Poker tournament series details

View media release Crown Melbourne officials released the schedule for the 2019 Aussie Millions Poker Championship, Asia-Pacific’s longest-running poker tournament festival.Every year, more than 7,500 poker players flock to Crown Melbourne for the Australian summer to compete in the Aussie Millions with more than 100 poker tables ready for action. Not only is the weather perfect during this time of year but players are also competing for huge money with more than A$21 million in combined prize pools on the line.

Next year’s schedule features 27 championship events along with tons of satellites and ring games from Jan. 15 to Feb. 4 representing a slightly bigger schedule than last year’s 26 numbered events. Each of the championship events awards a gold ring on top of the prize pool with the winner of the Main Event awarded a coveted gold bracelet valued at A$25,000.

There is something for everyone at the Aussie Millions with buy-ins starting at just A$1,150. High rollers also have plenty of events to choose from including the A$100K Challenge, the A$50K Challenge, the A$25K Challenge, and the A$25K Pot Limit Omaha, an event newly added this year.

Event 1: AUD$1,150 – Opening Event – No Limit Holdem The Aussie Millions Poker
Championship kicks off on Tuesday 15 January at 6:10pm with the AUD$1,150 Opening
Event. This is one of the most popular events, as it now allows players five opportunities to
progress through to Day 2 with an additional Flight now scheduled. Last year’s Opening Event
was officially regarded as the largest ever tournament held at Crown with a whopping 1,538
total entries. With five flights and an AUD$1 million prize-pool guarantee, expect another
gigantic field!

Event 2: AUD$2,500 – H.O.R.S.E. This game combines five unique poker disciplines and is
aimed at the world’s best. Past winners include Australasian Hall of Fame member Jeff
Lisandro, James Obst, James Chen and Mel Judah, with local Sal Ribbera taking out the
2018 Event.

Event 3: AUD$1,150 – No Limit Holdem Shot Clock Shootout This is a twist on the
traditional shootout tournaments where players will have just 20 seconds to act. Each table
winner will then progress to the next stage.

Event 4: AUD$1,150 – Pot Limit Omaha This tournament continues to grow year-on-year as
players try their hand at this poker variant. In 2016, there were 217 entries followed by 237
entries in 2017 and an enormous field of 284 entrants in 2018. Numbers are expected to
continue rising in 2019 as PLO continues to gain popularity.

Event 5: AUD$1,150 – No Limit Holdem – Mix Max This unique format caters to the shorthanded
expert. Beginning as full ring, the tournament becomes six-handed when just 36
players remain, culminating in one-on-one handicapped ‘heads-up’ battles when just eight
players remain. A knockout format will then decide our Champion.

Event 6: AUD$1,150 – No Limit Holdem Six Max Arguably the game’s most popular format,
this short-handed version of the game is fast and furious. Bring your ‘A’ game if you want a
shot at this title, as you will be competing against the most talented players on the planet.
American poker pro Chance Kornuth took out the 2018 title.

Event 7: AUD$2,500 – 8 Game Mixed Event Rest assured the world’s best players will be
vying for this coveted and prestigious title. Eight poker variants: 2-7 Triple Draw, Holdem,
Omaha, Razz, 7-Card Stud, Stud HiLo, No Limit Holdem and Pot Limit Omaha will decide our
2019 Champion.

Event 8: AUD$1,150 – No Limit Holdem Accumulator This is the sixth year this has been
part of the Aussie Millions schedule and it continues to grow. Players have three chances to
‘accumulate’ their chips with all surviving stacks combined on Day 2.

Event 9: AUD$25,000 Challenge In both 2017 and 2018, this event has hosted arguably
some of the greatest fields ever to assemble for a poker tournament and broke records the
world over. These illustrious fields have included WSOP Main Event Champions, EPT
Champions, WPT Champions, Aussie Millions Champions as well as the all-time money
winner! A total of 114 entrants played in this event in 2018 with the eventual prize pool
exceeding AUD$2.7 million. Expect fireworks in this event, which is sure to attract worldwide
poker media attention.

Event 10: AUD$2000 – No Limit Holdem Bounty Event A permanent fixture on the Aussie
Millions calendar, the Bounty Event has a unique structure that attracts large fields every
year. With one player drawn to each table that carries a AUD$1,000 ‘Bounty’ on their head
once eliminated, the action never eases in this event. In addition, the tournament structure
changes from a standard multi-table format to a ‘shootout’ event when just 32 players remain.
All facets of No Limit Holdem are tested in this feature event.

Event 11: AUD$10,600 – Main Event If the poker world had ‘majors’ the Aussie Millions ‘Main
Event’ would be one of them. In 2018, 800 players took to the felt and eventually England’s
Toby Lewis held aloft the Aussie Millions championship bracelet as well as AUD$1.8 million in
cash after beating an all-time record field of 800 players. The structure is regarded as one of
the most generous in the world of poker, and players can elect to play any one of three first
flights. Played over five days with the ‘Final Table’ commencing Sunday 3 February.

Event 12: AUD$50,000 Challenge Returning to the Championship schedule, this two day
event is sure to attract the world’s best.

Event 13: AUD$1,150 – No Limit Holdem Terminator Ever popular, this format rewards the
aggressive player with AUD$500 per knockout. With an enormous 389 players taking their
seat in 2018 (up from 347 in 2018), this field is sure to rise again in 2019.

Event 14: AUD$1,150 – Hyper Turbo No Limit Holdem 10/10/10 In just its’ third year as an
official Championship event, Crown Poker’s very own Hyper Turbo format enters the big
stage. With a 10-second shot clock, 10-minute levels and a dedicated structure, our eventual
Champion will have to act and think fast! Australian Robert Damelian defeated a 2018 field of
263 entrants to collect the $64,700 top prize in under eight hours of play!

Event 15: AUD$1,150 – No Limit Holdem/Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) This format combines the
most popular forms of poker into one tournament. New Zealand’s Matthew Smith took out the
2018 title for $45,360

Event 16: AUD$1,150 – Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo’s global popularity
has ensured that PLO Hi-Lo enjoys its rightful place among the annual Aussie Millions events.
The 2018 prize pool topped $100,000 – expect this to continue to rise in 2019.

Event 17: AUD$2,500 – No Limit Holdem This event features no-frills and full-ring No Limit
Holdem. Attracted a 198 entry field in 2017 and 229 in 2018 with last year’s Champion
(United Kingdom’s Jack Sinclair) collecting over AUD$125,000 for the win.

Event 18: AUD$1,150 – The Aussie Millions ‘Tournament of Champions’ Open to all but
recognises and rewards past winners of the Aussie Millions ‘Main Event’. 2018 saw Australian
Vincent Huang defeat a whopping 276-entry field to scoop the $67,190 top prize!

Event 19: AUD$2,500 – Pot Limit Omaha The stakes are raised for the second Pot Limit
Omaha Tournament of the series. With the prize pool exceeding AUD$275,000 in both 2016
and 2017 and then reaching $315,000 in 2018, this field is sure to continue to rise.

Event 20: AUD$100,000 Challenge The largest buy in on the 2019 Calendar, this incredible
event has been slotted into the business end of the schedule with a view to maximize its’
exposure – with the Final Table set to be live streamed on Saturday 2 February.. When the
world’s best come to play make sure you lock up a front row seat!

Event 21: AUD$2,500 – Shot Clock No Limit Holdem Six Max The six handed format
introduces a 30-second shot clock to the table. This format is the closest to online poker that
players will experience in a ‘bricks and mortar’ Poker Room. Austria’s Andreas Klatt took out
the 2018 title for $144,330

Event 22: AUD$1,500 – No Limit Holdem ‘Deep Freeze’ This is both a deep stack and
freeze-out tournament that is guaranteed to attract another huge field. This generous
structure will attract players from all over the globe in their attempt to become only the fifth
ever Deep Freeze Champion. One of Australia’s most consistent and successful pros, Tam
Truong, took out the 2018 Championship Ring for $118,110

Event 23: AUD$5,000 – No Limit Holdem Six Max With a mix of both online specialists and
proven tournament stars, this event was won by one of Crown Poker’s most colorful locals,
Michael Tchong. The combination of both a highly-credentialed field and the aggressive
nature of six-handed events will ensure that our 2019 Champion will deserve their place
among poker’s elite.

Event 24: AUD$25,000 – $25K Pot Limit Omaha New to the 2019 Schedule, this event is
sure to attract some of the world’s best PLO players. Yet another high roller offering to the
world’s elite.

Event 25: AUD$1,150 – Turbo No Limit Holdem – Shot Clock With 15 minute levels, a 20K
start bank and just 20 seconds to act, this event (in only its fourth year at Aussie Millions)
grew from 163 in 2017, to an amazing field of 242 in 2018. Fast-paced action with our winner
crowned in a single day!

Event 26: AUD$5,000 – Pot Limit Omaha 2018 saw Australia’s Daniel Laidlaw eclipse the
field to take out the AUD$128,285 top prize. Run and won in a single day, this is high limit
PLO at its best.

Event 27: AUD$1,150 – No Limit Holdem Shot Clock Teams Event 27 will see two-person
teams combine to try to secure the last Championship rings of the Series. With a 20 second
shot clock and just 30 minutes until players change over, expect fast paced action that
concludes in a single day