Pedley Lands Aussie Millions Championship Title in $1,000 Re-Buy
January 24, 2012
On Saturday, the Aussie Millions featured the $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em Re-buy. Ten players took to the felt for a share of a prize pool worth $423,000. It was built during the event held the previous day. The player in the lead with the most chips was Marvin Rettenmaier. Some of his opponents were Jim Collopy, Mike Watson, Dan Kelly and Tyron Krost. The field started with 92 players. It came down to just ten who would get paid at the end of the event.
Rettenmaier Starts as Leader but Looses to Karamalikis
Rettenmaier was able to stay in the lead for the first few hours of play. He landed triple kings on the fourth street. This helped him send Michael Benvenuti to the rail in the 10th place. Andrew Scarfe was eliminated in the 9th. This allowed Krost to work his way up the leaderboard quite easily. Alongside, Michael Pedley and Jonathan Karamalikis managed to add to their stacks.
Two players clashed at the final table. Rettenmaier and Karamalikis played an action-packed game against each other. It had a huge impact on the positions on the leaderboard. From the button, Rettenmaier raised. This was followed by a three bet by Karamalikis from the big blind. This did not deter Rettenmaier, who went ahead with a four-bet worth nearly 23,000.
Karamalikis, who held J-J, went all-in and this was called by Rettenmaier with an A-9 suited. The flop brought a 9, the river a Q and turn a J. None were of any help to Rettenmaier. He lost his lead with less than 23,000 in chips and was replaced on the leaderboard by Karamalikis. Rettenmaier was eliminated after his A-Q failed to beat the Q-Q in Krost’s hand.
Kelley Sends Three Players to the Rail before Elimination
After raking in a lot of chips after the hand against Rettenmaier, Karamalikis made the best of his stack. Initially, Karamalikis had a 2:1 lead against the next player on the leaderboard, Pedley. At this stage, three other players were trying hard to stay in the game. It was hard to determine whether Watson, Collopy or Krost would get back in.
Collopy was the next to go, when Kelley played against him. Kelley followed this with a move that sent Watson to the rail. Following this, Kelley was in the fifth place, and one among the top players of the day. From here, he continued his success in eliminating players, when he took down Krost. A few hands down, Kelley was the next to go.
When the event had just three players, Pedley and Karamalikis did their best to bring down Kelley. Pedley doubled through twice in one hand – first through Kelley and then through Karamalikis. He then had the chip lead, which he did not give up. Pedley knocked out Kelley and in no time had a chip lead of 4:1 over Karamalikis, the only opponent remaining in the game.
In the next 25 minutes, Pedley reduced Karamalikis’ stack. Karamalikis held a K-T, while Pedley had a winning hand with K-J. When the board did not bring a card to improve his hand, Karamalikis lost to Pedley. At then end of the event, Pedley had taken home his Aussie Millions Championship for the $1,000 event.