button in Safari$5,000 Challenge
Day 2 Completed
2026 Aussie Millions Poker Championship
$5,000 Challenge
Day: 2
Players Left 5 / 464
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
Level 21
: Blinds 75,000/125,000, 125,000 ante
It was another extended day on the felt at the Aussie Millions Poker Championship 2026 Presented by CrownBet, with the $5,000 No Limit Hold'em Challenge stretching beyond its planned two-day finish. After 11 more hour-long levels, only 26 players remain in contention for the title, trophy, and the $482,405 AUD top prize stemming from the $2,134,400 AUD prize pool.
Surging to the top of the counts was Aussie Luke Martinelli, who bagged 14,200,000 — more than five million ahead of his nearest challenger and the only player to reach eight figures. The local pro surged up the leaderboard late in the day and capped it off by winning a big pot against Joe Hachem. A victory would mark Martinelli’s first Aussie Millions title and offer a measure of redemption after his runner-up finish in a $1,500 event during the 2017 series.
Sitting a distant second place is Day 1 chip leader Corey Kempson, who enjoyed a steady day of upward progression en route to bagging up 9,125,000. Nathan Ong rounds out the top three with a stack worth 7,900,000.
Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Martinelli | Australia | 14,200,000 | 95 |
| 2 | Corey Kempson | Australia | 9,125,000 | 61 |
| 3 | Nathan Ong | Australia | 7,900,000 | 53 |
| 4 | Vincent Wan | Hong Kong | 7,725,000 | 52 |
| 5 | Xiaosheng Zheng | China | 7,175,000 | 48 |
| 6 | Kahle Burns | Australia | 6,325,000 | 42 |
| 7 | Thijs Hilberts | Netherlands | 5,875,000 | 39 |
| 8 | Joseph Antar | Australia | 5,825,000 | 39 |
| 9 | Jian Ting Cai | China | 5,675,000 | 38 |
| 10 | Billy Argyros | Australia | 4,925,000 | 33 |
Just outside of the podium spots is 2020 Aussie Millions Main Event champ Vincent Wan, who still has a well-above average stack of 7,725,000 to work with in his bid to secure another major title.
Other notables still in the hunt include Jaxon Byrne, Michael Gathy (3,500,000), Jennifer Cassell (2,475,000), Ehsan Amiri (1,175,000), and of course Aussie Millions ambassador and 2005 WSOP Main Event Champion Hachem — who will have a bit of work to do with his below-average stack worth 1,875,000.
Day 2 began with 142 returnees looking to make a deep run and would be joined by a staggering 111 additional entrants by the time registration closed less than two hours after Day 2 began. A steady pace of eliminations leading up to the money bubble saw a handful of notables hit the rail, including Tristan Wade, Martin Finger, Bernardo Del Toro, Robert Damelian, and tournament crusher Michael Addamo.
A brief bubble period ended with Vladas Tamasauskas being forced all in from the big blind holding six-four and losing against Scott Stewart's ace-seven — guaranteeing the 55 remaining players a payout of at least $10,245 AUD.
With the pressure to secure a min-cash relieved, a slew of eliminations followed. Among those to secure a min-cash were Van Marcus, Kenta Ito, Matthew Wakeman, Michael Tchong, and Tyron Krost.
In an odd coincidence, three players were eliminated in a short period of time after getting all in preflop with queens as the favorite and taking a beat. Yu Hai Kee's ladies fell to Zong Chi He's pocket fives, Xin Xu's queens were cracked by Hachem's ace-queen, and Johan Lees also had his ladies cracked by the ace-queen of Romain Morvan toward the end of the day.
The remaining 26 players have already locked up a payday of $13,445 for their efforts, but everyone will surely be gunning for the $482,405 first-place prize that comes with the title, a trophy, and the right to be called an Aussie Million champion.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Payout | Place | Payout (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $482,405 | 10–11 | $ 32,015 |
| 2 | $290,280 | 12–13 | $ 26,680 |
| 3 | $188,895 | 14–15 | $ 23,050 |
| 4 | $141,725 | 16–17 | $ 19,850 |
| 5 | $108,955 | 18–20 | $ 17,715 |
| 6 | $87,510 | 21–23 | $ 15,580 |
| 7 | $72,570 | 24–26 | $ 13,445 |
| 8 | $57,630 | ||
| 9 | $43,755 |
Day 3 is scheduled to get underway at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 3 and play down to a winner. Play will resume on Level 22, which features 75,000/150,000 blinds with a 150,000 big blind ante. Levels will remain 60 minutes each for the duration of the tournament.
For all the action on Day 3, be sure to stick with PokerNews until the final card has been dealt and the latest Aussie Millions champ has been crowned!
Level 21
: Blinds 75,000/125,000, 125,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
14,200,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
|
||
|
9,125,000
5,725,000
|
5,725,000 |
|
||
|
7,900,000
3,400,000
|
3,400,000 |
|
7,725,000
2,725,000
|
2,725,000 |
|
7,175,000
3,275,000
|
3,275,000 |
|
||
|
6,325,000
2,625,000
|
2,625,000 |
|
||
|
5,875,000
5,875,000
|
5,875,000 |
|
5,825,000
5,025,000
|
5,025,000 |
|
5,675,000
1,675,000
|
1,675,000 |
|
4,925,000
1,725,000
|
1,725,000 |
|
4,100,000
2,780,000
|
2,780,000 |
|
4,000,000
1,500,000
|
1,500,000 |
|
3,975,000
1,675,000
|
1,675,000 |
|
3,900,000
2,700,000
|
2,700,000 |
|
3,500,000
800,000
|
800,000 |
|
||
|
3,025,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
2,900,000
850,000
|
850,000 |
|
2,625,000
525,000
|
525,000 |
|
2,475,000
2,475,000
|
2,475,000 |
|
1,900,000
2,100,000
|
2,100,000 |
|
1,875,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
||
|
1,775,000
125,000
|
125,000 |
|
1,600,000
2,200,000
|
2,200,000 |
|
1,575,000
495,000
|
495,000 |
|
1,175,000
675,000
|
675,000 |
Level 21
: Blinds 75,000/125,000, 125,000 ante
The final 26 players are now bagging and tagging for the night.
Stay tuned for a recap of Day 2.
Level 21
: Blinds 75,000/125,000, 125,000 ante
Joe Hachem opened to 250,000 on the button and called a three-bet of 750,000 from Luke Martinelli in the small blind.
Hachem called a 500,000 bet from Martinelli on the J♣9♥4♠ flop and then bet 900,000 after being checked to on the 7♥ turn.
Martinelli then announced he was all in, which was enough to put Hachem all in for his last 1,900,000.
Hachem tanked a while, but eventually decided to lay his hand down and Martinelli added to his massive stack.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
14,000,000
12,350,000
|
12,350,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,900,000
1,800,000
|
1,800,000 |
|
|
||
Level 21
: Blinds 75,000/125,000, 125,000 ante
Pocket queens seem to be having a hard time holding up in showdowns as of late.
Johan Lees opened to 250,000 and was three-bet to 1,600,000 by Romain Morvan in the small blind. Lees announced he was all in and Morvan used up all of his time banks before calling all in for 1,675,000 to put himself at risk.
Romain Morvan: A♠Q♦
Johan Lees: Q♠Q♥
The board ran out 5♣A♣10♣8♥K♣ — improving Morvan to a pair of aces for the double up as Day 2 nears its end.
Lees was left short after the hand and busted shortly thereafter.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,500,000
2,500,000
|
2,500,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 21
: Blinds 75,000/125,000, 125,000 ante
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Level: 21
Blinds: 75,000/125,000
Ante: 125,000
Level 20
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Joe Hachem opened to 200,000 from under the gun and it was folded to Xin Xu, who moved all in for 1,700,000 from the hijack. Action folded back around to Hachem and he quickly put calling chips into the middle.
Xin Xu: Q♥Q♦
Joe Hachem: A♥Q♠
Xu was looking to hold, but the K♥A♣4♦ flop paired Hachem's ace and left Xu drawing to one immediate out.
No miracle came on the 7♣ turn nor 10♦ river and Xu was forced to surrender his chips over to Hachem.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,750,000
2,250,000
|
2,250,000 |
|
|
3,700,000
1,100,000
|
1,100,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
Level 20
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
