[user75032]
Christian Heich has extended his chip lead over Steve Topakas. Heich opened for 100,000 before Topakas reraised to 300,000. Heich quickly moved all in, drawing a fold from Topakas after about twenty seconds. Heich now has a two-to-one edge in chips.
[user75032]
We may be witnessing a transition to small ball poker. Christian Heich opened for 100,000 and Steve Topakas called. On a flop of , Topakas checked and then folded to a 120,000-chip bet from Heich.
[user75032]
Steve Topakas and Christian Heich wasted no time locking horns. On the first hand of heads up play, Heich raised to 100,000 and Topakas called. The flop came . Topakas checked it over to Heich, then called after Heich bet 130,000.
Both players checked the turn. On the river , Topakas fired out for 275,000. Heich made the call. His , aces and fours, beat the stone bluff that Topakas showed down, . The first pot went to Heich. He has opened a three-to-two chip lead on Topakas.
[user67765]
The Gold Ring is on the line!
The chip counts as we enter the heads up battle are as follows:
Steve Topakas: 1,975,000
Christian Heich: 1,690,000
Who will capture the first Gold Ring of the 2009 Ausse Millions? Can local player Steve Topakas add to his impressive tournament record or will Christian Heich take the $150,000 first place prize money back to Germany?
[user67765]
Steve Bouya - 3rd Place
A short-stacked Steve Bouya moved all in from the button for around 460,000. Christian Heich folded his small blind but Steve Topakas insta-called from the big blind as he stood up and slammed down on the felt. Bouya was in trouble with his .
The board fell and the tournament is over for Steve Bouya in 3rd place. He'll collect AU$73,100 for his efforts.
We're now heads up for the first title of the 2009 Aussie Millions! The players are taking a ten-minute break and we'll have the updated chip counts for you shortly.
[user75032]
Things are starting to look grim for Steve Bouya. He raised to 140,000 from the button and was called by Christian Heich. Heich checked the flop to Bouya, who fired a continuation bet of 200,000. Heich check-raised to 450,000 and elicited a fold from Bouya after about a minute.
[user67765]
Steve Topakas
Steve Topakas raised to 140,000 from the button and Christian Heich made the call out of the big blind.
Both players checked the flop and a repeat fell on the turn. Heich decided to take a stab at the pot with a 150,000 chip bet. Topakas made the call.
The river was the and Heich fired again, this time for 250,000. Topakas again made the call. Heich tabled for a missed draw as Topakas collected the healthy pot with his .
Topakas now assumes the chip lead with over 1.5 million chips.
[user75032]
There's a contrast in styles going on among our last three players. The two Steves -- Steve Topakas and Steve Bouya -- have displayed a willingness to be patient and keep pots small. Christian Heich has adopted more of a loose-aggressive style. That was on display in a recent hand between Heich and Topakas. Heich made it 100,000 from the button before Topakas reraised to 300,000. Heich, in position, called.
The flop was . Topakas checked to Heich, who quickly moved all in. Topakas tanked for three minutes, staring Heich down for a read, before finally mucking . Heich flashed for two overcards and a flush draw as he collected the pot.