Two winners were crowned on Thursday at the 2010 Aussie Millions Poker Championship.
In Event 5, the $1,650 No-limit Hold'em w/Rebuys, Jonathan Karamalikis came away with the win. When the day began, four tables played a shoot-out format. Karamalikis began the day second in chips behind Jason Gray but steamrolled his way through the shoot-out part to go into the final table with the chip lead.
Luke Abolins and Mick Norton were the first two to go soon after the start of the final table, taking home $10,670 AUD for eighth and $16,005 for seventh respectively. Brian Payne was the next to go when his pocket eights ran into Steve Friedlander's pocket kings. Payne walked away with $21,340 for sixth place.
Karamalikis eliminated Grant Levy in fifth place when he turned an ace to beat Levy's kings. After quite a few battles at the final table, David Steicke finally fell to Karamalikis. Steicke was sent to the rail in fourth place taking home $42,680 AUD.
David Lacchia finished in third place, for $53,350 AUD, and it was Karamalikis and Steve Friedlander who went into heads-up play. It didn't take long for Karamalikis to finish the match. Friedlander was eliminated in second place, taking home $80,025 AUD.
Mostly an online player, this is Karamalikis' first major live win. He took home $122,700 and the championship ring. Just two days earlier, he had made a deep run in the Full Tilt Sunday Brawl.