2016 Aussie Millions Day 7: Yuki Ko and Gregory Cook Take Down Titles
Japan's Yuki Ko captured the fourth event on the 2016 Aussie Millions Poker Championship schedule on Tuesday, defeating a final table that included 2003 Aussie Millions Main Event champion Peter Costa.
Costa wound up third and Ko went on to beat Ilias Sagias heads up to earn the Event #4: $1,150 Pot-Limit Omaha title, an exclusive LK Boutique championship ring, and a $54,500 first-place prize.
The final table began at half past 12 on Tuesday with nine players remaining and Aussie Mostafa Haidary leading.
Costa was bringing up the rear, but managed to survive two all-in pots early, including chopping a big three-way hand with Kiwi Roger Swolf that saw Swolf take over the chip lead.
Jens Lakemeier was the first player sent packing, getting it in with kings on a board with two aces, and fellow German Paul Hoefer was eliminated eighth in a massive three-way pot that saw Costa triple up into contention.
Panayotis Flourentzou took seventh when he ran an overpair into Sagias' set and Swolf continued to hold the lead until Costa took it from him, making a full house over his trips.
Haidary cracked Andrian Chin's aces to double up, and Chin was soon sent home sixth before Haidary doubled through Costa and brought him back down to Earth.
Ko started moving up the ladder when he busted Swolf in fifth, the latter getting it in with a pair and a draw that could not beat Ko's small set. He also ended Haidary's tournament in fourth and started heads-up play with a 3-1 chip lead when he made yet another full house, cracking Costa's queens to send the "Silver Fox" home third.
Sagias grabbed the momentum when heads-up started and pulled back to even. It went back and forth for a while until Saigas grabbed the lead, making a flush to double through Ko.
Ko then pulled back into a commanding lead doubling through with a straight against a set of aces and finally made a set of deuces to crack Sagias' aces and secure his first Aussie Millions win.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuki Ko | Japan | $54,500 |
| 2 | Ilias Sagias | Australia | $35,590 |
| 3 | Peter Costa | UK | $22,910 |
| 4 | Mostafa Haidary | Australia | $17,795 |
| 5 | Roger Swolf | New Zealand | $14,455 |
| 6 | Andrian Chin | Australia | $11,675 |
| 7 | Panayotis Flourentzou | Australia | $9,460 |
| 8 | Paul Hoefer | Germany | $7,230 |
| 9 | Jens Lakemeier | Austria | $5,005 |
Gregory Cook Wins the $1,150 Mix-Max Event
Aussie Gregory Cook took down Event #5: Mix-Max No-Limit Hold'em inside the Crown Poker Room on Tuesday, defeating American Ari Engel heads up to win a $51,230 first-place prize and an LK Boutique Aussie Millions Championship ring.
The event drew 196 entries on Monday, playing full ring until they were down to 36. The final 36 played six-handed until after 2 a.m., returning with 25 players Tuesday.
Once they reached the final eight they split off into seeded heads-up matches based on the chip counts.
Martin Finger beat John Apostolidis, and Craig Blight eliminated Felix Kramer to push through to the semifinals. Cook beat Cameron Couch, and despite starting as the eighth seed, Engel came back to upset chip leader Errolyn Strang to move on.
Engel then made short work of Blight and Cook pushed past Finger setting up the final.
Engel began the final heads-up match with the chip lead, but Cook took control winning the first couple of big pots in the first level to take close to a 2-1 advantage. Engel ran hot and pulled into a 2-1 lead of his own come the second level and increased that lead before doubling up cook with top pair versus bottom two heading into the third. Engel kept the pressure on and built the lead back up before Cook doubled again, getting it in with middle pair versus a flush draw and holding.
The lead went back and forth until Cook finally inched ahead and Engel called off with an outkicked ace allowing Cook to capture his first Aussie Millions title.
Final Eight Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gregory Cook | Australia | $51,230 |
| 2 | Ari Engel | United States | $34,155 |
| 3 | Martin Finger | Austria | $19,590 |
| 4 | Craig Blight | Australia | $19,590 |
| 5 | Errolyn Strang | Australia | $10,665 |
| 6 | Cameron Couch | Australia | $10,665 |
| 7 | Nicolai Kramer | Slovakia | $10,665 |
| 8 | John Apostolidis | Australia | $10,665 |
$1,150 Six Max Draws 534
Event #6: $1,150 Six-Max No-Limit Hold'em drew 534 entries at the Crown Poker Room Tuesday, creating a $547,350 prize pool that will pay 53 spots.
A minimum cash is worth $2,300 and along with an LK Boutique Aussie Millions championship ring, the winner will earn $122,060 in prize money.
Play ran until 2 a.m. and will return to play down to a winner Wednesday beginning at 1 p.m. local time in Melbourne.
The PokerNews Live Reporting team will have updates throughout the day until a winner is crowned.
The 2016 Aussie Millions Poker Championship Continues
The 2016 Aussie Millions Poker Championship continues Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016, with the final day of Event #6: $1,150 Six-Max No-Limit Hold'em beginning at 1 p.m.
Wednesday will also see the start of Event #7: $2,500 8-Game Mixed event just after 12 p.m. and the first of three starting flights for Event #8: $1,150 No-Limit Hold'em Accumulator just after 6 p.m. This unique event allows players to play multiple starting flights and combine the stacks they build on the event's second day.
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