The long-awaited return of the 2026 Aussie Millions has wasted no time making a statement, with the AUD 1,500 Opening Event drawing a record-breaking 2,144 entries across four starting flights at Crown Melbourne .

That figure comfortably surpasses the previous best of 1,752 and pushes the prize pool to AUD 2,787,200, nearly tripling the AUD 1 million guarantee and setting the tone for the rest of the series.

Any doubts about whether the festival could recapture its former energy after a six-year break have already been answered. The poker room has been packed throughout the opening days, with demand so high that scheduled Main Event satellites on Sunday had to be cancelled to accommodate the sheer volume of players entering the Opener.

Huge Numbers Build Across All Flights

The event gathered momentum quickly, starting with 403 entries on Day 1A before swelling across the remaining flights. Day 1C proved to be the biggest, drawing 772 entries, while the final turbo flight added another 380 entries to push the total to its record mark.

By the time late registration closed, the focus had shifted from whether the guarantee would be beaten to just how big the field could grow. In the end, it sailed past expectations.

Sandaev Leads as Field Narrows

After the dust settled on the starting flights, Joe Sandaev emerged as the overall chip leader, bagging 990,000 after Day 1C and carrying that momentum into Day 2.

He sits ahead of a deep field that includes some familiar names, with WSOP Main Event winner Michael Mizrachi returning among the top stacks and Joe Hachem also advancing, adding further weight to an already stacked lineup.

A total of 355 players returned for Day 2, with 268 set to reach the money and a minimum cash of AUD 2,800 locked up once the bubble burst.

Bubble Bursts as Payouts Come Into Play

The money bubble arrived early in Day 2, with a flurry of eliminations reducing the field before payouts kicked in. Once reached, the tournament quickly shifted gears, with players battling through the middle stages toward the final table.

As the day progressed, the field dropped below 100 players, then 65, before heading into the later stages where the biggest stacks began to separate themselves.

Among the key moments, Alex Bylicki surged into contention after winning a three-way all-in pot worth over 1.2 million chips, while clashes between big stacks such as Mario Stanic and Mishel Anunu highlighted the increasing pressure as the tournament moved deeper.

Race to the Final Table

Play is set to continue until the final table is reached, with the last nine players returning to battle for the title and a top prize of AUD 438,400.

At the time of writing, the field has already been reduced to just a few tables, with fewer than 30 players remaining heading into the final stages of Day 2.

With deep stacks in play and plenty of experience still in the field, the run to the final table is shaping up to be a strong one.

Aussie Millions is Back

While the Opening Event has taken centre stage, the rest of the schedule has also kicked into gear. The AUD 5,000 Six-Max has already attracted close to 200 entries early, while the first trophy of the series has been awarded.

Sascha Manns claimed victory in the AUD 2,500 H.O.R.S.E. event, topping a 64-entry field to secure the first title of the 2026 Aussie Millions.

With record numbers already on the board and strong turnouts across multiple events, the opening days have made one thing clear: the Aussie Millions is firmly back.

All images and figures credited to PokerNews and Crown Melbourne.