Twenty-five of the world's best players took to the felt yesterday for the commencement of the 16th event on the 2009 Aussie Millions calendar. After one day of play, eight remained to produce one of the toughest final table lineups ever seen at the Aussie Millions.
Aussie Millions Champions, World Champions, multiple WSOP bracelet winners, WPT titles, Australian Poker Hall of Fame members, and more...this final table had poker records that rival any in the game. It was always going to be a tough day as Lechich, Binger and Hachem found out as they were eliminated short of the money.
In the end it came down to Alexander Kostritsyn and Chris Ferguson. Kostritsyn started this tournament very low on chips but managed to rebound to build a healthy chip lead on this final table. Ferguson battled valiantly but the aggression of the Russian was too much to overcome.
The 2008 Aussie Millions Main Event champion captures another title of Australian soil, AU$95,000 in prize money and the coveted Aussie Millions Gold Ring. Congratulations Alexander!
The 2009 Aussie Milions is drawing to a close, but we still have a few more events to provide your poker fix. The No Limit Holdem Turbo event is drawing to an exciting conclusion, while the $1 million cash game is keeping us all glued to the big screens here at Crown. Also tomorrow we'll see the final event on the schedule with the Two Card Manila kicking off at 12:30 p.m. See you then!
The game switched to Omaha Hi/Lo and Chris Ferguson was committed for his last 14,600 preflop against Alexander Kostritsyn who had raised from the button.
Ferguson:
Kostritsyn:
The flop landed heavily in Kostritsyn's favour when it arrived giving him the broadway straight. Ferguson stood as he realized his tournament was hanging by a thread. The on the turn gave him a little hope for a possible low hand to collect half the pot. But it wasn't to be as the fell to give Kostritsyn the scoop and the win!
Well done to Chris Ferguson for his runner-up finish. He pockets a tidy AU$65,000.
This back and forth contest went back in the direction of Kostritsyn after he made an unlikely two pair holding to leave Ferguson heading in the wrong direction once again.
The following hand Ferguson raised the button and Kostritsyn called. The flop landed and Kostritsyn led at the pot with a bet. Ferguson gave a wry smile and folded to leave himself with only 14,500 chips.
Chris Ferguson was all in on the turn with the board reading . Alexander Kostritsyn is trying hard to end this one and make his dinner reservation as he took a shot with , but he'd run into Ferguson's !
The river was the and Ferguson doubles up once again!
With Chris Ferguson so short, the players sensibly agreed to postpone the dinner break for a little bit and play it out. Alexander Kostritsyn is currently on the phone trying to reschedule his dinner reservation.
Alexander Kostritsyn appears to have decided to put the foot down. In a recent Razz hand he was showing a and re-raised after Chris Ferguson had completed with the . Kostritsyn turned to our desk to request that we blogged this action, as it was a somewhat unusual Razz play.
Ferguson called, received on fourth street and bet out. Kostritsyn then raised with Ferguson making the call.
On fifth street Ferguson caught good with the and Kostritsyn finally gave up his power play when the hit to give him one too many bricks.
Alexander Kostritsyn made it 12,000 on the button before Chris Ferguson reraised to 18,000 with Kostritsyn making the call.
The flop landed and Ferguson fired 6,000. Kostritsyn called. The turn was the and Ferguson fired again with Kostritsyn calling. The river was checked as the landed.
Ferguson tabled for the best hand to scoop the pot.