Brits on fire at Aussie Millions

Sam Trickett kicked off his 2011 Aussie Millions in style this week, taking down the $100,000 Challenge Crown ahead of 37 of the game’s best players for AUD$1,525,000.

The 24-year-old beat the likes of Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan and Patrik Antonius en route to a heads-up battle with 2004 Aussie Millions champ Tony Bloom. And Trickett didn’t need long to bag his biggest payday since a heart-breaking runners-up finish at last year’s WSOP $5,000 NLHE event.

‘I had a massive year last year and obviously just missing the bracelet was a bitter disappointment,’ Trickett said after his win. ‘I thought I played better in that final than I did in this one, I just had the luck of the cards this time and it all went my way. It’s a big, big relief to me.’

Here’s how the final table finished:

1 Sam Trickett AUD$1,525,000
2 Tony Bloom AUD$975,000
3 Erik Seidel AUD$625,000
4 David Steicke AUD$325,000
5 James Obst AUD$200,000
6 David Benyamine AUD$150,000

But Trickett wasn’t the only British winner Down Under this week. High-stakes pro Richard Ashby also notched up the $1,100 8-Game Mixed Event title for $23,800, grinding his way back from a final table short stack to crown his eight appearance on an Aussie Millions final table with a win.

The 2011 Aussie Millions is already looking like a bumper event for our British pros and we’ve got our fingers crossed for the $10,000 Main Event this week.

Don’t forget to check back with PokerPlayer for all the latest from the Aussie Millions.