A$10,600 Main Event
Day 1a Started
A$10,600 Main Event
Day 1a Started
Widely recognized as the largest and most prestigious poker tournament in the Southern Hemisphere, the A$10,600 Aussie Millions Main Event attracted record fields in each of the last two years (with 822 runners standing as the largest turnout).
The Crown Melbourne now once again welcomes hundreds of players eager to make their mark on the iconic event. The quest for the 23rd championship kicks off today at 12:30 p.m. local time as the 2020 edition gets underway.
The Aussie Millions Main Event features three starting days: today's Day 1a will be followed by Day 1b and Day 1c on the subsequent days. The tournament preserves its traditional freezeout format, leaving the players with a single attempt to maneuver the initial 30,000 chips.
Blind levels will be of a 90-minute length from start to finish, and the starting flights will conclude at the end of the seventh round. However, late registration will remain open through the first level on Day 2, offering those who prefer to skip the first day a chance to join the competition on Monday.
Level | Length | Small Blind | Big Blind | BB Ante |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 90 | 50 | 100 | |
2 | 90 | 100 | 200 | |
3 | 90 | 100 | 200 | 200 |
4 | 90 | 150 | 300 | 300 |
5 | 90 | 200 | 400 | 400 |
6 | 90 | 250 | 500 | 500 |
7 | 90 | 300 | 600 | 600 |
Through its rich history, reaching back to 1998, the Aussie Millions Main Event has seen its buy-in and player field each increase tenfold. Alex Horowitz became the inaugural champion after defeating just 73 players back in the day, but the growing popularity of poker helped the Aussie Millions to evolve into one of the major tournaments on the planet.
The last 15 champions have all walked away with seven-figure prizes, and the contest has been regularly attracting some of the best players not only from the Asia-Pacific region but from all corners of the world. Last year saw American superstar Bryn Kenney emerge on the pedestal, following a three-way deal with Michael Del Vecchio and Andrew Hinrichsen which provided each of the top three finishers with more than a million-dollar payday. Moreover, the triumph in Melbourne propelled Kenney to an incredible form, which would eventually catapult him to the top of the historical all-time money list.
The Aussie Millions Main Event has brought all kinds of winner stories, from elite players such as Kenney confirming their dominance in the game to local hero Shurane Vijayaram who stunned Crown Melbourne in 2017 by turning a $130-investment into a spectacular title-winning campaign. Vijayaram got his name forever engraved on the trophy and captured the A$1.6 million first-place prize to make his ultimate poker dream come very much true.
It is now time for the 2020 edition to add to the long list of unforgettable Aussie Millions memories. Is it going to be another heavyweight cementing their position in the game or will Australia's most prestigious tournament witness one more exciting hot run by a qualifier? Those questions will be answered over the course of next week.
PokerNews will be bringing live updates to your homes from the starting days all the way to the champions' ceremony, so keep it here to follow how the Main Event unfolds.
Year | Buy-in | Winner | Country | First Prize (AUD) | Entries | Total Prize Pool |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | A$1,000 | Alex Horowitz | Australia | A$25,900 | 74 | A$74,000 |
1999 | A$1,000 | Milo Nadalin | Australia | A$38,150 | 109 | A$109,000 |
2000 | A$1,500 | Leo Boxell | Australia | A$65,225 | 109 | A$173,500 |
2001 | A$1,500 | Sam Korman | Australia | A$53,025 | 101 | A$151,500 |
2002 | A$5,000 | John Maver | Australia | A$150,000 | 66 | A$330,000 |
2003 | A$10,000 | Peter Costa | United Kingdom | A$394,870 | 122 | A$1,220,000 |
2004 | A$10,000 | Tony Bloom | United Kingdom | A$426,500 | 133 | A$1,330,000 |
2005 | A$10,000 | Jamil Dia | New Zealand | A$1,000,000 | 263 | A$2,630,000 |
2006 | A$10,000 | Lee Nelson | New Zealand | A$1,295,800 | 418 | A$4,180,000 |
2007 | A$10,000 | Gus Hansen | Denmark | A$1,500,000 | 747 | A$7,470,000 |
2008 | A$10,000 | Alexander Kostritsyn | Russia | A$1,650,000 | 780 | A$7,758,500 |
2009 | A$10,000 | Stewart Scott | Australia | A$2,000,000 | 681 | A$6,810,000 |
2010 | A$10,000 | Tyron Krost | Australia | A$2,000,000 | 746 | A$7,460,000 |
2011 | A$10,000 | David Gorr | Australia | A$2,000,000 | 721 | A$7,210,000 |
2012 | A$10,000 | Oliver Speidel | Australia | A$1,600,000 | 659 | A$6,590,000 |
2013 | A$10,000 | Mervin Chan | Australia | A$1,600,000 | 629 | A$6,290,000 |
2014 | A$10,600 | Ami Barer | Canada | A$1,600,000 | 668 | A$6,680,000 |
2015 | A$10,600 | Manny Stavropoulos | Australia | A$1,385,500 | 648 | A$6,480,000 |
2016 | A$10,600 | Ari Engel | Canada | A$1,600,000 | 732 | A$7,320,000 |
2017 | A$10,600 | Shurane Vijayaram | Australia | A$1,600,000 | 725 | A$7,370,000 |
2018 | A$10,600 | Toby Lewis | United Kingdom | A$1,458,198 | 800 | A$8,000,000 |
2019 | A$10,600 | Bryn Kenney | United States | A$1,272,598 | 822 | A$8,220,000 |
Level: 1
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
With dozens of players at their seats, Michael Del Vecchio was called to the stage to provide the obligatory shuffle up and deal.
Del Vecchio is the only player to have made two consecutive Main Event final tables, finishing fifth in 2018 before improving to second place last year. He explained what makes him come back each year.
"I love the staff here, the tournament is so well run," Del Vecchio complimented the high-level organization of the Aussie Millions.
Additionally, Del Vecchio provided this year's players with a little bit of advice on how to succeed in this major tournament. "Just be confident in all your decisions. If I could make it twice, everyone can make it to the final table at least once," Del Vecchio said with a grin on his face.
Then he cut to the chase, declaring "Shuffle up and deal," and the 2020 Aussie Millions Main Event has officially started.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Bart Lybaert | 30,000 | |
Johannes Becker | 30,000 | |
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Martin Jacobson | 30,000 | |
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Ari Engel | 30,000 | |
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Aymon Hata | 30,000 | |
Benny Spindler | 30,000 | |
Harry Lodge | 30,000 | |
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Paul Newey | 30,000 |
On a flop reading , Michael Zakhem (cutoff) called an 800-bet from a player in the big blind.
The turn fell and the action was checked to Zakhem who fired 1,600. His opponent called.
The completed the board and Zakhem contemplated for a little bit before opting to check the action back. He turned up for a turned set. The other player mucked and Zakhem claimed the pot.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Michael Zakhem
|
33,500 |
The action was picked up when Michael Zakhem, sitting in the hijack, called a 300-raise from early position. A player on the button squeezed to 1,100 and he received calls from both the open raiser and Zakhem.
The flop was checked through, but Zakhem fired 700 on the turn. The button called while the under-the-gun player mucked.
The river was the and Zakhem paused before he tossed in 1,600. He got paid again, and while the board wasn't too exciting for his , Zakhem was able to find good value with his hand as the other player couldn't beat the queens.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Michael Zakhem
|
40,500
7,000
|
7,000 |
Four-way to a flop of , Paul Newey bet 400 in position and he received two calls; from Camil Debsia in the small blind and his neighbor in the big.
The turn came and Newey fired 1,550 this time. Debsia stuck around for the river, calling.
The completed the board and Debsia checked to Newey who sized his final shell at 3,700. Debsia quickly announced a call, turning up for the stone nuts. Newey mucked and the players at the table were surprised that Debsia didn't go for a check-raise, but the play soon carried on as Debsia raked in the hefty pot.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Camil Debsia |
35,500
35,500
|
35,500 |
Paul Newey |
25,600
-4,400
|
-4,400 |
With just under 5,000 in the middle and the action on the turn, a player sitting under the gun checked to Aymon Hata who bet 2,000 from the button. His opponent matched the bid.
The paired the board and Hata fired 6,500 in position, putting his opponent to a tough decision. Hata's rival took nearly a minute, double-checked his hole cards, and eventually gave up.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Aymon Hata |
38,000
8,000
|
8,000 |
Marc Rivera checked from the small blind with on the table and Martin Kozlov bet 1,200, sitting under the gun. Rivera called.
They continued to the river where Rivera checked once again. Kozlov threw forward a bet of 2,125 and Rivera paused briefly before he matched the price.
Kozlov rolled over for ace-high and Rivera raked in the pot upon showing .
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Marc Rivera | 32,500 | |
Martin Kozlov | 26,000 | |
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