2012 Aussie Millions and the 100k Challenge Update

Day 1c of the 2012 Aussie Millions recorded 317 registered players which has beaten the number of last year's tally by 43 registrants (there were only 274 registered players in 2011's Day 1c). Overall, the final tally for this year's Aussie Million main event totaled to 657 players, still 64 players shy from last year's total 721 registered players. Nevertheless, big name poker pros were in attendance on Tuesday, to name a few: Brandon Adams, Chris Moorman, Dan Shak, Daniel Negreanu, David Gorr (last year's champion), Erik Seidel, Jason Mercier, JC Tran, Joe Cheong, Joe Hachem, Melanie Weisner, Mike Sowers, Phil Ivey, Roberto Romanello, Sam Trickett, Sorel Mizzi, Toby Lewis, Tony G, and Victor Ramdin.

At the end of Day 1's main event, only 309 survived. Day 1a has 68 surviving players; Day 1b has 92 surviving players; and day 1c has 149 surviving players.

Phil Ivey landed in the Top 5 of the leader-board and finished day 1c with 184k chips. In #11 spot was poker pro Melanie Weisner. She just recently joined Lock Poker’s Team LockPRO ELITE roster.

The $100k Challenge also kicked off, joined by players who can afford entry. Naturally, the $100k Challenge was attended mostly by the elite poker crowd like Gus Hansen, Mikhail Smirnov, Dan Smith, Jason Mercier, Phil Ivey, Tony G, Erik Seidel, Daniel Negreanu and Joe Hachem. Only the top 4 finishers here will get paid.

At the end of the $100k Challenge, it was Dan Smith, an American poker pro, better known as KingDan23 online, who has bested everyone else and took home a whopping A$1,012,000. @nd runner-up was Mikhail Smirnov who pocketed A$616,000; third runner-up was Joe Hachem with A$330,000 and in fourth place was Tony G exiting with A$242,000.

This is Dan Smith's biggest poker career win t date.

The Aussie Millions is very popular for its high roller events and tournaments, featuring some of the most expensive buy-ins in history. Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge started in 2006 when it launched its $100,000 No Limit Holdem Challenge. Buy-in is at $100k plus $500 entry fee. Its structure is quite unusual with players starting with $100k chips. Betting is pot limit preflop with no limit afterwards. All players are given 30 seconds to bet or fold. 10 players registered for the tournament on its first year. It increased to 18 players in 2007, in 2008 the players reached 25, 24 in 2012 and 38 in 2011.

News Added: 25 January, 2012

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