Aussie Police Arrest Two Guys, One with Absurd Name, for Jason "Tiny" Potter Robbery

U.S. American poker player Jason "Tiny" Potter (at right) may finally get a bit of justice, if not the $30,000 that was picked off him during a late night mugging after the Aussie Millions Poker Championship.

Melbourne police announced this morning that they have charged two men for the armed robbery: 32-year-old Dwayne Johnstone of St Albans and 27-year-old Vhyharn Arumughasamu of Wheeler’s Hill.

Yeh, one of the robbers' name is Vhyharn Arumughasamu, which sounds like the name you'd come up with if you ate a spoiled can of Alphabet Soup and went with whatever you crapped out the next morning. Or if you closed your eyes and just typed random letters on your keyboard. Like Behajkekah Koelelalenena. Or Haiajeoow Gagwgeoapnnda. Or Jarkko Paasisalo. All names we randomly typed on our keyboard just now. Except the last one. He's some dude playing the EPT German Open.

For the Victoria Police media release on the arrests, go here.

Thanks to Ted over at Red Bull + Poker for the tip.

Late Night Munchies Cost Jason "Tiny" Potter $30K in Australia

U.S. American poker player Jason Potter, who we're going to nickname "Tiny" because we like it when big guys have the nickname "Tiny" kind of like bald guys with the nickname "Curly" or nice, non-thiefy wholesome virgins with the nickname "Brandi Hawbaker," paid a hefty price for his late night stroll to a burger joint on the mean streets of Melbourne, Australia.

The 22-year-old from Oklahoma, who finished 31st at the Aussie Millions Poker Championship (good for a portly sum of $30,000), had just cashed in his winnings when he got the urge for a big fat juicy burger or three at McDonald's and got mugged on his way back.

As The Australian reports, "Potter was walking back to his hotel room at Crown Plaza after feasting at McDonald's about 4:30am" when a knife-wielding robber hit him over the head and made off with his cash.

"I had already been home to my hotel room but decided to go out and get something to eat because I was hungry," he said. "I heard someone running resolutely behind me. As I turned around I just got knocked on the back of the head. I fell down and this guy reached immediately into my hooded pocket."

Potter said he thought about fighting back but then realized that getting stabbed would suck.

For a TV news video account of the story, go here.

For Potter's 2p2 post on the mugging, go here.

For why you shouldn't walk around late at night with $30,000 cash in your pocket, go here.

2008 Aussie Millions: Some Russian Won It

The 2008 Aussie Millions Main Event is done, and Some Russian came out of nowhere to take it down.

The final table began with Michael [Ctrl + V] Chrisanthopoulos as a massive chip leader, 129 year-old Antonio Casale repping second, and poker legend Erik Seidel waiting in the wings.

But unlike WWII without U.S. America's help, the Cold War, the 1980 Winter Olympics, Rocky IV, Red Dawn, the Afghan War, and Boris Yeltsin's kidney, the Soviet Union actually came out on top in this one, as Some Russian defeated the field of 780 players to bank $1,650,000.

Some Russian defeated Erik Seidel ($1,000,000) for the title. Michael [Ctrl + P] Chrisanthopoulos finished third ($700,000). The rest of the final table payouts were: Peter Ling ($500,000), Nino Marotta ($400,000), Antonio Casale ($300,000), Peter Mobbs ($225,000).

2008 Aussie Millions: Michael Chrisanthopoulos, Who May Be Of Greek Descent, Massive Final Table Chip Leader

Ok, we're no CSI type sleuths. Detectiving takes up waaaay too much time and effort. Plus it requires putting logical thought processes together, like "If her blood and her friend's blood were both found in the accused's Bronco, and the accused also has a cut on his finger and his blood was found at the murder scene, then there's probably a 197% chance the accused did it." See? Just too much effort.

However, our deductive powers of reasoning, after many many hours of thought, have concluded that 2008 Aussie Millions Main Event final table chip leader, Michael Chrisanthopoulos, may be of Greek descent. Chrisanthopoulos, which by the way we have to copy and paste every time we mention because there's no way we'll remember how to spell that one, is a massive chip leader, is stacked at 6,810,000.

[Ctrl+V] Chrisanthopoulos is trailed by 129 year-old Antonio Casale with 1,991,000. Casale's showing is extra impressive since during every hand he says "Huh? What? What'd he say? I don't hear so good. Could you speak louder?" and often has to be waken up from naps in between hands.

Big names at the final table also include Erik Seidel (1,487,000), Erik Seidel (1,487,000), and Erik Seidel (1,487,000).

Get final table chip counts from Poker News here.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding fan site

List of oldest people alive

Poker Player Rick Salomon Not Gonna Be a Daddy

Pokerer Rick Salomon, who you know for finishing in 196th place at the 2006 WSOP Main Event filming himself banging a teenage Paris Hilton, apparently won't have to worry about child support when he and his wife Pamela Anderson finally get around to divorcing each other. According to TMZ.com, Pamela is no longer knocked up, or perhaps never was.

The poker playing couple was rumored to be heading to Melbourne, Australia to play the Aussie Millions Poker Championship but Anderson's sponsored deal with the Crown fell through. We assume Salomon never made it either as he was spotted hanging with Anderson in Malibu over the weekend.

In related news and the real purpose of this post, Croatian goddess Nina Moric is a MILF we'd LF more than mother-of-two Pamela Anderson. Photos of Nina Moric showing off her sickly hot body in a bikini after the jump.

* Image of Rick Salomon from TheHendonMob.com

Sex-Texter Shane Warne Gets in SMS Trouble at Aussie Millions

Shane Warne, the Australian cricket legend and now full-time pokerer for 888.com, was busted Wednesday at the Aussie Millions Poker Championship for sending text messages at the poker table, something that is generating news in the media and cricket circles because the leg spinner famously has a penchant for SMS-ing chicks he bangs and wants to bang who aren't his wife.

No word on who Warne was texting at the table yesterday, which resulted in him getting a 5 minute penalty, but we're gonna go out on a limb and say it was Australian hottie Emily Scott (above pic). Why? Because we like the photos of Emily Scott after the jump.

2008 Aussie Millions: Main Event Field Goes From "High Profile" to "Kind of Boring"

As the money bubble burst yesterday at the 2008 Aussie Millions, the potential for a big name, big personality final table seemed a lock. Still in the field included Perry Friedman, Erick Lindgren, Matt Matros, Tom "Durrr" Dwan, Kenna James, Raymond Rahme, Kevin 'BeL0WaB0Ve' Saul, Peter "Nordberg" Feldman, Tiffany "Crazy Bitch" Williamson, and Andy Black.

However, after the eliminations of Perry Friedman, Erick Lindgren, Matt Matros, Tom "Durrr" Dwan, Kenna James, Raymond Rahme, Kevin 'BeL0WaB0Ve' Saul, Peter "Nordberg" Feldman, Tiffany "Crazy Bitch" Williamson, and Andy Black, much of the intrigue and luster has vanished from the 2008 Aussie Millions Main Event.

With only 22 remaining, the event chip leader is 129 year-old Antonio Casale from Australia (at right), who was actually one of the first non-Aboriginal inhabitants of Australia. He's stacked at 1,513,000, or roughly the number of days he's been alive.

Also still around include Max Pescatori (1,082,000) and Erik Seidel (752,000). Get full chip counts from Poker News here.

* Image from Poker News.

American Idol "I Am Your Brother" Audition Not Sung By Tiffany "Crazy Bitch" Williamson, However, Tiffany "Crazy Bitch" Williamson Is Actually Doing Well at 2008 Aussie Millions

One of the first posts that put Wicked Chops Poker "on the map" was on 2005 WSOP Main Event top-female-finisher Tiffany "Crazy Bitch" Williamson (read that epic post here).

Since then, we haven't seen any much of her. At all. None. She's been about as anonymous from the scene as Jerry Yang.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Williamson has reappeared at the 2008 Aussie Millions and is actually sucking out mercilessly on people as she gets her money in time and time again with the worst of it doing well. Going into Day 3 play, Williamson was on a path to cashing, stacked around 140k.

Also on a path to cashing in is 2008 American Idol contestant Renaldo Lapuz, whose "We're Friends Forever (I Am Your Brother)" has been stuck in our damn heads all day long and will likely make this kid some decent change. This video is going to be the new Rick Roll. Watch the I Am Your Brother audition and get the lyrics after the jump.

* Photo from Poker News.

2008 Aussie Millions: U.S. American Matthew LaGarde Leads the Way, Many Big Names in Contention

Day 2 wrapped at the 2008 Aussie Millions, and Matthew LaGarde of Salibury, MD is big stacked at 490,000. LaGarde had three cashes in 2007, including a 12th in WSOP Event #15 where Phil Hellmuth won his 11th bracelet.

Only 98 remain...80 will make the money.

Big names among the big stacks include: Kevin "BeL0WaB0Ve" Saul (400,000), Erik Seidel (330,000), Andy Black (271,000), Peter "Nordberg" Feldman (207,000), 2007 WSOP ME third-place finisher Raymond Rahme (200,000), Perry Friedman (148,000), and Tom "durrrr" Dwan (145,000).

Phil Ivey, Tony G, and Kenny Tran were among the big names eliminated.

Get full chip counts from Poker News here.

2008 Aussie Millions: Soren Ericksen, Kenna James Lead Day 1C

Day 1's are wrapped at the 2008 Aussie Millions Main Event. With 780 official entrants, the total first place prize will be $1,447,544 USD. Thanks Heaps! One could be making a quid off that!

Soren Ericksen ended Day 1c as chip leader, stacked at 150,000. Other big stacks included Kenna James (100,000), Jon "Pearljammer" Turner (67,400), Alex Kravchenko (60,500), and Howard Lederer (40,000).

Get full chip counts from Poker News here.

Catch up on your Australian slang while playing with your old fella

2008 Aussie Millions: Some Guy Named Phil Ivey Day 1B Chip Leader

One thing is for sure: Phil Ivey has been taking early level play in major events seriously lately.

Ivey led the World Poker Tour Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic All-Star Spectacular (WPTDBFDWPCASS) back in December before flaming out just short of the money. And if we searched hard enough, we could find another example or two of this as well but effort effort effort blah blah blah.

Phil Ivey crushed yet another first few levels of play of a major event, ending Day 1b of the 2008 Aussie Millions Day as chip leader, stacked at 163,330.

The leaderboard is filled with big names, including: Jeffrey Lisandro (138,400) Max Pescatori (137,600), "Salty" Joe Hachem (111,400), Kevin "BeL0WaB0Ve" Saul (79,700), Erick Lindgren (78,600), and Peter "Nordberg" Feldman (61,200).

Day 1c starts in a few hours.

Get full chip counts and live coverage at Poker News here.

2008 Aussie Millions Main Event: Ex-Monk Andy Black Day 1a Chip Leader

We're beginning to think that when it comes to the Aussie Millions, the phrase "luck of the Irish" does not apply to Andy Black. Because Andy Black creates his own luck at the Aussie Millions. Eh? Eh?

Damn, that intro was so bad even the writers at Card Player threw up in their mouths.

2007 Aussie Millions third place finisher Andy Black has continued his good-run into this year's Main Event. The ex-monk finished Day 1a of this year's Main Event as chip leader, stacked at 167,800.

In total, 215 runners were part of Day 1a action. The field whittled down to 91 players by the end of the day. Black was followed by Shane Moran (122200), Dusan Stoevski (113000), and Greg "FBT" Mueller (108400).

Other notable big stacks include 2007 WSOP Main Event final table-ist Raymond Rahme (79,000), high-stakes cash specialist Kenny Tran (75,800), and online phenom Tom "durrrr" Dwan (67,500).

Get full chip counts at Poker News here.

House of Pain's "Jump Around"

The Proclaimer's "500 Miles"

Howard Lederer Gets Even More Rich, Wins Aussie Millions $100k Buy-In

As [one of] the brains behind the launch of Full Tilt Poker, Howard Lederer doesn't exactly *need* the money. However, Howard *has* the money. And if you play poker and have the money, a must event every year in the Aussie Millions $100k buy-in.

Last year Erick Lindgren took it down, banking a cool mil. This year, Edog returned, along with the usual suspect (Phil Ivey, Erik Seidel, Tony G, Gus Hansen, the aforementioned Lederer, and Chris "Jesus" Ferguson), as well as online superstars Michael 'Timex' McDonald, Tom 'durrr' Dwan, and Jeff 'ActionJeff' Garza.

Twenty-five players entered (last year only 18 did), creating a first prize of $1.25M. 2007 winner Erick Lindgren took the chip lead to the final table, but bubbled in sixth place when his flopped trip kings lost to a turned flush. Howard Lederer then began his pragmatic ascension to the chip lead, eventually beating Mark Teltscher for the $1.2M win.

After the victory, Lederer said [probably to himself]: "I can't wait to add this one-point-two-five mil to the piles of other one-point-two-five-mils that I'll never spend in my lifetime."

Get more event coverage from Poker News here.

* Photo and pretty much all information for this post from Poker News.

Headline We'll Use If Annette Obrestad Wins Aussie Millions Event: Annette Obrestad Comes On Top Down Under; Also, Shane Warne Signs Deal with 888.com

If we were Stephen A. Smith, we'd start this article by screaming saying, "Let's keep it real." When Annette Obrestad won the inaugural WSOP Europe Main Event, that pretty much used up all of our "a woman just won a major poker tournament" jokes for the next decade. Because seriously, like that'll happen again in our lifetime.

So instead of sitting on this one until 2055, let's just go on record and say that if Annette Obrestad wins the 2008 Aussie Millions Main Event (we reference Annette because she's the only woman that has shown she can win such an event--PROVE US WRONG ANNA WROBLEWSKI), then our headline would definitely be: Annette Obrestad Comes On Top Down Under. Gold, we tells ya. Gold.

In completely unrelated news, Shane Warne, the controversial cricketer-turned-poker-player, will soon announce a deal with 888.com. Said deal will be confirmed early next week. And that's the bloody oath!

The opposite of "bodgy" Aussie Millions reporting

Pamela Anderson Not to Play Aussie Millions, Still Knocked Up

So now the latest out of our favorite land of criminals, Australia, is that recently impregnated Pamela Anderson will not be playing in the 2008 Aussie Millions. Word on the whatever-they-call-"street"-in-Australia is that she could not land a sponsorship deal. To which we say: so what? How does Pam not have an extra $10k laying around? Can't she just pork some dude with the cash like she did when she banged Rick Solomon Salomon--who in a related story is still playing in the 2008 Aussie Millions--to pay off her $250k poker debt?

One more fling like that for Pamela, and apples, she'll be.

Australian slang dictionary

Pamela Anderson to Play Aussie Millions Knocked Up

Pamela Anderson, the morally casual milf who paid off a quarter of a million dollar poker debt with sex, is reportedly pregnant courtesy of her soon to be ex-husband Rick Salomon, who may or may not be a poker pro but who is famous for filling and filming himself filling a teenage Paris Hilton a few years ago.

Althought divorce proceedings for the newlyweds are well underway, Anderson and Salomon are rumored to be heading to Melbourne this week to spread their disease and pestilence play the Aussie Millions Poker Championship along with other poker playing celebs like Shannon Elizabeth, Jennifer Tilly, Andy Roddick and Michael Vartan. While Salomon, Elizabeth and Tilly will buy themselves into the $10k tournament, word is that Pamela Anderson will have her seat paid for by tournament host Crown Casino in exchange for promoting the event.

In other breaking slutty hot pregnant chicks playing poker news . . . well, that's all we got.

The Aussie Millions Poker Championship Main Event gets underway this Monday. Stay tune here to Wicked Chops Poker for the most in-depth Aussie Millions coverage you'll find anywhere, as long as you're not really looking anywhere but here.

"Weird Dude" and "Freak" Jimmy Fricke Wins Aussie Millions Event #3

We're not terribly into reporting minor prelim poker events at the 2008 Aussie Millions where the winner banks something way short of a million ($14,642.88 in U.S. American dollars, to be exact), but when it's Jimmy "Gobboboy" Fricke (at right), who happens to be the same Jimmy Fricke who solicited Full Tilt Poker for a sponsorship to this year's tournament, and who then conversely accidentally received an email shooting him down, and in that email was an undeleted thread from a previous email which happened to quote Howard Lederer saying not to sponsor Fricke because he's a "freak" and a "weird dude," well, that's newsworthy enough for us.

If you hadn't figured out from the above run-on-sentence paragraph, Jimmy Fricke won Event #3 ($550 Limit 7C Stud/7C Stud Hi-Lo/Razz) at the 2008 Aussie Millions, banking $14,642.00 USD. This was the same Jimmy Fricke who solicited FTP for a sponsorship last year, based on his second place finish to Gus Hansen in the 2007 Aussie Millions Main Event.

And with that, we are done with this post. Except you can read more about Fricke's win here. Now we're done.