2011 Aussie Millions Kicks Off Today!
The 2011 Aussie Millions kicks off Thursday, or Wednesday, depending where you are in the world, with an AUD$1,100 no-limit hold'em event. The opening event has three Day 1 flights and is a repechage event, meaning that players can buy back in, if they go broke on Day 1a or Day 1b.
The first Aussie Millions was held in 1998 and consisted of a AUD$1,000 buy-in event with a prizepool of $74,000. Most of the participants were local Aussies, but there were 10 international players, coming mainly from New Zealand. Since then, the tournament has grown year on year, to now be a major event on the international poker tournament circuit, and a "must do" for any serious poker player.
Throngs of poker's top players make the trek Down Under for the Southern Hemisphere's including 2007 Aussie Millions winner Gus Hansen, Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, Erik Seidel, Erick Lindgren, Tom "durrrr" Dwan, Barry Greenstein, local favorites Joe Hachem, Tony Hachem, Tony G, Jonathan "xMONSTERxDONGx" Karamalikis, and 2009 Aussie Millions winner, Stewart Scott.
There are 20 events on the docket for this year's Aussie Millions. If you're thinking of making the trip, you'll be happy to know there are a variety of disciplines of poker, including, no-limit hold'em, pot-limit Omaha, an 8-game mixed event, shootouts, six-max, heads-up, and rebuys. Buy-ins range from AUD$1,100 to $AUD10,600 for the Main Event and if you've got the bankroll for it, the $100,000 Challenge is back this year as well.
If the schedule isn't enough to get you to Melbourne, you can always take in the Aussie Open, celebrate Australia Day, or bask in the heat of the Australian summer. And if you need more convincing, check out the Welcome Party video below.
Team PokerNews will be there bringing you all the action from the felt at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia so keep it locked for all the news, videos, and interviews you can handle for the next three weeks, sponsored by Full Tilt Poker!
