Antonius hails chip lead on Day 1a of Aussie Millions main event

The biggest poker event in the Southern Hemisphere is underway, and some big names have gone under already. Finnish pro Patrik Antonius isn't one of them, though, and will come out on Day 2 with about $300,000 in chips to fire around at those left.

A rendition of Kool and the Gang's "Celebrate" and introductions from Howard Lederer, Joe Hachem, Shannon Elizabeth and Australian cricket star Shane Warne kicked off Day 1a of the Aussie Millions main event yesterday.

Finnish pro Patrik Antonius finished it, weaving through a power-packed field to the chip lead, albeit without the dancing showgirls and gold confetti the day started with.

PokerListings.com's own Matt Showell is feltside for Australia's yearly poker panacea, and his Live Tournament Updates have certainly confirmed one thing: this isn't your average poker tournament.

Besides the dancing girls and professional tennis stars on hand: A murderer's row of top pros, including Chris Ferguson, Steve Zolotow, Daniel Negreanu, David Singer, Ram Vaswani, Carlos Mortensen, David Singer, Doug Lee, David Pham and John D'Agostino.

And already sent packing: Allen Cunningham, Joe Sebok, Huck Seed, Zolotow, Vaswani, Negreanu, Mortenson and Erik Seidel.

Before Antonius will get to throw his chips around on Day 2 however, Day 1b will play out later today. Numbers haven't been finalized, but about 350 players kicked off Day 1a and the first place prize was estimated at about $1.5 million.

courtesy of Christopher Hunt

News Added: 15 January, 2007

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