Phil Ivey Looking for 3rd Title in a Row and 4th Overall in the LK Boutique $250,000 Challenge
The biggest buy-in tournament of the Aussie Millions has arrived, as today marks the start of the LK Boutique $250,000 Challenge. The event will take place over the next two days and attract a small, elite field of competitors to the felt.
To some, this event is known as the "Phil Ivey Classic." That's because, since the start of this event in 2011, Ivey has won the tournament three times, including each of the last two years. In 2012, he topped a field of 16 entrants to win AU$2 million. In 2014 and 2015, he beat out fields of 46 and 25 entries to earn AU$4 million and AU$2.205 million, respectively. Tally those numbers up and Ivey's grand winnings in this event amount to AU$8.205 million.
In the first year of the event, 2011, a field of 20 entries generated a prize pool of AU$5 million. Erik Seidel defeated Sam Trickett to earn the AU$2.5 million top prize. In 2013, it was Trickett's turn to better his runner-up performance from two years prior when he topped a field of 18 entries to win the event for AU$2 million.
Through its first five years, the LK Boutique $250,000 Challenge has awarded nearly AU$31 million in prize money.
Although we can't put a finger on any confirmed players leading into the event, among those anticipated to play are Ivey, Jason Mercier, Mike McDonald, and Fedor Holz. Seidel has played this event many times in the past, and he's also at Crown Melbourne, so we can add him to that list. We could also see Connor Drinan, Sam Greenwood, and Steve O'Dwyer in the mix.
Fabian Quoss, who won the 2016 Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge last night, is also a candidate to play, but he doesn't put his chances at playing high, which he talked about after his win.
Participating competitors will start off with 250,000 in tournament chips and six one-hour levels are scheduled for Day 1. Late registration and reentry will be available until the start of Day 2, which is the start of Level 7.
The event is scheduled to kick off at 12:15 p.m. local time, and you'll be able to find coverage right here on PokerNews.com.