$10,600 Main Event
Jour 1a a débuté
$10,600 Main Event
Jour 1a a débuté
The Aussie Millions prides itself in being Asia-Pacific's richest and most prestigious poker series, and today the A$10,600 Main Event gets underway, with hundreds of players looking to add their name to the those already engraved on the trophy.
The winner of this year's Main Event will also walk away with an estimated A$1,600,000 first prize, as well as the coveted champion's bracelet, valued at over A$25,000.
Last year it was Melbourne's Shurane Vijayaram (pictured) who turned a A$130 satellite seat into a million dollar score. In the final hand Vijayaram showed nerves of steel to call an all-in with pocket fives on a Queen-high board. When opponent Ben Heath turned over King-high, Vijayaram clinched the title and A$1,600,000 in prize money.
There are bound to be many more players satelliting into this year's Main Event, hoping for a taste of the fairytale success that Vijayaram enjoyed 12 months ago.
Here's a look at the previous Aussie Million winners since the tournament's inception in 1998:
Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | First Prize |
---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | 74 | A$74,000 | Alex Horowitz | A$25,900 |
1999 | 109 | A$109,000 | Milo Nadalin | A$38,150 |
2000 | 109 | A$173,500 | Leo Boxell | A$65,225 |
2001 | 101 | A$151,500 | Sam Korman | A$53,025 |
2002 | 66 | A$330,000 | John Maver | A$150,000 |
2003 | 122 | A$1,220,000 | Peter Costa | A$394,870 |
2004 | 133 | A$1,330,000 | Tony Bloom | A$426,500 |
2005 | 263 | A$2,630,000 | Jamil Dia | A$1,000,000 |
2006 | 418 | A$4,180,000 | Lee Nelson | A$1,295,800 |
2007 | 747 | A$7,470,000 | Gus Hansen | A$1,500,000 |
2008 | 780 | A$7,758,500 | Alexander Kostritsyn | A$1,650,000 |
2009 | 681 | A$6,810,000 | Stewart Scott | A$2,000,000 |
2010 | 746 | A$7,460,000 | Tyron Krost | A$2,000,000 |
2011 | 721 | A$7,210,000 | David Gorr | A$2,000,000 |
2012 | 659 | A$6,590,000 | Oliver Speidel | A$1,600,000 |
2013 | 629 | A$6,290,000 | Mervin Chan | A$1,600,000 |
2014 | 668 | A$6,680,000 | Ami Barer | A$1,600,000 |
2015 | 648 | A$6,480,000 | Manny Stavropoulos | A$1,385,500 |
2016 | 732 | A$7,320,000 | Ari Engel | A$1,600,000 |
2017 | 725 | A$7,370,000 | Shurane Vijayaram | A$1,600,000 |
This year's Main Event has three starting flights: Sunday 28 January, Monday 29 January and Tuesday 30 January. Each player will receive 30,000 in chips. Late registration is available until the end of Level 8.
Levels are 90 minutes long, with a 15-minute break between each level. There will be a 75-minute dinner break after Level 4. Here is the structure for Day 1:
Level | Small Blind | Big Blind | Ante |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 50 | 100 | |
2 | 100 | 200 | |
3 | 100 | 200 | 25 |
4 | 150 | 300 | 25 |
5 | 200 | 400 | 50 |
6 | 250 | 500 | 75 |
7 | 300 | 600 | 100 |
End of Day 1 |
Play will move to eight-handed as soon as possible on Day 1, and will remain eight-handed until 36 players remain, at which time play will move to six-handed.
There will be a redraw prior to the commencement of Day 2, 3, 4 and when 36 players remain. Day 4 will play until the final table is reached.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for all the action as we kick off the 2018 Aussie Millions Main Event here in Melbourne.
Niveau: 1
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
Shortly before the cards were in the air, Aussie Millions tournament director Joel Williams was joined by Australian Rugby League legend Billy Slater to officially get the first flight of the Aussie Millions A$10,600 Main Event underway.
"Last year the planning for this year's Aussie Millions started on the 15th February [two weeks after the finish]," explained Williams, "And it's a 12-month process. Huge credit goes to the entire behind-the-scenes team; marketing, PR, operations and analytics who all help to put on the show and make it the success I know it will be."
"It was only five or six years ago that the first opportunity to win an Aussie Millions seat didn't come until mid to late October. This year, however, the satellite campaign started in March, and we had people locking up their Main Event seats from the second week in March.
"It's an enormous satellite campaign, and particular thanks goes to our locals for their continued support. We're on track this year to generate 400 satellites. We never thought it would be reached, and it's a numebr not matched around the world. I'm sure all our international players appreciate how many locals win their way into the Main Event."
At this point Williams introduced Australian Rugby League star Billy Slater. Slater, who has played his entire career at the Melbourne Storm, has amassed 183 NRL tries during his career which is currently 2nd most of all time.
"With rugby you're always focusing on getting better rather than reflecting on what you've done," said Slater. "As you get older you're trying to plan for the future and I want to stay involved in the game with the media, and a little bit of the coaching as well.
"With poker...well I'm not a very good poker player, but I think I'll sharpen up my skills over the next couple of years and hopefully gain a seat at one of these tables.
"There's a lot of pressure in our industry, but at the table there's a lot of pressure and you've got to put yourself on the line sometimes to take the prize. There are some similarities, but I'm definitely more comfortable on the rugby field!"
"I’d like to personally wish all the best to everyone - good luck in the tournament here today. I hope that the poker gods are on your side. I don't think there's anything else to say apart from shuffle up and deal!"
According to the screens there are 150 players registered and the first familiar faces include Kenny Hallaert, Steven van Zadelhoff, Michael Gathy, Daniel Neilson and Jonas Lauck among others.
Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
---|---|---|
Laszlo Bujtas | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Marton Czuczor | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Tolly Sakellariou | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Michael Gathy
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
Jonas Lauck
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
Vojtech Ruzicka | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Steven van Zadelhoff | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Daniel Neilson | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Kenny Hallaert | 30,000 | 30,000 |
When arriving at the table, a substantial pot of 15,000 had already been built and the completed board showed . Corey Zarb moved all in and Kenny Hallaert was in the think tank. "That might be a quick one. Aces, really?" the Belgian asked and table chat continued for a bit while Hallaert was talking through the possible hands.
Ultimately, Hallaert called and Zarb flashed for top set, while Hallaert had the for top two. Hallaert busted two hands later against Zarb with versus on the board of and headed over to Steven van Zadelhoff, explaining the hand that started with a three-bet pot preflop.
Hallaert only played 13 minutes on Day 1a ...
Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
---|---|---|
Corey Zarb
|
60,000 | 60,000 |
Kenny Hallaert | Eliminé |
After a raise to 250 and a three-bet to 700 by Dinesh Velupillay in the cutoff, Daniel Neilson on the button four-bet to 2,100 and faced a five-bet to 4,200 by the initial raiser. Velupillay folded and Neilson called to see a flop of . A quick continuation bet was all it took to force out Neilson and the Aussie sent his cards into the muck.
The same table also features Steven van Zadelhoff as well, who lost a minor pot right off the bat.
Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
---|---|---|
Steven van Zadelhoff | 29,500 | -500 |
Dinesh Velupillay
|
29,000 | |
Daniel Neilson | 25,500 | -4,500 |
Several American poker pros have made the trip down to Melbourne and Asher Conniff as well as Jake Balsiger happen to sit next to each other. Other new additions to the Day 1a field include Kristen Bicknell, Matt Salsberg, Michael Sklenicka and Michael Del Vecchio.
The Aussie flag is represented by Michael Egan, Sedjan Brkic and Sarah Bilney amongst others.
Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
---|---|---|
Jake Balsiger | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Matt Salsberg | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Kristen Bicknell
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
Asher Conniff
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
Srdjan Brkic | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Michael Sklenicka | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Sarah Bilney | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Mike Del Vecchio
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
Michael Egan | 30,000 | 30,000 |
In a three-bet pot, the player in the blinds bet 600 on a flop and Kristen Bicknell raised to 1,800. Her opponent called.
The turn was the and both players checked. The river was the and her opponent bet 1,500 and Bicknell called.
The player turned over and took down the pot.
Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
---|---|---|
Kristen Bicknell
|
26,000 | -4,000 |
Benedikt Eberle skyrocketed his live earnings after taking down the Opening Event a few days ago here at Crown Casino, defeating a massive field of 1,538 entries to claim a first-place payout of A$315,295. Eberle is competing on Day 1a of the Main Event and has dropped some chips early on while Aussie Arthur Maggs has benefited from an early run good.
Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
---|---|---|
Arthur Maggs | 40,000 | 40,000 |
Benedikt Eberle | 24,000 | 24,000 |