A$100,000 Challenge
Day 2 Completed
2020 Aussie Millions
A$100,000 Challenge
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2020 Aussie Millions
Buy-in
100,000 AUD
Prize Pool
5,238,000 AUD
Entries
54
Level
19
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
100,000
Entries
21
Players Left
1
Kahle Burns Wins Aussie Millions A$100,000 Challenge (A$1,746,360)
Level 19
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
It was only fitting for Australia's preeminent high rolling player to take down the country's preeminent high roller event.
Kahle Burns emerged as a most appropriate champion in the 2020 Aussie Millions A$100,000 Challenge, conquering a field of 54 entries — second-biggest in event history — to win a prize of A$1,746,360 (~$1.2 million).
It's just the latest, albeit greatest, win in an absolute tear Burns has been on since the start of 2019, racking up more than $6 million in cashes according to The Hendon Mob. In recognition of his abilities and accomplishments, he received induction into the Australian Poker Hall of Fame earlier in this festival, and this win provided the latest evidence for why he's considered one of poker's brightest stars.
"This is my first tournament I've won on the Aussie Millions circuit and obviously it's a fantastic one to win," he said.
Official Final Table Paid Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (AUD) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahle Burns | Australia | $1,746,360 | $1,198,300 |
| 2 | Alex Foxen | United States | $1,111,590 | $762,740 |
| 3 | Aaron van Blarcum | United States | $740,880 | $508,370 |
| 4 | Bryn Kenney | United States | $582,120 | $399,433 |
| 5 | Michael Soyza | Malaysia | $423,360 | $290,497 |
| 6 | Sam Grafton | United Kingdom | $370,440 | $254,185 |
| 7 | Timothy Adams | Canada | $317,250 | $217,687 |
Burns didn't start Day 2 with a particularly imposing chip stack, and he actually slipped relative to the rest of the field by the time the nine-handed final table convened, starting in eighth place. There, Burns made his move up the counts during a four-hour stretch without eliminations as two of nine were scheduled to go home empty-handed.
Any bubble situation in a poker tournament typically brings an intense atmosphere, an A$100K event especially so. But what made this bubble particularly tense was a large minimum cash of A$317,250.
"It was a pretty gross spot on the bubble for everybody involved," Burns said.
Burns found a good spot to get his chips in the middle, shoving with ace-king over a raise from high roller newcomer Aaron van Blarcum and a call from Michael Zhang. When van Blarcum called and Zhang back-shoved with jacks, it created a dream spot to flip as Burns got a juicy price and then found a king-high board to triple up.
"That sort of put me in an above-average stack spot and then I was able to accumulate some chips on the bubble," Burns said.
Indeed, by the time Zhang bubbled out in an unlucky hand to Bryn Kenney, Burns had secured a decent-sized lead thanks in no small part to a couple of timely bluffs made possible in part by his threatening stack.
After that, Burns' lead was only at risk once. This time, his tens held against the ace-king of Kenney, who was trying to follow a 2019 Aussie Millions Main Event win with a $100K crown but fell in fourth, the second of four consecutive knockouts for Burns.
He then made mincemeat of short-stacked van Blarcum, setting up a heads-up match with old rival Alex Foxen, who had been in danger a couple of times at the final table before being dealt timely aces.
A bit of a partisan crowd had gathered to cheer Burns on by then, friends and parents showing up despite the late hour. Burns didn't disappoint them as he finished Foxen off quickly and without much drama, pairing his kicker with a dominating ace.
"I actually didn't tell any of my friends I made the final table," Burns said. "They were nice enough to come down and support me so, yeah, it's a great feeling to do well in front of them and give them something to watch and enjoy."
Burns credited his cash game experience with guiding through the early portions of the tournament, giving him the ammo he needed to survive the later, higher-variance stages. Where other players seemed to often find themselves down to a few big blinds and in desperate need of a double, Burns was usually the one with enough chips to set others at risk.
"My style is...I can run up a big stack early in tournaments," he said. "And if you have a big stack on the bubble or around the money, you can push that towards not dwindling at the final table."
Burns has proven he does anything but dwindle at final tables, with three six-figure victories including two bracelets plus this seven-figure win just since October. He's already second on Australia's all-time money list to national legend Joe Hachem. That Hall of Fame induction looks sharper by the day, and at the rate Burns is shredding the scene, plenty more accolades may lie in his future.
Photos: 2020 Aussie Millions A$100,000 Challenge Winner Kahle Burns
Alex Foxen Eliminated in 2nd Place (A$1,111,590)
Level 19
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Kahle Burns made it 200,000 on the button, Alex Foxen shoved for 2,290,000, and Burns called in a cooler that saw both players peel ace-high. Burns had the better kicker.
Foxen: 
Burns: 
The flop came 
and that pushed Burns on the one-yard line as Foxen needed running cards to survive. The 
turn gave Foxen two outs to hope for, but the 
river cemented Burns as the A$100K Challenge champion.
Foxen took A$1,111,590 for a second-place finish while Burns, who was inducted to the Australian Poker Hall of Fame earlier this week, picked up the A$1,746,360 top prize.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
13,500,000 | 2,340,000 |
|
Busted |
Foxen's Bluff Gets Through
Level 19
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Kahle Burns limped with 
and Alex Foxen checked with 
. Both players checked on 
and the 
turn saw Fox bet 100,000. Burns called and they continued to the 
river. Foxen paused then bet 350,000, and his bluff got through as Burns laid his pocket pair down.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,160,000 | 330,000 |
|
|
2,340,000 | -330,000 |
Ace-King for Foxen
Level 19
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Alex Foxen made it 200,000 on his button with 
and Kahle Burns defended his big blind, calling with 
. The flop came 
and Burns checked to Foxen who bet 100,000. Burns let it go.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,830,000 | 200,000 |
|
|
2,670,000 | -200,000 |
Setup Doesn't Bring Fireworks
Level 19
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Alex Foxen peeled on the button and he made it 200,000. Kahle Burns found 
in the big blind and he flatted. Both players checked the 
flop and Burns led out 400,000 on the turn. Foxen escaped from what looked to be a lethal setup preflop.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,630,000 | -500,000 |
|
|
2,870,000 | 500,000 |
Burns Extends His Lead
Level 19
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Kahle Burns raised to 250,000 with and Alex Foxen called from the big blind with .
The 
flop saw Burns check back and he spiked two pair on the turn. Foxen checked, Burns bet 335,000, and Foxen called.
The arrived on the river and Foxen checked. Burns checked back and raked in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,130,000 | 485,000 |
|
|
2,370,000 | -485,000 |
Aaron van Blarcum Eliminated in 3rd Place (A$740,880)
Level 19
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Kahle Burns raised to 210,000 on his button and Aaron van Blarcum shoved for 950,000 out of the small blind. Alex Foxen folded in the big blind and Burns asked for a count before he called.
Van Blarcum: 
Burns:
Van Blarcum had a better starting hand but Burns had two live cards. The 
flop gave Burns a straight draw, and while he missed his outs on the 
turn, the 
on the river sent van Blarcum to the rail in 3rd place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,645,000 | 1,350,000 |
|
|
2,855,000 | 40,000 |
|
Busted |
Bryn Kenney Eliminated in 4th Place (A$582,120)
Level 19
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Alex Foxen opened for 220,000 with on the button. Bryn Kenney made it 975,000 in the small blind with and Kahle Burns woke up with 
. Covering everyone, he shoved all in. Kenney quickly called after Foxen folded.
The board ran , no held to the former Aussie Millions champ, who took his leave in fourth.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,295,000 | 3,505,000 |
|
Busted |