The Aussie Thousands and thousands 2026 Opening Occasion has drawn a record-breaking 2,144 entries throughout 4 Day 1 flights at Crown Melbourne, smashing the earlier all-time mark of 1,752 and producing a A$2,787,200 prize pool that almost tripled the A$1,000,000 assure.
The numbers confirmed what many suspected when the pageant returned after a six-year absence: demand for reside poker at Crown Melbourne had not pale. It had constructed up.
Day 1A drew 403 entries on April 24, Day 1B added 589 on April 25, and the ultimate two flights on April 26 pushed the overall previous 2,100. Demand on Sunday was so excessive that scheduled Predominant Occasion satellites needed to be cancelled.
After 11 ranges of Day 2 play on April 27, 20 gamers stay heading into right now’s closing (April 28, 12:30pm native). Spencer Davies leads with 11,250,000 chips (90 huge blinds), the one participant above the 11-million mark. First place pays A$438,400.
Report Area by the Numbers
The A$1,500 buy-in Opening Occasion is the standard curtain-raiser for the Aussie Thousands and thousands. This 12 months’s version shattered each benchmark for the event’s 28-year historical past.
The earlier Aussie Thousands and thousands report got here in a distinct period. That 1,752-entry area predates the six-year hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Crown Melbourne’s regulatory overhaul, and Blackstone Group’s A$8.9 billion takeover of Crown Resorts in 2022.
The Spencer Davies storyline: Davies enters right now’s closing with A$76,075 in lifetime recorded reside earnings, per The Hendon Mob. Greater than half of that complete got here from a single consequence: an eighth-place end within the 2022 WPTDeepStacks Sydney Predominant Occasion for A$52,655. A win right now would multiply his profession earnings practically sevenfold.
Manns Claims First 2026 Aussie Thousands and thousands Trophy
Germany’s Sascha Manns received the A$2,500 H.O.R.S.E. occasion for A$43,200, turning into the primary participant to raise a trophy on the 2026 Aussie Thousands and thousands. The mixed-game occasion drew 64 entries and a A$144,000 prize pool, exceeding expectations sufficient to drive the event right into a second day.
Manns entered the ultimate desk as chip chief and stayed close to the highest all through. When three gamers remained, he struck a take care of Australia’s Gary Benson (A$28,584) and collection ambassador Van Marcus (A$25,468) earlier than taking part in on for the title.
He eradicated Marcus first, then closed out the event in opposition to Benson in Omaha Hello-Lo, successful the ultimate hand with a flush over flush.
The win added to Manns’s current triumph in the identical self-discipline on the Irish Open. He devoted the victory to Antoine Degiorgio, recognized within the mixed-games group as “Malta Poker Fish,” who lately suffered critical well being issues.
Massive Names Fall on Day 2
Day 2 of the Opening Occasion started with 355 gamers coming back from the 4 Day 1 flights. The bubble burst throughout the second degree of play, and from there, the sector was reduce to twenty throughout 11 ranges.
A number of high-profile gamers cashed however fell wanting the ultimate day. Reigning WSOP Predominant Occasion champion Michael Mizrachi returned eighth in chips on Day 2 however couldn’t convert his stack right into a deep run. The four-time Poker Gamers Championship winner was named collection ambassador earlier this month.
Australia’s Joe Hachem, the 2005 WSOP Predominant Occasion champion, was additionally among the many Day 2 casualties. So was Vincent “Wonky” Wan, who received the 2020 Aussie Thousands and thousands Predominant Occasion the final time the pageant was held.
What’s Subsequent on the Aussie Thousands and thousands
The Opening Occasion closing will get underway right now (April 28) at 12:30pm native time, with 20 gamers returning on Degree 27 (blinds 75,000/125,000, 125,000 huge blind ante). Davies holds a commanding lead, however with 20 gamers and loads of play remaining, the title is much from determined.
The pageant runs via Might 10 with 18 occasions on the schedule. Key upcoming tournaments embody the A$5,000 Six-Max, the A$5,000 Problem (Might 1 to 2), and the A$25,000 Problem (Might 3 to 4). The centrepiece A$10,600 Predominant Occasion begins on Might 4, with the ultimate desk set for Might 10.
