Bas de Laat Defeats Adam Agresta to Win Aussie Millions Event #5
Dutch poker player Bas de Laat secured his first live tournament win in a big way by coming out on top in Aussie Millions Event #5: A$1,150 No Limit Hold'em Mix Max for A$72,155. He improved on last year's performance in the same tournament when he took 11th place for A$6,715. He now has nearly $200,000 in lifetime tournament cashes.
The tournament attracted 285 entrants, 24 percent more than the 230 players in the event last year, generating a A$292,125 prize pool.
Aussie Millions Event #5: A$1,150 Mix Max Final Eight Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize in A$ | Prize in US$ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bas de Laat | Netherlands | A$72,155 | $57,658 |
| 2 | Adam Agresta | Australia | A$47,475 | $37,937 |
| 3 | Michael Gathy | Belgium | A$23,740 | $18,970 |
| 4 | Terry Schumacher | Belgium | A$23,740 | $18,970 |
| 5 | Vu Kurita | Japan | A$9,860 | $7,879 |
| 6 | Alexandre Rodriguez | New Caledonia | A$9,860 | $7,879 |
| 7 | Lauchlan Dykes | Australia | A$9,860 | $7,879 |
| 8 | Yibo Song | China | A$9,860 | $7,879 |
The Mix Max event employs a unique format with play beginning full ring before transforming into six-max tournament with 36 players remaining. When the event is trimmed down to eight players, the format changes again, this time to heads-up.
A total of 35 players were guaranteed a payout of A$2,335. Among the players that cashed but were unable to make the cut to the final eight were last year's winner Niall Murray (33rd - A$2,335), 2016 WSOP Main Event November Niner Kenny Hallaert (17th - A$3,360), and American Timothy Ulmer (ninth - A$5,840).
The tournament attracted 285 entrants, 24 percent more than the 230 players in the event last year.
Players from four different countries lost their heads-up matches: China's Yibo Song (eighth - A$9,860), Australia's Lauchlan Dykes (seventh - A$9,860), New Caledonia's Alexandre Rodriquez (sixth - A$9,860), and Japan's Vu Kurita (fifth - A$9,860).
A pair of well-recognized Belgians got eliminated in the next round including former Aussie Millions side-event winner Terry Schumacher (fourth - A$23,470), and three-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Michael Gathy (third - A$23,470).
Adam Agresta and De Laat faced off in the last match of the tournament. In the final hand, De Laat called his opponent's all-in with queen-seven for second-pair and soon found out Agresta had third-pair with deuce-five. No deuce or five appeared on the turn or river, and De Laat's hand held up. De Laat bested his final opponent to secure the victory and the coveted ANTON ring while Agresta recorded his most significant cash to date after taking home the runner-up prize of A$47,475.
