A$25,000 Challenge
Jour 1 a débuté
2020 Aussie Millions
A$25,000 Challenge
Jours 1
Top
Chip Count
Chip Count
Players Ready for A$25,000 Challenge
Welcome back to PokerNews for coverage of the 2020 Aussie Millions here at the Crown Casino in Melbourne. Today sees the second of four five- and six-figure High Roller Challenges get underway with the A$25,000 Challenge, won last year by Rainer Kempe.
He defeated a record 151-player field to take home A$826,465 after a heads-up deal with runner-up Toby Lewis who took home A$786,214.
Former A$25,000 Challenge Winners
| Year | Winner | Country | First Prize (AUD) | Entries | Total Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Dominykas Karmazinas | Lithuania | A$200,000 | 20 | A$500,000 |
| 2013 | Igor Kurganov | Russia | A$275,000 | 30 | A$723,000 |
| 2014 | Max Altergott | Germany | A$241,785 | 65 | A$1,560,000 |
| 2015 | Alexander Trevallion | Australia | A$645,150 | 104 | A$2,496,000 |
| 2016 | Chance Kornuth | United States | A$790,560 | 122 | A$2,928,000 |
| 2017 | James Chen | Taiwan | A$861,840 | 133 | A$3,192,000 |
| 2018 | Ben Lamb | United States | A$738,720 | 114 | A$2,736,000 |
| 2019 | Rainer Kempe | Germany | A$826,465 | 151 | A$3,624,000 |
Today, players will have 12 levels to navigate to make it through to the final day's play. The first six levels will be 40-minutes each, with the final six increasing to an hour. There will be a 45-minute dinner break after level eight.
One re-entry is permitted per player, with late registration and re-entry closing after the dinner break.
Several players made their way into this event through last night's A$2,800 satellite including Michael Dyer, Kitty Kuo and Paul Newey.
Day 1 Level Structure
| Level | Duration | Small Blind | Big Blind | Big Blind Ante |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40 min | 100 | 200 | 0 |
| 2 | 40 min | 150 | 300 | 300 |
| 3 | 40 min | 200 | 400 | 400 |
| Break | 15 min | |||
| 4 | 40 min | 300 | 600 | 600 |
| 5 | 40 min | 400 | 800 | 800 |
| 6 | 40 min | 500 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Break | 15 min | |||
| 7 | 60 min | 600 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| 8 | 60 min | 800 | 1,600 | 1,600 |
| Break | 45 min | |||
| 9 | 60 min | 1,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 |
| 10 | 60 min | 1,200 | 2,400 | 2,400 |
| Break | 15 min | |||
| 11 | 60 min | 1,500 | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| 12 | 60 min | 2,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
Niveau: 1
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 0
First Batch of Notables
Niveau 1
: 100/200, 0 ante
There are already more than 40 players registered right before the cards went in the air and a first batch of notables can be found below. Several High Roller regulars made it to Melbourne for the very first time.
| Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
|---|---|---|
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 |
More New Players
Niveau 1
: 100/200, 0 ante
2020 A$2,500 Pot Limit Omaha champion Sherif Derias and Mix Max runner-up Nino Ullmann have both joined the A$25,000 Challenge field.
| Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
|---|---|---|
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 |
Zmukic Takes From Newey
Niveau 1
: 100/200, 0 ante
In a battle of the blinds, Vesko Zmukic and Paul Newey were on the 
turn and the former checked. Newey made it 1,350 to go and Zmukic came along to see the 
on the river. Zmukic now bet 2,200 and Newey reluctantly folded.
Both players were among the dozen qualifiers that earned their seat in yesterday's A$2,800 satellite.
| Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
|---|---|---|
|
52,500 | |
|
|
47,500 | -2,500 |
Pots for Lee and Martinelli
Niveau 1
: 100/200, 0 ante
On a 
board, Jamie Lee had bet 11,500 into a pot of 13,000 and Sam Greenwood took a moment before calling.
Lee turned over 
for a turned straight and Greenwood mucked.
Meanwhile, Luke Martinelli opened to 500, and Michael Dyer three-bet to 1,150. Lee then four-bet to 3,500 and Dyer called.
The pair checked the 
flop and turn, with Dyer folding to a bet of 3,300 on the river.
| Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
|---|---|---|
|
70,000 | 70,000 |
|
58,000 | 58,000 |
|
47,000 | 47,000 |
|
36,000 |
Up to 61 Entries
Niveau 1
: 100/200, 0 ante
| Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
|---|---|---|
|
50,000 | 50,000 |
|
50,000 | 50,000 |
|
50,000 | 50,000 |
|
50,000 | 50,000 |
|
50,000 | 50,000 |
|
|
50,000 | -8,000 |
|
50,000 | 50,000 |
|
|
50,000 | -20,000 |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | 50,000 |
|
50,000 | 50,000 |
Small Pot for Greenwood
Niveau 1
: 100/200, 0 ante
The table of Luc Greenwood and Seth Davies has kicked off five-handed and saw the additions of Manig Loeser and Louis Salter. Greenwood and Davies tangled in a small pot in with the latter check-raised the 
flop from 400 to 1,200, Greenwood called.
After the 
turn and river, both players checked and Greenwood had the winning hand in 
for a pair of fives.
| Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
|---|---|---|
|
52,000 | 16,000 |
|
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
50,000 | |
|
|
48,000 | -2,000 |
Sitbon Off to a Good Start
Niveau 1
: 100/200, 0 ante
A bet and call for 1,200 each was already pulled into the pot and the turn showed 
in a battle cutoff versus button between David Hanlon and Julien Sitbon. Hanlon opted to check and faced a bet of 4,300 by Sitbon, which he called.
The on the river was checked through and Sitbon showed 
as the winning hand.
| Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
|---|---|---|
|
|
57,000 | 7,000 |
|
|
43,000 | -7,000 |