button in SafariJosh Duce Wins the Opening Event of the 2026 Aussie Millions (A$438,400)
Australia’s Josh Duce has claimed the first major title of the Aussie Millions Poker Championship 2026 Presented by CrownBet after topping a huge field of 2,144 entries to win the A$1,500 Opening Event for A$438,400.
The event produced a prize pool of A$2,787,200, nearly tripling the A$1 million guarantee and delivering one of the largest Opening Event turnouts in Aussie Millions history. A total of 268 players reached the money, each securing at least A$2,800, while the final 20 returned for Day 3 chasing the six-figure top prize.
For Duce, the result marks a breakthrough score. His previous best live cash came in 2024 when he finished fourth in the WPT Prime Gold Coast for $31,192, while his first recorded Hendon Mob result dates back to 2017.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Josh Duce | A$438,400 |
| 2 | Eng Chhor | A$309,500 |
| 3 | Itsuki Aburatani | A$220,300 |
| 4 | Michel Bouskila | A$157,000 |
| 5 | Spencer Davies | A$117,000 |
| 6 | Adrian Indoviro | A$88,000 |
| 7 | Xin Li | A$68,000 |
| 8 | Rachel Carolan | A$54,000 |
| 9 | Dean Schineider | A$44,000 |
Day 3 Action
Play quickly reached the final table bubble, which ended when Mishel Anunu moved all in holding a set of eights. Eng Chhor called with a double-gutter straight draw and completed his straight on the river to eliminate Anunu and form the official nine-handed final table.
Chhor picked up the first final table knockout shortly after, sending Dean Schneider out in ninth place when ace-queen held against ace-jack.
Rachael Carolan followed in eighth place for A$54,000, before Day 1A chip leader Xin Li exited soon after when another dominated ace-high hand came up second best.
Start-of-day chip leader Spencer Davies later eliminated Adrian Indovino, but his own run ended in one of the key pots of the day.
Duce moved into contention after eliminating Davies. Holding ace-king, Duce made two pair to beat the ace-ten of Davies, removing the early leader and moving himself among the bigger stacks.
Three-handed play was reached when Itsuki Aburattani rivered a one-outer to make set of tens and beat the flopped kings of Michel Booskila.
Aburattani was next to fall when Chhor flopped a set of sixes to crack pocket jacks, sending him out in third place and leaving Duce and Chhor to decide the title.
The final hand saw Duce move all in holding queen-jack, with Chhor making the call with queen-three. The board ran out in Duce’s favour, ending the tournament and confirming him as the first major winner of the 2026 Aussie Millions.