the cutoff before Jessica Dawley pushed the action to 35,000 from the small blind. Instantly Aoukar moved all in for 174,000 more, and after nearly three minutes in the tank, Dawley folded her As-Kc face up.

Aoukar returned the favour by tabling his Qh-Qd as he raked in the pot.

  • * * * * * * *

Dinner Soon To Be
Written by Tim Duckworth at 5:13pm

The remaining 49 players have just returned from the final break before dinner and are settling in to battle it out once again.

The blinds are 3,000-6,000 with a 1,000-ante and here are the counts from the two remaining Team 888poker players:

Pierre Aoukar – 235,000
Tyler Bonkowski – 100,000

  • * * * * * * *

Aoukar Chipping Back Up
Written by Tim Duckworth at 4:22pm

Sorel Mizzi opened to 12,000 and Pierre Aoukar moved all in for 107,000. Mizzi made the call tabling his As-10c to be dominated by Aoukar’s Ah-Kh.

The board ran out 8d-7c-3h-7h-2s to see Aoukar double through to over 220,000.

A few hands later, Aoukar dispatched of a short-stacked opponent when his Kc-8s outdrew Ac-9c when the final board ran out 10h-6s-Jd-5s-Kc to see the one-time chip leader climb to 290,000.

Tyler Bonkowski has been getting busy of late and has chipped up 205,000 as we reach the next round of players with the final 56 players all receiving a guaranteed $20,000 in prizemoney.

  • * * * * * * *

Aoukar Miz’D
Written by Tim Duckworth at 3:41pm

Catching the action on the board of Ac-10c-6d-Js-Jc with Sorel Mizzi leading the betting on each street to form a pot of over 200,000, Mizzi cut down a bet of 116,500 and slid it into the middle.

Aoukar thought for some time before making the call. Mizzi tabled his Kh-Qs for Broadway and Aoukar mucked his hand to see him slip to 121,000 in chips.

  • * * * * * * *

Aces For Tyler
Written by Tim Duckworth at 3:08pm

Tyler Bonkowski open jammed for 58,500 and was called by Steven Friedlander in the big blind.

Bonkowski: Ah-Ac
Friedlander: 9h-9d

The board ran out 2h-6s-7d-Jh-Qc to see Bonkowski double though to 120,000 in chips.

  • * * * * * * *

Break Time
Written by Tim Duckworth at 2:34pm

The remaining 68 players are heading on a 20-minute break and most importantly both the Team 888Poker player’s are still in.

Unfortunately for Tyler Bonkowski, he has been clipped substantially to sit with just 60,000.

The hand where he lost the majority of his chips, Bonkowski opened to 10,500 and was called by Kosmas Dratsas in position to see a flop of Ad-5c-10c fall and a check from Bonkowski follow before Dratsas made it 15,000 to go. Bonkowski made the call before leading out for 30,000 when the turn dropped the 9s. Dratsas made the call and when the river landed the Ks both players checked.

Bonkowski tabled his As-7d, but Dratsas flipped over his Ac-Js to rake in the pot.

Pierre Aoukar has one of the toughest tables left in the tournament with chip leader Sorel Mizzi, Van Marcus, John Dalessandri and Elliot Smith to contend with, but with Auokar holding holding a mammoth 584,000 in chips, he is still sitting fairly safe at the moment.

  • * * * * * * *

Bubble Bursts!
Written by Tim Duckworth at 2:08pm

Both Tyler Bonkowski and Pierre Aoukar have survived the intense bubble period and are now in the money!

Bonkowski saw his chip stack fluctuate up to 180,000 and down to 120,000, but after finding some composure he has steadied on around 150,000.

Aoukar on the other hand has been slowly accumulating and has just on 590,000 in chips.

  • * * * * * * *

Aoukar To Chip Lead
Written by Tim Duckworth at 1:11pm

Pierre Aoukar opened to 11,000 from the hi-jack and Elliot Smith made the call from the cutoff to see a 4d-8c-6s flop fall.

Smith fired out 12,000 following a check from Aoukar, and once Aoukar called, he checked the Jd on the turn to see Smith continue his aggression with a 19,000-chip bet. Aoukar called and both players checked the Qc on the river to see Smith table his 9h-8h to rake in the pot.

A few hands later however, Aoukar regained more then he lost after calling a preflop raise of 10,500, a flop bet of 14,500, and a turn bet of 30,500 by Sorel Mizzi on a board reading 2c-2h-Jh-Ac-3s. Mizzi fired out 52,000 on the river only to have Aoukar raise the action to 162,000 to force a fold from Mizzi and see Aoukar rake in the pot and move to 588,000 in chips and snatch the tournament chip lead.

  • * * * * * * *

Day 3 Upon Us
Written by Tim Duckworth at 12:30pm

We are now down to Day 3 action with just 83 players remaining in the field.

Only eleven eliminations are needed until the player’s hit the money in the 2010 Aussie Millions Main Event, and thankfully, Team 888poker still has two representative’s playing.

South Australian Pierre Aoukar is the second chip leader with his 501,000 in chips, and although he is in the bottom few, Tyler Bonkowski still has a very playable 131,500.

Play is kicking off in a few minutes with both Aoukar and Bonkowski seated as follows:

Table 25
Seat 1: John Dalessandri – 200,500
Seat 2: Joel Dodds – 116,500
Seat 3: Sorel Mizzi – 470,000
Seat 4: Davor Lanini – 24,500
Seat 5: Jacqueline Flint – 75,000
Seat 6: Pierre Aoukar – 501,000
Seat 7: Elliot Smith – 267,000
Seat 8: Todd Brandis – 108,000

Table 29
Seat 1: Fouad Chaptini – 78,000
Seat 2: Kosmas Dratsas – 218,500
Seat 3: Nasr El Nasr – 83,500
Seat 4: Steve Topakas – 96,500
Seat 5: Steven Friedlander – 211,000
Seat 6: Tyron Krost – 90,500
Seat 7: Tyler Bonkowski – 131,500
Seat 8: Steven Silva – 54,000

Make sure to stay tuned to 888BehindTheScenes for all your Aussie Millions Main Event coverage!