issue-18

Aussie Millions 2013
Crown’s Big Deal
We take a closer
look at the 2013
Championship
schedule and what
to expect when
you head “down
under” for the most
impressive poker
event in the Asia
Pacific region.
Crown’s Aussie Millions Poker Championship
held annually in Melbourne, Australia, is one
of the major events on the international poker
tournament calendar. Taking place over a threeweek
period during the peak of the Australian
summer, more than 3,000 players are expected
to take part in 26 events, encompassing several
popular poker variations. The prize pools alone
should provide substantial incentive to travel
the globe, with each winner also receiving a
championship ring as a memento of their victory.
While some entry fees may sit outside the budget
of some players, anyone can qualify. There are
countless satellite tournaments held throughout
the year and during the event, offering players
the chance to win a place in the coveted Aussie
Millions Main Event for a fraction of the AU$10,600
entry fee. At the time of press the Australian and
US dollar were almost exactly the same value.
EVENT 1: AU$1,100 OPENING EVENT
NO LIMIT HOLD’EM (NLHE)
Thursday 17 January 2013 at 6:15pm
The 2012 opening event saw a massive
946 players generate an AU$946,000 prize pool,
making it the largest field on the schedule.
Numbers are expected to grow in 2013 so expect
a huge field and another monster prize pool. Could
this event crack 1,000 entries? Day 1 is divided into
three separate starting days: flight 1 on Thursday
17 January, flight 2 on Friday 18 January and flight
3 on Saturday 19 January. This tournament uses a
repechage format, where players eliminated from
any of the day 1 flights are able to re-enter on
subsequent day 1 flights, along with new players.
Players who make it through the respective day
1s will reconvene on Sunday 20 January for day
2. This has to be the best value tournament on
the schedule.
EVENT 2: AU$1,100 POT LIMIT OMAHA (PLO)
Monday 21 January 2013 at 12:30pm
The generous structure for this tournament
features a “second chance” format. Players start with
half their chips up front and can collect the other
half at any time during the first two levels regardless
of their stack size. Lovers of the gamble will eat this
event up, so expect around 200 players.
EVENT 3: AU$1,100 NO LIMIT
HOLD’EM SHOOTOUT
Tuesday 22 January 2013 at 12:30pm
The shootout format, where players must
win their respective tables before progressing to
the next stage of the tournament, was added to
the Aussie Millions schedule in 2011 and proved a
resounding success. Organizers expect this event
to increase from the 150 entrants in 2012 and offer
a decent prize pool.
EVENT 4: AU$1,100 NO LIMIT
HOLD’EM/POT LIMIT OMAHA
Wednesday 23 January 2013 at 12:30pm
A new addition to the Aussie Millions
schedule in 2012, this mixed game proved
extremely popular. With PLO growing in popularity
in recent years and NLHE remaining the most
widely recognized poker variant, this event will
surely draw one of the biggest fields.
EVENT 5: AU$1,100 NO LIMIT
HOLD’EM – SIX MAX
Thursday 24 January 2013 at 12:30pm
Introduced in 2011 and surpassing all
expectations with a massive field of 372 players,
in 2012 it attracted 385 entrants. The surge in
popularity of these short-handed tournaments
ensures there will be even more money on offer,
so expect to see a six-figure first prize in 2013.
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#18 WSOP 2012 SPECIAL ISSUE