Thursday, 28th March 2024 13:44
Home / Uncategorized / APPT9 Aussie Millions Day 1a: It’s a party for (almost) everyone

The Crown Poker Room feels different than it did yesterday.

Sure, there was plenty of excitement last night as the massive $25,000 Challenge took place.

But tonight is a different story all together.

There’s that ‘buzz’ in the room that we like to talk about.

It’s pretty easy to put a finger on what’s causing the buzz too considering the Aussie Millions Main Event has kicked off and the $100,000 Challenge is taking place just a few tables across.

Throw in dozens of railbirds, scores of cash game tables, a couple of side event final tables and a new tournament beginning over in the Exhibition Hall and we have ourselves a pretty big party.

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Railbirds are enjoying the action at the 2015 Aussie Millions

The only party that rivals the Main Event is certainly the aforementioned $100,000 Challenge.

There is a lot of history in this event as in 2006, Crown Melbourne became the first poker room in the world to hold a $100,000 buy in poker tournament.

And from a humble 10 entrants in its first year, tournament numbers swelled to more than 7 times that in 2014.

It’s somewhat surprising that in such a large buy-in event some of the most famous poker players in the world have still been relaxed, chatting and laughing away with each other.

Scott Seiver even told the rail that “Patrik Antonius is allergic to fun”, and went on to offer some fans on the rail some ice cream.

One professional who doesn’t seem to be having quite as much fun in the event is Dan ‘Jungleman’ Cates.

Cates’ party came to a crashing halt when running kings into aces two times proved a little too much for the online poker crusher.

When it happened for the second time, Cates aggressively threw a pile of chips directly at his then opponent, Jeff Rossiter and yelled multiple profanities we can’t repeat here.

It was quite the tantrum and one which PokerNews Head Blogger Donnie Peters claimed as the ‘biggest tantrum I’ve seen in poker” and that’s saying something considering the amount of tournaments Peters has attended around the world.

Luckily, Rossiter took it all in good stride and thankfully for the players and tournament staff, cooler heads prevailed.

Past $100,000 Challenge winners Dan Smith and Sam Tricket are in the field and both have got off to a good start. Team PokerStars Pro Isaac Haxton is also in the mix and looking to add another high roller result to his resume after finishing runner-up in the $250,000 event at last year’s Aussie Millions.

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Team PokerStars Pro Isaac Haxton in action in the $100,000 Challenge

With late registration and rebuys in the $100,000 Challenge available, Crown would be expecting to come close to the 76 runners they attracted last year and with a first-place prize that could come close to two million dollars, expect nothing short of a star-studded final table.

That event is set to draw to a close tomorrow night, while the Main Event is only beginning it’s eight day journey with the first of three Day 1 flights.

It’s going to be an exciting week with new poker legends crowned, so make sure to keep it here at the PokerStarsBlog.

Dean Cathie contributed to this article

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