Sydney’s Malcolm Trayner has etched his name into the history books after taking down the 2026 Aussie Millions Main Event at Crown Melbourne.
Regarded as one of the hottest talents in the country, Trayner – who won a WSOP bracelet in 2024 and boasts a litany of notable victories in recent years across Australia – produced a stunning performance on Sunday’s Aussie Millions final table to scoop over AU$1.3 million (US$941,000) and the coveted Aussie Millions ring. After a three-way deal, he went heads-up with highly regarded Melbourne local Dean Blatt before emerging with the title.
“I’m feeling great, I’m feeling really good,” Trayner told Inside Asian Gaming.
“There were a lot of ups and downs. I was one of the short stacks heading into the final 14 or 15 players but then I won a big flip for about a 3.2 million pot and after that the momentum just went my way.
“I just had really good cards on the final table, and it just all went my way until heads-up. I’m super blessed.”
This was Trayner’s second seven-figure score following his stunning victory in the 2024 WSOP Mystery Millions event for US$1 million (AU$1.38 million) – a result that comes as no surprise to those who have watched him play. A genuine student of the game – not to mention a highly sought after poker coach – he attributed his success to the hard work he has put in over the past eight years.
After every session [I review] hands and run them in the solver,” he said. “I’m cross-checking and using my knowledge to try and improve, constantly improve my game. I think that’s the key to being good at poker, knowing you still have so much more to learn. If I’m studying, you should be studying too, and I’m studying as much as I can among playing.”
Asked where his this Aussie Millions success rates compared with his other accomplishments, Trayner replied, “I actually don’t know. Is this above the [WSOP] bracelet? I would say it’s on par with the bracelet – it’s really hard to put one above the other. I mean, the bracelet is the most prestigious thing in poker but having the Australian title of Main Event Champ, it just means so much to me.”
Thanks to the Crown Poker team led by Executive General Manager of Casino Operations, Harold Tsakmaklis, and Table Games Casino Manager Dan Tribiano, the return of the Aussie Millions for the first time in six years has proved a huge success for Crown, with the 770 Main Event entries smashing the 550 staff were hoping for. Total prize pools across the 18-event series surged above AU$23 million (US$16.6 million) – easily exceeding the AU$14 million (US$10.1 million) that was advertised in the lead-up.
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