David Steicke Wins 2009 Aussie Millions NLHE High Rollers Event
January 22, 2009
With a staggering AUD $100,000 buy-in, Event # 8 at the 2009 Aussie Millions attracted the who’s who of the poker world. A total of 23 players entered the event, including luminaries such as Phil Ivey, Tony G, John Juanda, JC Tran, Chris Ferguson, Erik Seidel, Patrik Antonius and Gus Hansen. In the end, it was Hong Kong commodities trader David Steicke who came out on top of a very tough field to win the $1.2 million top prize.
To add to the fun and level of difficulty, the tournament was in “speed format”. This meant that players only had 30 seconds to act. The betting was also pot-limit pre-flop and no-limit after the flop. This may confuse some poker beginners but for the pros who entered this tournament, the format wasn’t the problem. It was the tough competition.
At the end of Day 1, it was David Steicke in the lead entering the final table. He had 631,000 in chips. JC Tran was close behind with 528,000. John Juanda was also a contender with 480,000 in chips.
But it was clearly David Steicke’s day as he practically blew open the final table. The first to be eliminated was John Juanda who was sent to the rail by JC Tran. Juanda raised with pocket jacks and was called by Tran on the big blind with Qh-4h. The flop was Qs-Qd-10h, giving Tran trips. Tran check-raised Juanda who moved all in and was called. Tran then proceeded to add insult to injury by hitting a full house.
After Juanda’s elimination, it was the David Steicke Show all the way. He eliminated Bill Jourdanou who found himself facing Steicke’s pocket kings with his pocket queens. Then it was Dan Shak’s turn to feel Steicke’s wrath when his pocket 3s were clearly dominated by Tran’s pocket 7s.
By now, Steicke had a massive chip lead versus remaining opponents JC Tran and Tony Bloom. After Steicke raised with Kd-Jh before the flop, Tran went in for all his chips with Kc-6d. Steicke’s hand help Steicke would enter heads-up play with a 10-1 chip lead over Tony Bloom. A mere few hands into heads-up, Bloom pushed with Ac-4s. Steicke called with 10s-3s. Unfortunately for Bloom, Steicke hit the 10 on the river giving him the win. Bloom won $600,000 for his 2nd place finish.
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