THE AUSSIE MILLIONS STORY

THE CROWN AUSSIE MILLIONS STORY The Crown Aussie Millions now ranks with the other top international tournaments the WSOP, the WPT, the Euro Champs, The Bellagio 5 Diamonds and the associated Online and TV series. From a gentle main event prize pool of AUD151, 500 (1st AUD53K) it has grown in 2007 to a 50 table state of the art poker room, 200 dealers, 2000 overall entrants with a $10 million prize pool and main event 747 entries with a poll of $7.5 million and a first prize of $1.5 million. This breaks all Downunder records. An estimated 1500 overseas entrants took part including 50 of the world’s finest poker professionals. The Crown Aussie Millions is currently the biggest international Poker Tournament outside mainland United States of America. Where did this “magic pudding” come from? It came from a number of dedicated “true believers”, players, dealers and enthusiasts but mainly from the foresight and poker promotion of the Crown Casino Group. Crown Casino, Richard Longhurst, Sean McCreery, John Parker, Danny McDonough and a dedicated team of dealers and supervisors, Keith Sloan and Pokernetwork made the Millions. The rest is history. The Beginnings Steve Fox from the USA with John Beagle and Keith Sloan made the initial discussions with Crown for the establishment of a Poker room in 1995, in the old Convention Building. Mel Judah and Gary Benson were also in the background. In 1997 in the new Southbank Crown Casino, the Las Vegas Poker room opened. The first Crown Australasian Poker Championships was held in 1988 with Alex Horowitz, a Barrister from Sydney, being the first champion. The Dealers Bendigo and Maree Barrow set up the Dealers School in 1997. It formed the basis of the group of talented and enthusiastic dealers, including Danny McDonough, in Crown today, since its opening in 1997. There was a record home game for the staff at Wilson’s place, where 22 runners turned up, The first game was dealer’s choice $1-2 with a small half pot at the back of the house. Everything was great, 3 tables going but only enough chairs for one! From then on, it was weekly games at different locations as too many peanuts were falling into Wilson’s piano. The morning shifters loved Manila, usually at “Ace’s” place. And the other shift played a mixture. On hot weeks, we saw up to 2 games weekly. Now after nearly 5 years, the regular games are up to $6-12 at lovely “garage” locations some where. Occasionally they play $10-20 or half pot to juice things up. The culprits are/were: Grumpy, Dan the man, Slow Dog, Barramundi, Ace, Crawfish, Noodles, Magic Dam, Minh the merciless, Harry the bastard, Little Dog, Scoop, Lionheart, Gecko, Black Panther, Curly B, ... to name a few. So far only two of the original dealers have crossed over to try life as a professional poker player (Noodles and Dan the Man). And they are just the first guinea pigs. Who says dealers can’t play? Not now but soon. Check “the away” competitions at Adelaide, Canberra and Christchurch. They know. The Australian dealers play without tips. They do a great job and the players are thankful for this. A former dealer’s event in Canberra disclosed the following champs: Dan “The Man” Beahan, Dave “Grumpy” Parlor, Brett “Chopper” Patton, Mark “Gecko” Popplewell, David “The Master” Dam, Wilson “Barramundi” Lim, Harry “The Bastard” Chandler, Sam “Black Panther” Beasley, Jase “Slow dog” Turner, Theo “Togs off” Ilko, Carlene “If I win I get new boots” Blake, Jonno Pittock, Alan Jackson, Matt “The Craw” and mystery Russian guest (was that Noodles?). Chris from Star City scooped the pool. Star City players took out 90% of the brass. POKERNETWORK Pokernetwork, in association with Crown, has played a big part in the promotion and development of the Aussie Millions. Pokernetwork was commenced by Keith Sloan and Danny McDonagh Sept 1999 with a party of 15 American players including Tom McEvoy and Mike O’Malley who came to Crown for the 1999 Australasian Poker Championships and then traveled on to New Zealand (arranged by PNW) for a special challenge against the Kiwi players. There was the belief that there was certainly a demand for an internet site established in Australia that would assist in building the profile of poker down under in Australia & New Zealand and also be the means for players interested parties from Australia and New Zealand to travel overseas to play poker and assist in attracting internationals in coming to Australia and primarily Crown Casino to play poker. The Website was established December 1999. Travel packages were arranged for Australians to the 1999 TOC Vegas, 2000, 2001 & 2002 New Zealand Poker Championships and a number of European tours. Live Internet coverage of all major Crown tournaments since May 2000 has been achieved. A packaged trip to Moscow for the 2000 Moscow Poker Championships October 2000 (27 Australians and Kiwis) was successfully conducted. Promotion and live Internet coverage of this championship was promoted on the Internet. There was 32 day escorted trip in May/June 2001 to Venice, Slovenia (Torneo di Poker), Vienna (World Heads Up Poker Championship) & St Petersburg (Taleon Club special poker tournaments) for a group of 24 players from Australia & New Zealand. Pokernetwork contracted to cover on the Internet the Torneo di Poker, Slovenia and World Heads Up Poker Championship in Vienna. During this trip Pokernetwork was established as the major marketing vehicle for “Aussie Millions” and poker in general at Crown. Given the events of September 11 PNW now shys away from arranging fully escorted overseas trips. The primary focus is now on building the 2003 Australasian Poker Championships into a truly international poker event. In 2003 the network was sold to ‘The Master’. It reached massive traffic in 2006 and because of limitations to online promotion in Australia was again sold internationally in 2006 to Pokernews Limited. Pokernetwork and its activities, in conjunction with Crown have taken Australasian Poker onto the World stage. The up to date news coverage and communication have inspired many hesitant players into full time activity. It is difficult to visualize the state of Australasian poker today without Pokernetwork and Crown and our players. Indeed it may not now be in existence. Most certainly there would be no Aussie Millions, as we know it today. HISTORY OF TOURNAMENTS AT CROWN Crown Casino’s first major tournament was in July 1998, the 1st Australasian Poker Championships. The tournament attracted good numbers but certainly not all of the leading Australian & New Zealand Poker Players. The main event was Limit Holdem, with many of entries coming from satellites won by Crown Casino local small limit players who had won the weekly Sunday satellite. In fact, one of them, Ken Eastwood, went on and came second in the main event, won by Alex Horowitz. Total prize money for the championship was $306,150 (17 days). The next big event was the qualifiers for the Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas 1999. A big team represented Australia and New Zealand dressed in Crown Jackets with Bendigo managing. Mike and Martin Comer, Kiwi G Putt, Alex Horowitz, Wes and Jenny Bugiera, Pokergal Lynette Marino, the Boxells, Gofor Athanassiou, Larry Jones, Brian Hull and Maurie Pears. Sister Hannah carried the banner and led the Grand Parade. Martin Comer made the final table. This was the first big International event for the Crown team. You could write a book on it. Fortunately nobody did. The 2nd Australasian Championships was held in September 1999. These championships placed Crown on the map as a class poker venue for both tournaments and live games. In addition to the cream of Aussie and New Zealand poker players, there were just on twenty American players, including a group of 15 who won satellites at Gila River Casino in America. Notable names included Tom McEvoy & Mike O’Malley. One of the group, Adam Haman, actually went on to play heads up in the main event with none other than Milo Nadalin, at that time an unknown player outside the Brisbane private games scene. Milo has since proved himself as a class poker player, adding a second Australasian Championship in 2000 to the main event he won in 1999. The Dazzler went heads up with Tom McEvoy and won. The main event this time broke the 100k barriers for the first time, in fact there were 109 entries and the total prize pool for the championship was $235,760 (9 days). During the 1999 Australasian Poker Championship, Sydney high limit player Jason Gray put forward the following idea. Why not host a big buy in tournament, say $5,000. This was no doubt the start of the defining moment in Crown Casino poker management having the belief of working towards hosting a truly international major poker championship, which of course is the aim for this Aussie Millions. John Parker was the head honcho during the period to the Millions 2003. and accompanied the TOC team to Vegas. The 2000 Australasian Poker Championships was moved forward to August with the Sydney Olympics and the buy-in increased to $1,500 once again. From 2001 the event went from strength to strength. January 2003. The $5,000 tournament was given the go ahead and a new tournament championship introduced at Crown, the 2000 Crown Summer Championship, incorporating both a 5k buy in Pot Limit Omaha championship and also the 1k buy in No Limit Holdem Mike Comer Classic. The January timing was very well received and the High Stakes event attracted 29 entries with 9 rebuys and a total prize pool of $195,000 (5k added by Crown). Jeff Lisandro flew in from Russia and picked up a cool $100,000 as winner of this event. For many of us the Aussie Millions started in 2003 when the prize pool jumped into the mega range. Australian Poker came of age this year. We have had a wonderful four years so far with a mix of international and Aussie/Kiwi stars coming to the fore. They were exciting poker years with better yet to come. All expectations point to the Aussie Millions 2007 being one of the great poker celebrations of the world. The winners below are all ‘Aussie Millions bracelet winners’ on international standards. 2003 Crown Australasian Poker Championships Main Event No Limit Holdem Crown - 12 Jan 2003 Peter Costa – UK, Leo Boxell – Aus 2nd Crown Australasian Poker Championships Pot Limit Omaha Crown - 10 Jan 2003 Lucy Rockach – UK, Gary Benson Aus 4th Crown Australasian Poker Championships Poker Ashes Crown - 09 Jan 2003 Australia 6/5 Crown Australasian Poker Championships Pot Limit Hold em Crown - 09 Jan 2003 Sherkhan Fernood – Afghanistan – Milo Nadalin Aus 4th Crown Australasian Poker Championships Limit Omaha Hi Lo Crown - 08 Jan 2003 Mel Judah - Aus Crown 32 MAN HEADS UP Crown - 08 Jan 2003 George Mamacas - Aus Crown Pioneers Poker Event Crown - 07 Jan 2003 Paul Pedersen NZ, Glen Athanassiou 2nd Aus Crown Australasian Poker Championships Limit Hold em Crown - 06 Jan 2003 Michael Tomeny USA, Leo Boxell Aus Crown Australasian Poker Championships Pot Limit Omaha Crown - 05 Jan 2003 Sherkhan Fernood Afghanistan, James Potter Aus 4th Crown Australasian Championships. Pot Limit Hold-em Crown - 03 Jan 2003 Luke Chezick N.Z, Anthony Donjerkovic Aus 2nd Crown Australasian Championships. Limit Hold-em Crown - 02 Jan 2003 Carlo Citrone UK, Sam Khouiss – Aus 3rd. What a year was 2003 for Aussie Poker with local players taking out places in all events. Costa, Rockach, Fernood and Citrone winning for the internationals. And the Heads up for the main event winner Leo the Lion surviving 14 all ins to take runner up. This was the year Crown stepped forward with the team, Sean, Danny and Bendigo to accept the mantle of ‘Home of Aussie Poker’ from Adelaide and set the pace for the future. We were never to look back. 2004 Aussie Millions 2004 Crown 03 Jan 04 - 17 Jan 04 · # 1 No Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 03 Jan 04) Marty Wilson UK, Joseph Tesoriero Aus 4th Aussie Millions 2004 Crown 03 Jan 04 - 17 Jan 04 · # 2 Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 04 Jan 04) John Homann Aus Aussie Millions 2004 Crown 03 Jan 04 - 17 Jan 04 · # 3 Limit Omaha (12.30 PM / 05 Jan 04) Arul Thillai Aus Aussie Millions 2004 Crown 03 Jan 04 - 17 Jan 04 · # 4 Pot Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 06 Jan 04) Andy Glazer USA, John Madaffari 3rd Aussie Millions 2004 Crown 03 Jan 04 - 17 Jan 04 · # 5 Pot Limit Omaha (12.30 PM / 07 Jan 04) Seth Towle USA, John Madaffari 2nd Aussie Millions 2004 Crown 03 Jan 04 - 17 Jan 04 · # 6 Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 08 Jan 04) Sam Korman Aus Aussie Millions 2004 Crown 03 Jan 04 - 17 Jan 04 · # 7 Limit 7/Card Stud (12.30 PM / 09 Jan 04) Andy Glazer USA, John Wylie NZ 2nd Aussie Millions 2004 Crown 03 Jan 04 - 17 Jan 04 · # 9 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo (12.30 PM / 11 Jan 04) Michael Guttman Aus Aussie Millions 2004 Crown 03 Jan 04 - 17 Jan 04 · # 8 Heads Up (12.30 PM / 11 Jan 04) Per_Werner Swennson Sweden, Mike Ivin 5th Aussie Millions 2004 Crown 03 Jan 04 - 17 Jan 04 · # 10 Pot Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 12 Jan 04) Mike Ivin Aus Aussie Millions 2004 Crown 03 Jan 04 - 17 Jan 04 · # 11 Pot Limit Omaha (12.30 PM / 14 Jan 04) Steve Zolotow USA, Jason Gray Aus 2nd Aussie Millions 2004 Crown 03 Jan 04 - 17 Jan 04 · # 12 No Limit Holdem (2nd chance) (1.00 PM / 15 Jan 04) Tony Bloom UK, Jesse Jones USA, David Hatzis Aus 4th 2004 consolidated the Aussie Millions as an international venue with repeat trips from UK and European players and our first big contingent from the USA. Wilson, Towle, Per Werner Svennson and a tribute performance from a world poker mate Andy Glazer. Joe Tesoriero, Sam Korman, John Homann, Mike Ivin and David Hatzis starred for Australia. The sensational main event saw Tony Bloom (K 3) steal the final hand from Jesse Jones (KK) with a 3,3 flop. This year was the start also of the online satellite qualifiers. 2005 2005 Crown Australian Poker Championship Crown 04 Jan 05 - 20 Jan 05 · # 1 No Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 06 Jan 05) Richard Ashby UK, George Vassilopoulos Aus 2005 Crown Australian Poker Championship Crown 04 Jan 05 - 20 Jan 05 · # 2 Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 07 Jan 05) Baden Logan Aus 2005 Crown Australian Poker Championship Crown 04 Jan 05 - 20 Jan 05 · # 3 Pot Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 08 Jan 05) Michael Guttman Aus 2005 Crown Australian Poker Championship Crown 04 Jan 05 - 20 Jan 05 · # 4 Pot Limit Omaha (12.30 PM / 09 Jan 05) Martin Wilson UK, Lee Nelson NZ 2005 Crown Australian Poker Championship Crown 04 Jan 05 - 20 Jan 05 · # 5 No Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 10 Jan 05) Han Luu Aus 2005 Crown Australian Poker Championship Crown 04 Jan 05 - 20 Jan 05 · # 6 Limit 7 Card Stud (12.30 PM / 11 Jan 05) Lee Nelson NZ, John Homann Aus 3rd. 2005 Crown Australian Poker Championship Crown 04 Jan 05 - 20 Jan 05 · # 7 Pot Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 12 Jan 05) Tino Lechich Aus 2005 Crown Australian Poker Championship Crown 04 Jan 05 - 20 Jan 05 · # 8 Limit Omaha Hi Lo (12.30 PM / 13 Jan 05) Tony Bloom UK, Bill Riach Aus 2nd 2005 Crown Australian Poker Championship Crown 04 Jan 05 - 20 Jan 05 · # 11 Tag Team Limit Holdem (2.15 PM / 15 Jan 05) James Potter Aus 2005 Crown Australian Poker Championship Crown 04 Jan 05 - 20 Jan 05 · # 10 WHUPO Heads Up No Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 15 Jan 05) Martin Comer Aus 2005 Crown Australian Poker Championship Crown 04 Jan 05 - 20 Jan 05 · # 13 Australian 2 Card Manila Championship (12.30 PM/17Jan 05) Carlo Larosa Aus 2005 Crown Australian Poker Championship Crown 04 Jan 05 - 20 Jan 05 · # 12 Pot Limit Omaha (12.30 PM / 17 Jan 05) Marcel Luske Holland, Mick Manttan Aus 2nd 2005 Crown Australian Poker Championship Crown 04 Jan 05 - 20 Jan 05 · # 9 World Speed Poker Championship (12.30 PM / 17 Jan 05) Michael Thuritz Sweden, Emad Tahtouh Aus 2005 Crown Australian Poker Championship Crown 04 Jan 05 - 20 Jan 05 · # 14 No Limit Holdem Australian Championship (12.30 PM / 18 Jan 05) Jamil Dia NZ, George Mamacas 3rd. We all thought 2005 was to be the pinnacle of Millions poker in Australia with big numbers, big money and big international players but there was more to come. Australian stars Logan, Guttman, Luu, Nelson, Lechich, Potter, Homann, Larosa and Comer took out bracelets in nine events and Kiwi Jamil Dia won the Aussie Millions main event. What a year for local players, 10 out of 14 amongst some of the worlds’ best.. Of the internationals Ashby, Wilson, Bloom, Luske and Thuritz, all repeat visitors, carried the flag. 2006 2006 Crown Aussie Millions Crown 06 Jan 06 - 19 Jan 06 · # 1 No Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 06 Jan 06) Paul Taylor Aus 2006 Crown Aussie Millions Crown 06 Jan 06 - 19 Jan 06 · # 2 Pot Limit/No Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 07 Jan 06) Robert Lumb UK 2006 Crown Aussie Millions Crown 06 Jan 06 - 19 Jan 06 · # 3 Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 08 Jan 06) Andrew Kanaridis Aus 2006 Crown Aussie Millions Crown 06 Jan 06 - 19 Jan 06 · # 4 No Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 09 Jan 06) Olle Sundin Sweden 2006 Crown Aussie Millions Crown 06 Jan 06 - 19 Jan 06 · # 6 Limit Omaha Hi Lo (12.30 PM / 11 Jan 06) Steve Hegyi Aus 2006 Crown Aussie Millions Crown 06 Jan 06 - 19 Jan 06 · # 8 No Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 12 Jan 06) Sam Khouiss Aus 2006 Crown Aussie Millions Crown 06 Jan 06 - 19 Jan 06 · # 9 Pot Limit Omaha (12.30 PM / 13 Jan 06) Steve Hegyi Aus 2006 Crown Aussie Millions Crown 06 Jan 06 - 19 Jan 06 · # 5 Speed Poker (12.30 PM / 13 Jan 06) Ray Sanchez Sweden 2006 Crown Aussie Millions Crown 06 Jan 06 - 19 Jan 06 · # 0 Speed Poker Million Dollar Challenge (12.30 PM / 14 Jan 06) John Juanda USA 2006 Crown Aussie Millions Crown 06 Jan 06 - 19 Jan 06 · # 13 Teams Event Pot Limit Holdem (12.45 PM / 17 Jan 06) Robin Saab & David Saab Aus 2006 Crown Aussie Millions Crown 06 Jan 06 - 19 Jan 06 · # 14 No Limit Holdem (12.45 PM / 18 Jan 06) Steve Accardo Aus 2006 Crown Aussie Millions Crown 06 Jan 06 - 19 Jan 06 · # 7 2 Card Manila (4.30 PM / 18 Jan 06) Fred Bart Aus 2006 Crown Aussie Millions Crown 06 Jan 06 - 19 Jan 06 · # 12 No Limit Holdem Championship Event (12.30 PM / 19 Jan 06) Lee Nelson NZ The local players again scooped the pool in many areas but with the exception of Nelson, Hegyi and Khouiss the players were relative newcomers to big time poker. It was good to see the Y generation making an impact on world poker. Lee nelson capped off four years of sensational tournament poker with the Pokernetwork player of the years and the main event. Crown broke all records for this Millions. AND NOW WE COME TO THE BIGGEST AND BEST SO FAR THE 2007 CROWN AUSSIE MILLIONS The face of tournament poker in Australasia (Australia and New Zealand = Oz) has now changed forever. From the 2003 Baltic Invasion of the Millions and the subsequent assault by younger online trained players, this has now become the norm with multiple satellite entries, million dollar pots, Hitech reporting and TV coverage. No longer is the experienced poker veteran the favourite. The field is open for all and sundry as this year’s results indicate. This can only lead to stronger fields and more Poker interest in Casinos, Clubs and Pubs. 2007 Aussie Millions Crown 05 Jan 07 – 19 Jan 07 #13 $3200 2 Card Manila (4.15 PM / 18 Jan 07) As expected the old timers scooped the pool in this event. No smoky back of house pool room or coffee shop but otherwise a true clash of Aussie roadrunners. Gold Coaster Mark Erickson ($90K) led the field followed by Fred Bart ($55K), Kiwi G Putt ($37K), Nick Assioti ($25) and Arthur Tsakalos ($15K). If you would like a run down of Aussie poker ‘as it is’ over the last century ask these guys. 100% result for the locals in this one ($222K). Fred was the winner of this event last year and would now qualify as ‘Australasia’s best Manila player’? 2007 Aussie Millions Crown 05 Jan 07 – 19 Jan 07 #12 $550 No Limit Holdem (12.45 PM / 18 Jan 07) The Captains and the Kings had almost departed for this event but it was still a major field with a very good turnout of beginners and newer players who took out the major places. Jozef Berec finished first from Jim Ghabrial. Only 4 name players Brian Hull, Kosta Varoxis, James Potter and Tino Lechich in the top 45 cashes. Poker skill being a given, tournament poker is still about ‘when and where you get the cards’, which is a great encouragement for the up and coming champions. 2007 Aussie Millions Crown 05 Jan 07 - 19 Jan 07 · # 11 $1,100 Teams Event No Limit Holdem (12.45 PM / 17 Jan 07) This popular teams event attracted 145 teams for a prize pool of $145000 with winners from USA, Denmark and Oz. 5 of 18 cash outs were Oz players led by Colin Adamopoulous and Marlon Goodwardana 3rd for $15,950. Oz share of the prize pool was $38,063. Veteran players Samia/Potter, Youssef/Vandersluis made a good showing whilst some newer groups took out 6th and 9th place. 2007 Aussie Millions Crown 05 Jan 07 - 19 Jan 07 · # 10 $5,200 Australian Heads Up Poker Championship (12.45 PM / 16 Jan 07) 2 of 8 cashouts were Australian including David Saab for a $64K win and Ralph Burd $8K. An exciting finish gave David his first major for a while and we should see more of him in the future. Prize pool was $160000 with $72000 going to Oz. 2007 Aussie Millions Crown 05 Jan 07 - 19 Jan 07 · # 8 $100,000 Holdem Event (12.30 PM / 12 Jan 07) The buy in was a bit rich for most players but it was a great spectator event with many internationals playing. Eric Lindgren USA $1.000.000 took out the event from Eric Seidel USA $550,000, both former visitors to the Millions. These high buyin events plus HORSE and other variations would seem to be growing in popularity as a alternative to the classic Millions main event. 18 players with a prize pool of $1.8 million. Oz players missed out on the cash in this event. 2007 Aussie Millions Crown 05 Jan 07 - 19 Jan 07 · # 7 $1,650 No Limit Holdem Feature Event (12.30 PM / 11 Jan 07) 533 entrants with a prize pool of $799,500. Oz players took out a total of $426,451. Again the Aussies did well in this event with 13 cashouts from the top 20, including veteran Sam Korman 2nd, Martin Comer 3rd, Van Marcus 4th and Weng Wong 5th. Alex Masterman from the UK was a worthy winner. 2007 Aussie Millions Crown 05 Jan 07 - 19 Jan 07 · # 6 $3,200 Pot Limit Omaha (12.30 PM / 10 Jan 07) 55 entrants in this event for a prize pool of $495,000. Four of the nine cashouts went to Oz players Steve Hegyi, Van Marcus, Ralph Burd and Mark Vos for a total of $168,500. Popular international favourite Jesse Jones USA the winner $176K and runner up Andrew Black Ireland $116K. Didn’t spot any newcomers to this event. It was one for the more experienced players. 2007 Aussie Millions Crown 05 Jan 07 - 19 Jan 07 · # 5 $1,050 PokerPro Holdem Championship (10.00 AM / 10 Jan 07) The Poker Pro was a new innovation following the success of the introduction of the tables this year. USA took out first and second with Dennis Huntley and Barry Warner Australia next. 32 entrants with a prize pool of $31,000 of which $9300 went to Oz. 2007 Aussie Millions Crown 05 Jan 07 - 19 Jan 07 · # 4 $1,150 No Limit Holdem with Rebuys (12.30 PM / 09 Jan 07) 164 entrants for a total of $464,000. Oz players took out $308,560 of this. This was a very popular and successful event for the Australians taking 13 of the 18 cash outs. Gary Benson, WSOP Stud Bracelet was the popular winner leading into what may be a very successful year for him. Strong representation of veteran Oz players in the final cashouts. 2007 Aussie Millions Crown 05 Jan 07 - 19 Jan 07 · # 3 $1,100 Limit Omaha Hi Lo (12.30 PM / 08 Jan 07) 96 entrants and not a big field but a very experienced one with young pro Jethro Horowitz Australia first. 8 out of the 10 cash outs were from Australia. Prize pool $96,000 with majority $71,040 going to the Oz players. 2007 Aussie Millions Crown 05 Jan 07 - 19 Jan 07 · # 2 $1,100 Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 07 Jan 07) This event was a lower limit buy in and proved very successful for the local players with 15 of the first 18 cash outs going to local players. Total of 170 entrants with a prize pool of $170,000, $136,000 going to Oz players. Nick Suter from the West took out first prize with a close heads up to Billie Argyros Victoria. Popular internationals John Juanda USA, Jesse Jones USA and Harry Demetriou took out 3rd, 4th and 14th places. 2007 Aussie Millions Crown 05 Jan 07 - 19 Jan 07 · # 1 $1,100 No Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 06 Jan 07) This was a good result for Crown with 26 of the 30 top places going to Oz players. Alex Xiourouffa from Adelaide took out first $140K with Zia Ma from Sydney second.. Many of our seasoned Melbourne players filled the rest. A feature was the number of newer players who managed to make a cashout and feature on a main event final table. 515 entrants for a total prize pool of $517060 with $484,872 going to the 42 out of 46 Oz players in the cash outs. And for the 2007 Main event all records were broken with a 747 player entry and a $1.5 million first prize. 2007 Aussie Millions Crown No Limit Holdem $10500 05 Jan 07 – 19 Jan 07 .# 9 $10,500 No Limit Holdem (12.30 PM / 14 Jan 07) This was a massive 5-day tournament with the world’s best players competing for the Aussie Millions 2007 Title. Twenty-seven Australasians finished in the money with the top 5 being relative unknowns. Julius Colman Vic 4th for $500,000 followed by Dennis Huntley Vic 9th, Emmanuel Seal 10th, Patrick Fletcher NSW 14th and Michael Ismael NSW 15th.. Nathan Bobik 18th from Victoria was the leading Aussie name player. World Champ Joe Hachem a creditable 23rd and Lee Nelson Millions Champ 2006 36th. Kosta Veroxis, semi pro from Queensland was 29th. Early final day favourite Joe Humunicki Victoria came in 45th with Nick Georgoulas 42nd. Total prize pool $7.47 million of which $1.3 million stayed home with the Oz players. The final table was restricted to 7 this year and there were three low chippers amongst whom was our own newcomer Julius Colman who came a very creditable 4th. What a massive introduction for the first major competition . This was a great thrill for the large spectator group. The 2007 Aussie Millions was an event of records. Over 2000 players all events, 50 plus tables, 200 plus dealers and over 1500 international visitors. Over $10 million distributed in prize money and a main event $7.47 million prize pool with $1.5 million first prize. Total prize money retained by the local Australian and New Zealand players was about $3,250,000. It was the culmination of three years hard work by players, Crown Staff and management and the Pokernetwork website. If we separate the Main event from all others we would have an approximate prize pool of $2,500,000 and of this the Oz players managed to retain a bit over $2,000,000. This is a measure of the progress that Poker has made Downunder in the last few years. Online support was fantastic with major numbers coming from Full Tilt and Pokerstars and the associated satellites. Full TV coverage was available and multi screen reporting through Pokernews was a feature. Plus a spectacular commemorative edition of Bluff Poker magazine. It heralded a trend for beginner players qualifying cheaply online who had tremendous success in most events. It was a year for the Y generation and all indications are that this will continue. Star City, Sky City, Burswood, Christchurch and Auckland as well as Crown, will be delighted with the success of the many players they sent to these Australasian Titles. Aussie Millions 2008? 1000 entrants, $10,000,000 for the main event and a total of 3000 players, $15,000,000 all events. OF COURSE However 2007 will still take some beating. It will be long remembered. POKERNETWORK Pokernetwork, in association with Crown, has played a big part in the promotion and development of the Aussie Millions. Pokernetwork was commenced by Keith Sloan and Danny McDonagh Sept 1999 with a party of 15 American players including Tom McEvoy and Mike O’Malley who came to Crown for the 1999 Australasian Poker Championships and then traveled on to New Zealand (arranged by PNW) for a special challenge against the Kiwi players. There was the belief that there was certainly a demand for an internet site established in Australia that would assist in building the profile of poker down under in Australia & New Zealand and also be the means for players interested parties from Australia and New Zealand to travel overseas to play poker and assist in attracting internationals in coming to Australia and primarily Crown Casino to play poker. The Website was established December 1999. Travel packages were arranged for Australians to the 1999 TOC Vegas, 2000, 2001 & 2002 New Zealand Poker Championships and a number of European tours. Live Internet coverage of all major Crown tournaments since May 2000 has been achieved. A packaged trip to Moscow for the 2000 Moscow Poker Championships October 2000 (27 Australians and Kiwis) was successfully conducted. Promotion and live Internet coverage of this championship was promoted on the Internet. There was 32 day escorted trip in May/June 2001 to Venice, Slovenia (Torneo di Poker), Vienna (World Heads Up Poker Championship) & St Petersburg (Taleon Club special poker tournaments) for a group of 24 players from Australia & New Zealand. Pokernetwork contracted to cover on the Internet the Torneo di Poker, Slovenia and World Heads Up Poker Championship in Vienna. During this trip Pokernetwork was established as the major marketing vehicle for “Aussie Millions” and poker in general at Crown. Given the events of September 11 PNW now shys away from arranging fully escorted overseas trips. The primary focus is now on building the 2003 Australasian Poker Championships into a truly international poker event. In 2003 the network was sold to ‘The Master’. It reached massive traffic in 2006 and because of limitations to online promotion in Australia was again sold internationally in 2006 to Pokernews Limited. Pokernetwork and its activities, in conjunction with Crown have taken Australasian Poker onto the World stage. The up to date news coverage and communication have inspired many hesitant players into full time activity. It is difficult to visualize the state of Australasian poker today without Pokernetwork and Crown. Indeed it may not now be in existence. Most certainly there would be no Aussie Millions, as we know it today. From all the players – thanks.
Maurie the Master www.pokernetwork.com