Although smaller in size, Event #3 of the Aussie Millions was always going to bring about one of the toughest fields of the championship. The $1,100 Omaha HiLo is one of the more specialist tournaments on the calendar, which brought out many familiar faces with the odd spattering of new blood looking to take home an Aussie Millions ring.
The influx of international visitors continued with many entering todays event. such as WSOP runner-up Ivan Demidov and 2008 Aussie Millions champion Alexander Kostritsyn making his first appearance.
Play was slow and steady throughout the day taking just over 12 hours to whittle the original field over 102 down to the final table of nine. Not surprisingly, the final table was packed full of experience, with seating assignments as follows:
Seat 1: Rainer Quel (132,000)
Seat 2: Danny Mountt (89,000)
Seat 3: Mark Furniss (10,500)
Seat 4: Mel Judah (109,500)
Seat 5: Derek Raymond (37,000)
Seat 6: Michael Guzzardi (12,500)
Seat 7: Jeffrey Duvall (36,000)
Seat 8: Billy Argyros (68,500)
Seat 9: Mick Stanton (12,500)
We lost the three shortest stacks soon after the final table begun. First to go was Mick Stanton ($2,550) followed my Michael Guzzardi ($3,570) and Mark Furniss ($4,590).
Play slowed a little before losing Bill Argyros ($6,120), Danny Mountt ($8,160) and two international "final table-ists" Derek Raymond ($10,710) and Jeffrey Duvall ($14,280) leaving Mel "Silver Fox" Judah and Rainer Quel to battle it out for the title.
Both remaining players started the heads-up battle with large stacks and the chiplead swung back and forth numerous times before Judah took the ascendancy almost two hours into heads-up play. Judah finally got his opponent all-in holding KhKc3c3s versus Quels’ AdKd8d6h, the board ran out 9d4c9h9s6c to give Mel a full-house and the title. Rainer Quel took home $21,430 for his efforts while Mel Judah was awarded with $30,600 along with the coveted Aussie Millions championship ring valued at $4,000.
Links:
Crown Poker Gallery | PokerNews Introduces the Final Table | PokerNews Interview with Mel Judah
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