Benedikt Eberle Wins Aussie Millions Opening Event for A$315,295
Austria's Benedikt Eberle outlasted a massive field of 1,538 entrants to ship the A$1,150 Aussie Millions Opening Event for a huge payday of A$315,295.
The event began with four opening flights generating an A$1,576,450 prize pool and 153 players guaranteed a payout of A$2,835. The field was narrowed down to 15 players by the time the final day began, all of which guaranteed a minimum of A$14,190. Australia's Benjamin Jee brought the chip lead to begin the day with Eberle in the middle of the pack in eighth place.
The final table began after Australia's Mai Ha (eighth - A$29,955) and Glenn Swalling (ninth A$25,230) hit the rail. All of the remaining players listed Australia as their home barring the eventual winner.
Eberle finished on top while Addamo recorded his biggest cash to date (A$194,690).
Davor Derek (seventh - A$34,685) recorded his fourth Aussie Million cash, which includes a win in a side event in 2015 after he was the first player to be eliminated at the final table.
Benjamin Richardson surpassed the $400,000 mark in career tournament cashes, which now includes eight cashes in the Aussie Millions after he bowed out in sixth place for A$40,990.
Next to go was Jeron Tan in fifth place for A$56,755 followed by James Bills in fourth place for A$83,715. While Bills now has $200,000 in live cashes, he is better known for his online prowess where he has impressively notched up over $3.2 million in online tournament cashes.
Jee was unable to parlay his final day chip lead into a victory. He did, however, walk home with an impressive six-digit prize of A$115,875 after he was eliminated in third place.
This left Michael Addamo and Eberle battling it out heads-up. Eberle finished on top to claim the victory and the coveted ANTON ring while Addamo took home the runner-up prize of A$194,690.
Aussie Millions Event #1: $1,150 Opening Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize | Prize in US$ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benedikt Eberle | Austria | A$315,295 | $252,654 |
| 2 | Michael Addamo | Australia | A$194,690 | $156,009 |
| 3 | Benjamin Jee | Australia | A$115,875 | $92,853 |
| 4 | James Bills | Australia | A$83,715 | $67,082 |
| 5 | Jeron Tan | Australia | A$56,755 | $45,479 |
| 6 | Benjamin Richardson[ | Australia | A$40,990 | $32,844 |
| 7 | Davor Derek | Australia | A$34,685 | $27,792 |
