8-Game Mixed Final Table Set; Ospina In Control, Kastle and Ashby In Contention
It took just over nine hours, but numerous bring-ins, split pairs and double-bets, the Event 5: $1,100 8-Game Mixed Final Table has been set!
With Crown Casino - and many other poker-based casinos in the region - trying to push the 8-game format ahead of H.O.R.S.E, today's event replaced the H.O.R.S.E event that was run with this very buy-in last year.
Although numbers have been down in this game format, it is still exciting to watch from both sides of the felt, and sixty-eight players probably agreed when they sat down to battle it out for the fifth gold ring of the 2011 Aussie Millions.
The international brigade was led by Joseph Serock, Mike Watson, Maria Ho, Jarred Solomon, David Steicke and Harry Demetriou in a field that was dominated by local and regional talent such as the likes of old-schoolers Joe Cabret, Mel Judah, Gary Benson and Graeme Putt, along with youngsters James Obst, Tim Marsters, Mark Furniss, Trung Tran and Rob Campbell.
Unfortunately the aforementioned players all fell to the rail over the course of the day as only seven players managed to snag a spot on the final table.
Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
1 | Daniel Ospina | Columbia | 186,700 |
2 | Bruno Portaro | Australia | 104,400 |
3 | Oliver Gill | Australia | 98,600 |
4 | Dane Coltman | Australia | 89,200 |
5 | Casey Kastle | Slovenia | 87,500 |
6 | Paul Ravesi | Australia | 63,900 |
7 | Richard Ashby | England | 59,300 |
Although the final table is Australian-dominate, it is Arizonian-based Daniel "DazzleO" Ospina that is headlining the final table after dominating play after dinner to amass a 186,700-chip stack - close to double that of his nearest rival.
That rival is well-known on the Australian tournament circuit with his loud personality always providing entertainment to his tablemates and media row. For Bruno Portaro, this marks his fifth Aussie Millions cash and fourth time he has secured a seat on the final table. Two of Australia's best mixed game players - Oliver Gill and Dane Coltman - sit next before international tournament circuit veterans Casey Kastle and Richard Ashby round out the final seven with long-time Australian poker supporter Paul Ravesi rounding out an extremely interesting final table.
The PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be providing all the exclusive live coverage of the final table from 4:00 pm EST tomorrow as we look to crown the fifth Aussie Millions Champion of 2011!