All currencies are in the Australian Dollar.
The 2026 reboot of Australia's most prestigious poker tournament wrapped up in Melbourne on Sunday, crowning Malcolm Trayner with the homeland victory after a three-way deal.
The final table capped off a 770-entry field, the fifth-biggest for the series, and it came down to a three-handed deal that split up the payouts by chip count. Trayner, who held more than half of the chips at the time, would close the show for the big trophy, a ring, and over $1.3M AUD.
It's another high profile for Trayner after he won his first bracelet at the 2024 WSOP. Trayner returned to Las Vegas the following summer and grabbed another win at the 2025 Aria Poker Classic before heading home to win a WSOP Circuit ring at the Gold Coast stop in November.
Final three cut a deal
Trayner beat Dean Blatt and Dejan Boskovic at the end, knocking out both with his outsized chip total as they lesser stacks jockeyed for second place. It was well worth the effort, however, as Blatt nearly spoiled Trayner's huge lead before he finally settled for $1M and second place.
Trouble started for the leader after heads-up play started with a 4-to-1 chip difference. The deficit started to shrink for Blatt after two early pots and then a shove with ace-ten. Trayner called with ace-jack but a turned put Blatt into the unlikely lead.
The hope spot wouldn't last long for Blatt and Trayner soon doubled back into the advantage position. Soon after, Trayner shoved with pocket sevens and Blatt went for it all with ace-ten and came up short.
The Main Event was a capper on a successful return for Aussie Millions, which only fell 52 entries shy of the 2019 edition. Bryn Kenney won that one, but the festival went on ice during the COVID pandemic. Controversy followed the casino in the years since, but things are now back on track in the Victorian capital.
Featured image courtesy of Aussie Millions.