CHANCE KORNUTH TRIUMPHS IN AUSSLIE MILLIONS HIGH ROLLER POKER EVENT
US poker pro Chance Kornuth (29) boosted his career live tournament earnings to more than $2.7 million over the weekend when he added A$790,560 to his stash by winning the A$25,000 buy-in Aussie Millions High Roller event.
The competition attracted a total of 122 entries (22 of them re-ups) and created a prize pool worth A$2.92 million.
Kornuth’s prize money from the event eclipsed two earlier wins at this year’s Aussie Millions in which he cashed for A$9,415 and A$4,520, and even the $192,780 he won a few weeks back in a similar event at the Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure.
The Las Vegas pro was close to busting out on Day 1 of his most recent clash, but made some bold moves that paid off and put him back in the game when he successfully went all-in in six out seven hands.
The path to the final table was not an easy one, with top international players like Steve O’Dwyer, Igor Kurganov, Jason Les, Byron Kaverman, Daniel Cates, Eugene Katchalov, Benny Spindler and Dominik Nitsche in the field.
When Jason Les hit the rail in third for A$351,360 the last two players standing were Kornuth and Russia’s Igor Kuganov, with roughly the same sized chip stacks. After a few preliminary exchanges Kurganov started to pull ahead but was repeatedly reeled back in by Kornuth, who finally managed to gain and hold the advantage to eliminate the Russian.
Kurganov took home a well-deserved runner-up check for A$541,680, leaving the title and the main prize to a delighted Kornuth.
Other final table cashes were:
Steve O’Dwyer Ireland A$263,520
Oliver Price UK A$190,320
Phanlert Sukonthachartnant Thailand A$131,760
Michael Egan Australia A$109,800