20th January 2010
HOLLYWOOD STAR TOUCHES DOWN FOR AUSSIE MILLIONS
POKER CHAMPIONSHIP
Jesse Metcalfe, will be arriving in Melbourne tomorrow Thursday 21 January at 9:40am to attend one of the world’s largest and richest poker events, Crown Casino’s Aussie Millions Poker Championship.
The Hollywood actor has confirmed he will attend the 2010 Aussie Millions and compete for a slice of the expected AUD$15 million plus prize pool, including playing in the invitation-only ‘Celebrity Poker Challenge’ on Thursday 21 January at 4:00pm, along with the coveted AUD$10,500 No Limit Holdem ‘Main Event’ on Sunday 24 January at midday, that has an estimated first prize of AUD$2.5 million.
Metcalfe boasts a number of notable roles in major television series and movies however, his most popular role to date has been as ‘John Rowland’, the gardener working for (and playing with) wealthy ex-model ‘Gabrielle Solis’ (Eva Longoria) in the highly successful American TV series Desperate Housewives.
Who: Jesse Metcalfe
Date & Time: Thursday 21 January 2010, 9:40am
Airport: Tullamarine Airport
Flight Details: Qantas Flight #0094
Please note, interview requests are limited and must be in writing to natashas@crownmelbourne.com.au.
For further media information please contact:
Natasha Stipanov
Media Relations Manager - Gaming
Crown Entertainment Complex
Telephone: +61 3 9292 8671
Email: natashas@crownmelbourne.com.au Ann Peacock
General Manager - Public Relations
Crown Entertainment Complex
Telephone: +61 3 9292 8607
Email: annp@crownmelbourne.com.au
ABOUT
Crown’s Aussie Millions Poker Championship is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the Southern Hemisphere and is ranked fifth in the world. Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the Aussie Millions is also poker’s longest running tournament in the Southern Hemisphere, dating back to 1998.
In 2009, the event attracted more than 2,500 entrants from a cast of nations and awarded just under AUD$10 million in prize money, as players competed for game’s most coveted trophy, the Aussie Millions ‘Main Event’ Champion.
FACTS AND FIGURES
- The Aussie Millions is held each January at Crown Casino, in Melbourne Australia
- The Aussie Millions ranks as the fifth largest poker tournament in the world by player number
- The championship includes over 20 tournaments culminating in the AUD$10,000 No Limit Holdem ‘Main Event’
- The 2010 Aussie Millions is expected to reach a prize pool of almost AUD$15 Million with an expected first prize of AUD$2.5 million for the AUD$10,000 No Limit Holdem ‘Main Event’
- Over 2,500 individual entrants will participant in the two week series of 20 tournaments
- More than 600 international visitors are expected to attend including players from the United States, England, Ireland, South Africa, Scandinavia, Canada, Israel, Estonia, Portugal and Russia
- Huge growth in the number of Australian participants is expected, reflecting the increasing popularity of the game locally
- The Aussie Millions generated approximately 8,000 room nights across Melbourne in January 2009, including over 5,000 at Crown alone
- The 2009 Aussie Millions held the largest, cash buy in tournament ever with a $100,500 event attracting 30 players
- The AUD$10,000 No Limit Holdem ‘Main Event’ will be televised nationally and internationally
- It is expected that there will be almost 1,000 individual players in the $10,000 Buy-In No Limit Holdem ‘Main Event’
HISTORY
‘The Crown Australasian Poker Championships’ really became the first ‘Aussie Millions Poker Championship’ in 2003, when the event was increased to a AUD$10,000 buy-in and reached AUD$1 million in prize money. It was very well received and supported by both our local players and some well known international players as well. Since, has been re-branded to become known internationally as the ‘Aussie Millions Poker Championship’ and has become one of the major stops on the international circuit.
The first Aussie Millions was held in 1998 with a AUD$1,000 buy-in and AUD$74,000 prize pool and 10 international participants mainly from New Zealand. The tournament has grown to become a major event on the international poker tournament schedule.
GROWTH OF THE AUD$10,000 NO LIMIT HOLDEM ‘MAIN EVENT’:
Date Entrants ‘Main Event’ Buy-In Prize Pool 1st Prize
1998 74 $1,100 $81,400 $25,900
1999 109 $1,500 $163,500 $38,150
2000 109 $1,500 $163,500 $65,225
2001 101 $1,500 $151,500 $53,025
2002 66 $5,000 $330,000 $150,000
2003 122 $10,500 $1.22 million $394,870
2004 133 $10,500 $1.33 million $426,500
2005 263 $10,500 $2.63 million $1,000,000
2006 418 $10,500 $4.18 million $1.3 million
2007 747 $10,500 $7.47 million $1.5 million
2008 780 $10,500 $7.80 million $1.65 million
2009 681 $10,500 $6.81 million $2 million
CROWN ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX
Covering 510,000 square metres (the equivalent of two city blocks), Melbourne’s premier entertainment complex is recognised as one of the largest and most diverse in the Southern Hemisphere. Crown’s integrated facilities feature Crown Casino, with 350 tables and 2500 gaming machines; Crown Towers, Crown Promenade and Crown Metropol (open mid-2010) hotels; the Palladium, which is Australia’s largest ballroom; more than 50 restaurants and bars; an extensive collection of international designer boutiques, 14 cinemas, two nightclubs, a live entertainment theatre and Crown’s Capital Golf Club. .
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