The Aussie Millions Returns: Catching Up on the Action So Far

By Samantha Doyle

11 May 2026

Samantha Doyle 11 May 2026

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Aussie Millions returns after six years, breaking attendance records.
Gening Dai wins $1,500 Mystery Bounty; Andy Lee claims $25K Challenge.
The live poker scene in Melbourne is thriving with big stories and prizes.

The Australian poker community waited six years to welcome back its crown jewel. Now that the Aussie Millions Poker Championship by CrownBet is officially running, it is safe to say the live poker scene in Melbourne is healthier than ever.

As the festival progresses, tournament organizers are still reeling from the unprecedented early turnouts. The opening week smashed expectations, logging 2,144 entries in the A$1,500 Opening Event, 305 entries in the A$5,000 Six-Max, and a record-breaking field in the A$2,500 H.O.R.S.E.

While the volume of players resulted in long registration lines early on, especially given the midday casino opening on the ANZAC Day holiday, the overwhelming sentiment on the floor is pure excitement. The destination appeal is back, the vibe has returned, and millions of dollars are already changing hands.

Here is a recap of the most compelling stories from the early days of the series.

The $1,500 Mystery Bounty Upset

Sometimes, the best strategy is just deciding to take a shot before you go home.

That was the plan for Gening Dai, a 25-year-old Monash University student and self-professed small-stakes grinder. Dai entered the $1,500 Mystery Bounty on a whim, fully expecting it to be his final tournament of the trip. Instead, he outlasted 912 entries to capture the title and $174,495 AUD.

Aussie Millions — Gening Dai at $1,500 Mystery Bounty

His path to the trophy accelerated during five-handed play, where he turned a full house to bust Kenta Ito and secure a dominant chip lead. Despite pulling in a half-dozen envelopes, Dai admitted he isn't fond of the format.

$1,500 Mystery Bounty Final Table Results

Place	Player	Country	Prize (AUD)*
1	Gening Dai	Australia	$174,495
2	Chester Swords	Australia	$105,650
3	Van Marcus	Australia	$66,075
4	Kenta Ito	Australia	$48,590
5	Yesha Punjabi	Australia	$36,115
6	Jaxon Byrne	Australia	$29,140
7	Ciaran Paxman	Australia	$23,805
8	Benjamin French	Australia	$19,700
9	Chien-Hui Chiang	Taiwan	$15,595

Bubble Heartbreak in the $2,500 NLHE

If you want to see the cruelest side of tournament poker, look no further than the stone bubble of the $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em event.

With 44 players getting paid out of the 342-entry field, action paused at 45 remaining. Sascha Manns, looking to survive and secure a payday, shoved his 170,000 stack from the small blind with pocket kings. Diego Ponce, wielding a massive stack on the button, looked him up with pocket deuces.

Manns stayed ahead through the flop and turn. But the dealer spiked a two on the river, giving Ponce deuces full of fours. Manns was eliminated in the most painful way possible, bursting the bubble. Ponce went on to utilize that momentum to win the entire event and claim the $179,665 grand prize.

A Career-Best Score for Andy Lee

The high rollers are officially back in town. Drawing a massive 98 entries, a staggering number for an Australian $25K event, the $25K Challenge delivered an incredible final table performance from Australian pro Andy Lee.

Lee took down the event for a career-high $652,670 AUD, but it took a lot of grit to get there. After busting his first entry in just three hours, Lee opted to fire a second bullet.

He bagged the second-largest stack on Day 2 and executed a masterclass at the final table. With a massive win secured just in time for Mother's Day, Lee is now setting his sights on the ultimate prize, as he told a poker news outlet:

Winning the Aussie Millions Main Event has always been my dream.

$25K Challenge Final Table Results

Place	Player	Country	Prize (AUD)
1	Andy Lee	Australia	$652,670
2	Josh Hutchins	Australia	$405,720
3	Aaron Li	Australia	$264,600
4	Joe Sandaev	Australia	$209,330
5	Michael Egan	Australia	$162,290
6	Matthew Wakeman	Australia	$132,890
7	Kei Tanaka	Japan	$111,720
8	Luke Martinelli	Australia	$92,905
9	Hieu Nguyen	Australia	$75,265