Japan's Kazuhiko Yotsushika had a busy Flight 3 of the 2020 Aussie Millions Opening Event, eliminating players left, right and centre, and as his reward he gets to be the pace-setter at the head of the pack with 388 players returning for Day 2.
With a total field of 803 players so far, and late registration open until the start of the second level on Day 2, it remains to be seen whether last year's record total of 822 can be beaten.
Behind Yotsushika comes Kahle Burns (231,700) and Andrew Theakstone (207,300) who are the only other players over 200,000 in chips.
Today is a shorter day compared with the three starting flights, with just five 90-minute levels scheduled, meaning the tournament will bag up for Day 3 at around 9pm local time.
Day 2 Structure
Level
Length
Small Blind
Big Blind
Ante
8
90
400
800
800
9
90
500
1,000
1,000
10
90
600
1,200
1,200
11
90
800
1,600
1,600
12
90
1,000
2,000
2,000
Other notables through to Day 2 include Day 1a chip leader Fabian Quoss (187,100), Erik Seidel (171,100), Alex Lynskey (120,000), Kristen Bicknell (111,100), Tony G (107,800), defending champion Bryn Kenney (106,300), 2018 champion Toby Lewis (79,400), Billy 'The Croc' Argyros (74,400), Jack Salter (73,200), Tony Hachem (71,100), former champion Tyron Krost (19,200) and Joe Hachem (4,200)
Aussie Millions Tournament Director Joel Williams introduced arguably the biggest name on the planet when it comes to live poker, as 2019 champion Bryn Kenney was on hand for a few words before cards got in the air.
Kenney bagged over 100,000 yesterday, and said he didn't have any chips until late in the day.
"I just had to play patiently," said Kenney. "Don't try to push anything too much. I had a nice trip before this, but I made sure I landed in time to play the Main Event.
"It's my favourite place to play poker, so I had to come and show my face and go for back-to-back!"
Kenney praised the entire Aussie Millions team for what they're bringing to the poker community.
"For me, the most important thing is for players to have a good time when they're playing and for it to be a special event, and you do a great job of doing that. It's a great atmosphere, and that's the most important thing for poker and for poker to grow."
The all-time money list leader then wished players good luck and announced the ceremonial shuffle up and deal.
Lynn Gilmartin Inducted into the Australian Poker Hall of Fame
It is tradition ahead of the start of Day 2 at the Aussie Millions, for the members of the Australian Poker Hall of Fame to take center stage, recognising the poker talent this country has produced over the years.
2005 WSOP Main Event champion Joe Hachem was on hand to induct two people into the Hall of Fame. He was joined on stage by fellow members including former Aussie Millions Main Event champion David Gorr, Billy 'The Croc' Argyros, Tony G and Grant Levy.
WPT Anchor Lynn Gilmartin Inducted
"I've known this little girl since she started working here at the Crown," said Hachem. "She never walks around without a smile on her face. She loves poker, she loves people and she's just an amazing human being and a credit to us all in poker.
"Lynn Gilmartin started at Crown, went to PokerNews and now is an anchor for the World Poker Tour. She doesn't stop working and she's amazing."
Gilmartin then took to the stage, and thanked the members of the Hall of Fame who were there to greet her.
"What an honour to be standing among you legends," said Gilmartin. "The timing of this is extra special because I've never been prouder to be part of this community than I am right now. I've had so much support from around the world over the past few weeks. I started a fundraiser hoping to raise A$10,000, and after being inundated with support from poker players around the world, we're creeping up to A$100,000 just two weeks later."
Click here to find out more about the Poker Players for Australian Wildlife fundraiser
Originally from Melbourne, Gilmartin was introduced to poker in 2008 after working in the Crown Casino marketing department. She began hosting for the Victorian Poker Championship and PokerNews Cup, and in 2009, Gilmartin started at PokerNews presenting coverage at the World Series of Poker.
Joe Hachem, Lynn Gilmartin and Aussie Millions Tournament Director Lynn Gilmartin
In 2013, Gilmartin was announced as the host of the WPT Alpha8 series of super high-roller poker tournaments and was subsequently named as WPT Anchor in September of the same year. Since then she has appeared as WPT Anchor in every single WPT season, hosted the American Poker Awards in 2018.
"My commitment has been to shine a spotlight on this industry, this game and the players within it. It's been a privilege. I have so much admiration for this game and for all of you who either play this for a living or just for fun. To receive this award means the world to me, and I'm just so very grateful."
In 2018, Gilmartin starred in an indie feature film, produced and shot in Melbourne called How Do You Know Chris?. She becomes only the second female inductee of the Australian Poker Hall of Fame after Marsha Waggoner.
Kahle Burns
Double Bracelet-winner Kahle Burns Also Inducted
Hachem then took to the stage once more and introduced the second inductee to the Australian Poker Hall of Fame.
"I've been playing with this young man for many years, and I can honestly say I've given him more bad beats than he's given me. He plays PLO, he plays Hold'em and he travels the world. He's been on a tear for the last three years, and won two bracelets in Europe this year. Give it up for Kahle Burns."
"I start playing poker at 18 years old," said Burns. "I was just out of high school and this is the room where it all started. I didn't think it was something I could do to support myself. I just knew it was a game I really loved, and really appreciated the competitive side of things. I just wanted to help pay my way through university, that would be fantastic!"
Burns admitted that a lot has changed since he first started playing.
"The game has evolved so much. The average quality of play is just so much higher. There are a lot of recreational players who make the pros from ten years ago not look so good. I dropped out [of education] at 20 years old to take it seriously, and it's been a fun ride for 12 years.
"I spent the first half mostly in this room grinding cash and it's been cool to see the poker room grow since then. I want to congratulate the staff here at Crown for what they've done with the Aussie Millions as well, they've done a fantastic job."
Australian Poker Hall of Fame Inductees (2009-2020)
Year
Inducted
Legends
Joe Hachem, Jeff Lisandro
2009-10
Billy Argyros, Lee Nelson, Gary Benson, Mel Judah, Tony G, Maurie Pears, Marsha Waggoner
2010-11
Leo Boxell, Danny McDonagh
2011-12
David Gorr, Jason Gray
2014
Graeme Putt
2015
Van Marcus
2016
Joe Cabret
2017
Manny Stavropoulos
2018
Grant Levy
2019
Jonathan Karamalikis
2020
Lynn Gilmartin, Kahle Burns
Michael Addamo Wins Young Achiever Award
The Young Achiever Award was presented to Michael Addamo. The Australian won two bracelets in 2018, and followed that up with seven six-figure cashes in 2019 including a third place in the WSOP $50,000 High Roller for $697,375.
Addamo recently moved into third place on the Australian all-time money list, behind Hachem and Burns, adding A$1,073,790 ($741,752) to his career cashes after victory in the A$50,000 Challenge at the 2020 Aussie Millions.
"This young man came out of nowhere a couple of years ago," said Hachem, presenting the award in Addamo's absence. "He had obviously been studying hard, and just tore the scene apart. He's been winning bracelets in Europe, winning 25ks all around the world and I'm delighted to announce that Michael Addamo is our Young Achiever Award-winner."
Michael Addamo wins 2020 Aussie Millions A$50,000 Challenge
Corey Zarb was moved over to table 10 not long ago and was just all-in for 25,200 with against the of Sam Higgs.
The board came and Zarb had the checkmark on the turn.
Higgs was down to around 25,000 and in the blinds next. Zarb opened to 2,200 and Sparrow Cheung three-bet to 6,200. Higgs jammed, as did Zarb, and Cheung folded.
Sam Higgs:
Corey Zarb:
Higgs could all but smile and said "I need a queen both times" in table chat.
The board came and the kicker played to eliminate Higgs.
A new record has been narrowly missed in the 202 Aussie Millions Main Event and the 820 entries represent the second-biggest ever field size and 800 or more entries for the third year in a row. The top 88 spots will take home a portion of the A$8,200,000 prize pool ($5,644,175) and the min-cash is worth $15,580 ($10,724) while the winner will take home A$1,850,000 ($1,273,381).
Payouts 2020 Aussie Millions Main Event
Place
Payout (in AUD)
Payout (in USD)
Place
Payout (in AUD)
Payout (in USD)
1
A$1,850,000
$1,273,381
13-18
A$82,000
$56,442
2
A$1,125,000
$774,353
19-24
A$61,500
$42,331
3
A$661,000
$454,976
25-30
A$41,000
$28,221
4
A$480,160
$330,501
31-36
A$36,080
$24,834
5
A$378,660
$260,637
37-40
A$31,160
$21,448
6
A$307,820
$211,877
41-56
A$25,420
$17,497
7
A$240,080
$165,250
57-72
A$20,500
$14,110
8-9
A$178,080
$122,575
73-88
A$15,580
$10,724
10-12
A$123,000
$84,663
Total (in AUD)
A$8,200,000
Total (in USD)
$5,644,175
Below you can find the top 10 biggest Main Events at a glance for comparison.
Not long ago, Justin Young was among the bigger stacks in the room but in two hands he lost the entire stack of approximately to Matthew Wantman. The first one was a flip with ace-queen versus sevens and he then ran with pocket nines into the of Wantman.
The board came and Wantman had the best of it once more.
Alison Lockwood drew the toughest table in the room to start Day 2 of the Aussie Millions. However, rather than chalk it up to a brutal beat, she took it as an opportunity to soak in some knowledge from the world's best.
In a preflop three-bet pot, Jeff Madsen, Martin Zamani, and David Yan met in what would become one of the biggest collisions of the tournament so far.
With around 40,000 in the middle and on the felt, Madsen bet 19,500 from the small blind. Zamani shoved for 54,400 from under the gun and Yan reraised all in from the cutoff. Madsen smiled, double-checked his hole cards, and then called for his 119,300, saying, "Alright."
Zamani:
Yan:
Madsen:
"Just put a heart out, to make it easy," Zamani wished.
The was a brick and Yan was closing on scoring a double knockout.
But the hit the river and suddenly it was Madsen who got all rights to claim the monster pot, without having to share any piece of it. Zamani was eliminated and Yan, who was close to getting to one of the top chip counts in the room, dropped to 36,000 instead.
against the 
of Sam Higgs.
and Zarb had the checkmark on the turn.
and the kicker played to eliminate Higgs.
for five high and threw his chips forward, allowing Burns to take down the pot with 
for a pair of sevens
, Gorr found no help and wished everyone good luck.
of Wantman.
on the felt, Madsen bet 19,500 from the small blind. Zamani shoved for 54,400 from under the gun and Yan reraised all in from the cutoff. Madsen smiled, double-checked his hole cards, and then called for his 119,300, saying, "Alright."
