David Gorr, Grandfather of Five, Wins Aussie Millions

The Crown Australian Poker Championship – more widely referred to as the Aussie Millions – routinely attracts large, strong fields that include some of the biggest names in the poker world. But the 2011 edition of the tournament was won by a relatively unknown local by the name of David Gorr, who took home $2 million for finishing first in the $10,000 buy-in event.

Gorr, a 68-year-old grandfather of five, worked through a field of 721 players to capture his first major tournament win. The previous high note in his poker career has been reported as being a win in a 1996 tournament held in Adelaide – a tournament that predates the records on his page in the Hendon Mob Database. However, it’s clear that Gorr has been a consistent contender in Australian poker events, having numerous cashes and final table appearances in mid-level events over the past decade.

Gorr found himself short stacked at the final table, but fought back to get to heads up play against James Keys, a much younger British pro who had already cashed in several World Series of Poker eents. The heads up battle was broadcast live on the Internet on a set built just for the occasion. But Gorr came out on top, while Keys had to settle for the second place prize of just over $1 million.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Gorr credited the win to a recent change in his playing style.

“'I used to be a conservative player and I would wait for the better hands to play,” Goor said. “But to win tournaments you have to mix your game up and play a variety of different hands.''

Gorr, who works for a city insurance company, says that he’s financially secure, so the money is likely to help his children and grandchildren more than it will change his own lifestyle. However, he did share a few ways he might choose to spend the money.

“I could buy another car, which I probably won’t do, and I could go on a couple of extra holidays,” he told the Morning Herald. “I might just go to a few extra poker tournaments overseas, actually.”