Australian Defeats Sixth-Largest Field In World Series of Poker HistoryMalcolm Trayner Outlasts 18,409 Entries In 2024 WSOP Mystery Millions Event To Earn $1,000,000 and His First Bracelet |
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The 2024 World Series of Poker $1,000 buy-in Mystery Millions event attracted a massive field of 18,403 entries to become the sixth-largest field for any live bracelet event in WSOP history. This tournament also set a new record with the highest turnout for any bracelet event costing $1,000 or more to enter.
After four starting flights and two more days of action inside the Horseshoe Las Vegas, only one player remained: Australia’s Malcolm Trayner. The Turramurra resident earned $1,000,000 and his first gold bracelet as the champion. This was the 34th bracelet won by an Australian player, and far and away the largest tournament score of Trayner’s career. Prior to this marquee victory, his best cash had been the $125,495 he secured as the runner-up in a $10,000 AUD buy-in event at the World Poker Tour Australia festival last fall.
This was the first title and third final-table finish of the year for Trayner. The 1,440 Card Player Player of the Year points he secured as the champion moved him into 79th place in the 2024 POY standings presented by Global Poker.
While Trayner was the only player to secure a seven-figure payday from the main prize pool, there were two other players that also walked away with $1,000,000 thanks to the mystery bounty component of this tournament. Each $1,000 buy-in made in this event saw $300 added to the mystery bounty prize pool, with available prizes ranging from $1,000 up to $1,000,000. As with 2023, there were two million-dollar bounties paid out this year, with Valentyn Shabelnyk and DJ Buckley securing those lucky tickets. The video of Shabelnyk opening his envelope went viral thanks to his understated response to the revelation that he had just won a million dollars. Check out that clip, via PokerGO’s X account, below:
WE HAVE A MILLION DOLLAR CHEST AT THE @WSOP MYSTERY MILLIONS
Congrats to Valentyn Shabelnyk pic.twitter.com/fApp6NbLZ4— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 3, 2024
Bracelet winner Roberto Romanello secured the $500,000 bounty, while eventual ninth-place finisher Jake Brown pulled the $250,000 ticket.
The final day of this event kicked off with 18 players still in contention, with Trayner sitting outside the top ten to start. By the time the final table was set, he had battled to the top of the chip counts.
Brown (9th – $89,411) and Christopher Castellan (8th – $113,490) were the first to fall. Michael Miller (7th – $144,900) soon followed, running 8-5 suited into pocket kings held by Junho Song.
Trayner’s first knockout at the final table saw him win a preflop race with pocket sixes besting the A-10 of Amir Mirrasouli. Neither player improved and Mirrasouli was sent home with $186,080 for his sixth-place showing. The surge continued for Trayner, with his J-8 suited besting the A-Q of the same suit of Oshri Azran (5th – $240,350). Trayner spiked an eight on the turn and held from there to narrow the field to four.
Song’s run in this event came to an end when he three-bet shoved from the big blind with J-8 facing a small-blind raise from Carson Richards, who called with A-K. The board double paired and Richards’ ace played to earn him the knockout. Song cashed for $312,250 as the fourth-place finisher.
Eugene Tito was left on fumes when his A-6 ran into the pocket aces of Richards during three-handed play. Tito couldn’t find the miracle and was left with less than a big blind. He was soon at risk with Q-J facing 8-7 for Trayner, who flopped a nine-high straight. A blank on the turn left Tito drawing dead. He earned $407,970 for his podium finish, growing his career earnings to more than $1.5 million.
Heads-up play began with Trayner holding roughly a 3.5:1 chip lead over Richards. That gap was narrowed in a hurry when Richards got all-in with 7-6 suited against Trayner’s A-K and doubled, making a flush on the river to best top pair, top kicker. Richards overtook the chip lead briefly, but soon fell behind again.
In the final hand, Trayner limped in from the button with K
J
. Richard moved all-in for 16 big blinds with Q
10. Trayner called and the 6
53KA runout secured him the pot to bring the tournament to a close.
Richards earned $536,080 as the runner-up, blowing away his previous top score of $13,231.
Here is a look at the payouts and rankings points awarded at the final table:
| Place | Player | Earnings | POY Points |
| 1 | Malcolm Trayner | $1,000,000 | 1440 |
| 2 | Carson Richards | $536,080 | 1200 |
| 3 | Eugene Tito | $407,970 | 960 |
| 4 | Junho Song | $312,250 | 720 |
| 5 | Oshri Azran | $240,350 | 600 |
| 6 | Amir Mirrasouli | $186,080 | 480 |
| 7 | Michael Miller | $144,900 | 360 |
| 8 | Christopher Castellan | $113,490 | 240 |
| 9 | Jake Brown | $89,411 | 120 |
Check out the ten largest live WSOP events by field size:
| Event | Entries | Prize Pool | Champion | Top Prize |
| 2019 Big 50 $500 NLH | 28,371 | $13,509,435 | Femi Fashakin | $1,147,449 |
| 2023 Gladiators of Poker $300 NLH | 23,088 | $5,679,648 | Jason Simon | $499,852 |
| 2015 Colossus $565 NLH | 22,374 | $11,187,000 | Cord Garcia | $638,880 |
| 2016 Colossus $565 NLH | 21,613 | $10,806,500 | Benjamin Keeline | $1,000,000 |
| 2022 Housewarming $500 NLH | 20,080 | $8,433,600 | Henry Acain | $701,215 |
| 2024 Mystery Millions $1,000 NLH | 18,409 | $16,199,920 | Malcolm Trayner | $1,000,000 |
| 2023 Mystery Millions $1,000 NLH | 18,118 | $10,730,920 | Tyler Brown | $1,000,000 |
| 2017 Colossus $565 NLH | 18,054 | $9,027,000 | Thomas Pomponio | $1,000,000 |
| 2023 Colossus $400 NLH | 15,894 | $5,245,020 | Moshe Refaelowitz | $501,120 |
| 2022 Million Dollar Bounty $1,000 NLH | 14,112 | $8,326,080 | Quincy Borland | $750,120 |
Visit the Card Player 2024 World Series of Poker page for schedules, news, interviews, and the latest event results. WSOP coverage sponsored by Global Poker.
Photo credits: WSOP / Eloy Cabacas.
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