$100,000 Aussie Challenge

Last year saw 38 play the Aussie Millions $100K event (won by Sam Trickett), but this time just 22 players ponied up the hefty entry fee to participate, among them such poker luminaries as Tom Dwan, Daniel Negreanu, J.C. Tran, Erik Seidel, Jason Mercier, and Phil Ivey.  Ivey was eliminated  in ninth place at the hands of Gus Hansen.

Heads up,  Dan Smith and Mikhail Smirnov went back and forth in hopes of winning the Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge. In the end however it was Smith who outlasted the Russian poker pro to claim the title and the $1,012,000 first place prize. Smirnov walked away with $616,000 for his runner-up performance.

On the last hand, Smirnov's chips were pushed in the midlle  with Qh-6h against Smith's 2d-2s. Smith's small pocket pair prevailed, the board coming Kd-5h-Ac-Jc-8c to give the American the title.

Payouts:

• 1st: Dan Smith -- $1,012,000
• 2nd: Mikhail Smirnov -- $616,000
• 3rd: Joe Hachem -- $330,000
• 4th: Tony G -- $242,000

Smith more than doubled his lifetime live tournaments earnings with the seven-figure score. His only other live win was in 2008 when he won a Heartland Poker Tour event in Turning Stone, N.Y. for a bit over $100 k..