MELBOURNE CHAMPS MAIN EVENT - UPDATES

[Brett Jones]

G'day punters, Brettski here. Welcome to the virtual coverage of today's Main Event here at the Melbourne Champs - the $550 No Limit Holdem. I'll be providing ad hoc updates throughout the day, so stay tuned to this thread.I passed the burgeoning TV Week Logies crowd as I came in, patiently gathering for tonight's annual celebration of Australia's B-list talent. Why do I say B-list? Because Australia's A-list acting talent is IN THE POKER ROOM AT CROWN!And the crowd's bigger as well!Keep your browser on this page. Stats and chipstack updates coming. And if you're lucky, I might award some virtual Poker Logies as well!

[Brett Jones]

165 entries today, more than DOUBLE last year's effort for the 2004 Melbourne Champs Main Event (which attracted 82 entries). Crown's own Stella Coe is the reigning champion in this event, but with so many new players flooding the room these days it's potentially anyone's game.Prizepool structure as follows:1st $26,9502nd $15,4003rd $7,7004th $6,1605th $5,3906th $4,6207th $3,8508th $3,0809th $2,31010th $1,54011th - 20th Money Back ($550)

[Brett Jones]

165 entries today, more than DOUBLE last year's effort for the 2004 Melbourne Champs Main Event (which attracted 82 entries). Crown's own Stella Coe is the reigning champion in this event, but with so many new players flooding the room these days it's potentially anyone's game.Prizepool structure as follows:1st $26,9502nd $15,4003rd $7,7004th $6,1605th $5,3906th $4,6207th $3,8508th $3,0809th $2,31010th $1,54011th - 20th Money Back ($550)

[danielg]

ohhh Bretski,pick me for the silver logie for best up and coming male talent lolDaniel

[Brett Jones]

MILLION DOLLAR MAN IN CONTENTION48 players left at the 500/1,000 (100 antes) level. The average chipstack size is $17,930 and the big stack are in excess of 40K. It could still be anyone's game, but it's the seasoned professionals who are emerging to the front of the pack, including Crown Australian Poker Championship winner Jamil Dia from New Zealand.Ian Schoots 53KMike Ivin 47KStephen Kang 47KJamil Dia 44K

[Brett Jones]

SILVER LOGIE FOR BEST GUEST APPEARANCE BY AN AMERICAN - BRIAN SMITHNY City import Brian Smith leapt from his seat and punched the air when he went all-in with A3 and hit an ace on the flop. His opponent, Barry Harris, was holding pocket 8s and was a clear 66% favourite before the flop. Not so now, as the American shouted "Yes! YES!!" in a performance reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally. But then the tragic happened; an 8 fell on the turn and the shouts turned to "No! NO!! NOOOOO!!!". The river was no help and Brian was eliminated.40 players left. Average chipstack just over 20K. Blinds are 600/1,200 with $100 antes. Generous 30 minute levels are assisting the patient, more experienced players.

[KiwiLin]

is James 'Welcome Back' Potter playing and if so is he still in? Thanks Lin

[Brett Jones]

[b]DON'T YOU JUST HATE IT WHEN ...... you put in a decent sized raise with QQ only to have another player go all-in over the top of you, giving you that sick feeling in your stomach that tells you might be up against AA or KK? That's what happened to Stephen Kang (QQ) who called Eric Assadourian's all-in raise and lost 25K in the prozess of discovering that he was - indeed - up against KK.Chipleaders:Eric Assadourian 52KIan Schoots 50KMike "The Tank" Ivin 40KJames Potter - Not Present

[Brett Jones]

[b]TOP HEAVYIt's a top heavy table when one tournament table out of three tables left has almost half the chips in play. Table 26 has around 400K on it out of a total 825K in play. No surprise to see the three chip leaders on that table.Chipleaders:Arul Thillai 75KIan Schoots 60KEric Assadourian 54KAlso in the running (although on a different table):Jamil Dia 40KMike Ivin 40K30 players remaining.Blinds: 1K/2K ($300 antes).Average chipstack: 27.5K

[Anthony Beck]

Can we get a list of who is left as there only 30 left now?Thanks