Crown Poker Satellite Winner Tops Main Event Day 1B Chip Lead

Brett Daphne takes Day 1B chip lead

Day 1b of the 2009 Aussie Millions Main Event drew more poker players than Day 1a's opening session. Day 1b's field consisted of 2008 champion Alexander Kostritsyn, 2008 runner-up Erik Seidel, Annette Obrestad, Chris Ferguson, Grant Levy, Ivan Demidov, Jeff Madsen and many others.

Dispite the swamps of big names in the field, local player Brett Daphne finished Day 1b with the chip lead after winning his way into the Main Event through a Crown Poker satellite earlier in the month. Demidov made his way into the top ten, leading a bevy of big names who also survived the day's play.

Jim Ververis started off his 2009 Aussie Millions Main Event with the best possible starting hand of pocket Aces. He and Marty Smyth saw the flop in a raised pot, and by the end of the hand all chips were in the middle. Unfortunately for Ververis, Smyth managed to gain himself a two pair on the flop, leaving Smyth doubled up on the very first hand and Ververis on a quick exit as the day's first departure.

Other early casualties included Jeff Lisandro, Chris Ferguson and Alexander Kostritsyn.

Play was slower on the second Day 1 of the Main Event, with less than half the field eliminated. Among the notable departures were Harry Demetriou, Tony Dunst and Erik Seidel.

At the end of Day 1b the ten biggest stacks looked like this:

• Brett Daphne - 120,250
• Josh Malone - 112,400
• Sam Vakili - 106,300
• Michael Toreniec - 101,525
• Ali Ghezelbash - 92,575
• Erol Aygon - 92,100
• Josh Onas - 89,700
• Ivan Demidov - 81,925
• Annica Zvert - 81,575
• Michael 'Timex' McDonald - 80,675

Links:

PokerNews Video - Day 1B Kicks Off