After getting crippled in the previous hand, Ian Thomson was all-in for his tournament life in the next.
Iori Yogo opened to 120,000 from the cut-off, before Thomson moved all in for 265,000 from the small blind.
Yogo:
Thomson:
Thomson was in front when the flop fell , but he quickly went behind when the came on the turn. Needing a ten to chop, the would be no help for Thomson, finding himself the first player eliminated off this final table.
The first big hand of the final table has occurred between Anthony Hachem and Ian Thomson.
The hand started with Dean Francis opening to 125,000 from under the gun. The action folded around to Anthony Hachem who paused for a moment.
“How much do you have, like 1.5?” asked Hachem.
“About 1.7,” replied Francis, before Hachem made the call.
Ian Thomson was on the big blind, and got involved as well, as the three saw the flop fall . Hachem checked as Thomson reached for chips, and slid in 225,000. Francis mucked instantly, before the decision was back on Hachem. He thought for a moment, before announcing all-in for 970,000 in chips.
Thomson was not happy with the raise, leaning back in his chair, putting his hands on his head. Hachem sat back, looking a little more comfortable.
“Do you have a king? I call!” announced Thomson, as both players tabled their cards.
Thomson:
Hachem:
Hachem had flopped a set, and after the turn and river produced the and , won the hand to move up to 2,460,000 as Thomson falls to 270,000 in chips.
Daniel Neilson was first to act, as he opened for 125,000 from under the gun. Tony Kondevski then raised to 325,000, which was more than half his stack.
"How much do you have?" asked Neilson, looking over at Kondevski.
After receiving his answer, Neilson mucked his hand, to drop to just above 1 million in chips.
Francis Craib opened to 125,000 from the hijack, and was called by Ian Thomson on the big blind. The flop came and Thomson opted to check. Craib threw out a continuation bet of 160,000 which was enough to see Thomson fold his hand.
The players have come out of the blocks firing, early in proceedings today.
We caught Tony Kondevski limp into the pot for 60,000 from the button, before Iori Yogo put him to the test, moving all for 1.4 million in chips. Kondevkis quickly mucked after the blinds folded, to see Yogo add a few chips to his stack.
After some quick bio's of the players, we are ready to kick things off as we close in on crowning the 2013 ANZPT Melbourne Repechage Main Event Champion.
One time dolphin trainer, now full time space cadet, Daniel Neilson is arguably the most experienced and credentialed player at this final table. With career earnings of over $1.1 million and results all around the world including a third place at the 2011 EPT San Remo event for €285,000, Neilson also has four WSOP cashes and two ANZPT cashes to his name.
Neilson credits his mother as his strongest influence, while his biggest highlight in poker was once sitting next to WSOP bracelet winner Andrew Hinrichsen. He also said his most defining moment in this tournament was buying in.
While his bio sheet may not have been taken seriously, we’re sure he’s dead serious about winning his first ANZPT title here in Melbourne.
Dean Francis is a Melbourne local who is a Painter/Decorator by trade, but has been playing poker for almost twenty years. Dean has started taking the game more seriously in the last few years with some solid results including a couple of wins in ANZPT side events among almost $60,000 in live earnings.
All of Dean’s results have come in the Crown Poker Room – he says he loves the close proximity to his own home and the staff do a great job here.
After contending with the aggression of Fabian Craib and Dave Allan late on Day 2, Francis will enter this final table well placed as he searches for the biggest result of his career.
Our second international player on this final table, Ian Thomson is a 24-year old Carpenter who has come the way from the United Kingdom to play the ANZPT Repechage Main Event in Melbourne.
He’s making the most of his opportunity after a couple of lucky breaks have gone his way during the tournament, most notably when his pocket sixes caught a backdoor flush to crack Dale Marsland’s pocket jacks, and then when he spiked a set with pocket jacks against Fabian Craib’s kings on the final table bubble.
Whatever happens on this final table, this will be the biggest result in Ian’s poker career.