AM TODAY: Jan 19; Bergren tops field on day 1B of Opening Event

Aussie Millions daily report – January 19, 2013

Players continue to vote with their feet with an extra 338 buy-ins added to the prizepool for the Aussie Millions $1100 No Limit Hold’em Opening Event at Crown Melbourne, taking the total entry to 661 with one flight to go.

Robin Bergren topped the day 1B chip count on 202,700 but that’s only good enough for third spot overall behind day 1A pacesetters Michael Guzzardi (252,600) and Ryan Smith (217,500).

Others to progress to Sunday’s day two included Gabriel Xiourouppa (who win this event in 2007), Hall of Fame member Gary Benson, 2011 Aussie Millions Main Event winner David Gorr and defending Opening Event champion Brendon Rubie.

The repechage format of this event should safely ensure the field tops 1000 players when day 1C kicks-off in the Crown Poker Room at 12.30pm today.

• It’s only appropriate that Australia’s premier charity poker tournament features as part of the schedule of events for our annual national poker championship.

For the second year in a row, the Joe Hachem and Shane Warne Charity Poker Tournament will be played during the Aussie Millions, with the event scheduled from noon on Sunday (January 20) at The West End at Crown Melbourne.

The sixth annual Joe Hachem and Shane Warne Charity Poker Tournament is proudly supported by Crown, 888Poker*, Jeep and Queen’s Slipper.

Prizes include a first prize package of a 2013 Aussie Millions Main Event and WSOP APAC Main Event packages, second and third prizes are 2013 Aussie Millions Main Event seats while additional prizes will be awarded down to 16th place.

Fast fact

2004 Aussie Millions champion Tony Bloom is the chairman of the English football club Brighton and Hove-Albion, which currently lies in eighth spot in the NPower Championship (one tier below the EPL). Bloom’s Aussie Millions tournament winnings alone are AUD $2,283,490, which includes two runner-up finishes in the $100,000 buy-in Hold’em Challenge.

What’s on today

10.15am $250 Aussie Millions Main Event Phase 2 Satellite

12.30pm Event 1: $1100 No Limit Hold’em day 1 flight 3 (repechage)

2.15pm $250 Aussie Millions Main Event Phase 2 Satellite

4.15pm $250 Aussie Millions Main Event Phase 2 Satellite

6.15pm $1150 Aussie Millions Main Event Phase 3 Supershot Satellite

9.15pm $130 Aussie Millions Main Event rebuy satellite

Pic: Shannon Morris – 2013 Aussie Millions Poker Championship