In releasing the Aussie Millions Poker Championship schedule, tournament officials took the effort to set some high goals in terms of cash pool and player attendance. Crown Chief Executive David Courtney said that Crown Casino is also announcing an expected 1st place prize of $2.5 million for the No-Limit Holdem main event which will further enhance Crown Casino's Aussie Millions Poker Championship reputation as one of the most prestigious poker events in the world.

Courtney estimated that the 2 week series would draw more than 2,500 poker players with 1,000 players for the main event alone. He cited the growing popularity of the game in Australia as one of the reasons for the expected growth. Last year, participation in the Aussie Millions dropped by ninety-nine players but tournament officials still awarded the biggest payout in the tournament's history with winner Stewart Scott taking home a total of $2 million.

In the past, the event has had one of the most diverse and unique tournament schedules in the international poker circuit and this year is no exception. The tournament will feature Pot-Limit Omaha, H.O.R.S.E., Heads-Up, Seven-Card Stud, Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo and team-based poker events aside from No-Limit Hold'em tournaments.

Perhaps the most anticipated event on the schedule, outside of the main event, is the $100,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em event on January 23rd, 2009. Former winners include Howard Lederer, Erick Lindgren, John Juanda and David Steicke.

The Aussie Millions tournament will be filmed and developed into a television show on Fox Sports Network for a worldwide audience of more than one hundred million people.

10/07/2009, Wednesday
Matthew Dorst

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