Melbourne Poker Fever: Victorian Champs Prize Pool Surpasses $1.3 Million

Crown Melbourne is currently the epicenter of the poker world in the Southern Hemisphere. The 2026 Victorian Poker Championship has been a massive draw, and the prestigious AUD 2,500 Main Event has proven to be a significant highlight. After the first four starting flights, 625 entries have been recorded, propelling the current prize pool to a staggering AUD 1,375,000. There is an electric atmosphere in the tournament room as the remaining 250 players return to the tables today starting at 12:30 p.m. local time.

The dynamics of the tournament are set to intensify significantly. As registration remains open during the first level of Day 2, it is highly expected that the AUD 1.4 million mark will be easily surpassed. It is a classic scenario where latecomers attempt to charge through the field with a fresh stack, while the chip leaders must defend their massive advantages. The road to the money is still long, but the first outlines of the final table on Tuesday, October 27, are already beginning to emerge.

Numbers and facts

At the top of the field, two players have currently crossed the 100-big-blind mark. Samuel Cheng from Australia leads the rankings with 420,500 chips, which corresponds to exactly 105 big blinds. Closely following him is his compatriot Wadih Barbara, who bagged 414,500 chips (104 big blinds). Behind them are Tom McMahon with 392,000 and Chin Chan with 384,500 chips. The density at the top is interesting, as Jonathan Braude, with 382,000 chips, is also just a hair behind the top five.

International heavyweights and familiar faces are also still in the running. German poker pro Martin Finger, who has been among the world's elite for years, enters the second day with 132,500 chips. He will have to hold his own against legends like Joe Hachem, who holds a smaller stack of 63,500 chips but, as a former world champion, is always capable of a comeback. Also present are Randy Lew (168,500 chips) and Martin Kozlov (251,000 chips). The blinds start at 2,000/4,000 with a big blind ante of 4,000, meaning pressure on the short stacks will be immediate.

Background

Crown Melbourne is utilizing modern tournament structures for this event. The level duration has been increased to 60 minutes for the remainder of the tournament to give players more strategic leeway. Additionally, time bank cards are being used to speed up the flow of play. Each participant receives four of these cards at the start of Day 2. Those who make it to the final table will be rewarded with three more time banks. This prevents excessive stalling and ensures a fair atmosphere among both professionals and amateurs.

Why it matters for German players

For German poker fans following such events from afar, the longing for large live events often remains unfulfilled. In Germany, the legal situation is strictly regulated by the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). While tournaments with million-dollar prize pools are almost daily occurrences in Melbourne, players in this country must often contend with the restrictions of GGL-licensed providers. German online poker rooms on the whitelist of the Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL) are subject to a deposit limit of 1,000 euros per month across all providers. The 1-euro limit per spin for slots is also a striking difference from the international stage. Nevertheless, regulation offers protection that is sought in vain in offshore casinos without a license (MGA or Curacao). LUGAS strictly monitors limits, which for German players means that poker is primarily perceived as a leisure activity rather than an uncontrolled risk.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

German casinos with a GGL license must ensure that their offers comply with the GlüStV. This means that advertising for tournaments that could resemble the Victorian Poker Championship is subject to strict scrutiny in Germany. A prize pool of over AUD 1 million is a strong marketing argument, but German providers are increasingly focusing on transparency and addiction prevention. For operators, this means high technical effort in connecting to the LUGAS system and the OASIS exclusion file. However, it shows that a regulated market is more stable in the long term, even if the pure profit amounts are often lower compared to Australia due to the tax burden and limits.

"Samuel Cheng leads the field with 420,500 chips after pacing the field on Day 1c, followed by Wadih Barbara with 414,500." - Tournament Staff, Victorian Poker Championship