Tyron Krost won the biggest of the No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em tournaments down under. Krost got the upper hand on Frederik Jensen in heads up play and prevailed in the main Event. In a weird quirk of (intentional) scheduling there are a number of poker tournaments still to come. Krost joins the upper crust as a newly minted double millionaire (Australian dollars). Frederik Jensen also joined the millionaires club winning just over 1.1 million (Australian dollars).

Jensen’s poker death knell came when he got it all in on the flop. He smacked top pair and had to be excited as it came out K32 (rainbow). Jensen didn’t like the call and turned over Kd6s. Krost had him crushed with his Ks9d way ahead. Two blanks followed. The turn was the 7h. Jensen was praying for a six and though the turn was close to it the river wasn’t as a lowly 2h showed up.

Krost, a native of Melbourne, whose poker school was basically in that very casino, won the tournament and the glory. His hometown fans, friends and family shared in his jubilation. It was a great win for a compelling underdog and it was an unexpected one too. As far as poker names go, the final table had two big ones, and the conventional wisdom held that young online poker stars Sorel Mizzi or Anette Obrestad would take down the title.

Mizzi came into the final table weighing down his section of the felt with a ton of chips. Their total sprawled into his neighbors space and you’d have to think he’d be on cruise control through the final levels of play. Obrestad or Anette15 or the Huntress is a lady of firsts, and of first place finishes, but it was not to be on this day. The young princess of poker excels at final tables despite chip deficits so she was never going to feel too far adrift of the pace.

Mizzi, a Canadian, felt the pull of the Mounties as his massive chip stack dwindled to nothing and managed only a third place finish. It had to be tough to watch all his chips dissipate. As always he’ll feel a lot better about the third place pay-out a few days after than he did at that moment. Mizzi won 715k. It was not to be for either of the online poker pros turned live poker pros as Obrestad went out earlier.

Annette Obrestad, had a shorter day and though equally disappointed and a little less richer she battled to make it to seventh. She added 175k to her bankroll and another major final table to her resume. She will get more tv time than only one other player as the Aussie Millions Main Event was an eight handed
final table. The pay-outs ranged from 125k to the 2 million first place prize.

The final table took thirteen and a half hours to finish. Just as they did when the Aussies hosted the Olympics the fans were at a fever pitch. Joe Hachem probably got misty eyed remembering his Aussie friends acting equally as rowdy at the World Series of Poker Main Event when he won his bracelet. This would be another good day for Australia.

First one to the rail Stephen Shelly finished in 8th place and won 125k. The Princess of Poker Anette Obrestad nabbed seventh place and 175k. Somewhat well known Steve Friedlander won $250k for 6th place. Petter Jetten netted 350k for 5th place. Kosta Varoxis earned 540k for 4th. As mentioned Sorel Mizzi won 715k for third place. Frederik Jensen got the runner up take of 1.1 million. Tyron Krost won 2 million for first.