Aussie Millions: Nick Petrangelo Wins $100,000 Challenge
You could say that 2017 is treating Nick Petrangelo really well. You could say that “retirement” is treating German phenom Fedor Holz really well too.
The pair were front and center at the 2017 Aussie Millions On Saturday at the final table of the ANTON Jewellery $100,000 Challenge.
Petrangelo, who finished runner-up to Lucas Greenwood in the PokerStars Championship Bahamas
$25,000 High Roller, beat out a final table that included Holz, Sam Trickett, David Peters, David Steicke and Mike Watson to win $882,000 AU ($666,311 US).
Holz, who announced following the 2017 World Series of Poker that he was retiring from playing poker professionally finished third for $352,8000 AU. Holz is also at the final table of the Aussie Millions Main Event which resumes Sunday afternoon in Melbourne.
Sandwiched between Petrangelo and Holz was Canadian Mike Watson, who earned $529,000 AU for his runner-up finish.
The final table began with seven players still in contention. The short-stacked Steicke managed to find a double up on the third hand of play Saturday, only to find himself giving those chips to Watson two hands later before finally being eliminated by Holz on the sixth hand of the night.
Watson then found himself on the winning end of an elimination just an hour later. Watson opened from the cutoff to 14,000. Peters called from the big blind and then checked after the 
flop. Watson bet 15,000 and Peters called again. TThe turn was the 
and Peters check-called as Watson bet 45,000. Peters checked again after the 
river, allowing Watson to bet enough for Peters’ tournament life to be at stake. After using his time bank chip, Peters called and tabled 
for a pair of queens but got bad news as Watson tabled 
for a rivered straight and Peters was out in sixth.
Watson and Holz then took turns holding the chip lead for over an hour before Watson picked up another elimination. Steffen Sontheimer raised to 20,000 from the button and Watson responded with a three-bet from the small blind to 54,000. Sontheimer called to see the 
flop. Watson bet 40,000 before Sontheimer moved all in for 171,000. Watson called and tabled 
for an overpair and Sontheimer showed 
and needed one of 10 outs to improve and stay alive. The 
and 
river were complete blanks and the German was out in fifth.
With four players remaining, Watson didn’t take long to burst the bubble. Sam Trickett, who won this event in 2011, moved his short stack of 120,000 into the middle from early position and Watson defended his small blind. Trickett showed 
while Watson was ahead with 
. The 
flop was no help for Trickett and the 
turn left him drawing to just three outs. The river was the 
and Watson eliminated Trickett in fourth place.
While Watson did almost all of the work to get the final three players into the money, this is where Petrangelo took over. From the button Petrangelo raised to 18,000 and Holz moved all in from the small blind. Petrangelo called and showed 
while Holz showed 
. The board ran out 
to send Holz out in third place.
Heads-up action lasted just 90 minutes before Petrangelo finally finished off Watson. Watson threw in a button raise to 30,000 and Petrangelo called. The 
flop got both players to check. After the turn Petrangelo bet 45,000 and Watson called. The river was the and Petrangelo lead out for 150,000 before Watson moved all in for 562,000. Petrangelo called and after Watson showed for ace-high, turned over 
for top two pair. Watson was eliminated in second place, leaving Petrangelo to collect his second six-figure score of 2017 and first tiel.
Payouts
- Nick Petrangelo – $882,000
- Mike Watson – $529,200
- Fedor Holz – $352,800