ANZPT Queenstown: Day 1B, levels 1&2 (blinds 50-100) |
 12:53pm: Retallick on her own
Out of the 82 combined players who played Day 1A and Day 1B here in Queenstown, there is only one woman. Her name is Sandy Retallick and she's seated at Table 5. She's down a bit in the early-going but we'll be keeping on eye on Retallick throughout the day...
12:53pm: Retallick on her own
Out of the 82 combined players who played Day 1A and Day 1B here in Queenstown, there is only one woman. Her name is Sandy Retallick and she's seated at Table 5. She's down a bit in the early-going but we'll be keeping on eye on Retallick throughout the day to see if she can fight her way through to tomorrow's Day 2.
12:40pm: McKenzie bursts out of the gate
Before play started, ANZPT Commissioner Danny McDonagh asked the players if a bird crapped on any of them last night (as happened to Day 1A chip leader Michael Spilkin the night before his flight). Nobody fessed up, but we wonder if Jesse McKenzie might not have been the recipient of such a "lucky" occurrence. He opened from early position for 250 and found a host of caller. On a flop of [7s][5h][6c], McKenzie made it 625 to go. Benjamin Gilholme called behind him, prompting Dale Marsland to raise to 2,625. McKenzie called that raise. Gilholme then three-bet to 7,625, Marsland raised all in, McKenzie called and Gilholme also called as well! Twenty minutes into the day we had a three-way all in for a massive pot of 58,000 chips.
McKenzie: [8d][9d], a nine-high straight
Gilholme: [7c][7d], a set of sevens
Marsland: [ah][8h], an up-and-down straight draw
The turn [8c] didn't change anything, but it did raise the specter of a three-way chop. The board did straighten on the river [4d], but Marsland's nine gave him the whole pot. He knocked out Marsland and crippled Gilholme as he rocket to the early chip lead.
12:29pm: A strong field takes form
44 starters are in today's Day 1B flight, and they're no slouches. Three of the top five ANZPT Season 2 POY points leaders are in the field: Tony Hachem (1st), Andrew Scarf (3rd) and John Maklouf (4th). They're joined by Canberra champion Jason Gray; "durrrr killer" Simon Watt, the New Zealander whose defeat of Tom Dwan heads-up for a bracelet at the WSOP this year may have single-handedly saved the high-stakes poker economy; well-known pros Jonathan Karamalikis and Julius Colman; Raj Ramakrishnan, best known for his 4th-place finish at the Aussie Millions Main Event in 2009; Chris Levick, winner of the $2,500 ANZPT event at the Melbourne Championships in 2009; and several other regulars to the ANZPT circuit.
It's not going to be an easy day for anyone in this room.
12:18pm: Shuffle up and deal!
ANZPT Commissioner Danny McDonagh ushered the players into their seats and said a few words. "This is a great place, Queenstown. One of the most beautiful places in the world. I believe JetStar is starting $199 flights from Australia next year." That comment was met with scattered applause from the Aussies in the room.
"Special mention to Simon Watt, who won the first ever Kiwi bracelet at the WSOP. Well done, Simon." Again, there was applause.
Executive Director of SKYCITY Casino Michelle Baillie took over the mic and welcomed the field, as she did yesterday. The mic to Watt, who uttered the magic words.
"Good luck everyone. Shuffle up and
Posted originally: 2010-07-22 03:17:31
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