Aussie Millions Tournament Director Predicts Larger 2017 Field

In 2014, as Joel Williams took on his first solo year as tournament director for Crown Melbourne, a local player qualified in a $65 satellite for the Opening Event and eventually took sixth for $63K.

He had previously played in tournaments in the $50 to $100 range, so this was a huge score. Thus, when it came time to collect, the player requested his entire sum in $50 notes – simply because he’d never felt so much cash before in his life.

This is Williams’ favorite memory of the Aussie Millions.

So far. It stands next to the Manny Stavropoulos Main Event win a year later because a local triumphed over a star-studded field with very little experience.

The Aussie Millions, as one of players’ favorite tournaments of the year, will have more offerings this year and up the turnout, despite PokerStars’ absence.

“I think we’ve stamped ourselves as a ‘must attend’ stop on the global poker calendar,” Williams said. “From the high roller events to the Opening Event that offers a $1 million prize pool guarantee through to a full complement of poker disciplines right across the board, we absolutely endeavor to offer something for everyone.”

This year is no different. Last year’s satellites generated a record of 312 entries to the Main Event. The local satellite program for the Aussie Millions is up over 100 percent year-on-year and two Aussie Millions Warm-Up Weeks enabled 25 players to already lock in their seats.

This year’s Main Event will exceed last year’s total of 732, due to the success of these warm-up weeks, in-room satellites and the upcoming 10 Seat Guarantee. The number of email inquiries, hotel bookings and wire transfer requests already received make Williams think the 2017 field will be even stronger.

Williams looks at the numbers and the events already slotted and said this year promises to be even bigger than the previously-eclipsed $1 million guarantee of yesteryear. A four-flight Opening Event starts the series off with a bang and crowd pleasers like the $1,150 Six-Max, $1,650 Bounty and $1,500 Deep Freeze will make a reappearance.

Events will recognize past Aussie Millions winners and current Australian Hall of Famers in addition to the range of high roller and super high roller events …

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