Aussie Millions Conclusion

Filed in archive Tournament News on January 21, 2007

Dr. Pauly has been kicking up with the high rollers and blunt rollers down under for the past two weeks. But, all is not Cricket watching and placing prop bets. Here is his tourney recount with a touch he offers of Gus Hansen's $1.5 Million (Australian) dollar win at the Crown Casino resort in Melbourne, Australia.

Jimmy "Gobboboy" Fricke earned the respect of the final table in placing second (taking home $1 million) by his aggressive play. 2005 WSOP final table-ist Andy Black managed another deep tourney run in taking 3rd for $700,000.

Below is Dr. Pauly's recount of the final few hands between Fricke and Hansen who delivered the knockout with Aces (yes they DO win once in a while):

In the first big pot of heads-up play, Hansen doubled up. On a flop of Ac-Ks-7h, Fricke checked, Hansen bet 350K and Fricke called. On the turn of 8c, Fricke checked and Hansen moved all in. Fricke went into the tank for four minutes before he called with Kh-Qh. Hansen showed As-2s The river was 5c and Hansen doubled up.

Fricke lost the chiplead and was down 10.4M to 4.4M, but he remained patient and eventually doubled through Hansen to get the lead back.

On a flop of Jd-10d-10h, Hansen bet 500K and Fricke moved all in for 4.3M. Hansen sat and pondered a call as he mumbled to himself.

"This could be the worst call ever," said Hansen as he looked for excuses to fold.

Hansen eventually called and flipped over Ah-Kh, while Fricke showed Kd-Qc. Fricke was behind but flopped an open-ended straight draw. The turn was 10s and the river was 9c. Fricke rivered a straight and he doubled up.

Less than ten minutes later, Hansen would get his chips back. On a flop of Kd-Jc-6s, both players moved all in. Fricke showed Qh-9s while Hansen flipped over Ks-10h. The turn was 5c and the river was 6h. Fricke missed his draw as Hansen doubled up. He was ahead 8.7M to 6.1M.

Hansen added more chips to his stack when he turned a straight with Js-10c on a board of Ks-Qs-2d-9d. Hansen checked his made hand and Fricke checked behind. The river was the Ah and Hansen bet out 1.1M. Fricke thought for two minutes and called. Hansen flipped over the winner and Fricke did not show his hand as he quickly tossed it into the muck.

On the 47th hand of heads-up play, Hansen finally took all of Fricke's chips for the win. On a flop of Qd-8d-6c, Fricke checked and Hansen bet $1 million. Fricke check-raised all in and Hansen called instantly with Ac-Ah. Fricke flipped over 9c-7c for an open-ended straight draw. The turn was the 2c which gave Fricke more outs. The river was 9s and Fricke's magical run was over.