Thursday 26th January

Just 75 players returned for Day 3 of the Main Event today. Three of those players were incredibly unlucky, walking away completely empty handed. 72 however, each secured their own slice of the $6.59 million prize pool. It took well over an hour to finally burst the anticipated money-bubble, and that was thanks to Kenna James sending Frank Paul to the rail in 73rd place. Although he wasn't as unlucky as 72nd place, with Crown giving Frank a consolation prize: a buy-in to the Hall of Fame event happening this weekend. 

While the Main Event was playing in the Crown Poker Room, I spent most of the day upstairs in Studio 3 doing my hosting duties for the Aussie Millions television production. As we ticked over to 5pm, a handful of players arrived with pockets full of chips, ready to take a seat at the televised cash game table that holds a minimum buy-in of $100,000. Gus Hansen, Jason Mercier, Sam Trickett, Daniel Negreanu and a couple of Chinese businessmen were first to take their seats. Of course, it wouldn't have been a high-stakes poker game without a little Chinese poker to get the action going as the players waited for Gus to buy his chips! Soon after, Gus left to watch the Federer vs Nadal tennis match at the Australian Open, and Patrik Antonius and Daniel Cates joined them. I have no word on who is up and who is down right now, but will be sure to report back tomorrow. What I do know is that Studio 3 will be full of unbelievable action tonight!