The Aussie Millions Phoenix: Malcolm Trayner Crowns the New Era!

Mates, what a weekend for Australian poker! After six long years, the Aussie Millions officially rose from the ashes at Crown Melbourne, and the finale was nothing short of a rollercoaster. 

The Result

Australia’s own Malcolm Trayner outlasted a massive field of 770 entrants to take home the title. It was the 5th largest Main Event in the tournament's history, proving that the hunger for live poker in the Southern Hemisphere is stronger than ever.  

The Deal

When they got down to the final three, Trayner, Dean Blatt, and Dejan Boskovic locked in a 3-way ICM deal. Trayner walked away with a career-best $1,382,198 AUD (around $995k USD). Even though the money was settled, they played it out for the prestigious ring, and Trayner fought back from a 6:1 chip deficit heads-up to secure the win. 

Why It Matters

Trayner is no stranger to the spotlight (he won the WSOP Mystery Millions in 2024), but winning the most prestigious trophy on home soil is a different kind of "Aura." The losing months happen, but the big one is always just one deep run away.  

What do you guys think? If you were top 3 in a million-dollar tournament, are you taking the ICM deal or playing for the glory? Let’s hear it!