Ari ”BodogAri” Engel defeated a tough final table that included WPT host Tony ”Bond18” Dunst to claim the Aussie Millions ME title and the biggest score of his career.
The 7-handed final table of the Aussie Millions A$10,000 buy-in Main Event kicked off on Sunday. The chip leader was Punta Cana Poker Classic and Heartleand Poker Tour champ Ari ”BodogAri” Engel, but Tony ”Bond18” Dunst, Alex ”lynskey99” Lynskey and Samantha Abernathy were also in the hunt for the A$1,600,000 first place prize.
Seat 1. Dylan Honeyman – 885.000
Seat 2. Alexander Lynskey – 2.390.000
Seat 3. Tony Dunst – 5.990.000
Seat 4. Samantha Abernathy – 2.485.000
Seat 5. Ari Engel – 8.155.000
Seat 6. Kitty Kuo – 1.005.000
Seat 7. John Apostolidis – 960.000
The first elimination of the day was Apostolidis, he lost a coinflip with A-K against Abernathys Queens. Kitty Kuo was eliminated not much later (AJ vs. Engels 9-9) and Dylan Honeyman was busted by Tony Dunst (JJ vs. AK, J-T-3-K-Q board).
Tony Dunst – 8.925.000
Ari Engel – 8.290.000
Samantha Abernathy – 3.335.000
Alexander Lynskey – 1.325.000
During Level 28 (40,000/80,000 – 10,000 ante), Engel limped UTG, Lynskey shoved all-in for 1,600,000 with A-7 suited, unfortunately for him Engel had Aces and the board brought no help.
The heads-up was set with the elimination of Samantha Abernathy, she shoved all-in for 1,500,000 during Level 29 (50,000/100,000 – 10,000 ante) with T-8, Engel called with A-9 and the board ran out A-J-9-J-8.
Tony Dunst – 12.355.000
Ari Engel – 9.520.000
The two players battled heads-up for 123 hands, in the final hand Dunst raised to 325,000 with A4 suited (Level 31, 80,000/160,000), Engel re-raised to 925,000 with J-7 and Dunst called.
Engel bet 825,000 on the T-4-2 flop and Dunst called with his fours. The turn was a Jack, giving Engel top pair.
He bet 1,700,000 and Dunst called once again. The river was a 9 and Engel shoved all-in for 6,100,000 into a pot of 6,800,000.
Dunst thought for a long time before deciding to call all-in but was shown the bad news.
Ari Engel claimed the title and the biggest win of his career, A$1,600,000.
Final table results
1. Ari Engel – A$1,600,000
2. Tony Dunst – A$1,000,000
3. Samantha Abernathy – A$625,000
4. Alexander Lynskey – A$445,000
5. Dylan Honeyman – A$340,000
6. Kitty Kuo – A$270,000
7. John Apostolidis – A$210,000