Local players Vincent Wan wins 2020 Aussie Millons Main Event
Vincent Wan took down the Aussie Millions Main Event earlier this morning in Melbourne, scooping A$1.318million, the trophy and the winner’s bracelet after an interesting 3-way deal had been done in front of the cameras.
While the $50k and $100k Challenge events were grabbing the headlines – Michael Addamo and Kahle Burns producing dominating performances – the flagship Main Event simmered in the background.
Poker legend Erik Seidel biggest name at the final table
Three starting days had been followed by another three long days at the tables to produce the final table of seven, with Nick Pupillo bubbling in 8th and Erik Seidel as the big name left to battle for the title.
Erik Seidel had already remarked on how different Main Events are from his usual fare of small field, huge buy-in SHRs.
He told reporters: “This is very different. There’s this mixture of amateur players, with those who’ve got in through satellites.
Currently second behind Phil Ivey in total winnings at the Crown Casino, Seidel added:
‘It’s really a vacation for me to play in these fields where I’m not always feeling up against it because they’re the best players in the world.”
Crikey! Made the final 7 of #AussieMillions main. I have 4m in chips, a little above average. Playing for 1.8m Aussie 🦘
— Erik Seidel (@Erik_Seidel) January 22, 2020
On to the final table action, and although the combined career earnings of Seidel’s opposition only just matched the American’s biggest single cash, they weren’t only around to watch the poker legend.
Germany’s Nino Ullmann and local Melbourne pro Vincent Wan were involved early, the latter suffering a bad beat when calling short-stacked Hoang’s all-in.
Both men tabled ace-king off, but four running spades saw the Vietnamese player make an unlikely double-up.
For spectators it proved to be a long but enthralling evening full of amazing hands, Gareth Pepper rivering quads and Oliver Weis somehow finding a fold with top full house.
So it continued, until finally the dam burst, Nicolas Malo Majeau falling in 7th when he walked smack-bang into Germany’s Nino Ullman’s flopped straight.
The other German at the table, Oliver Weis, was next to hit the rail, Gareth Pepper’s big slick doing the damage and sending Weis out in 6th for A$307,820.
Erik Seidel falls in 5th Place
Erik Seidel’s bid for an Aussie Millions title finally ended at the hands of Vincent Wan, an ace-over-ace showdown with Seidel behind…
Vincent Wan: A♠ J♣
Erik Seidel: A♣ 10♠
The flop was a brutal one for Seidel…
Flop: J♠ 10♥ 2♣
…and there would be no help available…
Turn: 2♦
River: 4♦
…Wan celebrating as Seidel departed….
With that the favourite was gone, but with the knowledge that he’d won A$378,660 (US$260,637) and reached a $10k buy-in final table in five straight decades.
When Nino Ullman suffered the worst beat of his life – a rivered counterfeit to his two pair to send him home with an otherwise excellent A$480,160 ($330,501) – it was time to discuss a deal….
Three-way deal for $Millions
The 3-way chop, done in front of the cameras, was illuminating.
Wan was forceful in discussions, promising he was “not trying to be rude” when he told Hoang he was “the worst player here”, and therefore didn’t deserve a full share of first and second.
Hoang, with a touch over $30k in career cashes, didn’t seem too offended, but stuck to his guns and was eventually offered an equal share – A$1.318 million to each. Pepper, the short stack, was delighted to be offered the A$1million he asked for.
With that out of the way, it was time to play for the trophy and the ANTON jewellery bracelet in one of the most prestigious poker tournaments on the calendar.
All-ins from Hoang and rivered saves peppered the first several hands, and then Pepper shoved blind – tabling one of the worst hands in poker when Wan called.
Pepper: 9♦ 2♣
Wan: A♦ 3♠
Board: K♦ 8♦ A♥ 9♥ 7♣
There were hugs, handshakes and A$1million for Pepper, leaving Wan versus Hoang for the title heads-up.
Heads-Up for the trophy
If Wan thought he was the better player, it didn’t particularly show, with Hoang playing some very good heads-up poker to take a chip lead.
Casey play and the lack of big hands dragged matters on for several hours, but eventually something had to give.
Remarkably it was Hoang who lost three all-ins, with Wan’s tournament life at risk each time – and the excruciating fourth and final all-in showdown hand appeared…
Wan: 10♣ 9♥
Hoang: A♠ 3♥
Board: J♠ 6♠ 9♠ J♦ 10♦
An incredible comeback victory for Wan, and devastating for Hoang
Final Result and Payouts 2020 Aussie Millions Main Event:
| Place | Prize (AUD) | ||||
| 1 | Vincent Wan | 1,318,000 AUD | |||
| 2 | Ngoc Tai Hoang | 1,318,000 AUD | |||
| 3 | Gareth Pepper | 1,000,000 AUD | |||
| 4 | Nino Ullmann | 480,160 AUD | |||
| 5 | Erik Seidel | 378,660 AUD | |||
| 6 | Oliver Weis | 307,820 AUD | |||
| 7 | Nicolas Malo | 240,080 AUD |
Earn up to 60% partypoker rakeback when signing up through us!
When signing up through VIP-Grinders.com on partypoker, you can now earn up to 60% cashback on partypoker plus take part in the following exclusive VIP-Grinders Promotions with massive extra value:
- $30 Welcome Bonus in SPINS Tickets
- Up to 60% Cashback via the Diamond Elite Club
- 4 x $250 Private Poker Freeroll per month
- Exclusive Party & Bwin Chase
Terms and conditions apply. New customer offer and 18+ only. Should you require help regarding your betting pattern, please visit www.begambleaware.org.
