2020 Aussie Millions

A$100,000 Challenge
Day: 2
Event Info

2020 Aussie Millions

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a10
Prize
1,746,360 AUD
Event Info
Buy-in
100,000 AUD
Prize Pool
5,238,000 AUD
Entries
54
Level Info
Level
19
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
100,000
Players Info - Day 2
Entries
21
Players Left
1

A$100,000 Challenge

Day 2 Completed

Kahle Burns Wins Aussie Millions A$100,000 Challenge (A$1,746,360)

Level 19 : 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
2020 Aussie Millions A$100K Challenge Winner Kahle Burns
2020 Aussie Millions A$100K Challenge Winner Kahle Burns

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

PlacePlayerCountryPrize (AUD)Prize (USD)
1Kahle BurnsAustralia$1,746,360$1,198,300
2Alex FoxenUnited States$1,111,590$762,740
3Aaron van BlarcumUnited States$740,880$508,370
4Bryn KenneyUnited States$582,120$399,433
5Michael SoyzaMalaysia$423,360$290,497
6Sam GraftonUnited Kingdom$370,440$254,185
7Timothy AdamsCanada$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.

Alex Foxen
Foxen couldn't mount a comeback heads up.

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.

Tags: Kahle Burns

Alex Foxen Eliminated in 2nd Place (A$1,111,590)

Level 19 : 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Alex Foxen
Alex Foxen

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: {a-Clubs}{9-Spades}
Burns: {a-Spades}{10-Spades}

The flop came {8-Spades}{10-Clubs}{k-Clubs} and that pushed Burns on the one-yard line as Foxen needed running cards to survive. The {9-Hearts} turn gave Foxen two outs to hope for, but the {q-Diamonds} 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
Profile photo of Kahle Burns au
Kahle Burns
13,500,000
2,340,000
2,340,000
WSOP 2X Winner
Profile photo of Alex Foxen us
Alex Foxen
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 1X Winner
Chip Leader Coaching

Tags: Alex FoxenKahle Burns

Foxen's Bluff Gets Through

Level 19 : 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Kahle Burns limped with {5-Spades}{5-Diamonds} and Alex Foxen checked with {4-Clubs}{3-Clubs}. Both players checked on {6-Spades}{7-Hearts}{8-Clubs} and the {k-Diamonds} turn saw Fox bet 100,000. Burns called and they continued to the {2-Diamonds} river. Foxen paused then bet 350,000, and his bluff got through as Burns laid his pocket pair down.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Kahle Burns au
Kahle Burns
11,160,000
330,000
330,000
WSOP 2X Winner
Profile photo of Alex Foxen us
Alex Foxen
2,340,000
-330,000
-330,000
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 1X Winner
Chip Leader Coaching

Tags: Alex FoxenKahle Burns

Setup Doesn't Bring Fireworks

Level 19 : 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Alex Foxen peeled {a-Spades}{j-Spades} on the button and he made it 200,000. Kahle Burns found {k-Hearts}{k-Clubs} in the big blind and he flatted. Both players checked the {2-Diamonds}{6-Spades}{3-Diamonds} flop and Burns led out 400,000 on the {7-Clubs} turn. Foxen escaped from what looked to be a lethal setup preflop.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Kahle Burns au
Kahle Burns
10,630,000
-500,000
-500,000
WSOP 2X Winner
Profile photo of Alex Foxen us
Alex Foxen
2,870,000
500,000
500,000
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 1X Winner
Chip Leader Coaching

Tags: Alex FoxenKahle Burns

Burns Extends His Lead

Level 19 : 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Kahle Burns raised to 250,000 with {9-Hearts}{2-Hearts} and Alex Foxen called from the big blind with {k-Diamonds}{7-Hearts}.

The {5-Spades}{9-Clubs}{3-Diamonds} flop saw Burns check back and he spiked two pair on the {2-Diamonds} turn. Foxen checked, Burns bet 335,000, and Foxen called.

The {4-Clubs} arrived on the river and Foxen checked. Burns checked back and raked in the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Kahle Burns au
Kahle Burns
11,130,000
485,000
485,000
WSOP 2X Winner
Profile photo of Alex Foxen us
Alex Foxen
2,370,000
-485,000
-485,000
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 1X Winner
Chip Leader Coaching

Tags: Alex FoxenKahle Burns

Aaron van Blarcum Eliminated in 3rd Place (A$740,880)

Level 19 : 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Aaron van Blarcum
Aaron van Blarcum

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: {a-Diamonds}{j-Clubs}
Burns: {k-Hearts}{7-Clubs}

Van Blarcum had a better starting hand but Burns had two live cards. The {4-Diamonds}{8-Spades}{6-Hearts} flop gave Burns a straight draw, and while he missed his outs on the {3-Hearts} turn, the {5-Clubs} on the river sent van Blarcum to the rail in 3rd place.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Kahle Burns au
Kahle Burns
10,645,000
1,350,000
1,350,000
WSOP 2X Winner
Profile photo of Alex Foxen us
Alex Foxen
2,855,000
40,000
40,000
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 1X Winner
Chip Leader Coaching
Profile photo of Aaron van Blarcum us
Aaron van Blarcum
Busted
WPT 1X Winner

Tags: Aaron Van BlarcumAlex FoxenKahle Burns

Bryn Kenney Eliminated in 4th Place (A$582,120)

Level 19 : 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Bryn Kenney
Bryn Kenney

Alex Foxen opened for 220,000 with {a-Spades}{4-Clubs} on the button. Bryn Kenney made it 975,000 in the small blind with {a-Diamonds}{k-Clubs} and Kahle Burns woke up with {10-Spades}{10-Hearts}. Covering everyone, he shoved all in. Kenney quickly called after Foxen folded.

The board ran {q-Spades}{3-Hearts}{8-Spades}{q-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}, no held to the former Aussie Millions champ, who took his leave in fourth.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Kahle Burns au
Kahle Burns
9,295,000
3,505,000
3,505,000
WSOP 2X Winner
Profile photo of Bryn Kenney us
Bryn Kenney
Busted
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Bryn KenneyKahle Burns