This Week's Big Winner: Kahle Burns Wins 2020 Aussie Millions Super High Roller

Kahle Burns has been one of tournament poker’s hottest players in recent months. Since the start of October of 2019, the Australian poker pro has made 12 final tables and won five titles. His most recent victory came in the 2020 Aussie Millions $100,000 AUD super high roller. Burns outlasted a field of 54 total entries to win $1,746,360 AUD ($1,204,988 USD). This was the second-largest score of his career, and it brought his lifetime live tournament earnings to more than $9.5 million.

In addition to the money and the title, Burns was also awarded 600 Card Player Player of the Year points as the champion of this event. This was already his second title and third final-table finish of 2020. As a result of his strong start to the year, Burns has climbed into seventh place in the POY race standings, which are sponsored by Global Poker.

Burns entered the final table of this event as the chip leader, with poker’s all-time money leader Bryn Kenney sitting in second place on the leaderboard. The final table was stacked with notable players. In fact, the final seven who cashed have combined for nearly $119 million in career live tournament earnings.

Here are the five hands that propelled Burns to the title.

Tournament – Aussie Millions Main Event

Buy-In: AUD$100,000 ($67,975) • No. of Entries: 54 • Prize Pool: AUD$5,292,000 ($3,651,480)
1st Place Prize: AUD$1,746,360 ($1,204,988)

The Action

With nine players left and only seven making the money, Van Blarcum raised to 95,000 in middle position and Zhang called from the button. Burns then moved all-in from the big blind for his last 770,000, and Van Blarcum made the call. Zhang then shoved over the top, however, and Van Blarcum was forced to tank fold A J. Zhang showed pocket jacks, and was up against Burns and his big slick. The flop brought a king, and Burns was able to triple up to the top of the leaderboard.

The Action

Burns raised to 120,000 on the button and Huang responded with an all-in for 740,000 from the small blind. Burns made the call with A Q, which had Huang’s K Q dominated. The ten-high board offered no help to Huang, and he was eliminated just shy of the money while Burns continued his climb up the chip counts.

The Action

Foxen raised to 220,000 on the button and Kenney three-bet to 975,000 from the small blind. Burns four-bet all-in, having both players covered, and Foxen folded. Kenney opted to call off, however, tabling A K. Burns was racing with pocket tens, and they held as the dealer produced a board of Q 8 3 Q 4. Kenney, poker’s all-time money list leader, added another AUD$582,120 to his career earnings total for his fourth-place finish.

The Action

Burns raised to 210,000 from the button and Van Blarcum moved all-in for his last 950,000 out of the small blind. Burns felt priced in and made the call with K 7, which was drawing live against Van Blarcum’s superior, yet vulnerable A J. The flop of 8 6 4 kept Van Blarcum ahead, but gave Burns a straight draw. The 3 on the turn was a brick, but the 5 on the river send Van Blarcum to the rail in third place, for a score worth AUD$740,880.

The Action

Burns min-raised the button and Foxen responded by shoving for his last 2,290,000. Burns made the call with A 10, which had Foxen’s A 9 dominated. The flop of K 10 8 was more bad news for Foxen, leaving him drawing to running cards. The 9 on the turn gave him some hope, but the Q on the river officially ended his tournament run in second place. He picked up AUD$1,318,000 for his runner-up finish. Burns dragged the final pot of the tournament, and along with it won the title, the trophy, and the AUD$1,746,360 first-place prize.

Final Table Results

1. Kahle Burns — AUD$1,746,360 ($1,204,988)
2. Alex Foxen — AUD$1,111,590 ($766,997)
3. Aaron Van Blarcum — AUD$740,880 ($511,207)
4. Bryn Kenney — AUD$582,120 ($401,663)
5. Michael Soyza — AUD$423,360 ($292,118)
6. Sam Grafton — AUD$370,440 ($255,604)
7. Tim Adams — AUD$317,250 ($218,903)