My Aussie Millions Story...

[bartyuk]

This is a biggy so brace yourselves..

Well where to start.

Day 1 and 2

I left here around 6am and got to the airport around 8.30am. I was sitting around waiting for check-in to open. Wow what a drag that was. 45 minutes felt like 45 days. Then you go through and sitting around 2 hours waiting to board feels like 2 years. Finally get boarded. We leave. Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Jesus the flight was tough lol
Get to Hong Kong after like 12 hours (2 Meals,1 Mars Ice cream,4 films, 3 episodes of two and a half men, a little bit about surfing, FHM magazine and a documentary about the new airbus) and we have an hour break before reboarding. I think I walked the entire length of the airport to find the smoking room then you get in there and you don’t even need to light a ciggy its that smoky, crawling around on hands and knees so you can see the ashtray, but it felt like the first ciggy I had smoked for days. I start my trek back over to the other end of the airport and get there about 5 minutes before boarding. Another 9 hours (2 Meals,1 Tub of Hagan Daaz,2 films and 1 I tried watching about 4 times but kept falling asleep) later we finally get to Melbourne. Took around 45 minutes to get luggage and pass immigration and customs. By this time I am knackered. Luckily I was stopping at the Holiday Inn at the Airport so 100 metre walk and I was there. About 11pm and I am all curled up in bed.
I slept like a log. Lol
That was some flight…

Day 3

I go to meet Liam back at the airport. Standing around like a tourist I didn’t see him. So I phoned him and he was at the hotel. So off I go in a Taxi over to the Hotel.









I spent the afternoon watching the united game on TV then walking along the Yarra checking the sites. And I came across several street buskers. Look at that statue of a lady in a white dress. Wait a minute it moved. It was a lady in a white dress lol She was brilliant. Blew me a kiss and I was like woohoo I have pulled. A couple of guys were playing guitars and singing then I came across this guy.

http://www.arizonajones.net/index.html

He was good must of been stood there watching him for a good hour. Then turned round and walked back to the hotel. Via McDonalds









I headed down to the casino on the evening to meet up with Liam and the others and to sign the TV disclaimer for the tournament. We had a couple beers and went for dinner but couldn’t get in as they were fully booked and as we didn’t want to wait Liam bought pizza lol (I had chookhead which was a bbq chicken pizza and gorgeous lol)
We sat outside for a bit chatting then went to get our carbon player packs (a couple shirts, hats, wristbands, key rings, packs of cards, and money clip) then back to the casino for a while as the others went back to the hotel, as they had just flown in from the US and Canada that day.
Had a couple more beers (VB baby) and a burger then bed.



from left. Me, miw210 (mikey), Pelican Cruse (Kathy or cathy i dont know lol) and Lenny10 (who said a big hello to oioimalloy)

[bartyuk]

Day 4
I headed over to the casino to pickup our tournament receipts and Aussie Millions player packs and watched the opening of the main event. Gus Hanson got up and welcomed everyone and also Joe Hachem said a little bit and then it was Shuffle Up and Deal time. Day 1 had begun. We were all playing day 3 so I hung around the casino watching and sitting out in the sun generally just passing time and enjoying the moment. Tried to get chookhead pizza and no they didn’t have any. Liam’s friend was playing day 1 and unfortunately went out with Pocket Kings against Aces. Pretty Sick!! We drank a few beers and bed.


Day 5

Not a lot going on today. I watched a bit of the poker. Gus Hansen, Phil Ivey, Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson, Joe Hachem to name a few were all playing in flight 2. Tried to get that chookhead pizza again and no they didn’t have any again L
Hung around the casino some more until about 12.30 then thought I better get to bed I am playing tomorrow. GULP!!

Day 6

Ok time for flight 3 it was game on. Got over to the casino for about midday, for a 12.30pm start. All was good I was ready and waiting. I was sat with Brad Booth at the start of day 1 and there were a couple other guys at the table that play a bit of the circuit but I didn’t know who they were which was probably good lol
I had a pretty good start my chips were going in the right direction. Dealt AA pre BB so raised to 500 and nobody called L Ah well at least they didn’t lose lol. I lost a few pots. Brad Booth was raising everyone by good amounts and stealing a few pots.

A few hands later AA again I can’t remember the betting now but I know I lost around $6k - $7k to a king on the river giving the other guy a set. Pretty sick but I still had chips to play with so all was good. Managed to win a few back by flopping a K high flush of spades just needed and ace for the royal. I had that happen twice through day 1.

Levels went by, Blinds got bigger, Antes got involved and I was starting to lose chips fast and was down to 4.5k at the end of a level. I went back after the break. I went all-in with a hand pre BB again (can’t remember the cards) and nobody called. Very next hand I had AQ in bb and everyone folded round and SB called so I raised all-in again for him to quickly call and turn over KK. I thought it was all over until I flopped AQ to make 2 pair. Turn was a Jack and I was saying Hold!!!! And they did so I was back over 11k and feeling better lol

The table then broke up and I was moved. I was then sat next too Mark Philippoussis and his crutches. He had just had an op on his knee which means he is on crutches for at least 3 months and probably no tennis for at least 5-6 months if he decides to play again. There were a couple of full tilt guys and a couple that play the circuit a bit at this table too but we had a good friendly game lol

Blinds were big so stack was dwindling yet again until I hit and called my all-in yet again. KQ I think I had that time with the Q as top card on the flop. Another guy called but I took the pot and doubled back up to around $9k. Was having fun at this table then whenever I went in big everyone would fold. But the blinds got the better of me and I ended up finishing the day on 5.6k
Not that great but at least day 2 had been reached. It was about 12 – 12.30 by the time we finished bagging up chips etc so a quick report to Liam and back to the hotel for bed. Only 2 out of 4 of us had made day 2 and miw210 was up in the top 40 overall so he was flying

[bartyuk]

Day 7

Back over the casino for around midday to find out the seating plan etc for day 2 ready for the 12.30 start. Again I think I had a few at the table who played the circuit but didn’t know their names to faces etc but there was a bit of poker merchandise on display. APPT, Full Tilt etc

Thomas Patridge 15 1 30200
Nick Georgoulas 15 2 14000
Constantine Harach 15 3 16500
Avraame Solomon 15 4 5200
Stephen Lindeblad 15 5 26400
Beshara Sukkar 15 6 35400
Dag Mikkelsen 15 7 51000
Nico Behling 15 8 90800
Andrew Barton 15 9 5600

I was nearly low stack only one guy lower on 5200

We started play and I was straight into small blind so there’s 100 ante and 400 SB gone straight away.
Next hand I was dealt AQ and Avraame Solomon went all-in with his remaining 5k so I called. Unfortunately I didn’t hit so his 4’s held up and I was out.

I hung around to watch miw he built his stack up then lost a bit and then a bit etc He was doing real well at one point then he lost a big pot. Was going into the last level of day 2 and miw was in a good spot still sitting on his original 85k when he got unlucky and pushed all-in trying to steal a pot with A6 with K the high card on the table. After about 5, 6, 7minutes the other guy called holding KJ or KQ. Talk about bad timing he was out too. If only he had checked the river or tried to steal after the flop he would probably have gotten to day 2. I guess that’s Poker and a lesson learned.

Day 8


None of us left in so we watched a bit of poker then went for a walk round the city. It’s a really nice place. I had my first ever Subway for dinner which was pretty cool and we went back to the casino for drinks and poker. We played on poker pro which is like an electronic table so you don’t need the dealer which was great fun. I sat down with $50 and doubled pretty much straight away. Then they started to eat back at me and before I knew it I was down below $50 lol We had been sat there about 6-7 hours playing, a few had won a bit, a few had lost a bit and I walked away with exactly $50 which I had started with so it was pretty good value for money lol
We had all had a good few beers so we decided to hit the town. We popped back so one guy could get changed and I put my shoes on etc and we headed over to Spearmint Rhino Melbourne. That was entertaining hehe. Stu dragged us down to stage side so we got ourselves some tipping dollars and tipped away.
The other guys went into ‘Top of the Town’ (think the name might suggest what that was if not work it out lol) afterwards but I wasn’t interested in paying for that So I left them and got back to the hotel around 5.30 – 6.00am

Day 9
This was a lazy day. We didn’t do a lot and I didn’t really see anyone until the evening. I went out did my shopping for souvenirs for everyone and just basically laid low. Had my second ever Subway which was just as good as the first and Headed over the casino later to see what had been happening but ended up with an early night in preparation for the final player’s party.

Day 10

It’s Final table day. So McDonalds for breakfast then headed over the casino to watch most the action on the big screen. Lenny10 entered the final tournament $1100 turbo so tried to keep up on his action too before heading back to the room for an hour or two to pack and chill out before heading back over to the casino with plans of going for dinner before the big party. Lenny was still in the game just and had made the cash so we ended up watching him and skipped dinner. I just grabbed a hotdog from the bar. He played great and with a few vital double ups he made the final table. 10pm came round and he hit his lunch break so we headed up to the player party. There was lots of free Booze and Auderves being handed out so we had a pretty good night. Lenny went back down to his game then returned with the good news he had made 5th and $15k. WTG Lenny you did awesome.
We headed back to the hotel after the party finished around 2.30am and hit the sack ready for the flight home the next day.

Day 11

Up early to see the other guys off home as they all had lunchtime flights then went over to Liam’s hotel for my lift to the Airport. And that was it a 23 hour flight that was delayed so made it around 24 and half hour flight then 3 and half hour trains and taxi and home. My trip had ended. I had such a great time and wouldn’t change any of it (well except winning some cash maybe lol)

Here’s to next year!!!!

Peace

[tots]

Great report on your exploits down-under Barty.. sounds like you had a fantastic time

infact.. it sounds and looks like you did from the pics

[bubblesx2]

awesome story hun - I loved reading every bit of it. You did great and we are so proud of your achievements. This year who knows? between you, zed and chumley im sure one of our wassers are gonna win a big one sooner rather than later!!

bubbs xx


ps - did u find out if liam was a 'smoker' or not?

[bartyuk]

LOL no he isnt. Every morning when i had my first ciggie over there it went to my head so all was good lol Im looking at staying off it now anyway. Maybe every now and then but not like i was.

Peace

[bartyuk]

Oh yes and rumour has it that Phil Ivey lost $3mil the one night playing baccarat.. He was in the 100k too and didnt cash. He got upto around $300k day1 in the main event then finished the day on around $160k and in 2nd to go out on day 2. He didnt have a good week lol No wonder he didnt attend the party at the end lol

Peace

That was a life time experiance for you,u wrote excellent report and photos are great.Congrats again.

[alan292]

cheers barty.....superb read....what a blast for you m8....

[pastieman]

Great post mate, glad you enjoyed but that journey sounds horrendous. Glad your home safe and sound.