Sam Trickett Wins 2011 Aussie Millions $100k Challenge

UK pro Sam Trickett has won the 2011 Aussie Millions $100k Challenge, after defeating a field of 38 players over two days to take down the title, and collect the $1.525 million first place prize.
With his latest victory, the 24 year-old Titan sponsored pro has now taken his live career tournament earnings to $3,165,466; A feat made all the more impressive considering Trickett is foremost considered a high stakes cash games specialist.
The $100k buy-in event in Melbourne got underway on Saturday, with the 38 player field representing a significant increase on last years figure of 24.
As you would expect, the high rolling tournament attracted many top names and after 10 hours of play, the field was eventually narrowed down to eight players. Some of those pros not managing to make it through to Day 2 included Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, Andy Bloch, Joe Hachem, Tony G, Justin Smith, Howard Lederer, Gus Hansen, John Juanda, Daniel “jungleman12” Cates, Jonathan Karamalikis, Sorel Mizzi and Tom Dwan.
By the time Chris Ferguson (7th) and the “bubble boy” Jeff Lisandro (8th) were sent home empty handed, the final table of six had been set. Leading the pack was chip leader Sam Trickett on a 961k stack, followed by David Steicke on 622k and Erik Seidel on 619k. Also at the table were David Benyamine, James Obst, and Tony Bloom.
The first finalist to be eliminated was Benyamine, who was sent to the rail in 6th ($150,000), after getting it all-in pre-flop holding Ad-Jh to Trickett’s Ah-Qh.
Next to leave was Australian talent James Obst, who pushed his short-stack holding K-10 but was bested by Bloom’s pocket jacks. He collected $200,000 for his 5th place finish.
In the battle of the blinds, David Steicke with Kc-4c lost out to Erik Seidel (5s-3c) after pushing on a Jd-5d-4d-2h board, but with the river failing to improve his hand. Steicke then exited in 4th ($325,000) but Seidel’s celebrations were short lived as he was the next to depart in 3rd ($625,000), setting up a heads-up showdown between Brits Sam Trickett and Tony Bloom.
Trickett held the chip lead as the battle commenced and not long later Bloom was fighting for his tournament hopes holding Qd-8d to his opponent’s Ah-Kd. Bloom’s hand failed to improve and so he had to content himself with the $975,000 runner-up prize, while Sam Trickett was crowned the 2011 Aussie Millions $100k Challenge Champion, and gave his bankroll an impressive $1,525,000 boost.