Bodog Beat

Russian Alexander Kostritsyn won the 2008 Aussie Millions Main Event. (Image from Poker.ru)

What started out as a tournament with a lot of potential to have a star-studded final table and possibly the first really big name winner of the new year kind of fizzled out to a nothing finish.

The players at the final table were not necessarily internationally known (but are probably known to rock the microphone) poker players, with the exception of an eight-time WSOP bracelet winner, poker pro Erik Seidel.

Although Seidel started at a distinct disadvantage to then chip leader Michael Chrisanthopoulos, he proved why he is one of the world's best and ended up in a two-hour marathon heads-up match against eventual winner Alexander Kostritsyn. The $1.65 million first-place prize is by far the biggest payday for the young Russian, who only had two tournament cashes totaling about $7k prior to this.

Here are the full final table payouts:

1. Alexander Kostritsyn – $1,650,000
2. Erik Seidel – $1,000,000
3. Michael Chrisanthopoulos – $700,000
4. Peter Ling – $500,000
5. Nino Marotta – $400,000
6. Antonio Casale – $300,000
7. Peter Mobbs – $225,000

We wish we had more to say about this tournament, but we really don't. It's probably good for poker to continue to have unknowns rise up and topple the poker mighty as it will fuel the sport even more. But it sure doesn't make for interesting poker tournament reporting.