Their football might be different, their cricket unmentionable to most Brits, but their poker tournament is unsurpassed.
The
Aussie Millions is my all-time favourite poker event, but I can't pinpoint just one reason why. The Crown Casino seems to get everything right. The complex mixes the luxury of Bellagio with a friendliness that is real. Nothing is a problem, and you are made to feel so welcome.
After my first visit three years ago, I raved about the event, encouraging players to include it on their poker calendars. Now, with one of their own winning the
World Series of Poker and a
World Poker Tour title, the
Aussie Millions has been launched onto the worldwide poker scene with a speed that many would find hard to keep up with. In Vegas last year, for instance, many casinos were running minifestivals alongside the
WSOP, and despite seeing the numbers the Rio was attracting, still had not made plans for their own numbers to increase. I played in one such event, advertised as a double-chance freezeout. All of our buy-ins were taken on entry, leaving us no say regarding the second chance. Everyone had to take his second chance before the start of the tournament, completely changing it from the advertised double-chance freezeout.
Not so at the Crown. The first event this year attracted more than 500 runners. Beginning at the advertised time, there was none of the rushed confusion that you might imagine. Alternates were seated within the first level of play and all of the dealers were of a high standard. I wish I could say the same about my play. I busted out early, so I decided to take advantage of my VIP pass. This entitled me and a guest entry to the Mahogany Room, the high-stakes gaming area. Within an hour, we had won back our poker buy-ins plus a healthy profit, and were enjoying a complimentary gin and tonic when, once again, I was reminded of how friendly and hospitable the Aussies are. We spent a great couple of hours with our new friends Chris and Charlie, and an equally good time, at their invitation, at a typical Aussie barbecue with their family and friends.
Despite not playing much poker - I had mistaken genuine illness for jetlag - not even defending my 2005 Omaha title, I kept busy doing commentary on the live webcasts of the feature final tables. The final of the $1,100 (Australian) no-limit hold'em event with rebuys pitted youth against experience.
WSOP bracelet winner (amongst other titles) Gary Benson began the day with a massive chip lead and looked on course for a clean sweep and an early finish. After doubling up his nearest rival with A-K against K-K, he remained unaffected by this setback with all of his subsequent moves timed to perfection. I nicknamed him The Metronome. He had moved himself into a heads-up situation against 21-year-old Cody Slaybaugh (a name to watch out for in the future), and had a slight chip lead. Before long, all of the chips were in the middle on a board of A-3-2. Cody showed A-5 against Gary's A-9. With the turn a 5, the young Cody sat back down, but was left shaken with the river 4, for a split pot, and Gary showed no emotion. Cody played on without making any mistakes. He slow-played Q-Q preflop and all of the chips went in the middle, this time on a board of 9-8-7 and Gary showing 9-3. Cody must have thought his good play must surely now be rewarded, but with the turn a 9 and no queen on the river, Gary took the title, proving once again that experience, good play, and youthful aggression can all be undone by the turn of a card. From my point of view, it was great poker to watch, and thoroughly enjoyable to commentate on.
Having arrived 10 days before the main event, I had embarked on a fitness regimen consisting of spending an hour in the pool and an hour in the gym every day. By day nine, I had begun to feel, and see, the benefit - that is, until the players in the
Australian Open tennis tournament began training beside me. Not wishing to name-drop, but purely to point out one of the many added attractions of the
Aussie Millions, I had Maria Sharapova on the exercise bike to my left, and Martina Hingis eyeing up my cross trainer on my right. It was poker heaven, and not a card in sight! And I did notice that my girlfriend spent longer than her usual half-hour in the gym when Rafael Nadal was practising on the court directly in front of her treadmill.
All of this and so much more were enjoyed before the main event, which this year attracted a record 747 runners. Vegas-style showgirls, music, poker names, sports stars, and Hollywood actresses got the event under way.
With a final-table lineup consisting of big names and an international field, and my own constant urgings to attend this great event, what more can be done to improve the growth of the
Aussie Millions? Danny McDonnagh, tournament director, who has done so much to promote and create the event, is leaving. His successor, Brett Jones, made a point of talking to the players who had stayed on for a few days, asking their opinions of what was good about the event and what could be changed to make it even better.
I began this column by saying the
Aussie Millions is my all-time favourite event, and listed some of the reasons why. I chose not to mention that on my two previous visits, when I had won a tournament. This year, with no title under my belt to cloud my judgement, I can say without a doubt that it is still my all-time favourite event.
"Mad Marty" Wilson is a professional gambler and poker consultant for Matchroom Sport.
