2008 Aussie Millions News

Alexander the Great

Alexander Kostritsyn

Dated: 20 January 2008

CROWN MELBOURNE Australia – The quest for Poker's Crown jewel and the richest prize in the Southern Hemisphere came down to seven players at the 2008 Aussie Millions Poker Championship ‘Main Event’ - FINAL TABLE.

The seven players returned to the final table of the 2008 Aussie Millions Main Event at the Crown Casino in Melbourne on Sunday, all chasing the champion's trophy and the $1.65 million first prize. These survivors of an original 780-player field included a former car salesman, 2 Crown Satellite winners and an eight-time WSOP bracelet winner, and each had the same thing on his mind – victory.

Michael Chrisanthopoulos was the main obstacle for the others, as he started the day with a huge chip lead over the rest of the field.

The chip stacks were as follows as play began:

Seat 1: Alexander Kostritsyn - 1,439,000
Seat 2: Peter Mobbs - 1,357,000
Seat 3: Antonio Casale - 1,995,000
Seat 4: Erik Seidel - 1,491,000
Seat 5: Nino Marotta - 1,649,000
Seat 6: Michael Chrisanthopoulos - 6,806,000
Seat 7: Peter Ling - 877,000

Peter Mobbs wasted no time going for the double up only to be beaten by Alexander Kostritsyn, and exiting in seventh place ($225,000). Local favorite Antonio Casale was next to fall, again at the hands of Kostritsyn and he went home in sixth place ($300,000). That hand also gave Kostritsyn a monstrous chip lead. It was just a few hands later when Nino Marotta tangled with Kostritsyn for the last time, and he was eliminated in fifth place ($400,000). After Marotta's elimination, nearly two hours elapsed before the next major hand.

Former chip leader Chrisanthopoulos was the next to fall when he next tangled with Kostritsyn and was eliminated in third place ($700,000). Erik Seidel, who had chipped up without knocking out any of the others, remained to battle against Kostritsyn for the title, with Kostritsyn taking the chip lead into the battle:

Alexander Kostritsyn — 9,925,000
Erik Seidel — 5,685,000

After nearly two hours of heads-up play, the young Russian knocked out the American superstar to claim his first Aussie Millions win. Kostritsyn's jacks held up to eliminate Seidel as the runner-up ($1,000,000), giving Kostritsyn the 2008 Aussie Millions Main Event title, worth AUD $1,650,000.

The final-table results and payouts were as follows:

Alexander Kostritsyn - AUD$1,650,000
Erik Seidel - AUD$1,000,000
Michael Chrisanthopoulos - AUD$700,000
Peter Ling - AUD$500,000
Nino Marotta - AUD$400,000
Antonio Casale - AUD$300,000
Peter Mobbs - AUD$225,000

Day 1 of the 2008 Aussie Millions kicks off with a BANG!

Gus Hansen at the 2008 Main Event Launch

Dated: 15 January 2008

Day 1A of the 2008 Aussie Millions Main Event commenced with John Stevenson and band kicking it off in a bang of confetti canons with Gus Hansen and Joe Hachem being given the honour of the “Shuffle Up and Deal’.

The tables saw a field of Poker Stars and Celebrities including John Juanda, Gavin Smith, Karina Jett, Eli Elezra and Tony G. The Day started with 215 players and 91 players were left standing at the end of Play and Andy Black taking the lead. The top ten chip stacks looked like this as the players bagged their chips in the early morning hours:

Andrew Black 167,800
Shane Moran 122,200
Dusan Stoevski 113,000
Gregor Mueller 108,400
Leo Boxell 105,300
Matthew Hankins 98,900
Jason Dewitt 95,900
Kevin Atkin 92,700
Con Angelakis 91,300
Cosimo Cricchio 83,000

Other noteworthy survivors included Raymond Rahme (in 11th place), Thomas Bihl, Nikolaus Jedlicka, Thomas 'Durrr' Dwan, Erik Seidel, Allen Cunningham, Tony G and JJ Liu.

Watkinson Wins $180,600 in Event 7 of the 2008 Aussie Millions

Lee Watkinson

Dated: 12 January 2008

A star-studded field took to the felt in the Crown Poker Room for Event 7 of the 2008 Aussie Millions, $3,000 Pot Limit Omaha with Rebuys.

Among the famous international players present were Steve Zolotow, Andy Black, Lee Watkinson and WPT’s Mike Sexton (finishing in fourth place). The tournament generated an impressive $516,000 Prize Pool from 65 entrants and 107 Rebuys.

A lengthy heads-up battle was expected between Lee Watkinson and Thomas Dwan. Instead, it took less than 15 minutes for all the chips to get into the middle of the table and a winner to be decided, as Watkinson eliminated Dwan in second place $103,200 to claim the victory. Watkinson claimed an impressive win in his first appearance at the 2008 Aussie Millions, collecting the $180,600 winner's prize.

Fricke finally takes home Aussie Millions trophy

Jimmy 'Gobboboy' Fricke

Dated: 08 January 2008

2007 Aussie Millions Main Event runner-up Jimmy 'Gobboboy' Fricke finally took home an Aussie Millions trophy. Fricke won the trophy in the $500 Mixed Stud (Stud/Razz/Stud Hi-Lo) tournament yesterday in Event 3 of the 2008 Aussie Millions.

The tournament generated a $48,000 Prize Pool from 96 entrants including poker superstars such as Mel Judah and Thomas Bihl (2007 World Series of Poker Europe H.O.R.S.E. Champion) who joined the field along with local players such as Peter Aristadou.

The tournament was made up of Limit Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo (Eight or Better), and Razz. The game changed at the end of each level, so every 40 minutes it turned into a whole new ball game.

With a huge chip lead over Graeme 'Kiwi G' Putt, it didn't take Fricke long to take out the Tournament. Putt walked away as runner up with AUD $9,600, Fricke taking home his well deserved trophy and the AUD $16,800 first-place prize.

Vincent Wan Win 2008 Aussie Millions Event One

Dated: 07 January 2008

537 players gathered in the Crown Poker Room for Event 1 of the Aussie Millions Poker Championship, the $1,100 No-Limit Holdem tournament featuring poker stars from Australia and around the world.

Among the big names that joined the field for Event 1 were Kenna James, Mel Judah, Jeffrey Lisandro and 2007 PokerNews Cup Main Event Champion Dory Zayneh. Local stars included Tony Hachem, Sarah Bilney, Lee Nelson and Billy the Croc. The star power of the field was increased as actor Michael Vartan (Monster-In-Law, Never Been Kissed and Alias) joined the field in his quest for poker stardom and a share in the AUD $537,000 first prize.

20 players returned to the Crown Casino in Melbourne for the final rounds of the Aussie Millions opening event, $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em. Jovan Scekic took the chip lead into the second day of the event, but it was Melbourne native Vincent Wan who came from behind to claim the top prize, after besting Michael McDonald in a lengthy heads-up battle.

McDonald departed in second with $85,920 while Vincent Wan was crowned the champion in Event 1 of the 2008 Aussie Millions and was the winner of AUD $142,302 in first-place prize money.

2007 Aussie Millions DVD Box Set

Dated: 11 December 2007

Poker fans have been long awaiting the release of the TV series of the Southern Hemisphere's biggest poker event and the wait is finally over, with FOX8 now airing the episodes on Thursdays at 10.30pm from 13 December. Plus, the official DVD box set is also now available for just $40.

The 2007 Aussie Millions Poker Championship 5-Disc DVD Box Set (showing all 8 episodes) not only features all the best action from Gus Hansen’s memorable victory, but includes a bonus DVD featuring exclusive footage from 2 episodes of the Invitational Cash Game, which featured many of the world’s best high-stakes players.

Now there are four ways to purchase your 5 Disc 2007 Aussie Millions Box-Set DVD collection (RRP $40.00).

Email your Name, CC Number and Credit Card Details to: poker@crowncasino.com.au
Order through Bluff Magazine
Purchase from the Crown Towers Lobby Shop, located Lower Shopping Promenade
Purchase from the Aussie Millions Merchandise centre from 5 January 2008