A trio of Aussies made the final table at the 2019 Aussie Millions Main Event, but it were two Americans pros who would walk away with the majority of the cash. American Bryn Kenney took down the largest Aussie Millions in history for a score worth $1.27 million (AUD), or approximately $923K USD. There was a three-way money deal with American Mike Del Vecchio and Australia's Andrew Hinrichsen. All three banked at least $1 million AUD.
Poker is huge Down Under. I've seen it myself. Aussies have a passion for sport and gambling. It's part of their culture. It's not frowned upon like it might be in other countries or aspects of society. So when Australia decides to put on a poker tournament, you know it's going to be a fun affair. Sure, poker is big business these days, but the Aussies still know how to keep it loose and have fun, while being hyper-competitive at the same time. They figured out a fun balance in poker and life.
Okay, enough of the free plug for poker in Oz! Did you hear the news today about Bryn Kenney? The American pro from New York shipped the 2019 Aussie Millions for a sick score worth nearly $1.3 million Aussie bucks. The American greenback equivalent is approximately worth $923K USD.
Kenney outlasted a record-setting field of 822 runners to win this year's Aussie Millions. The prize pool topped $8.2M AUD. Amazing. Only the top 88 places paid out with most of the cheesecake set aside to the final table.
The final seven included Bryn Kenney, Mike Del Vecchio, Andrew Hinrichsen, Clinton Taylor, Matthew Wakeman, Gyeong Byeong Lee, and Hamish Crawshaw.
Hamish Crawshaw from New Zealand, the lone Kiwi at the final table, hit the road in seventh place. That paid out $242K Aussie bucks or $175K USD.
Korea's Gyeong Byeong busted in sixth place, which paid out nearly $224K USD. With five remaining, there Aussies were up against a pair of American pros.
Matthew Wakeman was picked off in fifth place, which paid out $308K AUD. Clinton Taylor busted next in fourth place. He banked nearly a half mil in AUD. That left Andrew Hinrichsen as the last Aussie standing. He was in a three-way dogfight with two Yanks.
After 100 hands of three-way action, they decided to discuss a deal. Bryn Kenney came out on top with the trophy and bulk of the cash.
Hinrichsen banked a cool million AUD for third place, which was more than the initial payout of $662K AUD.
Del Vecchio took down $1.2M AUD or 100K more than the original runner-up share. MDV banked approximately $922K USD. Not too shabby, eh?
First place initially paid out $1.85M AUD (or approximately $1.34M USD). With the three-way deal, Bryn Kenney locked up $1.27M AUD or roughly $923K USD.
Robert Glasspool bubbled off the final table in eighth place. That at set up the seven-handed finale.
Among the notables who cashed... Jesse Sylvia, Tao Chen, Rory Young, Michael Soyza, Quan Zhou, Vojtech Ruzicka, Jack Salter, Michael Addamo, Billy the Croc, Nick Wright, and Chris Wookey.
Last year Tobey Lewis won the Aussie Millions.
2019 Aussie Millions
Buy-in: $10,000 AUD
Entrants: 822
Prize Pool: $8,220,000 AUD
Payouts: 88
Final Table Results:
1. Bryn Kenney (USA) $1,272,598 AUD**
2. Mike Del Vecchio (USA) $1,272,162 AUD**
3. Andrew Hinrichsen (Australia) $1,097,739 AUD**
4. Clinton Taylor (Australia) $483,000 AUD
5. Matthew Wakeman (Australia) $380,300 AUD
6. Gyeong Byeong Lee (Korea) $309,000AUD
7. Hamish Crawshaw (New Zealand) $242,000 AUD
** Three-way money deal
