$25,000 Challenge
Day 1 Completed
2018 Aussie Millions
$25,000 Challenge
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2018 Aussie Millions
Buy-in
25,000 AUD
Prize Pool
2,736,000 AUD
Entries
114
Level
21
Blinds
15,000 / 30,000
Ante
4,000
Level 12
: 2,000/4,000, 500 ante
After 12 levels it is Kitty Kuo who holds a commanding lead heading into Day 2 of the Aussie Millions $25,000 Challenge. Just 19 players remain in the first big High Roller of the festival, and Kuo holds a lead of just under 200,000 over her nearest rival.
Helped by some late eliminations, Kuo bagged 754,000 when play finished for the night shortly before 2 am. She sent Robert Spano to the rail in one of the last hands to soar ahead of rivals Mustapha Kanit (582,000), Rory Young (400,000) and Jan-Eric Schwippert (360,500).
"It was a good day," said Kuo, "A very fun day!"
Kuo had posted on social media throughout the day that her seating draw hadn't been the kindest it could have been. Her first table saw her pitted against two-time WSOP final tablist Antoine Saout, 2017 WCOOP winner Steven van Zadelhoff and former Aussie Millions runner-up Jack Salter.
"I've played with all these men eight years! I know how they play!" said Kuo. "This is my fifth time in Melbourne. It's my favourite. The food is great and the city is nice. And Australian men are handsome!"
A field of 114 players came together for the 2018 Aussie Millions $25,000 Challenge. It was a short day for the likes of Sam Grafton and Niall Farrell who were both eliminated in the early goings, with Grafton sent to the rail on the very first hand after losing Ace-King against the Aces of Marc MacDonnell.
As is to be expected in Melbourne, the Australian contingent was out in force, with Martin Kozlov, Jonathan Karamalikis, Rory Young, Corey Kempson, and Kahle Burns all participating.
Michael Addamo, Marius Gierse and Kitty Kuo were among the early players to head over six figures, but as the day progressed the chips swung wildly between players as they got to grips with the 6-Max format.
Other notable players to bust before the dinner break included Max Silver, Ludovic Geilich, Christian Harder, Vojtech Ruzicka, Manig Loeser, Benny Spindler and Dominykas Karmazinas.
By the time players came back from dinner break, they had been joined by superstar Fedor Holz, who lasted all of 20 minutes before he flopped a set with pocket Aces, only for opponent Roger Teska to river a straight and send Holz to the rail. We will have to wait and see whether he plays in any more events here in Melbourne.
The payouts were also confirmed today, with 14 places being paid and a min-cash worth A$54,720. First place is A$738,720 and the ANTON Jewellery championship ring.
As the evening progressed Rory Young and Jan-Eric Schwippert moved over 300,000, but it was Michael Gathy (pictured) who burst over the 400,000 mark after eliminating Ben Heath. Heath had lost house over house in the first level of the day to bust his first bullet and had been going well before running his Kings into the Aces of Gathy. The Belgian's monster pocket pair held and sent the 2017 Aussie Millions runner-up to the rail.
However, as the last level ticked down to the eventual close of play, it was Kitty Kuo who headed the counts. Kuo sent Preben Stokkan to the rail and was sitting comfortably on a stack in excess of 500,000 as play came to a close.
The players will resume tomorrow at 2 pm local time. Stay tuned to PokerNews for continuing live updates from the Crown Casino in Melbourne, and the 2018 Aussie Millions.
Level 12
: 2,000/4,000, 500 ante
| Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | Kazuhiko Yotsushika | Japan | 245,000 | 49 |
| 7 | 2 | Claas Segebrecht | Germany | 351,500 | 70 |
| 7 | 3 | Wayne Yap | Singapore | 270,500 | 54 |
| 7 | 4 | Mustapha Kanit | Italy | 582,000 | 116 |
| 7 | 5 | Michael Gathy | Belgium | 299,000 | 60 |
| 8 | 1 | Yury Zinkevich | Belarus | 313,000 | 63 |
| 8 | 2 | Jan-Eric Schwippert | Germany | 360,500 | 72 |
| 8 | 3 | Marius Gierse | Germany | 79,000 | 16 |
| 8 | 4 | Brian Yoon | United States | 349,000 | 70 |
| 8 | 5 | Kitty Kuo | Taiwan | 754,000 | 151 |
| 10 | 1 | Danny Tang | Hong Kong | 169,500 | 34 |
| 10 | 2 | Roger Teska | United States | 290,000 | 58 |
| 10 | 3 | Jonathan Karamalikis | Australia | 108,000 | 22 |
| 10 | 4 | Jack Salter | United Kingdom | 344,000 | 69 |
| 10 | 5 | Michael Addamo | Australia | 157,000 | 31 |
| 17 | 1 | Rory Young | Australia | 400,000 | 80 |
| 17 | 2 | Jordan Westmorland | United States | 277,500 | 56 |
| 17 | 3 | Ben Lamb | United States | 172,500 | 35 |
| 17 | 4 | Stefan Huber | Switzerland | 179,000 | 36 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
754,000
154,000
|
154,000 |
|
||
|
582,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
||
|
400,000
35,000
|
35,000 |
|
||
|
360,500
95,500
|
95,500 |
|
351,500
36,500
|
36,500 |
|
349,000
-41,000
|
-41,000 |
|
||
|
344,000
4,000
|
4,000 |
|
313,000
73,000
|
73,000 |
|
299,000
-101,000
|
-101,000 |
|
||
|
290,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
||
|
277,500
-12,500
|
-12,500 |
|
270,500
-9,500
|
-9,500 |
|
245,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
179,000
29,000
|
29,000 |
|
172,500
-47,500
|
-47,500 |
|
||
|
169,500
-115,500
|
-115,500 |
|
|
||
|
157,000
-28,000
|
-28,000 |
|
||
|
108,000
13,000
|
13,000 |
|
79,000
-66,000
|
-66,000 |
Level 12
: 2,000/4,000, 500 ante
On a 
board Stefan Huber got his last 65,500 into the middle holding 
against the 
of Kazuhiko Yotsushika.
The river was the 
giving Huber a full house and doubling him up in the penultimate hand of the night.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
230,000
-115,000
|
-115,000 |
|
|
150,000
-30,000
|
-30,000 |
Level 12
: 2,000/4,000, 500 ante
There are 20 players remaining and the clocks have been stopped with 10 minutes left on the level. Three more hands will be played before bagging and tagging.
Level 12
: 2,000/4,000, 500 ante
The initial raise of Sam Higgs in the cutoff was alreadys pulled in when Mustapha Kanit three-bet to 27,000 on the button. Higgs four-bet all in for 188,500 in total and Kanit checked the screens briefly before tossing in calling chips.
Mustapha Kanit: 
Sam Higgs: 
"We can still chop," Kanit said and Higgs smiled back and replied "You probably gonna win this one." And that's exactly what Kanit did after improving to trips queens thanks to the board of 
. That pot gave Kanit a massive pot and he may challenge Kitty Kup for the top spot after Day 1.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
600,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
575,000
275,000
|
275,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Level 12
: 2,000/4,000, 500 ante
Kahle Burns was already missing from the table and Claas Segebrecht confirmed that he ran with pocket queens into the pocket kings of Kitty Kuo. The latter was also responsible for the next casualty after when raising on the button and calling the shove of short stack Preben Stokkan in the big blind.
Preben Stokkan:
Kitty Kuo: 
The board of 
didn't bring sufficient help for Stokkan and the Norwegian was eliminated half an hour before the end of Day 1.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
575,000
275,000
|
275,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Level 12
: 2,000/4,000, 500 ante
Earlier Sam Higgs lost with Sevens against the Ace-King of Stefan Huber, but this time he held 
and was up against the 
of Jonathan Karamalikis.
The flop came 
and Higgs got to his feet. The 
on the turn gave him gutshot straight outs, and meant he turned back to look at the table just in time for the to come on the river, giving him a set and doubling up him to around 250,000 in chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
250,000
130,000
|
130,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
95,000
-125,000
|
-125,000 |
Level 12
: 2,000/4,000, 500 ante
The grind of Jesse Sylvia has come to an end. After defending his big blind against a raise by Wayne Yap, Sylvia got his last 35,000 in on the 
flop and Yap quickly called.
Jesse Sylvia: 
Wayne Yap:
Both the turn and the 
river were of no help for the American and he quickly headed to the rail in the last level of the night.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
280,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Level 12
: 2,000/4,000, 500 ante
Brian Yoon has taken over the chip lead at his table after Jack Salter gave up to a second barrel of Jan-Eric Schwippert, dropping just behind Kazuhiko Yotsushika in the counts.
Schwippert's raise to 9,000 was called by Yotsushika and Salter in the blinds, but just the latter check-called a bet of 15,000 on the 
flop. The 
turn brought a second check by Salter, prompting a second bet of Schwippert for 42,000 and resulting in the fold of the Brit.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
390,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
345,000
75,000
|
75,000 |
|
|
340,000
-55,000
|
-55,000 |
|
|
265,000
-40,000
|
-40,000 |