German Christian Heich Wins Aussie Millions Event 1

Germany’s Christian Heich has overcome a record field for an Aussie Millions preliminary event to capture the first title of the 2009 Aussie Millions series and the first coveted Aussie Millions Gold Ring.

Out of a record 731 entrants only 110 players returned to Crown Casino in Melbourne for Day 2 of the 2009 Aussie Millions Event 1, the $1,100 No Limit Hold’em.

Notable exits early on Day 2 were Eric Assadourian, David Saab and Jamie Pickering all busted in the early going.

Aussie favourite Mel Judah busted in 42nd after a key hand when Clint Jordanou caught his three-outerjack J♣ on the river to bust Judah’s A♣Q♥ with his A♥J♠. That hand crippled Judah and he went to the rail shortly after for a $3,290 collect.

With the play down to just three tables local aussie poker player and Crown Poker regular, Steve Topakas moved all in pre-flop for his last 76,000 with A♣Q♦ and was in great shape as David Griffiths made the call with A♦9♣ . When the board fell 7♣Q♣6♦A♥T♦, Topakas had cuaght his two pair to double up to over 150,000, with Griffiths falling back to around 200,000.

Topakas was to chip up again later when short-stacked Dhiya Majeed opened the pot from the button with an all-in raise and Thomas Lindbjerg in the small blind came all-in over the top. Topakas showed no hesitation calling both from the big blind.

Majeed showed A♥7♠ dominating Lindbjerg’s A♠3♥, while Topkas turned the cowboys K♣K♠ to be a huge pre-flop favourite. Depite sweating a gutshot draw for Majeed’s A♥7♠ on a T♣J♠8♣ board. Topakas eliminated both players when the turn and river ran J♥Q♦.

Topakas took a hit when with just 13 players left he pushed all in on a J♥A♦4♠ flop with after a big raise pre-flop and was insta-called by David Griffiths with A♣J♣. Griffiths hand held up and moved to 520,000 chips with Topakas back to 170,000.

As play slowed and tightened up and with just ten players left the Tournament Director, mindful of the time constraints of the Aussie Millions Schedule; elected to declare a single final table laboriously play hand for hand at two five-handed tables until the 10th elimination.

The final table boiled down to strong representation from Melbourne Crown regulars, one Sydney master and a young kid from Germany.

Aussie Millions Event 1 $1,100 NL Holdem Final Table

Seat 1: Scott Peters Geelong (134,000)

Seat 2: Christian Heich Germany (596,000)

Seat 3: Steve Topakas Melbourne (446,000)

Seat 4: Dean Blatt Melbourne (113,000)

Seat 5: Sam Khouiss Sydney (176,000)

Seat 6: Clint Jordanou Narre Warren (204,000)

Seat 7: David Griffiths Melbourne (674,000)

Seat 8: Steve Bouya Melbourne (750,000)

Seat 9: Ismail Ismail Melbourne (80,000)

Seat 10: Paul Rochford Melbourne (490,000)

Despite being short-stacked as play proceeded, the most dangerous player at the table was without doubt the veteran Aussie poker player, Sam Khouiss who boasts a tournament history that includes cashes at both the 2006 and 2007 WSOP Main Events, an australian poker Champioship win in 1999 and again in 2004, and a win in the 2006 Aussie Millions $ 1,000 No Limit Hold’em Event 8; plus numerous other final tables for winnings in excess of $500,000.

That said the other Melbounre regulars in the table were all regular final table contenders at the major Crown Poker tournaments, with the most experinced easily being Steve Topakas who has several regualr Crown Poker tournament wins under his belt and a Joe Hachem Deepstack $180 NL Holdem tournament win and a 2007 Pokernews Cup $100 Seven Card Stud win to his credit.

Heich, the sole international player at the table had only one other notable live poker tournament success to his credit with a 13th at the 2008 Austrian Classics €80 NL Holdem Event in Vienna. Heich had been quiet in the run up to the final table, avoiding big pots and slowly accumulating chips.

But at the final table he chaged gears and with some solid play and good cards sent Peters, Blatt and Griffith to the rail in 9th,8th and 7th respectively. Heichs run of luck didn’t hurt his cause either as he sent the dangerous Khouiss to the rail when his all in pre-flop A♦6♣ sucked out on a 8♥Q♣9♣6♥Q♦ board to beat Khouiss’ A♥7♦.

The very next hand Heich chipped up again, sending Rochford out in 4th when in another all-in preflop move Heich called Rochford’s T♦T♠ with his J♣J♦ and they held up.

One time final tabkle chip leader, Steve Bouya was sent out in 3rd in another all in pre-flop contest when Topakas’ K♣K♠ dominated Bouya’s K♥Q♣.

As play got down to heads up Topakas had a slight lead with 1,975,000 chips over Heich’s 1,6990,00 but Heich quickly assumed the lead with some aggressive heads up play and despite Topakas gaing back some ground he lost a key hand and then ended up all in preflop with Q♥T♦ against Heich’s JDJ♠. Heich’s good run of cards continued when the J♥ hit on the flop and outlasted Topakas’ double straight draw on a A♣3♥J♥8♠5♠ board to win him the first event of the 2009 Aussie Millions.

Heich had defeated the best Australia had to offer and collected the first place prize of AU$150,000.

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