21st January 2010
Royal Flush as Poker Royalty & Aussie Celebrities Descend on Crown for the Aussie Millions
‘Celebrity Poker Challenge’
Crown will deal another royal flush tomorrow with the annual Aussie Millions ‘Celebrity Poker Challenge’ that will see the likes of Hollywood star Jesse Metcalfe, world poker champion Joe Hachem, spin king Shane Warne, the lead cast of Jersey Boys, actor Kit Gurry, AFL legends Glenn Archer and Anthony Rocca, along with Grant Smile and Zoe Badwi battle it out for charity. World poker pro’s Gus Hansen, Lee Nelson, Clonie Gowen and defending Aussie Millions Champion Stewart Scott, and possibly tennis stars Andy Roddick and Tommy Haas will also put their best poker face.
Event: 2010 Aussie Millions ‘Celebrity Poker Challenge’
Date: TOMORROW – Thursday 21 January 2010
Time: 4:00pm: ‘Learn to Play’ Session
4:30pm: Ann Peacock welcomes guests, introduces Jesse Metcalfe for Q&A
4:32pm: SHUFFLE UP & DEAL & Official Start of Event
4:33pm: Roving MC’s Glen Moriarty and Lauren Phillips begin commentary
Please note, this event is expected to run for approx. 4-5 hours
Location: Crown Poker Room – High Limit Area
Visuals: Celebrity guests expected to take a seat and put on their best poker face on to battle it out for charity also include:
Anthony Pittorino
Anthony Rocca
Bernie Brookes
Brett Ogle
Cameron Cloke
Campbell Brown
Chrissy Cauchi
Darryn Lyons
Emad Tahtouh
Glen Archer Grant Smilie
Gus Hansen
Gus Kennett
Helen Razer
Jacob Luppino
Jesse Metcalfe
Joe & Jeanie Hachem
Joey Scandizzo
John Course
Kit Gurry Lauren Phillips
Lee Nelson
Matt Welsh
Melissa & Matt Hetherington
Mimi & Arthur Gallan
Nicholas Bolton
Paul & Barbara Licuria
Russell Gilbert
Tom Waterhouse
Travis Cloke
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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