The Aussie Millions (formerly the Crown Australian Poker Championship) is the largest and richest poker festival in the Southern Hemisphere. Since 1998, it has been held at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia.
The Main Event has grown from just 74 entries to over 800, and continues to attract some of the world's biggest poker stars.
PokerNews has provided live coverage from the Aussie Millions since 2007.
Finished Tournaments |
Winner | Winning Hand | Prize | Runner-up | Losing Hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Aussie Millions | Vincent Wan | 10♣9♥ | 1,318,000 AUD | Ngoc Tai Hoang | a♠3♥ |
The very first Australian Poker Championships were held in 1998. The buy-in was A$1,000 and the Limit Hold'em tournament was won by Alex Horowitz. The following year, the buy-in remained the same but the format shifted to Pot-Limit Hold'em.
In 2000, the buy-in increased to A$1,500. It increased again to A$5,000 in 2002 and then to A$10,000 in 2003 where it has remained ever since.
The very first non-Australian to win the tournament was Englishman Peter Costa in 2003. His victory was followed by that of another Englishman, Tony Bloom, in 2004.
Two players from New Zealand took honours in 2005 and 2006 with Jamil Dia and Lee Nelson the first two players to win A$1,000,000+ first prizes.
Read More: A Historical Look at the Aussie Millions from 2003-2007
Costa's 2003 victory came in a field of 122 players. Four years later, at the 2007 Aussie Millions the field had soared to 747 entries and the 2007 Aussie Millions Main Event was won by Gus Hansen. His victory was made famous by the book 'Every Hand Revealed' where he broke down every single important hand he played en-route to victory.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 747 | A$7,470,000 | Gus Hansen | Denmark | A$1,500,000 |
The 2008 Aussie Millions Main Event was won by Alexander Kostritsyn. He defeated Poker Hall of Famer Erik Seidel heads-up to win A$1,650,000.
The festival also saw the likes of Howard Lederer and 2007 Aussie Millions Main Event runner-up Jimmy Fricke win titles, with Mike McDonald capturing his first live career title, winning the $1,050 PokerPro No Limit Holdem
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 780 | A$7,758,500 | Alexander Kostritsyn | Russia | A$1,650,000 |
After two years without an Australian winner, the 2009 Aussie Millions Main Event was won by Stewart Scott who defeated Peter Rho heads-up. Both players became millionaires, with Scott winning A$2,000,000 and runner-up Rho A$1,000,000.
2008 Aussie Millions Main Event winner Alexander Kostritsyn won the A$10,200 H.O.R.S.E., as did 2006 winner and Australian Poker Hall of Famer Lee Nelson in the A$1,100 Pot-Limit Omaha.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 681 | A$6,810,000 | Stewart Scott | Australia | A$2,000,000 |
Just three years after winning the WSOP Europe Main Event, Annette Obrestad made it to the final table of the 2010 Aussie Millions Main Event, which was won by Tyron Krost.
Obrestad did manage to win one of the side events in the A$1,100 Pot Limit Omaha, with David Bach, Erik Seidel, Dan Shak and Mike Watson also grabbing Aussie Millions rings.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 746 | A$7,460,000 | Tyron Krost | Australia | A$2,000,000 |
The 2011 Aussie Millions saw the introduction of the A$250,000 Challenge, then the largest buy-in tournament in poker history (it has since been surpassed by the WSOP $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop).
A field of 20 players assembled, with Erik Seidel emerged triumphant in the event after defeating Sam Trickett heads-up. Trickett would be able to console himself with victory in the A$100,000 Challenge.
The 2011 Aussie Millions Main Event was won by David Gorr. He defeated a field of 721 players to win A$2,000,000.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 721 | A$7,210,000 | David Gorr | Australia | A$2,000,000 |
The A$250,000 Challenge returned in 2012 and was won by Phil Ivey. The A$100,000 Challenge meanwhile was won by Dan Smith, his first major live poker score outside of the United States.
2012 also saw the Tournament of Champions which promised to award lifetime entry to the winner. The youngest player at the final table was 2010 winner Tyron Krost who won the tournament.
The 2012 Aussie Millions Main Event was won by Melbourne Oliver Speidel who defeated Kenneth Wong heads-up for A$1,600,000.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 659 | A$6,590,000 | Oliver Speidel | Australia | A$1,600,000 |
The High Rollers were out in force in 2013, with the big winner being Sam Trickett, who followed up his 2011 A$100,000 Challenge win with victory in the A$250,000 Challenge.
Mervin "The Cat" Chan from Malaysia was the champion of the 2013 Aussie Millions Main Event, defeating the likes of Dan Shak and Patrik Antonius en-route to winning A$1.6 million and a Chrysler 300C car.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 629 | A$6,290,000 | Mervin Chan | Malaysia | A$1,600,000 |
The first North American Aussie Millions champion was Ami Barer from Canada, who won the 2014 Aussie Millions Main Event. He defeated fellow Canadian Sorel Mizzi heads-up.
Meanwhile, Phil Ivey took down his second A$250,000 Challenge in the space of three years. He defeated a 46-player field to win A$4,000,000. This was the largest field in A$250,000 Challenge history.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 668 | A$6,680,000 | Ami Barer | Canada | A$1,600,000 |
Ivey then went back-to-back, winning his third A$250,000 Challenge and firmly putting his stamp on the event. Many have even dubbed this event the 'Phil Ivey Invitational'.
Meanwhile in the Main Event, hometown hero Manny Stavropoulos defeated a final table featuring four-time WSOP bracelet-winner Brian Rast to win the 2015 Aussie Millions Main Event.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 648 | A$6,480,000 | Manny Stavropoulos | Australia | A$1,385,500 |
The Aussie Millions title returned to Canada in 2016, after Ari Engel won the 2016 Aussie Millions Main Event. He beat Tony Dunst heads-up at a final table featuring two popular female players - Sam Abernathy and Kitty Kuo.
Plenty of big names were in action in the side events. Steve O'Dwyer won the A$250,000 Challenge, with the likes of Chance Kornuth, Michael Soyza, Stephen Chidwick and Martin Finger all grabbing Aussie Millions rings.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 732 | A$7,320,000 | Ari Engel | Canada | A$1,600,000 |
The A$250,000 Challenge was not included in the 2017 Aussie Millions schedule, but it was Nick Petrangelo who won the ANTON Jewellery A$100,000 Challenge for A$882,000.
In the 2017 Aussie Millions Main Event, it was Shurane Vijayaram who defeated a star-studded final table that included a certain Fedor Holz before eliminating Ben Heath heads-up to secure victory.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 725 | A$7,250,000 | Shurane Vijayaram | Australia | A$1,600,000 |
England hadn't won an Aussie Millions Main Event since 2004, but it was Toby Lewis who emerged triumphant in the 2018 Aussie Millions Main Event, winning A$1,458,198 after a three-way deal with Stefan Huber and Espen Solaas.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 800 | A$8,000,000 | Toby Lewis | United Kingdom | A$1,458,198 |
Lewis followed up his Main Event win with victory in the A$50,000 Challenge the following year, as both Rainer Kempe and Cary Katz took down other High Rollers.
In the 2019 Aussie Millions Main Event, it was the very first victory by an American as Bryn Kenney secured victory. In what was the largest Aussie Millions Main Event in history, the final three players agreed a deal which would make them all millionaires, with Mike Del Vecchio second, and Andrew Hinrichsen securing third place.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 822 | A$8,220,000 | Bryn Kenney | United States | A$1,272,598 |
Toby Lewis made it three Aussie Millions titles in three years with victory in the Shot Clock Six Max, with home favorites Kahle Burns and Michael Addamo also picking up Aussie Millions rings in the A$100,000 Challenge and A$50,000 Challenge respectively.
The 2020 Aussie Millions Main Event was won by Vincent "Wonky" Wan. Del Vecchio narrowly missed out on an incredible third Main Event final table in a row, but would have to settle for tenth place.
At the final table, Erik Seidel rolled back the years making his second Aussie Millions Main Event final table after finishing runner-up to Alexander Kostritsyn in 2008. Seidel sits second in the Crown Melbourne all-time money list after a fifth place finish in 2020.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 820 | A$8,200,000 | Vincent Wan | Australia | A$1,318,000 |
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 74 | A$74,000 | Alex Horowitz | Australia | A$25,900 |
| 1999 | 109 | A$109,000 | Milo Nadalin | Australia | A$38,150 |
| 2000 | 109 | A$173,500 | Leo Boxell | Australia | A$65,225 |
| 2001 | 101 | A$151,500 | Sam Korman | Australia | A$53,025 |
| 2002 | 66 | A$330,000 | John Maver | Australia | A$150,000 |
| 2003 | 122 | A$1,220,000 | Peter Costa | United Kingdom | A$394,870 |
| 2004 | 133 | A$1,330,000 | Tony Bloom | United Kingdom | A$426,500 |
| 2005 | 263 | A$2,630,000 | Jamil Dia | New Zealand | A$1,000,000 |
| 2006 | 418 | A$4,180,000 | Lee Nelson | New Zealand | A$1,295,800 |
| 2007 | 747 | A$7,470,000 | Gus Hansen | Denmark | A$1,500,000 |
| 2008 | 780 | A$7,758,500 | Alexander Kostritsyn | Russia | A$1,650,000 |
| 2009 | 681 | A$6,810,000 | Stewart Scott | Australia | A$2,000,000 |
| 2010 | 746 | A$7,460,000 | Tyron Krost | Australia | A$2,000,000 |
| 2011 | 721 | A$7,210,000 | David Gorr | Australia | A$2,000,000 |
| 2012 | 659 | A$6,590,000 | Oliver Speidel | Australia | A$1,600,000 |
| 2013 | 629 | A$6,290,000 | Mervin Chan | Malaysia | A$1,600,000 |
| 2014 | 668 | A$6,680,000 | Ami Barer | Canada | A$1,600,000 |
| 2015 | 648 | A$6,480,000 | Manny Stavropoulos | Australia | A$1,385,500 |
| 2016 | 732 | A$7,320,000 | Ari Engel | Canada | A$1,600,000 |
| 2017 | 725 | A$7,250,000 | Shurane Vijayaram | Australia | A$1,600,000 |
| 2018 | 800 | A$8,000,000 | Toby Lewis | United Kingdom | A$1,458,198 |
| 2019 | 822 | A$8,220,000 | Bryn Kenney | United States | A$1,272,598 |
| 2020 | 820 | A$8,200,000 | Vincent Wan | Australia | A$1,318,000 |
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 10 | A$1,000,000 | John Juanda | Indonesia | A$1,000,000 |
| 2007 | 18 | A$1,800,000 | Erick Lindgren | United States | A$1,000,000 |
| 2008 | 25 | A$2,500,000 | Howard Lederer | United States | A$1,250,000 |
| 2009 | 23 | A$2,300,000 | David Steicke | Australia | A$1,200,000 |
| 2010 | 24 | A$2,400,000 | Daniel Shak | United States | A$1,200,000 |
| 2011 | 38 | A$3,800,000 | Sam Trickett | United Kingdom | A$1,525,000 |
| 2012 | 22 | A$2,200,000 | Dan Smith | United States | A$1,012,000 |
| 2013 | 22 | A$2,200,000 | Andrew Robl | United States | A$1,000,000 |
| 2014 | 47 | A$7,486,000 | Yevgeniy Timoshenko | Ukraine | A$2,000,000 |
| 2015 | 70 | A$6,860,000 | Richard Yong | Malaysia | A$1,870,000 |
| 2016 | 41 | A$4,018,000 | Fabian Quoss | Germany | A$1,446,480 |
| 2017 | 18 | A$1,764,000 | Nick Petrangelo | United States | A$882,000 |
| 2018 | 19 | A$1,862,000 | Michael Lim | Malaysia | A$931,000 |
| 2019 | 42 | A$4,116,000 | Cary Katz | United States | A$1,481,760 |
| 2020 | 54 | A$5,238,000 | Kahle Burns | Australia | A$1,746,360 |
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 20 | A$5,000,000 | Erik Seidel | United States | A$2,500,000 |
| 2012 | 16 | A$4,000,000 | Phil Ivey | United States | A$2,000,000 |
| 2013 | 18 | A$4,500,000 | Sam Trickett | United Kingdom | A$2,000,000 |
| 2014 | 46 | A$11,270,000 | Phil Ivey | United States | A$4,000,000 |
| 2015 | 25 | A$6,105,000 | Phil Ivey | United States | A$2,205,000 |
| 2016 | 16 | A$3,920,000 | Steve O'Dwyer | United States | A$951,960 |
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