Incomparable Tony G Wins the Moscow Millions

In a two day event at the Hotel Cosmos in Moscow, Russia put on their first ever poker tournament, The Moscow Millions. Fifty-three players with a $10,500 buy-in each began with a chip amount of $25,000 and ninety-minute levels of play. With an astounding $500,000 plus prize pool, this was Russia's fortuitous poker tournament. The immense success of this inaugural poker tournament had Anastasia Bauer, a spokesperson for Poker Professionals (a Russian poker staff), saying they were delighted with the turnout and remains very optimistic that the Moscow Millions will become one of the hottest poker destinations of the year.

First prize of $205,000 was awarded to Australian, Tony Guoga; better known to the poker community as "Tony G". He was also the winner of a gold bracelet. Two titles, Russia's National Poker Champion and RSPF's Grand Champion of Russia were also bestowed to him. Tony G who is notoriously known for being a big mouth of sorts, hence his nickname "The Mouth from Down Under" donated his entire cash winnings to Rhys Jones, the tournament director, with expressed wishes it be donated to a Russian Orphanage.

Tony G wrote in his blog at PokerWorks, "I feel good just being in a position where I can give away money that I win in poker tourney."

The remarkable organization of the Moscow Millions was executed in such a way that Tony G commented, "The structure was better than the WSOP main event. We had two dealers at the final table so that the next hand was shuffled and ready to go and we had tons of hands at the final table."