The $25,000 buy-in Aussie Millions Challenge event Downunder came to a fast if unspectacular end Monday as the five remaining professional players made a deal and then boosted the blinds to end the match quickly.
Max Altergott was the titular winner, having started the final table low on the chip stacks…and the five-way chop meant that he was actually the lowest paid of the last five players standing at $241,785.
The final table started out as Altergott, Dan Smith, Jason Mercier, Martin Jacobson, Scott Seiver, Dan Shak, Marvin Rettenmaier and Tobias Renkemeier – all respected names illustrating the quality of the opposition.
By the time the action had reached five-handed stage, Altergott, Dan Smith, Jason Mercier, Martin Jacobson and Scott Seiver decided to agree a five-way chop that left nothing on the table, but gave each around $240,000.
With no incentive for the ultimate winner, that left only the problem of finishing as fast as possible, a task accomplished by increasing the blinds every orbit up to an eventual 100,000/200,000/40,000, ending the game in just over 10 minutes.
Payments to the last five were:
Martin Jacobson $285,921
Dan Smith $278,414
Scott Seiver $265,538
Jason Mercier $263,342
Max Altergott $241,785
Other final tablers took home the following:
6th: Dan Shak – $100,000
7th: Marvin Rettenmaier – $70,000
8th: Tobias Renkemeier – $55,000