Poker ace flushed with success
UNIVERSITY student Tyron Krost has stunned the poker world, beating 746 of the world's best poker players to win the prestigious Aussie Millions.
DAVID WEINER
UNIVERSITY student Tyron Krost has stunned the poker world, beating 746 of the world’s best poker players to win the prestigious Aussie Millions at Crown Casino in Melbourne.
The 23-year-old became an instant millionaire when he turned over a king of spades and a nine of diamonds to take down the final pot of an epic 13-hour session on March 28. He netted $2 million for his win.
The Sydneysider was having a break from poker to focus on his studies, when he entered a satellite tournament on a whim and won, gaining entry to the main event at the Aussie Millions.
For the quiet and laid-back Krost, victory in the world’s sixth biggest tournament sparked a whirlwind couple of days.
“After I won, that just felt like a dream — in the lights, all the sets, all the cameras, the final table being filmed in a television studio, so many people watching,” Krost told The AJN, while taking a break from a flurry of media commitments, interviews for poker websites, photo shoots and an appearance on Channel Ten’s 7pm Project.
“[Since the win] it’s been non-stop. I haven’t slept at all or been able to think about it. It’s incredible, it’s not real, doesn’t even seem close to real it’s so bewildering. But it has been great to have all the support of my family and friends, who were following all night.”
Krost emerged delirious with delight but absolutely drained after five days of 12-14 hours of a “mental marathon”, with very few breaks. The final eight, for example, was played on Saturday from 2pm until Krost’s winning hand at 3am the following morning.
“I might have some talent, but also some luck … it was an incredible time to be lucky. Once it got down to eight people, I doubled up with jacks against aces. You have got to be lucky to win a poker tournament.”
Krost had reduced his poker playing considerably in 2009 to concentrate on completing his commerce degree at the University of New South Wales, while working for his family’s business.
He was not interested in paying the $10,000 entry fee, but Krost won a Party Poker online satellite event to qualify — which he begrudgingly entered after fellow poker player Daniel Kochan coerced him into playing.
“I won the seat and came here on a $700 investment with nothing to lose.”