David Steicke Wins the $100,000 Challenge in the Aussie Millions

Late Sunday night, David Steicke was determined the winner of the $100,000 AUD no limit hold’em challenge at the 2009 Aussie Millions Poker Championships hosted at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia.  Steicke survived a veritable minefield as he went up against some of the world’s best players on the first day of the tournament as the field shrank from 23 players down to the final six players.  He out played everyone at the final table including JC Tran who became his nemesis during final table play.  As Tran fell to third place, Tony Bloom stepped into his place taking on Steicke in a heads up battle.  Heads up play didn’t last long as Steicke held a significant chip lead that proved to be too much for Bloom to overcome.  Steicke took home the $1.2 million AUD first prize to add to his fifth place finish at the high roller event at the Asia Pacific Poker Tour $25,000 event in Macau.  Steicke’s career winnings are now at a very impressive $1,207,950.

Below is a look at the final table highlights:

John Juanda raised to 32,000 preflop holding Js-Jh and JC Tran made the call holding Qh-4h.  The flop came Qs-Qd-10h to which Tran checked.  Juanda then bet 33,000 prompting Tran to reraise to 72,000.  Juanda then moved all in and faced the river which was 4s-10d giving Tran a full house and eliminating Juanda in sixth place.

David Steicke raised to 72,000 preflop and JC Tran then reraised all in.  Tran held Kc-6d, Steicke held Kd-Jh.  The board read 7c-4h-2c-Ah-8s, eliminating Tran in third place and giving Steicke a huge chip lead going into heads up play.

Steicke raised to 72,000 preflop and Tony Bloom opted to reraise all in for 30,000 on top.  Steicke made the call and both players turned up their cards showing Steicke had 10s-3s and Bloom held Ac-4s.  The board came 7s-7d-6d-6h-10h, eliminating Bloom in second place and making David Steicke the champion, taking home first prize of $1.2 AUD million in prize money.