PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Day 3 seat draw

Table 6

Seat 1: Daniel Craker (New Zealand) 131,500
Seat 2: Oleg Epp (Germany) PokerStars Qualifier 145,500
Seat 3: Michael Shinzaki (USA) 346,500
Seat 4: Luke Edwards (Australia) PokerStars Qualifier 83,000
Seat 5: Jason Mui (USA) PokerStars Qualifier 88,500
Seat 6: Eric Assadourian (Australia) Team PokerStars Australia 94,500
Seat 7: Ropati Toleafoa (New Zealand) 241,000
Seat 8: Charles Swan (USA) PokerStars Qualifier 104,000

Table 7

Seat 1: Louisy-Gabriel Mathieu (France) PokerStars Qualifier 44,500
Seat 2: Richard Lancaster (New Zealand) 116,000
Seat 3: Sal Fazzino (Australia) PokerStars Qualifier 136,500
Seat 4: Ke Sijia (China) 85,500
Seat 5: Ronny Wijaya (New Zealand) 35,000
Seat 6: Raymond Cook (Australia) 24,000
Seat 7: Jens Walther (Germany) PokerStars Qualifier 349,500
Seat 8: Assadour Assadourian (Australia) PokerStars Player 69,000

Table 8

Seat 1: Gerome Guitteau (France) PokerStars Qualifier 317,500
Seat 2: Anibal Lee (New Zealand) 34,500
Seat 3: Simon Watt (New Zealand) PokerStars Qualifier 430,500
Seat 4: Lance Climo (New Zealand) PokerStars Qualifier 235,000
Seat 5: Mike King (New Zealand) 81,000
Seat 6: Kani Edwards (New Zealand) 157,500
Seat 7: Sam Hill (New Zealand) PokerStars Qualifier 56,000
Seat 8: Robert Floyd Browning (Philippines) PokerStars Qualifier 111,000

Table 9

Seat 1: Ben Butcher (Australia) 118,000
Seat 2: George Moussa (Australia) 105,000
Seat 3: Arnaud Bulle (France) 82,000
Seat 4: Tamas Lendvai (Hungary) PokerStars Qualifier 64,000
Seat 5: Shilton Smith (New Zealand) 256,000
Seat 6: Joe Quinton (United Kingdom) PokerStars Qualifier 58,000
Seat 7: Jason Brown (New Zealand) 632,000
Seat 8: Chris Tau (New Zealand) 79,000

The final 32 players have been decided after a tense and fiercely contested day two in the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event. SKYCITY Casino was packed with a wine o'clock crowd for the latter stages of play, which added plenty of atmosphere to the race for the money.

The line-up was decided when the last of Helmut Waicane's chips were committed with [ac] [js] against the [6s] [6h] of Rob Toleafoa. The dealer showed [7s] [2d] [8s] [7h] [7c], propelling the local to more than 230,000 and sending the New Caledonian out in 34th.

The unlucky title of bubble boy went to China's Hong Kai Shi, in brutal circumstances. His last 19,600 went into the pot with [kc] [qs] and he started ahead of chip leader Jason Brown's [kd] [4h]. But the board came [7d] [5c] [9h] [3h] [6h] giving Brown an unlikely straight and Shi nothing for his two days' effort.

All players returning tomorrow are guaranteed a minimum payout of NZD $5523, although all eyes are on the first prize of NZD $209,085. And the man in the box seat to claim that prize and the title of SKYCITY Festival of Poker Main Event winner is local player Jason Brown. He takes a stack of 634,000 into tomorrow's day three.

The other big stacks belong to NZ PokerStars Qualifier Simon Watt (430,500), fellow PokerStars Qualifier Germany's Jens Walther (349,500), American Michael Shinzaki (346,500) and Gerome Guitteau (317,500), who stormed back into contention after leading earlier in the day.

Notables who'll also return tomorrow include the father-son combo of PokerStars.net Team Australia Pro Eric Assadourian and his father, PokerStars Player Assadour, while last year's APPT Auckland winner, Daniel Craker, is in good shape for an amazing repeat victory.

New Zealand comedian Mike King, who's gaining an international reputation for his skill at the poker table rather than his comic talents, will also be back for a shot at the title after his third-place finish in the 2009 NZ Poker Champs Main Event at Christchurch Casino.

With directions in hand to the nearby Angus Steak House and expectations of eating a slab of meat the size of a hubcap, it's farewell from SKYCITY Casino in Auckland. Join us from 12.15pm (local time) as the 32 remaining players chase a spot at the APPT Auckland Main Event final table.

Last word of the night goes to Dan Craker, the 2008 APPT Auckland champ who is already assured of a successive cash in this year's event:

Watch APPT Auckland 09 : Daniel Craker on PokerStars.tv

Live updates from day 2, level 15 (blinds 2500-5000, ante 500) of the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event brought to you by Sean Callander and Landon Blackhall from SKYCITY Casino in Auckland, New Zealand. Click refresh to see the latest updates below, while the latest selected chip counts can be found by clicking here.

8.35pm: Off the Marc

A huge rail has packed around the remaining five tables in the APPT Auckland Main Event for the closing hands of day two. Just two players will miss out on a minimum cash of NZD $5523 - a heart-breaking prospect having already outlasted 229 of the 263 players who started the tournament.

One of those to come close was Marc Wittkopf. The local player started the day with just 22,000 in chips and was still standing with 35 players in the field. After pushing all-in with red fives, his hopes were dashed on a board showing [6s] [3c] [3h] [4d] [9h] when Poker Stars Qualifier Gerome Guitteau bet enough to push Lance Climo out of the hand.

The Frenchman showed [6d] [6c] for a flopped full-house, sending Wittkopf on his way. However, he is currently serving a one-round penalty for showing his hand with action pending. Mike King has also just doubled-up through Assadour Assadourian, leaving both players on about 80,000.

8.20pm: Lance on the Climb-o

The hard luck stories of those who've been eliminated just shy of the money are mounting. Latest victim was Perth's Michael Pedley, who made his last stand with [jc] [jd] only to find Lance Climo waiting with [kd] [ks]. The board flowed [qs] [3h] [qd] [9s] [kc], sending Pedley home and Climo, who qualified via a Last Chance Seat Only satellite on PokerStars, up to 260,000.

Aussie PokerStars Qualifier Sal Fazino has worked his short stack almost into the money, and scored a timely double-up through Tim Macbeth with pocket aces against the A-J of the local. We're just two short of the bubble and the end of play on day two of the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event.

Live updates from day 2, level 14 (blinds 2000-4000, ante 500) of the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event brought to you by Sean Callander and Landon Blackhall from SKYCITY Casino in Auckland, New Zealand. Click refresh to see the latest updates below, while the latest selected chip counts can be found by clicking here.

7.45pm: Brown's call deliver massive pot

Jason Brown has extended his lead at the head of the chip count in dramatic fashion. Sean Wilson bet all the way on a board that fell [jd] [4c] [2d] [jh] [2h] and was all-in on the river. Brown thought it through, and made a ballsy call - his [ks] [4s] was good against the [kd] [qd] of Wilson, taking him to 480,000. Brown leads from Simon Watt (350,000), Jens Walther (320,000), Lance Climo (260,000) and Annibal Lee (240,000).

Dennis Huntly waited, and waited, and waited ... finally, the time came for the chips to go in. With A-5 suited, he wasn't in bad shape until an opponent snap-called and flipped over pocket kings. The affable Aussie is out six short of the money.

7.30pm: Helmut heading in right direction

New Caledonia's Helmut Waicane just scored a timely double-up through former chip leader Simon Watt, moving all-in on a flop of [2d] [kd] [10c] with [ad] [9c] only to be snap-called by Watt, who held [9h] [9s]. The [kc] came on the turn but the [ah] spiked on the river to keep Waicane's tournament alive on 52,000.

Aussie PokerStars Qualifier David Allan has joined the steady trickle of players exiting the tournament area after his [qh] [9h] improved to a flush on the river, only to find Jens Walther had rivered a full-house with [10d] [10h] on a board showing [10c] [kh] [3d] [2h] [2d]. That took the German to within a sniff of the chip lead on 310,000.

7.15pm: Singin' the blues

One to update ... just as players took an extended break at the end of level 13, there was still action between Michael Shinzaki and New Zealander Dan Sing, who had moved all in over the American's pre-flop raise for 46,300 total.

Shinzaki went deep into the tank before making the call, tabling [10h] [10d] and up for a race against Sing's [ad] [ks]. The Kiwis got behind their man and called for the ace or king to come, but the board of [jc] [9c] [6d] [4h] [8h] helped no one; Shinzake took the pot down and Sing was sent to the rail - a solid run after finishing fourth here last year.

7pm: Huntly hanging on

The action has slowed to a crawl as the last 45 players battle for a spot in the money. Not the athletic figure of Dennis Huntly - the Aussie stays on course for his first APPT in-the-money finish after scoring a crucial double-up against Helmut Waicane.

Huntly moved his last 24,000 into the middle, Waicane called and it was off to the races; Huntly's pocket eights ahead of Waicane's [ah] [jc]. "Hold up baby, just one time," Huntly muttered. The board complied, running out [3h] [ks] [4d] [4h] [3d] to double him up to 55,000.

After finishing in the cash in the PokerStars.net ANZPT Queenstown Main Event, Australian PokerStars Qualifier Aaron Golledge has finished agonisingly short of the top 32 after being eliminated by fellow Aussie George Moussa. Golledge moved all-in with [10h] [10d], but didn't improve on a [8c] [ks] [6d] [7s] [8s] board against Moussa's [qh] [qc].

Earlier today, we caught up with PokerStars.net Team Asia Pro Celina Lin in the wake of her elimination:

Watch APPT Auckland 09 : Day 2-Celina Lin on PokerStars.tv

Live updates from day 2, level 13 (blinds 1500-3000, ante 500) of the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event brought to you by Sean Callander and Landon Blackhall from SKYCITY Casino in Auckland, New Zealand. Click refresh to see the latest updates below, while the latest selected chip counts can be found by clicking here.

6.30pm: Quads for Quinton

UK PokerStars Qualifier Joe Quinton has moved up to 210,000 in chips after eliminating New Zealand-based Egyptian Sherif Badran. Quinton raised it up before the flop to 11,000, Badran moved all-in over the top and Quinton snap-called. It was Quinton's [as] [ad] against the [kh] [kc] of Badran - the board ran out [6s] [ah] [7h] [9s] [ac], sweetening Quinton's hand to quad aces and Badran's tournament run to history.

Ticking down to the end of level 13 (sixth of the day) with 45 players spread over six tables, Simon Watt remains the chip leader on 330,000 ahead of Jason Brown (310,000), Joe Quinton (200,000), Michael Shinzaki (190,000) and Jens Walther (185,000).

6.15pm: The king of comedy

After almost two full days of action in the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event, just 15 players face the agonising prospect of missing the money with 47 contenders remaining for a minimum cash of NZD $5523.

Notables still in the hunt include the sole PokerStars.net Team Australia Pro Eric Assadourian, his father Assadour, last year's APPT Auckland winner Daniel Craker and fourth-place finisher Dan Sing, 2008 Aussie Millions $1000 rebuys event champion Michael Pedley and NZ poker personality Mike King.

When it comes to poker ambassadors for an entire nation, it's hard to past King. With more one-liners than a prep class, there's never a boring moment when the comedian is around. Coming off third in the 2009 NZ Poker Champs Main Event, King has again shown that he is no slouch at the tables by running deep in his nation's biggest tournament.

6pm: Dane's hopes dashed

The hopes of 2009 New Zealand Poker Championships Main Event winner Soren Eriksen have ended. The Dane headed for the rail after a hand against Mathieu Louisy-Gabriel - on a board that read [7s] [10c] [as] [qs] [kh], Eriksen had made a straight with [ad] [jd] but the French PokerStars Qualifier had him beat with [ks] [6s] for the flush.

Left with only 15,000 in chips, Eriksen moved them all in pre-flop holding [qh] [js], only to be called down by Michael Shinzaki with [6h] [6c]. The dealer revealed the [qd] in the window, but it was followed by [7c], [6s] to give Shinzaki the set and the lead. Eriksen was left with little hope and it wasn't to be as the turn and river ran out [ks] [3s].

As players take their second break of the day, take a breather of your own to check out this video preview of day two in the APPT Auckland Main Event:

Watch APPT Auckland 09 : Day 2 Introduction on PokerStars.tv

Live updates from day 2, level 12 (blinds 1200-2400, ante 300) of the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event brought to you by Sean Callander and Landon Blackhall from SKYCITY Casino in Auckland, New Zealand. Click refresh to see the latest updates below, while the latest selected chip counts can be found by clicking here.

5.30pm: Groove not so super for Lonie

Simon Watt and Jason Brown have snuck ahead of the pack to be the only two players holding more than 300,000 in chips. The money was in the middle between Watt and the Joe Lonie on a flop that read [9c] [8d] [5d]; Watt led out for 10,000, Lonie moved the rest of his stack into the middle and Watt snap-called, tabling [10h] [10d], in front of Lonie who was looking for help with A-Q.

The turn of the [jc] was a scare card for Watt as any 10 would give Lonie the straight and keep in this tournament. However the river [kd] would send Supergroove's bass player to the rail and Watt's stack to 320,000.

Not to be outdone, Jason Brown moved up to outright second with 315,000 after claiming the scalp of another opponent on table eight. Brown's pocket queens were well ahead of the all-in opponent's A-10 and held up as the board bricked out.

5.15pm: Kiwi quinella at top of chip count

We're just 20 spots short of the money and the scheduled end of day two in the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event. As the working Joes start to think about beer o'clock to end their week, it's peak hour in the SKYCITY Casino poker room as we approach the business end of the tournament.

With the chip average just over 90,000, most players in the room are still in with a shot of making the top 32 with a dominant chip leader yet to emerge. Currently, it reads New Zealand 1-2 - Jason Brown on 250,000 ahead of Simon Watt (230,000), the resurgent Gerome Guitteau (200,000), Jens Walther (190,000) and Michael Shinzaki (160,000).

5pm: Tahtouh's dreams destroyed

Team PokerStars Australia is down to a single representative after Emad Tahtouh, was crippled then busted. Jason Brown and another opponent limped in pre-flop only to see Tahtouh make it 10,000 to go from late position. The other opponent moved out of the way, Brown re-raised to 25,000, Tahtouh shoved and Brown snap-called, rolling up pocket kings against his pocket sixes.

The flop produced another king for Brown's set and bricked out; Tahtouh then put the last of his stack on a king-high flop with K-9, only to have Mike King deliver the final blow when he tabled K-Q. With Tahtouh eliminated, Jason Brown is the new chip leader with 250,000 in chips, while Mike King battles on with 60,000 in his stack.

4.45pm: James cut to the bone

Local PokerStars Qualifier James Honeybone has been KOed short of the money on day two of the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event. "I was short stacked, around 30,000 in chips and I pushed all in with [ac] [2c], but Michael Pedley woke up with pocket kings. Not the best time to make that play, but I'd been playing really tight so I figured I'd squeeze and try to double up." No dice.

Australian PokerStars Qualifier Aaron azzabentonaces Benton has also been eliminated, with German PokerStars Qualifier Oleg Epp his nemesis. Having been stacked by Epp a few hands earlier, Benton managed a double-up through chip leader Simon Watt before moving his last 12,200 into the middle on the next hand. Epp made the call and it was Benton's [5s] [5c] against [8h] [8c]. The board ran out [9h] [10s] [3h] [3s] [6d], ending Benton's day.

Live updates from day 2, level 11 (blinds 1000-2000, ante 300) of the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event brought to you by Sean Callander and Landon Blackhall from SKYCITY Casino in Auckland, New Zealand. Click refresh to see the latest updates below, while the latest selected chip counts can be found by clicking here.

4.30pm: Watt powers into lead

Auckland's own PokerStars Qualifier Simon Watt is our new chip leader in the SKYCITY Festival of Poker Main Event. Having held his own against the big stacks of Soren Eriksen and Gerome Guitteau, he's now out of their firing line but sits on top of the counts with 210,000.

But we've farewelled Dennis Waterman after being stacked then busted in the space of two hands. Canadian PokerStars Qualifier Sean Wilson moved all in pre-flop for 66,000, sending Waterman into the tank for five minutes before making the call, tabling A-K but behind Wilson's pocket queens.

The board ran out [10h] [8c] [6c] [10c] [8h], sending Waterman spiralling down to just 1500, which he promptly moved all-in on the next hand with [jc] [7c], with Aussie George Moussa making the call and showing [9c] [6d]. The flop of [7d] [3s] [9h] paired up both players but Moussa was ahead with the nine. Needing either a jack or another seven, the turn and river [ac], [2d] to send Waterman packing.

4.15pm: The Great Dane

Two of the players who dominated the 2009 New Zealand Poker Championships have outlasted almost three-quarters of the field in the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event.

Originally from Denmark but now residing in New Zealand, reigning NZ champion Soren Eriksen holds more than 80,000 in chips while current NZ High Roller champion, Aussie larrikin Dennis Huntly, is on 55,000 and still in the running for his first APPT cash.

Chip count (approximate)

Simon Watt 210,000
Jason Brown 160,000
Helmut Waicane 150,000
Emad Tahtouh 145,000
Richard Lancaster 140,000

4pm: Friendly fire claims Levy

Seated next to each other after an early break in tables, PokerStars.net Team Australia Pros Grant Levy and Eric Assadourian just went head-to-head in a hand with Levy eliminated as a result.

Assadourian open-shoved for 25,000 from the cut-off before the flop holding [as] [3c], but found himself behind when Levy called him all-in with [ad] [jd] from the button.

The flop of [5c] [9s] [3s] was a disaster for Levy, now needing one of three jacks to take the lead. The [qd] on the turn was the wrong kind of paint; Assadourian took down the pot when the river bricked out with the [8h]. "Sorry mate," Assadourian said as they shook hands. With the mess mopped up, Assadourian moves up to 48,000 in chips.

3.45pm: Waicane? Why can't he?

We're down to less than 70 players early in the fourth level, with more than 60 players already eliminated on day two of the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event at SKYCITY Casino.

Among those still in contention for the NZD $209,085 first prize is New Caledonia's Helmut Waicane. We just watched Waicane claim another vehicle when he pushed all-in over the top of an opponent's shove, and showed [10c] [10s] to be well placed against [ac] [8c]. The board ran out [7h] [5h] [jc] [js] [3d] and Waicane was up to almost 150,000.

Live updates from day 2, level 10 (blinds 800-1600, ante 200) of the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event brought to you by Sean Callander and Landon Blackhall from SKYCITY Casino in Auckland, New Zealand. Click refresh to see the latest updates below, while the latest selected chip counts can be found by clicking here.

3.15pm: Hachem's set upset

Players crowded around Team PokerStars Australia Pro Tony Hachem as he announced he was all in. New Zealand's Chris Tau and Shilton Smith made the call, going to a flop of [5h] [4s] [8s].

Tau insta-shoved and Smith mucked; Hachem turned over [5s] [5d] but reeled when Tau revealed [8h] [8d]. Needing a load of help to stay alive, the turn and river ran out [2h] [3s] and Hachem's tournament life came to an end.

Angie Fitzgerald's run came to an end after being eliminated by Hungarian PokerStars Qualifier Tamas Lendvai. The money was in the middle pre-flop and it was a race between Fitzgerald's pocket fours and Lendvai's [ac] [7h].

The flop of [3s] [9c] [6c] and the turn of the [6c] saw Fitzgerald tapping the table and pre-emptively calling the pot hers, but the river [7h] spiked, shipping the pot towards Lendvai and Fitzgerald out of the APPT Auckland Main Event.

3pm: Putt sunk, Raj removed

Graeme "Kiwi G" Putt has been sent to the rail at the hands of fellow New Zealander Shilton Smith. With the board reading 10-6-5-9, Putt led out for 10,000 on the big blind, Smith moved all-in over the top and Putt called, rolling up A-10 against Smith's 7-6. However the river eight gave Smith the straight and Putt was busted.

Raj Ramakrishnan has also been added to the casualty list after moving the last of his stack into the middle with [4s] [4h], only to be called down by Filipino PokerStars Qualifier Mike Tyler who tabled [kh] [qh]. The flop and turn of [jd] [5h] [8s] [7c] kept Ramakrishnan in front but he lost the race and his tournament life when the [kd] appeared on the river.

PokerNews' reporting chief Garry Gates has also been sent to the rail, now back behind the laptop duties after getting the money in the middle with A-Q on a queen-high board, but ran into an opponent's set of jacks.

2.45pm: Taking refuge in the Buddha

When it comes to Zen at the poker table, it's hard to go past PokerStars Player Dennis Waterman (no, not the actor). The celebrated writer and poker player from the USA was here in Auckland last year and made a welcome return this year. A Buddhist, Waterman has written several books on spirituality and meditation, both of which come in handy picking your way through volatile tournament fields. He's up to 88,000 and well placed after two levels of play today.

Another larger-than-life character who's started day two strongly is PokerStars Player Assadour Assadourian. The father of PokerStars.net Team Australia Pro Eric Assadourian, Assadour cashed in this event last year and with 85,000 in his stack, looks every chance to make it successive APPT Auckland in-the-money finishes.

2.30pm: Dan eyes the double

The moves are coming thick and fast - defending champ Daniel Craker remains in contention to go back-to-back after called the all-in of Raj Ramakrishnan with [6h] [6s] on a board of [9d] [6c] [7d] [jh] against the Aussie's [js] [8s]. The river fell [qc], and Craker climbed to more than 110,000 while Ramakrishnan was down to less than 20,000.

Meanwhile, the majority of the chips that once belonged to Gerome Guitteau now reside in the stack of local PokerStars Qualifier Simon Watt after the Frenchman called the Kiwi's all-in with air - [ad] [2h] against [jh] 10s] on a flop of [10c] [7c] [6d]. The board ran out [2s] [9c], and Watt was our new chip leader. Guitteau climbed back to 100,000 on the next hand when he made a set of jacks on the flop against the pocket aces of compatriot Herve Gael. All aboard the French funship!

Live updates from day 2, level 9 (blinds 600-1200, ante 200) of the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event brought to you by Sean Callander and Landon Blackhall from SKYCITY Casino in Auckland, New Zealand. Click refresh to see the latest updates below, while the latest selected chip counts can be found by clicking here.

2.15pm: Fitzgerald is femme finale

Play has reached eight-handed with less than 90 of the 130 players who started day two remaining. The rate of eliminations has actually increased in the past 30 minutes as the short stacks that survived the opening hour come under attack. Emma Grace, who was Australia's top-placed female player in the 2009 WSOP Main Event, and Candice Smith have been eliminated leaving New Zealand's Angie Fitzgerald the last female in the field.

Grace was the first to go after she moved all-in holding pocket queens, but found herself in hot water when Germany's Jens Walther called her down and showed pocket aces. The board didn't improve Grace's hand and she was sent to the rail.

Smith was then busted when she moved all-in for the last of her short stack with [as] [kd], but New Zealander Wayne Barry made the call, tabling [ah] [ac]. There was a slim chance on the flop of [qh] [kh] [9c], but the turn and river ran out [8h] [3c], thus closing the chapter on the Aussie girls in this tournament.

Meanwhile Fitzgerald is continuing to take it to the boys, scoring a double-up through Michael Shinzake. With the board reading [8c] [5h] [3d] [8s] [5s], Shinzake led out for 20,000, which was enough to put Fitzgerald all-in. She made the call and showed [kd] [kc]; Shinzake threw his hand into the muck and Fitzgerald is up to 35,000.

2pm: Guitteau gets going

French Poker Stars Qualifier Gerome Guitteau has closed to within a few-thousand chips of APPT Auckland Main Event chip leader Emad Tahtouh midway through level nine.
With the flop reading [qh] [kh] [9d], Guitteau checked to his opponent in late position who moved all in. After about two minutes in tank, Guitteau made a gutsy call, tabling [9h] [8h] for bottom pair and a flush draw, but had to sweat it out against the opponent's [ah] [4h].
The board ran out [2c] [10c] and Guitteau is now up there with Lance Climo and PokerStars Team Australia Pro Emad Tahtouh among the chip leaders in this tournament.

Top five chip counts (approximate)

Emad Tahtouh 180,000
Gerome Guitteau 170,000
Lance Climo 140,000
Michael Shinzaki 110,000
James Ciurlionis 105,000

1.45pm: Shinzake slips as Tahtouh canes Sherwell

Emad Tahtouh continues his dominant display and has eliminated Kane Sherwell after Tahtouh's A-J was good enough against Sherwell's [ah] [10c]. His fellow Team PokerStars Australia Pros, Grant Levy, Tony Hachem and Eric Assadourian are keen to show their support for Tahtouh, who is now up to 175,000 in chips.

In contrast, Michael Shinzake has experienced a tough start to the day, slipping to 45,000 after Angie Fitzgerald and French PokerStars Qualifier Olivier Verdue doubled through him. Fitzgerald moved her last 8800 into the middle on a board reading [7d] [3h] [ah] [3s] and was called by Shinzake, who tabled [7s] [6h] but was behind Fitzgerald's [ac] [jh]. The [kh] bricked on the river and Fitzgerald was up to 20,000.

Shinzake would take another big hit the next hand, calling down Verdue's all-in bet with [8s] [8h], but trailled again when his opponent rolled up [js] [jc]. The board ran out [7c] [7h] [2d] [ks] [2c] and Verdue doubled through.

1.30pm: Lin's kings set upon

PokerStars Team Asia Pro Celina Lin has been eliminated from the APPT Auckland Main Event at the hands of German PokerStars Qualifier Jens Walther. Having started the day nursing a short stack of 16,300, Lin finally moved the last of her chips into the middle with pocket kings but was called down by Walther who had pocket eights. The flop of 3-7-9 kept her ahead, but an eight spiked on the turn, giving Walther the set that held up on the river. "They were the first pocket kings I've seen all tourney - it's so sad!" she said.

Live updates from day 2, level 8 (blinds 500-1000, ante 100) of PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event brought to you by Sean Callander and Landon Blackhall from SKYCITY Casino in Auckland, New Zealand. Click refresh to see the latest updates below, while the latest selected chip counts can be found by clicking here.

1.15pm: Who's the Sherif in these parts?

Amid the champagne corks after news broke that balloon boy was OK, tournament staff have already broken two tables after more than a dozen departures during the first level of play on day two in the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event. Sherif Badran has been the big mover in the opening hour ... he claimed the scalp of Brotha D before putting a big dent in the stack of Aaron Benton, who took down the biggest online tournament prize ever won by an Australian earlier this year. Badran is up to 60,000.

1pm: Kiwis climb in early going

Top local players Dan Sing and Mike King have both scored some crucial extra chips in this first level. King moved his short stack into the middle with pocket jacks, but was called by an opponent with pocket sevens. The jacks held and King doubled up, but Sing tripled up in an almost mirror image hand played out on nearby table six.

Bruce Wilkinson limped in pre-flop but Sing moved all-in for 9000 on the button. Anibal Lee called from the big blind but Wilkinson shoved in over the top. Lee made the call and the cards were tabled - Lee with [js] [jh], Sing [7h] [7d] and Wilkinson [ac] [ks]. The flop of [3h] [2c] [7c] to give Sing the set, and he was whistling a happy tune when the turn and river bricked out [td] [8c]. Sing moved up to 30,000, Lee took a small hit and Wilkinson hit the rail.

12.45pm: Sweet straight for Honeybone

After we visited the penguins a few days ago, we have our very own giant penguin in the room today, local James Honeybone. Having just returned from the US where he caught the Pittsburgh Penguins in NHL pre-season action, Honeybone is wearing a Penguins jersey today - the good fortune of the reigning Stanley Cup champs looks like it's rubbing off after Honeybone just doubled up with [as] [kd] against the pocket aces of Yasuchika Kayano on a board that out [9d] [10h] [8h] [qh] [jc].

12.30pm: When the music's over ...

Cards are in the air on day two, with PokerStars.net Team Australia Pro Grant Levy slyly slipping into his seat minutes after the order was given to shuffle up and deal. One of the first to hit the rail today was the short-stacked Danny "Brotha D" Leaoasavaii, who made his last stand with A-J against an opponent's pocket fours. Farewell to the ultra-popular local hip-hop icon and Celebrity Challenge winner, who brought plenty of focus to the tournament over the past few days.

Brilliant sunshine bathes the "City of Sails" this morning as players arrive for day two of the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event, known locally as the NZPT SKYCITY Festival of Poker Main Event, here at SKYCITY Casino in Auckland.

In a rarity for many tournament poker players, some of that sunlight is making its way into the poker room, which faces north from the third floor of the property towards the sprawling Auckland Harbour Bridge.

PokerStars.net Team Australia Pro Emad Tahtouh leads the field of 130 players into day two in pursuit of his first-ever tournament win and third in-the-money finish on the APPT. He leads local PokerStars qualifier Lance Climo with Michael Shinzaki (USA) and James Ciurlionis (NZ) the only other players holding more than 100,000 in chips.

The challenges are already being out to Tahtouh, as he finds himself drawn on the same table as fellow PokerStars.net Team Australia Pro Grant Levy at the start of today's play. Climo also drew a tough spot with PokerStars.net Team Australia Pro Eric Assadourian joining him on table seven, along with last year's winner Daniel Craker and 2009 Aussie Millions Main Event fourth-place finisher Raj Ramakrishnan.

We're expecting to play down to the bubble (32 players today), which should take around six or seven levels. The structure available for today's play is:

Level 8: 500/1000 (ante 100)
Level 9: 600/1200 (ante 200)
Level 10: 800/1600 (ante 200)
Level 11: 1000/2000 (ante 300)
Level 12: 1200/2400 (ante 400)
Level 13: 1500/3000 (ante 500)
Level 14: 2000/4000 (ante 500)
Level 15: 2500/5000 (ante 500)
Level 16: 3000/6000 (ante 1000)
Level 17: 4000/8000 (ante 1000)
Level 18: 5000/10,000 (ante 1000)
Level 19: 6000/12,000 (ante 2000)
Level 20: 8000/16,000 (ante 2000)

Top 10 chip count at the start of day 2

Emad Tahtouh (Australia) Team PokerStars Australia 162,900
Lance Climo (New Zealand) PokerStars Qualifier 134,400
Michael Shinzaki (USA) 109,800
James Ciurlionis (New Zealand) 105,600
Gerome Guitteau (France) PokerStars Qualifier 99300
Daniel Hall (Canada) 93,600
Soren Eriksen (New Zealand) PokerStars Qualifier 84,600
Tamas Lendvai (Hungary) PokerStars Qualifier 76,100
Jacky Tastavin (France) 73,300
Helmut Waicane (New Caledonia) 70,900

For something different to start the day, two of our PokerStars.net Team Australia Pros Tony Hachem and Eric Assadourian ... duelling microphones?

Watch APPT Auckland 09: Tony Hachem vs Eric Assadourian on PokerStars.tv