This week’s poker news delivers a couple of key updates on the 2019 calendar of events. Before we get to those, we’ll start off with Aussie Millions Main Event, which was the biggest in the tournament’s history.
Kenney Wins Aussie Millions Main Event
The biggest event in Aussie Millions Main Event history has come and gone, with one successful player awarded $1,272,598. Bryn Kenney was that main man, topping a field of 822 players and claiming the huge cash prize in Australian dollars. It actually turned out to be a three-way deal with runner-up Mike Del Vecchio and third-place finisher Andrew Hinrichsen. The top three played over 100 hands at the end of the final-table drama before settling on a deal.
Kenney was adamant that he had to be the winner as he wanted the title. In terms of the prize share, though, it was fairly close between the three. Del Vecchio was the runner-up and won (in Australian dollars) $1,272,162, while Hinrichsen was third and collected $1,097,739.
Rounding out the top five was Clinton Taylor, who was fourth and won $483,000, and Matthew Wakeman, who was fifth and earned $275,908.
Unibet Open To Take Place in Sinaia From February 12-17
The 12th Unibet Open season will roar into action with something new this year: a first-ever winter sports festival in Sinaia, Romania. Sinaia has one of the most notable and visually impressive ski resorts anywhere in Romania and its partnership with Unibet will create a one-of-a-kind poker-entertainment-recreation experience for the invited players.
When players aren’t at the poker tables and live action isn’t occurring, they will have a chance to participate in skiing and snowboarding on slopes of various sizes and difficulty levels.
One of the other magnet attractions in Sinaia is the collection of old-world castles in the locality. Peles Castle, Pelisor Castle, and the Sinaia Monastery bring an ancient feel and flavor to the environment which will host this anticipated part of the poker season.
In terms of the poker action, the Sinaia itinerary includes the Battle of Champions on February 12, the Tag Team Championship on Feb. 13, and the Unibet Esports Battle Royale on Feb. 13. The Main Event is on Feb. 14. Players will start all three flights with 30,000 in chips with the first two flights involving 60-minute blind levels while Day 1C is a turbo-affair with 20-minute blinds. The tournament allows one re-entry on Day 1C, but only for players who were eliminated on Day 1A or Day 1B.
European Poker Tour Barcelona Event Officially Announced
The European Poker Tour, in conjunction with PokerStars, has unveiled a few of its 2019 season dates, including the Barcelona stop. PokerStars disclosed that the Barcelona tour stop will be in the late summer, hosting an event from Aug. 20-Sept. 2, with preliminary events beginning on August 12. There will be a 5,300-Euro Main Event and the 1,100-Euro EPT National showcase.
This event in Barcelona follows other European Poker Tour events in Spain, such as the European Poker Tour Open Madrid beginning on June 22. This year will mark the 15th straight stop in Barcelona as the tour has been hosted there every year since 2004.