Sunday night in Melbourne Shurane Vijayaram completed an improbable run that is sure to become an Australian poker legend. Vijayaram, who won his way into the 2017 Aussie Millions Main Event via a $130 satellite, beat out a final table that included Fedor Holz and Ben Heath to win the title and the accompanying $1.6 million AU ($1.2 million) first place prize money.

Vijayaram was the overwhelming chip leader when the final table began with 7.47 million of the 21.62 million in play. No other player had more than 3.27 million at the time. Despite having that huge stack to work with, it was a lay down that Vijayaram made early on that will have people talking.

Heath raised to 115,000 from the hijack with before Vijayaram re-raised to 315,000 from the big blind with . Heath called and then checked the flop, allowing Vijayaram to bet 275,0000. Heath called and both players saw the on the turn. Heath checked again and Vijayaram checked behind. The river got Heath to fire out a bet of 585,000. Vijayaram took a few seconds before folding.

It took another hour for the first elimination and it wasn’t Vijayaram doing the work and it wasn’t the shortest stack, Holz, leaving. Tobias Hausen raised from the button to 135,000 before Luke Roberts moved all in from the small blind for 675,000. Hausen took some time before calling and tabling . Roberts was ahead with and the flop kept him there. The turn however completed Hausen’s flush and sent Roberts to the rail in seventh.

The next elimination didn’t take long at all. Heath raised to 135,000 from UTG, Vijayaram called from the cutoff before Jeff Rossiter raised to 490,000 from the button. David Olson then four-bet 1.3 million. Both Heath and Vijayaram folded but Rossiter called. The flop came flop was good enough for Olson to move all in for 1.3 million and Rossiter called instantly. Olson showed and needed help against Rossiter’s . The turn and river were both blanks and Olson was eliminated in sixth.

Despite coming in to the final table with the shortest stack, Holz managed to outlast two others and ladder his way up the payouts. That all ended at the hand’s of Rossiter though. The Australian, making his second Aussie Millions Main Event final table appearance, raised to 180,000 from the cutoff and Holz defended his big blind. The flop was . Holz checked, Rossiter bet 140,000 and Holz responded by moving all in for 730,000 total. Rossiter called and tabled for top pair with the nut flush draw. Holz showed for middle pair. The turn and river were no help for Holz and he was out of the Main Event in fifth place one day after finishing third in the $100,0000 Challenge.

Despite picking up the previous two bustouts, Rossiter was unable to avoid Vijayaram’s run to the title. From UTG Rossiter made it 240,000 to go and chip leader Vijayaram moved all in from the big blind. Rossiter called and showed while Vijayaram tabled . The flop put Vijayaram ahead with top pair and neither the turn or river were any help for Rossiter and he was out in fourth place as Vijayaram continued to add to his stack.

Vijayaram picked up another victim just a few minutes later. After he raised to 380,000 from the button, Hausen moved all in from the small blind for 1.265 million. Heath got out of the way before Vijayaram tanked and eventually called with . Hausen was well ahead with .The flop furthered Hausen’s lead, but the turn gave Vijayaram broadway. The river was no help for Hausen and he was out in third place while Vijayaram and Heath were left to play heads-up.

When heads-up play began, Vijayaram had a nearly 3-1 chip lead and never relinquished control over the 30 hands of play against Heath. On the final hand of the tournament Vijayaram raised to 350,000 from his button and Heath called and then checked the flop. Vijayaram bet 400,000 and Heath called again. After the turn Heath check-raised all in to 1.39 million. Vijayaram called to see the river. Heath announced he was all in for 3.2 million and over five minutes later, Vijayaram called and tabled . Heath showed for a missed straight draw and was eliminated in second place, leaving Vijayaram as 2017 Aussie Millions Main Event champion.

Final Table Payouts

1. Shurane Vijayaram – $1,600,000
2. Ben Heath – $1,000,000
3. Tobias Hausen – $620,000
4. Jeff Rossiter – $440,000
5. Fedor Holz – $335,000
6. David Olson – $270,000
7. Luke Roberts – $210,000