WSOP Champs Mizrachi & Hachem Headline Aussie Millions Day 2 Opening Event

Two of poker’s greatest names headline the return to the felt in the present day as Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi and Joe Hachem lead a powerful group of survivors into Day 2 of the A$1,500 Opening Occasion on the 2026 Aussie Tens of millions.

Mizrachi sits eighth in chips with 730,000 (73 massive blinds), placing the four-time Poker Gamers Championship winner and defending WSOP Most important Occasion champion in prime place because the event strikes into its later phases. Hachem, Australia’s 2005 WSOP Most important Occasion champion, returns with 146,000 (14 massive blinds) and will probably be seeking to construct a stack as the sphere begins to skinny.

Additionally again within the area is Vincent “Wonky” Wan, winner of the 2020 Aussie Tens of millions Most important Occasion the final time the competition was held. Wan brings 474,000 (47 massive blinds) into Day 2 and stays effectively positioned as the sphere continues to slim.

A complete of 355 gamers will return in the present day from a beginning area of two,144 entries, with the prize pool now sitting at A$2,787,200, practically tripling the unique assure.

The goal in the present day is to play right down to the ultimate desk of 9, with these gamers returning on Tuesday, April 28 to determine the champion.

Sandaev Units the Tempo After 4 Beginning Flights

Main the sphere into Day 2 is Joe Sandaev, who bagged the most important stack of the event to this point with 990,000 (99 massive blinds) after advancing from the Day 1C flight.

He holds a slim benefit over the chasing pack, with a number of sturdy stacks positioned behind him. Among the many notables returning with above-average stacks are Hamish Crawshaw, who bagged 384,000 (38 massive blinds), and Alan Pham, who returns with 244,000 (24 massive blinds).

Aussie Tens of millions ambassador Van Marcus additionally stays in competition with 239,500 (23 massive blinds) after including to his sturdy sequence begin, which included a third-place end within the $2,500 H.O.R.S.E. Championship.

Veteran Australian participant Billy “Croc” Argyros returns with 189,000 (18 massive blinds) and will probably be seeking to construct early as play resumes.

Opening Occasion High 10 Chip Counts

Bubble Anticipated to Take Place Early

Play resumes at 12:10 p.m native time on Monday, April 27. at Stage 16, with blinds at 5,000/10,000 and a ten,000 massive blind ante. From this level ahead, ranges enhance to 60 minutes.

Of the 355 returning gamers, 268 will make the cash, leaving 87 eliminations between the sphere and the payouts. The minimal money is ready at A$2,800, whereas A$438,400 awaits the eventual champion.

The common stack coming into Day 2 sits at 241,577 (24 massive blinds) and by the top of the day, the sphere is predicted to be decreased to simply 9 gamers. That can set the stage for Tuesday’s remaining desk and the crowning of the primary main champion of the 2026 Aussie Tens of millions.

Calum has been part of the PokerNews group since September 2021 after working within the UK vitality sector. He performed his first hand of poker in 2017 and instantly fell in love with the sport.

Calum has written for varied poker retailers however discovered his residence at PokerNews, the place he has contributed to varied articles and reside updates, offering insights and reporting on main poker occasions, together with the World Sequence of Poker (WSOP).