2020 Aussie Millions

A$50,000 Challenge
Day: 2
Event Info

2020 Aussie Millions

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
66
Prize
1,073,790 AUD
Event Info
Buy-in
50,000 AUD
Prize Pool
3,977,000 AUD
Entries
82
Level Info
Level
19
Blinds
10,000 / 20,000
Ante
20,000
Players Info - Day 2
Entries
82
Players Left
1

A$50,000 Challenge

Day 2 Completed

Michael Addamo Denies Cary Katz Heads-up to Win A$50,000 Challenge (A$1,073,790)

Level 19 : 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Michael Addamo wins 2020 Aussie Millions A$50,000 Challenge
Michael Addamo wins 2020 Aussie Millions A$50,000 Challenge

After eleven previous cashes including four final-table finishes, Michael Addamo has finally broken his Aussie Millions duck with victory in the A$50,000 Challenge, topping an 82-player field for A$1,073,790 ($738,234) and his first ANTON Jewellery Championship ring.

He defeated last year's A$100,000 Challenge winner Cary Katz heads-up, stopping the American going two for two in Aussie Millions High Rollers in back-to-back years.

Orpen Kisacikoglu picked up his first-ever Aussie Millions cash, finishing third for A$477,240.

2020 Aussie Millions A$50,000 Challenge Results

PlacePlayerCountryPayout (AUD)Payout (USD)
1Michael AddamoAustraliaA$1,073,790$738,234
2Cary KatzUnited StatesA$715,860$492,156
3Orpen KisacikogluTurkeyA$477,240$328,104
4Sam GreenwoodCanadaA$397,700$273,420
5Ben LambUnited StatesA$318,160$218,736
6Timothy AdamsCanadaA$278,390$191,394
7Rainer KempeGermanyA$238,620$164,052
8Erik SeidelUnited StatesA$198,850$136,710
9Yong WangChinaA$159,080$109,368
     
10Kristen BicknellCanadaA$119,130$81,902
Total  A$3,977,000$2,734,199
Michael Addamo wins 2020 Aussie Millions A$50,000 Challenge
Michael Addamo wins 2020 Aussie Millions A$50,000 Challenge

Winner's Reaction

After finishing third in 2017 and then second in 2018 in the Aussie Millions Opening Event, Addamo said it felt great to get the monkey off his back.

"It feels great, you know, to get my first Aussie Millions ring," Addamo told PokerNews. "I'm pretty happy about it.

"I came into the festival just wanting to play the big buy-ins and try and play well. I knew it was important to rest-up between them, and I'll definitely be back for the A$100,000 in a couple of days."

Early Stages

There was always going to be a long day in store for players in the A$50,000 Challenge, which ended up attracting 82 players, breaking last year's record by 20.

The payouts were confirmed with ten places paid, as A$25,000 Pot Limit Omaha Challenge winner Jorryt van Hoof, Dan Smith, Tsugunari Toma, George Wolff, Koichi Haruta, Matthias Eibinger, Shan Huang and Stephen Chidwick were all eliminated short of the money.

Start-of-day chip leader Kahle Burns had a rollercoaster day, also busting short of the money, with Orpen Kisakicoglu moving into the lead. However, Michael Addamo, Sam Greenwood and Timothy Adams were all among the big stacks, as the tournament went on dinner break four eliminations off the money.

Michael Soyza
Michael Soyza

Michael Soyza Bubbles A$50,000 Challenge

There seemed to be no let up in the pace of the action, despite the A$119,310 pay jump, as Peter Jetten, Mikita Badziakouski and Elio Fox all bust in the space of half an hour

In the end, it was Michael Soyza who bubbled, rivering two pair against Addamo only for the Australian to have turned a flush and eliminate Soyza.

Short-stacked Kristen Bicknell was next (10th - A$119,310) with the remaining nine players all now seated around one table.

Final Table A$50,000 Challenge
Final Table A$50,000 Challenge

Final Table Action

It wasn't long before Erik Seidel sent Yong Wang to the exit in ninth (A$159,080), but Cary Katz soon finished off Seidel (8th - A$198,850) to become the first player over a million in chips.

Sam Greenwood came into the final table third in chips, but scored a massive fillip when he sent both Rainer Kempe (7th - A$238,620) and Timothy Adams (6th - A$278,390) to the rail in the same hand, spiking a set on the turn to crack the jacks of Adams and leave Kempe drawing dead with king-queen.

Addamo had been sitting comfortably so far, and added an elimination for himself, fading the straight and flush draws of Ben Lamb (5th - A$318,160) to join Katz with over a million in chips.

However, that million soon became two million after the elimination of Greenwood in 3rd (A$397,700). He five-bet jammed king-queen suited into the aces of Addamo, and despite flopping a flush draw and turning a straight draw, Addamo spiked a set on the river to bust Greenwood and take a stranglehold on proceedings that he would never relinquish.

Kisacikoglu stuck around gamely as the short stack before succumbing to Addamo, and although Katz did his best to elongate the heads-up portion of the tournament to two hours, he never gained any traction and would have to settle for second place and A$715,860.

Tags: Ben LambCary KatzDan SmithElio FoxErik SeidelGeorge WolffJorryt van HoofKahle BurnsKoichi HarutaKristen BicknellMatthias EibingerMichael AddamoMichael SoyzaMikita BadziakouskiOrpen KisacikogluPeter JettenRainer KempeSam GreenwoodShan HuangStephen ChidwickTimothy AdamsTsugunari TomaYong Wang

Cary Katz Eliminated in 2nd Place (A$715,860)

Level 19 : 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Cary Katz
Cary Katz

Michael Addamo limped pre-flop and Cary Katz checked.

The flop came {2-Diamonds}{j-Hearts}{6-Diamonds}. Katz checked and Addamo bet 20,000. Katz check-raised all in for 330,000 and Addamo called.

Cary Katz: {a-Hearts}{j-Spades}
Michael Addamo: {6-Clubs}{6-Hearts}

Both players were in shock at the situation that unfolded between them and the turn {7-Hearts} and river {q-Clubs} sealed the title for Addamo, sending Katz to the rail in second place for A$715,860.

Player Chips Progress
Michael Addamo au
Michael Addamo
4,100,000
300,000
300,000
WSOP 4X Winner
Cary Katz us
Cary Katz
Busted
$25K Fantasy

Tags: Cary KatzMichael Addamo

Katz Dwindling Heads-Up

Level 19 : 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

On a {j-Diamonds}{a-Hearts}{5-Clubs} flop Michael Addamo check-called 50,000 from Cary Katz and the pair checked the {2-Diamonds} flop. The river was the {3-Hearts} and a 20,000 bet from Addamo was enough to get Katz to fold.

Then, both players checked a {7-Clubs}{9-Spades}{3-Diamonds} flop and Katz bet 50,000 on the {9-Clubs} turn. Addamo raised to 135,000 and again Katz folded.

Player Chips Progress
Michael Addamo au
Michael Addamo
3,800,000
153,000
153,000
WSOP 4X Winner
Cary Katz us
Cary Katz
300,000
-153,000
-153,000
$25K Fantasy

Tags: Cary KatzMichael Addamo

Level: 19

Blinds: 10,000/20,000

Ante: 20,000

Katz Folds River; Addamo on the Brink?

Level 18 : 8,000/16,000, 16,000 ante

Michael Addamo has been picking up more than his fair share of pots of late, opening up his biggest chip lead so far.

In this hand, both players limped and Cary Katz check-called 16,000 from Addamo on the {6-Diamonds}{4-Spades}{4-Diamonds} flop.

The pair checked the {3-Diamonds} turn and Katz bet 44,000 on the {j-Hearts} river. Addamo asked how much he had behind, and Katz revealed three 100,000 chips. Addamo then raised to 125,000 and Katz quickly folded.

Player Chips Progress
Michael Addamo au
Michael Addamo
3,800,000
450,000
450,000
WSOP 4X Winner
Cary Katz us
Cary Katz
300,000
-450,000
-450,000
$25K Fantasy

Tags: Cary KatzMichael Addamo

Katz Holding Firm

Level 18 : 8,000/16,000, 16,000 ante

On a {2-Clubs}{10-Clubs}{2-Spades}{10-Hearts}{5-Hearts} board, Cary Katz bet 80,000 into a pot of 170,000.

Michael Addamo eventually called, with Katz turning over {j-Hearts}{2-Hearts} for a full house, deuces full of tens and take down the pot.

Katz has been holding steady at just under a million in chips for a while now, with neither playing being able to consistently eat into the other's stack.

Player Chips Progress
Michael Addamo au
Michael Addamo
3,170,000
-30,000
-30,000
WSOP 4X Winner
Cary Katz us
Cary Katz
930,000
30,000
30,000
$25K Fantasy

Tags: Cary Katz

Addamo Gets Some Back

Level 18 : 8,000/16,000, 16,000 ante

On a {6-Hearts}{4-Clubs}{q-Diamonds} board both Michael Addamo and Cary Katz put 27,000 in the middle and the turn was the {6-Spades}. Katz bet 75,000 and Addamo called.

The river was the {2-Clubs} and Katz bet 200,000. After some thought, Addamo called.

"Queen's good," said Katz tabling {j-Clubs}{10-Clubs} and Addamo took down the pot with {a-Hearts}{j-Diamonds}

Player Chips Progress
Michael Addamo au
Michael Addamo
3,200,000
450,000
450,000
WSOP 4X Winner
Cary Katz us
Cary Katz
900,000
-450,000
-450,000
$25K Fantasy

Tags: Cary KatzMichael Addamo