Live tournament update sees Amir Barer take a commanding lead into the 2014 Aussie Millions final table where Sorel Mizzi, Jake Balsiger, Darren Rabinowitz and Scott Seiver also star.
The 2014 Aussie Millions $10,600 Main Event has reached the apex of it’s journey and there are only seven players left in contention for the A$1,600,000 first prize with the Canadian Ami Barer holding a commanding lead with 6.5m chips; but it will not be easy for Barer with the likes of Sorel Mizzi, Jake Balsiger, Darren Rabinowitz and Scott Seiver also making the grade.
29 players took their seats on the penultimate day of action and there were more stars than a clear night sky over Iceland during the clouds Christmas disco.
Leading the way, with 1.54 million chips, was Salvatore Fazzino, but he was joined in the mix with the likes of Scott Seiver, Sorel Mizzi and Darren Rabinowitz who each started the day with seven figure stacks.
There old school were represented well with the former Aussie Millions $250,000 winner Erik Seidel, and inaugural $100,000 winner John Juanda flying that well worn flag; Liv Boeree, Craig McCorkell, Rhys Jones and Eoghan O’Dea were flying the flag for the British and Ireland crew, and Team PokerStars were well represented by Jason Mercier, Raymond Wu and Jonathan Duhamel.
Liv Boeree is finally getting some traction together with a string of impressive 2014 performances, and another deep run in a major event is going to give her confidence the world of good.
Boeree finished in 28th place after getting her chips in with pocket eights against the pocket jacks of Patrick Crivell. The jacks held to send the American over the 2 million mark and Boeree was sent to the rail.
Jeff Rossiter would eliminate the former World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion Jonathan Duhamel AQ>KJ, before the tournament lost John Juanda in the following hand.
Andrew Phaedonas opened to 38,000 from under the gun and John Juanda three-bet to 101,000. Jim Mourafas called on the button, as did Phaedonas. The flop was [Tc] [4h] [2h], Phaedonas and Juanda both checked, Mourafas bet 206,000, Phaedonas called and Juanda moved all-in for 407,000.
Phaedonas thought for a while before calling and thinking Mourafas was also all-in Juanda showed pocket aces. Quickly realizing his mistake the veteran turned his cards back over and the dealer laid the [Kd] out on the turn. Phaedonas moved all-in and Mourafas folded. Juanda was eliminated after Phaedonas showed pocket tens for the set.
The aforementioned old-timer Erik Seidel would find the door in 10th place after moving his short stack into the middle holding [Kh] [3s] and the rampaging Amir Barer called with the dominating [As] [Kd]. The board ran out free from surprises and the New Yorker was no more.
Then the final table was set after Eoghan O’Dea lost his tournament defining flip to Jake Balsiger. The two former November Niners clashing with the Irishman tabling [Ah] [Ks] and Balsiger showing pocket eights. The snowmen didn’t melt, O’Dea was out and the final table was set.
Final Table Chip Counts
1.Ami Barer – 6,570,000
2. Vincent Rubianes – 3,865,000
3. Sorel Mizzi – 2,830,000
4. Jake Balsiger – 2,385,000
5. Darren Rabinowitz – 2,365,000
6. Andrew Phaedonas – 1,015,000
7. Scott Seiver – 855,000
