338 Aussie Millions survivors start day 2

01/18/2008

Day 2 of the Aussie Millions saw a field of 338 survivors from the three Day 1 heats gather at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, all hoping to reach the next level in the competition....by day's end only 98 remained.

On the highly competitive tables 2007 third-place finisher Andy Black started Day 2 with a slight chip lead over American ace Phil Ivey. Still in there with a good chance was 2005 WSOP champ Joe Hachem, who also started with a big stack from his Day 1 success. Clonie Gowen, Tony G, Mike 'The Mouth' Matusow, Kenna James, Raymond Rahme and Terrence Chan were all ready to go, along with JJ Liu, Ari 'BodogAri' Engel and Graeme 'Kiwi G' Putt.

Most of them - including home-boy Joe Hachem and Clonie, were to head for the rail in the early stages of play. Howard Lederer's million dollar luck (see previous InfoPowa Aussie Millions report) ran out when Raymond Rahme outflopped him with A-9 to Lederer's A-K, and fellow Full Tilt Team member John Juanda suffered the same fate when he ran pocket fives into Kofi Farye's pocket tens and failed to improve.

Phil Ivey was shown the exit door by Richard Teatum, following a streeam of top name eliminations that included Michael Binger, cricket star Shane Warne, Jon 'Pearljammer' Turner, Tony G and Allen Cunningham.

The day ended with 98 players still in the hunt - just short of the 80-player 'money bubble' mark, and Matthew LaGarde holding a substantial chip lead at 490 000 - way ahead of other survivors like Andy Black and Mike 'The Mouth' Matusow. Other notable survivors of Day 2 included Kenna James, Erick Lindgren, Max Pescatori and Jeff Lisandro.