2020 Aussie Millions A$100K Challenge Champion To Emerge Today
The A$100K Challenge has seen 40 bullets fired in the largest buy-in tournament on the 2020 Aussie Millions schedule, and the contest will continue with at least 21 players pursuing their quest for the title. Late registration remains open through the first hour of play on Day 2, and the total prize pool might still increase by a few shells. The action resumes at 12:10 p.m. local time.
With a lot of dead money in the pool — as half of the entries were met with elimination on Day 1 — joining or rejoining the field may be an attractive prospect to consider. Nothing easy awaits the late entrants, though, with the 250,000 worth just north of 20 big blinds: the play commences at 6,000/12,000/12,000.
Then there is, of course, the tough competition around, something unavoidable in tournaments of such magnitude. Alex Foxen has the chip lead, sitting comfortably on 853,500. Stephen Chidwick lies in third. Seth Davies follows in fourth. Those players are all sharpened by their participation in dozens, maybe hundreds, of events of these proportions.
Aaron van Blarcum, who's currently second with 824,500, may not be a household name yet, but, in the last few months, he's been doing everything in his power to become one. Van Blarcum joined the high stakes scene late in 2019 and has already notched some respectable results in Las Vegas.
Reigning champion Cary Katz is also among those 21 who found their way through the rocky stages of Day 1. Katz turned his first entry into 419,000, which puts him in the bottom half of the standings. But he's well known for his patience and he should be just fine with 35 big blinds.
Moreover, Katz is defending his title fresh on the back of his successful campaign in the A$50K Challenge which saw him earn A$715,860 for a runner-up finish. Only Michael Addamo was able to deny Katz, taking home a seven-figure payday.
Addamo has been trying hard to win his second super high roller within a week. So far, it hasn't been an easy ride for the Australian star who won the Young Achiever Award only a few days ago here at Crown Melbourne. Addamo is just behind Katz with 406,000, but he needed three attempts to advance.
With the field loaded by experienced and well-versed players, it is safe to expect thrilling encounters from the world's poker elite. Day 2 kicks off at 12:10 p.m. local time and PokerNews will provide live updates until the champion is crowned.
Additionally, a cards-up broadcast will be available at 12:40 p.m. on Twitch and PokerGO, provided by the Run It Up TV (subject to a 30-minute security delay).
| Year | Winner | Country | First Prize | Entries | Total Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | John Juanda | Indonesia | A$1,000,000 | 10 | A$1,000,000 |
| 2007 | Erick Lindgren | United States | A$1,000,000 | 18 | A$1,800,000 |
| 2008 | Howard Lederer | United States | A$1,250,000 | 25 | A$2,500,000 |
| 2009 | David Steicke | Australia | A$1,200,000 | 23 | A$2,300,000 |
| 2010 | Daniel Shak | United States | A$1,200,000 | 24 | A$2,400,000 |
| 2011 | Sam Trickett | United Kingdom | A$1,525,000 | 38 | A$3,800,000 |
| 2012 | Dan Smith | United States | A$1,012,000 | 22 | A$2,200,000 |
| 2013 | Andrew Robl | United States | A$1,000,000 | 22 | A$2,200,000 |
| 2014 | Yevgeniy Timoshenko | Ukraine | A$2,000,000 | 47 | A$7,486,000 |
| 2015 | Richard Yong | Malaysia | A$1,870,000 | 70 | A$6,860,000 |
| 2016 | Fabian Quoss | Germany | A$1,446,480 | 41 | A$4,018,000 |
| 2017 | Nick Petrangelo | United States | A$882,000 | 18 | A$1,764,000 |
| 2018 | Michael Lim | Malaysia | A$931,000 | 19 | A$1,862,000 |
| 2019 | Cary Katz | United States | A$1,481,760 | 42 | A$4,116,000 |
and Davies continued for 85,000. Huang called again. 
hit the turn and Davies used a time extension before he moved all in for an effective 365,000. Huang immediately called, having turned a straight with 
. Davies was drawing dead to win the pot with 
and he could only hope for a nine to chop with Huang. The river was the 
, though, and Davies dropped below 10 bigs while Huang crossed the 1-million mark.
flop where Zhang checked to Addamo who bet 14,000. Zhang check-raised to 40,000 and Addamo moved all in for around 160,000. Zhang had an easy decision, having flopped the top two. 
river and busted for the third time in the tournament. Zhang climbed to 1.75 million or so.
. 
tun and 
river confirmed there would be a new champion crowned this year.
.
turn. Matthias Eibinger checked, Bryn Kenney bet 45,000 and Grafton called. Eibinger shoved all in for 346,000 and Kenney quickly folded. Grafton got the count and called.
in the big blind and set them at risk. 
. Michael Zhang peeled with 
in the cutoff and Shan Huang called with 
in the big blind.
river. Grafton checked and Zhang bet 800,000. Grafton used two time extensions and folded.
. Kahle Burns woke up with 
, giving Burns the pot.
