Poker pros had numerous distractions on Day 1a of the Aussie Millions Main Event with the Aussie Open Men’s Tennis Final taking place in the evening as well as the $100k Challenge at Crown Casino.
Some of the other established pros were still in transit from the NBC National Heads-Up Championship.
In the end a total of 157 players registered on Day 1a with Toby Lewis, Jonathan Karamalikis, Ayaz Mahmood, James Obst, Eoghan O’Dea, Jackie Glazier, Brian Townsend and Mark Teltscher getting on the action.
Local Brian Payne looks to be the chip leader with 299,900 to end the day.
Fellow Australians Obst and Karamalikis also had good days finishing with 156,700 and 64,500 respectively.
Crafty veteran Ayaz Mahmood, who famously won the 2010 $10k WSOP Heads-Up event, ended with 154,700.
Richard Ashby, Toby Lewis, Eoghan O’Dea and Jackie Glazier also punched their tickets to Day 2 of the 2013 Aussie Millions.
Former Champions Hit the Rail on Day 1a
2012 Aussie Million champ Oliver Speidel’s title defense did not last long.
The Melbourne-native busted mid-way through the day after failing to get anything of consequence going.
It was a bad day all around for former Aussie Million champions as 2011 winner David Gorr lost a flip with pocket sixes to ace-king to bust out of the tournament.
Of course it wasn’t just former champs that hit the rail on Day 1a as Brian Townsend, Rupert Elder, Grant Levy, Leo Boxell and Valdemar Kwaysser all hit the rail.
A total of 70 players survived the day and will return to play Day 2 on Wednesday.
Meanwhile Day 1b of the 2013 Aussie Millions begins at 12:30 p.m. local time tomorrow.
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