Rebbecca Scales
The Aussie Millions is back — and it’s not easing into anything.
After years off the schedule, one of poker’s most iconic international events has returned in full force. The energy is there. The players are there. And the global spotlight is firmly back on Crown Casino Melbourne.
And this time, it’s bringing both unfinished business and real star power with it.
The Champion Who Never Lost His Title
When Vincent Wan won the Aussie Millions Main Event in 2020, it didn’t feel like the end of anything.
Just another long final table. Another deep run. Another name added to a list that already carried weight.
But that one stuck.
He worked through a field of more than 800 players — the kind of field where nothing comes easy and nothing is given — and by the time it was over, after hours of back-and-forth that stretched deep into the night, he walked away with just over A$1.3 million and a title that would quietly hold its place longer than anyone expected.
What followed had nothing to do with poker. The world shut down, and the pandemic halted international travel and live events almost overnight. But even as the game found its footing again elsewhere, Australia moved differently. Regulations tightened, priorities shifted, and the political climate around gaming made large-scale events like Aussie Millions slower to return. What was once a staple on the global calendar didn’t just pause — it stayed gone longer than anyone expected.
Aussie Millions Isn’t Just Back — It’s Alive Again
This doesn’t feel like a soft return.
From everything coming out of Melbourne right now, Aussie Millions feels exactly like it used to — strong fields, real momentum, and that international mix of players that made it matter in the first place. Early numbers are already pointing to massive turnouts, with several events drawing some of the largest fields the series has seen in years.
There’s a difference between a tournament running… and a tournament feeling important.
This one still does.
The World Champ Steps In
And then there’s Michael Mizrachi.
The current World Series of Poker Main Event champion isn’t just in the field — he’s been invited in as an ambassador for Aussie Millions. That’s not a small detail. It says a lot about where this event sees itself right now. You don’t bring in someone like Mizrachi unless you’re making it clear that this tournament belongs back in the global conversation.
Legacy Meets the Present
This is where it gets interesting.
On one side, you have Vincent Wan — a Melbourne local and one of the strongest players in Australia, with just over $1.4 million in live tournament earnings. Often referred to as “Wonky,” his résumé is built on results and anchored by a win that still carries weight.
That confidence isn’t just in the results — it shows up at the table too.
When asked about Michael Mizrachi being in the field, Wan didn’t hesitate:
“I think I’ve heard of that guy’s name… is he good? I’m not worried about this guy at all. If he got lucky in a tournament or two, it’s not something I’m too worried about. Happy to play him — tell him to come over.”
On the other hand, you have Mizrachi — the current World Champion, stepping into a leadership role at the same event. A player with nearly $30 million in live tournament earnings, multiple World Series of Poker bracelets, and a career that has kept him near the top of the game for decades. Known as “The Grinder,” he’s built his reputation not just on wins, but on longevity — showing up, year after year, at the highest level and still competing.
It’s not something poker gets often — a moment where the past and the present sit in the same room.
And for everyone else in the field, that raises the stakes.
Because the story never really ended.
It just… paused.
Because this isn’t just coverage—it’s history.
The Real Poker Girls Media is spanning the globe in real time—covering the Aussie Millions in Melbourne, the Women’s Poker Hall of Fame fundraiser in Las Vegas, the Women in Poker Festival and Ladies International Poker Championship, and producing The Real Poker Girls Of London podcast content from the PokerStars room at London’s Hippodrome Casino.
An all-women media company.
Three countries. One week.
Through Women Poker News and our global podcast network, we deliver color commentary, original stories, and high-quality video—through a lens the game has never fully seen.
This has never been done before.
And it’s happening now.
Enlist in the #RPGArmy
Ready to go beyond the felt? Enlist in the #RPGArmy and join a movement powered by bold women, fearless content, and unapologetic poker energy. Signing up means you’ll be first to know about upcoming events, giveaways, coaching drops, and exclusive behind-the-scenes access to The Real Poker Girls Media universe.
This isn’t just a list—it’s a front row seat to the revolution.
