Sat, 02/12/2011 – 03:25 – PokerPages Staff

#5 – Jamil Dia
The quiet man from New Zealand became the first poker player to officially make a million dollars at the Australian Poker Championship back in 2005 – the year when it truly became “Aussie Millions.”  The previous year, the tournament’s success had seen a hike in the buy-in from $5,000 to $10,000, swelling the prize pool substantially.  Jamil Dia was the first big beneficiary, more than doubling the winnings of the previous year’s victor Tony Bloom, who made $426,000.

#4 – Lee Nelson
The retired doctor from Nelson, New Zealand steams into our fourth place, with his bold victory in the 2006 tournament.  Dr. Nelson made off with a lip-smacking $1,295,800 that year, becoming the highest prize-winner the tournament had yet produced.

#3 – Gus Hansen
However, that title was not to last for long.  The next year, none other than the ‘Great Dane’ from Copenhagen himself, Gus Hansen, made off with the first prize of $1.5 million.  Hansen – a fearless high-stakes player – has lost and made this amount a few times over since, but his Australian win still made the record books.

#2 – Alexander Kostritsyn
Again, though, not for long.  In 2008, victory came in the form of a first prize of $1.65 million, which went into the eagerly awaiting pockets of Russian Federation player, Alexander Krostritsyn.

#1 – Stewart Scott, Tyron Krost, David Gorr
Three Australian players tie for our first place.  They all made $2 million by finishing in first place – Stewart Scott in 2009, Tyron Krost in 2010 and, just a week or so ago, David Gorr in 2011.  Will the $2 million limit be broken next year?