February 08 2014, by Eric Danis
Aussie Millions Main Event Final Table Preview
Barer leads the way but fellow Canadian Mizzi hoping to finally win in the land of AUS…
IS THIS FINALLY MIZZI’S TIME DOWN UNDER?
On Sunday, Sorel Mizzi (GPI#40), one of the most successful poker players Canada has to offer, will attempt to finally win the first major open-field Main Event of his career. Amazingly, Mizzi, who has amassed over 8.5M USD in earnings on the live tournament circuit, has yet to win a big one. That being said, he did win the PartyPoker Premier League VII back this past November in Montreal, and Mizzi has won a few small-field High Roller events on the European Poker Tour.
Mizzi has come oh so close on a couple of different occasions at the World Series of Poker, twice finishing second in PLO events. Mizzi has also come close right here in Melbourne. His first deep run at the Aussie Millions came in 2009 where he finished 16th. He would final table the very next year, finishing 3rd and would follow that up in 2011 with a 9th place performance. There must be something in the water as Mizzi has been one of the most successful players Down Under over the past few years. On Sunday, Sorel hopes to add a Main Event title to his already impressive Aussie Millions résumé.
BALSIGER, SEIVER STILL IN CONTENTION
Amichai Barer (GPI#244), who finished 2nd at EUREKA Prague in December, will start Sunday as the chip leader, holding over 30% of the chips and holding close to a 2:1 chip lead on his second place opponent.
WSOP October Niner Jacob Balsiger (GPI#459) will be starting fourth in chips and will attempt to earn his first big score since his deep run in the 2012 Main Event. Balsiger has the fourth biggest stack at the final table.
American Superstar Scott Seiver (GPI#42) will start final table play with the shortest stack but could get right back in the thick of things with a few quick double ups. Don’t be shocked if the former World Top 10 makes a game of it before all is said and done.
Here is a closer look at the final table participants:
[table id=821 /]
›› SEAT 1 | JACOB BALSIGER
- Was a member of the October Nine at the 2013 WSOP ($3,799,073)
- Earned a total of four cashes – including three Top 10’s – at the 2013 Aussie Millions
- Aussie Millions Main Event: First Main Event Cash
›› SEAT 2 | DARREN RABINOWITZ
- Recently finished 24th at WSOP Circuit Durant ($7,818)
- Finished 68th at WPT Montreal in November ($8,442)
- Was runner-up in $500 Deepstack event at Seminole Hard Rock Open ($190,125)
- Final tabled NLH Event #3 at 2013 WSOP ($63,273)
- Aussie Millions Main Event: First Main Event Cash
›› SEAT 3 | SCOTT SEIVER
- Recently finished 5th at Aussie Millions 25K Challenge ($265,538 AUD)
- Finished 4th in PartyPoker Premier League VII (130K) – won Premier League V (500K)
- Finished 2nd at WPT Alpha8 London in October ($815,360)
- Won 2013 PCA Super High Roller event ($2,003,480)
- Won WPT World Championship in 2011 ($1,618,344)
- Aussie Millions Main Event: First Main Event Cash
›› SEAT 4 | VINCENT RUBIANES
- Was runner-up at APPT Seoul in 2012 (90,500,000 KRW)
- Finished 5th at NAPT Connecticut in 2011 ($90,000)
- Aussie Millions Main Event: First Main Event Cash
›› SEAT 5 | AMI BARER
- Recently finished 19th at in High Roller event at 2014 PCA ($71,400)
- Was runner-up at EUREKA Prague in December (€ 131,400)
- Earned a 25th place finish at the EPT Grand Final in 2009 (€ 45,000)
- Aussie Millions Main Event: First Main Event Cash
›› SEAT 6 | ANDREW PHAEDONAS
- Finished 8th in APPT Melbourne side event in September ($1,900 AUD)
- Finished 60th in ANZPT Repechage last May ($2,955 AUD)
- All career cashes on the live tournament circuit have come inside the Crown Casinod
- Aussie Millions Main Event: First Main Event Cash
›› SEAT 7 | SOREL MIZZI
- Won PartyPoker Premier League VII in November ($466,000 CAD)
- Finished 3rd at GuangDong Asia Millions last June ($16,100,000 HKD)
- Final tabled Aussie Millions in 2010, 9th the following year
- Holds a pair of WSOP runner-up finishes, both in PLO (’08 London, ’09 Las Vegas)
- Aussie Millions Main Event: 1 final table, 3 cashes, $910,000 AUD in earnings
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