Lee Nelson
New Zealand, New Zealand
Lee Nelson is the elder statesman of New Zealand poker and second on the country's all-time money list. His record runs back to 2000 and takes in 80 recorded cashes, most of them in Australia, where he was a fixture of the Crown Melbourne circuit long before the game went mainstream.
His defining result is the 2006 Aussie Millions main event, which he won for A$1,295,800 - about $949,694 - and which remains his biggest cash twenty years later. He also won the Party Poker World Open final in England in 2005 for $400,000, the ANZPT Melbourne main event in 2011 for roughly $160,551, and a A$20,000 speed poker event at the 2005 Crown Australian Poker Championships for around $93,293.
Nelson is a genuine mixed-game player rather than a Hold'em specialist: his wins include Pot Limit Omaha at the 2009 Aussie Millions and at the Irish Poker Open in 2005, Seven Card Stud and Limit Omaha Hi/Lo titles in Melbourne, and a draw event at the 2002 New Zealand Poker Championships in Christchurch. He was still cashing at home as recently as June 2022, when he finished second in the Canterbury Championships at the New Zealand Poker Championships. His global all-time rank has slipped to 1,249th as the game's prize pools have grown - his best was 103rd.
Recent results
| Date | Event | Where | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan 2006 | A$10,000 + 500 NLH Aussie Millions Main Event | Crown Australian/Aussie Millions Poker Championships 2006, Melbourne | 1 | $949,694 |
| 3 Apr 2005 | Party Poker World Open Final (No Limit Hold'em) | Party Poker World Open, Maidstone | 1 | $400,000 |
| 24 Sept 2011 | A$2,000 + 200 NLH Main Event | ANZPT Melbourne, Melbourne | 1 | $160,551 |
| 22 Jan 2012 | A$10,000 + 600 NLH Main Event | 2012 Aussie Millions Poker Championship, Melbourne | 9 | $128,684 |
| 19 Jan 2005 | A$20,000 Australasian Only Pot Limit/No Limit Speed Poker | Crown Australian Poker Championships 2005, Melbourne | 1 | $93,293 |
| 8 Jun 2022 | NZ$1,500 + 150 NLH Canterbury Championships | 2022 New Zealand Poker Championships, Christchurch | 2 | $11,243 |
Play online from New Zealand
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Frequently asked questions
What is Lee Nelson best known for?
Winning the 2006 Aussie Millions main event for A$1,295,800, about $949,694, still his biggest live cash.
How much has he won in total?
The Hendon Mob records $2,553,335 across 80 cashes, second on New Zealand's all-time money list.
Does he only play Hold'em?
No. His titles include Pot Limit Omaha, Seven Card Stud, Limit Omaha Hi/Lo and a draw event, alongside his No-Limit Hold'em results.
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