AUSSIE MILLIONS 2007 - THE AUSSIES

TOP 50 AUSSIES Who are Australasia’s Poker Greats 2006? Who are favoured for the Millions? That’s a tough question and there are many answers. Let’s go back to the late eighties and early nineties and see those players who introduced Australian Poker to the rest of the world. They are the players who first put Aussie Poker on the map. Mel ‘the Taxman’ Judah from the very beginnings of contemporary gambling in Oz and NZ in the middle seventies, Mel was always around the Casino industry and any development of Poker. He has been a prominent tournament player overseas and the WSOP winning two bracelets in Stud and amassing substantial cash winnings. He remains Australia’s most famous poker export. Marsha Waggoner is a Queensland girl who first hit her poker straps in 1992 at the 23rd WSOP 7 Card Stud for a massive USD52500. From there it was a constant stream of 65 money finishes in international poker. For the first 4 months of 1998 she cleared USD75000. Marsha returns frequently to Australia and is a feature of the Crown Aussie Millions. Gary Benson has been around the final tables since Tassie 1981 and is our first WSOP Gold Bracelet. He commenced visiting Vegas in the late eighties. Gary is a prominent player in Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. He is still active in all major tournaments overseas as well as home. Billie 'the Croc' Argyros is the charismatic face of Poker down under. Poker mate and traveling companion for Mel in the early nineties, he is known internationally as the man with the funny crocodile hat and sometimes mistaken for Crocodile Dundee. He is the Pugsy Pearson of Australasian Poker. He is our own Ambassador Poker Overseas. Jeff Lisandro, first hit his poker straps in Western Australia as an eighteen year old. He has thrived in the Goulburn Club in the Sydney scene, Russia, Turkey and the USA as well as home in Australia. He is the consummate cash and tourney player who finished the 2006 WSOP with 4 cashes and a USD698 prize pool. Antanas Guoga, TonyG is remembered as the “mad Russian” who was prominent in poker and Casino Games in Adelaide and later Crown in the late nineties. Tony is now a prominent poker touring professional with business involvement online. He has an impressive background of wins and TV appearances and finished 2006 with a WSOP with 6 cash finishes and USD 82K. Thanks Guys. You introduced Poker Downunder to the world Vegas and Europe. But, apart from above, whom do we see as our current champions? Who have been heading up the Pokernetwork rankings and winning individual events and are favoured for 2007? They follow in no order of precedence. Lee Nelson, the final table specialist and poker author. Millions winner 2006, Speed Poker specialist and Pokernetwork Champion of the years 2001 to 2005. He is now at the top of his form. Joe Hachem, is our first poker World Champion 2005 and constant supporter of poker at Crown over many years. He has followed up his 2005 win with impressive results overseas and at the WSOP 2006. Michael Guttman, twice Pokernetwork ranked player of the year and a big money winner (3rd with USD500K) at the 2006 WSOP would place him as one of Australia’s most consistent winners. Mark Vos had not reached 20 years of age when he started to burn up the online poker tracks. In a short period of two years he has taken out titles at Crown, been accepted as a pro on full tilt and won a fortune online. In the WSOP 2006 he won a bracelet and a million dollars. Pokernetwork tipped him as the player of the future. Sam Khouiss A big finish in the 2006 WSOP main event (98th $51K) follows many years of final tables. Sydney Champion of many events since Adelaide 1987. Jason Grey has been present in many final tables at home and abroad since Adelaide 1987. He is still prominent in BB cash games over seas. Martin Comer is well up in the Pokernetwork rankings year after year and was the Aussie hero of the 1999 Tournament of Champions Las Vegas. George ‘Tasmaniac’ Mamacas is one of Australia’s major poker personalities. A professional gambler who will bet on any named sport he has had many successes in Crown and overseas, the best being his Main Event 3rd in 2005 for AUD250K. His free and aggressive play will continue in the Millions. Tino Lechich is a well-known Aussie player at home and abroad and a consistent big bet winner from 1987 onwards. Arul Thillai is an exciting new poker prospect who has set alight the Big Bet games at Crown recently. 5 Major final tables and $150K in tournament play the last two years with a good 2006 WSOP debut leave him with much promise for the future. Emad Tahtouh is known as a strong player in all events having reached some 18 final tables over the last two years. PNW Junior Champion 2005 and a prominent Big Bet Cash player he won a creditable USD71K at the WSOP 2006.. Graeme “Kiwi G” Putt is multii event winner with big wins UK, Ireland and the Caribbean and retains his final table form. Sammy Korman is a dual Pokernetwork ranked Australasian champion and a multi event champion from Adelaide and Canberra who retains his tournament form. Mick ‘The Hoon’ Stanton Shy and reserved player who is currently 10th in the PNW overall rankings to 2006 he plays a mean game. He has been a regular winner in all States and New Zealand and is prepared to make an impact in 2007. Mike ‘The Tank’ Ivin The ‘Tank’ has featured in Poker since 1987. Member of the Oz international teams in 1988 and 1999 he is a steady winner. “Poker is a 50/50 chance. You either win or you lose”. Mike is always a good chance in any big tournament. Michael Sampieri Well known top veteran player who has dominated many final tables in the past in Adelaide, Canberra and Crown.. Has had a good year 2006 and is in top form for the Millions. Nick ‘The Greek’ Georgoulas is an Australasian champion in many poker skills. 1999 National Champion Canberra he continues to star in tournaments at Crown with a big performance throughout 2006. Has the skill to mix with the talented 2007 field. Leo “the Mechanic” Boxell has been the most improved player over the last five years and multii Downunder champion including 2nd Aussie Millions 2003. Milo Nadalin first came to prominence as the Crown 1999 Champion. He has had a long spell away from the tables with sickness but has returned with a new lease on his Poker life. David Saab is another up and comer who has shown up well in 2006. His best is yet to come. Eric Assadourian has been a strong performer at Crown 2005/06 taking home $80K for the Melbourne Championships. Gareth Edwards is the new Pokernetwork Supremo and plays a strong No Limit game. 2004 APA No Limit Holdem Champion who has hit his straps this year with a strong performance in the WSOP main event. John Vincent is an online specialist who has recently shown up in local tournaments. Reporting for PNW has limited his game but he is now showing up strongly in tournament events overseas. Nick Nicolaou was a big second in the NZ Championships 2006 and has improved since. Ricky Gov was in the money 25 times at Crown over the last few years. He is a consistent performer who demands respect. Rayan Nathan is a steady player due for a big win. A strong performance at Crown was topped with a WSOP $46K Russell Davies was first seen at the Crown Vic and followed with a second in the Crown 2006 main event 167K. and recently at the 2006 WSOP $47K Sarah Bilney made a killing (63rd) at the 2005 WSOP and was prominent with 4 cash wins for USD58K in 2006. She is prominent in those tournaments she plays when visiting Australia and is our leading Gal player. Marcus Collins has shot onto the Poker scene with strong 2005 performances online and at the 2006 WSOP USD87K. Steve Wise is a promising player from some years back. After a layoff he came back strongly at Crown in 2005/2006 and placed 10th amongst the Aussies at the WSOP 2006. Peter Mordaunt was the Crown 2000 Champion and has continued regular wins at Crown since. His consistent form keeps them close to the final tables. All of these players are in there with a good chance. They display the essential qualities of Patience, Observation and Deceit as well as the principal tenet of PRESSURE. In No Limit Poker “you ain’t goin nowhere” unless you can take the pressure nor put it on at the right time. Poker has come a long way since the old days of Draw, Stud and Manilla in the Private Clubs, homes and backroom illegals. It is now a sophisticated challenge for supremacy, a battle, a war, the winner taking away mountains of gold. How do you win? Machiavelli once quoted ‘be as cunning as a fox and as fierce as a lion’. The Soldier ‘hit him as quick as you can and as hard as you can; where it hurts the most; when he ain’t lookin’. Nelson “ forget the manoeuvres – just go at ‘em lads” Bonaparte “L’audace, toujours L’audace” My view of modern Power Poker leads me to believe the two cardinal principles of the poker battle in this 21st Century of Casinos, online and Television are FORCE and FRAUD. Through these two principles you obtain POWER over your opponents. It works in War and it works in Poker. (Fustest with the mostest) Watch the big boys play and see how they win. My tip for the front line 50 of the favourites amongst the Australasians for the Millions; Angela Italiano Arul Thillai Billie Argyros David Saab David Szetho David Gorr Dusan Doevsky Emad Tahtouh Eric Assadourian Fred Saliba Gareth Edwards (he is my boss) Gary Benson George Mamacas Graeme Putt Ian Schoots Jamil Dia Jason Gray Jeff Lisandro Joe Hachem John Homann John Maver Jonny Vincent Jovan Scekic Jason Grey Lee Nelson Leo Boxell Marcus Collins Mark Vos Martin Comer Marsha Waggoner Mel Judah Michael Sampieri Mick Stanton Mike Guttman Mike Ivin Mick Georgoulas Milo Nadalin Nick Nicolaou Peter Mordaunt Ralph Burd Rayan Nathan Ricky Gov Roman Pesochinsky Russell Davies Sam Khouiss Sam Korman Sarah Bilney Steve Buuya Steve Hegyi Steve Wise Tino Lechic Tony Guoga ON THE BENCH Andrew Kanaridis Ben Savage Jethro Horowitz Michael Frydman Paul Taylor Steve Accardo Toby Atroshenko Vadim Pinsky Wes Bugiera The challenge is to get to the final table FIRST. Then worry about winning.

PLAYERS FOR THE 2006 MILLIONS – THE PHANTOM BOOK

I have selected a number of seeded Australasian players as well as some Wild Cards who may or may not attend the Millions. As the list becomes firmer, or I am notified, I will add more. The online qualifiers are not yet known. (The winner could quite easily be amongst them.)
The Pokernetwork Australasian, Pokernews, Hendon Mob, Card player USA, PNW Profiles and William Hill Euro Rankings plus money won and recent form have been used as a guide. For the framing of the book and associated prices I have selected 11 bets on a book of 115%. I have assumed 500 entries with a top seed of 100 players divided into10 betting groups of 10 each, with the rest of the field 400 grouped into a field bet. The groups vary from 11/8 to 100/1. This book would change substantially as final entrants are announced and the bookie’s hold increases. As a background to this I am aware that in major poker tournaments, from 20% to 50% of the final table are unseeded and that a favourite only has an edge of about 3/1 over the poorer players. Luck, seating and random cards reduce the real value of players. The prices for the favourite top seeds are therefore normally poor value for the punter. (Recent Form is not as important as in a horse race.) Home ground is also an advantage as the trip from Europe and the USA is very debilitating. Consequently the prices for the various groups at 115% are;
The field (bar the 100 favourites). Any one of the 400 players not seeded. (Amongst these are some 300 satellite qualifiers who could be stars in their own right. This field is 11/8. If any one of these 400 players win, you get 11/8. For most astute punters this is the premium bet.
The top seeds for Australasia are Angela Italiano Arul Thillai Billie Argyros David Saab David Szetho David Gorr Emad Tahtouh Eric Assadourian Fred Saliba Gareth Edwards (he is my boss) Gary Benson George Mamacas Graeme Putt Ian Schoots Jamil Dia Jeff Lisandro Joe Hachem John Homann John Maver Jonny Vincent Jovan Scekic Jason Grey Lee Nelson Leo Boxell Marcus Collins Mark Vos Martin Comer Marsha Waggoner Mel Judah Michael Sampieri Mick Stanton Mike Guttman Mike Ivin Mick Georgoulas Milo Nadalin Nick Nicolaou Peter Mordaunt Ralph Burd Rayan Nathan Ricky Gov Roman Pesochinsky Russell Davies Sam Khouiss Sam Korman Sarah Bilney Steve Buuya Steve Hegyi Steve Wise Tino Lechic Tony Guoga ON THE BENCH Andrew Kanaridis Ben Savage Brian Hull Jethro Horowitz Michael Frydman Paul Taylor Steve Accardo Toby Atroshenko Vadim Pinsky Wes Bugiera
The Top seeds for the internationals will be the best fifty of the international pros selected as they arrive. Probables are on the “Coming to Dinner Post..
There are many more players who have indicated that they MAY be coming Down Under for the trip and there will be some who will scratch. There are others who say they are not coming who will turn up. It’s very hard to make up a book when you don’t know who will start but it makes an interesting exercise.
Summary
The Field
13/8 (6/4)
Any one player of the 400-man field not included in the top seeds. If any one of this field wins then you win. Depending on the number of “field” who arrive on the final table, this could be a very promising bet. If none of the field reach the final table, you have backed a lemon.
Here are the selections of the Australasians.. You can fill in the slots for the internationals as they firm Group 1 13/1
Argyros Guoga Hachem Lisandro Nelson Tahtouh Vos Inter Inter Inter Group 2 16/1
Comer Martin Guttman Gray Homann Khouiss Judah x x x x Group 3 20/1
Thillai Mamacas Burd Benson Lechic Waggoner x x x x Group 4 25/1
Italiano Angie Georgoulas Mordaunt Davies Bilney x x x x x Group 5 35/1
Putt Boxell Collins Ivin Sampieri x x x x x Group 6 40/1
Korman Nadalin Pesochinsky Davies Vincent x x x x x Group 7 45/1
Wise Gov Nathan Nicolaou Saab x x x x x Group 8 55/1
Buuya Edwards Szetho Stanton Maver x x x x x Group 9 65/1
Assadourian Dia Gorr Scekic Saliba x x x x x Group 10 85/1(30/1)
Bugiera Gov x x x x x x x x There you have it boys and girls. Not sure how many starters yet but we will be sure on 15th January..
Make your own changes. You could make this the most exciting “book” since the Lathams.
Of course if you were a bookie and wanted to offer some field prop bets you could offer any one of the top 100 favourites 1/2 and the remainder of the field at 11/8 bearing in mind that many believe that in online supported satellite entry such as the WSOP and the Aussie Millions, the world champ is only a 3/1 favouritye to win???
Crown can’t release names till the deposits are in but we can all have a guess?

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