Thu, 07/28/2011 – 10:57 – PokerPages Staff

A high stakes poker home game in North Carolina ended with a fatality on Monday following an attempted robbery by two masked men. 23 year old Brian Onley and 28 year old Brandon Shelton both stormed the home of Gregg Maluchnik, a former Atlanta Braves baseball player, while he was hosting one of his regular poker gatherings in Raleigh.

However, it did not turn out as expected for the would-be thieves as they encountered resistance from those present. A struggle ensued before both robbers were shot, one fatally. Shelton died in the house while Onley suffered a gunshot wound to his arm.

It is not the first time that the duo have been on the wrong side of the law. Shelton served time in jail for numerous felonies including the possession of stolen goods, robbery and larceny while Onley has been probation for serious assault. He is currently being treated in WakeMed hospital.

It is the first time a disturbance has been reported in one of Maluchnik’s home games though it is believed the 34 year old was charged with gambling in the aftermath of the incident. Other witnesses present are still being interviewed.

Neighbors of Maluchnik expressed their surprise at the shootings due to the general quiet nature of the area. “I was hoping it was fireworks. I just always tell my kids that this is a safe neighborhood. It’s really unsettling that it would happen right here.”

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July 29 2011, Josh Bell

Day 1 of the first stop on the fifth season of the PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour has come and gone. Melbourne, Australia, is a new stop for the APPT, and an elite field of players from all around the world attended, including two former World Series of Poker Main Event champions. The 260-player field took to the felt in the Crown Poker Room, all vying for the chance to take home the title and the $330,000 first-place prize that went along with it.

The day started with APPT commissioner Danny McDonough introducing 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event champion and Team PokerStars Pro Chris Moneymaker. Moneymaker kicked off the proceedings to a room full of excited players and a big rail of spectators.

On the felt, Moneymaker managed to make it through the day with only a small amount over what he started with, but he was better off than fellow WSOP Main Event champ and Team PokerStars Pro Joe Hachem. Hachem ran his short stack into the of Liam Moffett holding and failed to improve.

The player with all the chips at the end of the day was none other than Aussie local Mitch Carle, who dominated his table. One of the big pots Carle won was a massive hand toward the end of the day where he tanked on the river with a board showing . Carle eventually made the call holding for top pair and took down the big pot. His opponent turned over for a weaker top pair. From that point on, it was all uphill for Carle, who will return Saturday with a monster stack of 187,900.

Some of the players hot on Carle’s heels include Kyle Cheong who amassed an impressive 126,825-chip stack, and David Allan, who will return with 123,700. James Obst and David Steicke will also return with plenty of chips to play with, each bagging 108,800 and 107,500, respectively.

Team PokerStars Pro Bryan Huang will be among the approximate 156 players who will return for play tomorrow on Day 2 as well. Huang managed to survive with a healthy stack of 66,875.

Also prominent among those returning tomorrow include Jonathan Karamalikis (98,525), Van Marcus (91,500), Andrew Hinrichsen (40,625), Jesse McKenzie (47,325) and Tony Hachem (35,000).

The remaining players will take to the felt at 1200 AEST on Saturday (1900 PDT Friday), with our Live Reporting Team again in the midst of all the action. Follow all of the live action from the floor on PokerNews.com.

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