Jackson Warne Honors Father’s Legacy at 2026 Aussie Millions

After a six-year hiatus, the 2026 Aussie Millions Main Event is finally underway.

Yesterday, Day 1a drew 200 entries, showing that the tournament’s absence hasn’t hindered player turnout.

One of those entries was Jackson Warne, who survived through to Day 2, which takes place on Thursday, May 7. Son of legendary Australian cricketer and passionate poker fan Shane Warne, who passed away in 2022, Jackson spoke with PokerNews about his love of poker, his father’s legacy and his future poker plans.

“Unbelievable Turnout” says Warne

Jackson was straight into the action on Day 1a, and said it felt surreal to be back playing in the Aussie Millions Main Event.

“I can’t believe it’s been six years,” he told PokerNews. “Some of my earliest memories of playing poker are at the Crown. On the night I turned 18, I came here with my dad. And we were downstairs waiting until the clock ticked past midnight before I could come in.

“And we walked straight into the poker room together. I associate all my happy memories with dad playing poker, and especially during the Aussie Millions.”

“I associate all my happy memories with dad playing poker, and especially during the Aussie Millions”

The festival has enjoyed record numbers of its opening ten days, including a new record for the largest Mystery Bounty and $5,000 tournaments ever held in the country. Now it’s time for the Main Event, with a bumper field expected over the remaining two straight flights.

“It just feels awesome. Even though it used to be in January, and it’s a little later this year, they’re breaking record after record. There’s an unbelievable turnout so far,

“Just to see all the Melbourne poker players and the entire Australian poker community come together is awesome. Hopefully it grows year on year, Crown are happy with the numbers, and we’ll get to do it again next year!

Remembering Shane Warne

It’s hard for any poker player – Australian or otherwise – to think of the Aussie Millions and not think of Shane Warne. The former 888poker Ambassador was a familiar face at the Crown whenever the festival was on.

In 2012, he co-hosted a charity poker tournament with 2005 WSOP Main Event champion Joe Hachem. The event featured big name poker players such as Tony G, Patrik Antonius, Dan Cates, Maria Ho and Annette Obrestad and was won by Glen McGregor. Both Hachem and Warne cashed in the event.

The last time the Aussie Millions was held, Warne announced the Shuffle Up and Deal on Day 1c, and raised of A$1 million (~US$718,000) for charity in the wake of the devastating Australian bushfires.

In an interview with PokerNews that year, Warne Sr spoke about his son and the competitive spirit that existed between the pair.

“It’s a ding-dong battle between the two of us, don’t worry about that!” said Warne Sr. “[Me and Jackson] play heads-up tournaments together, and I mean last night we played Monopoly, and he got me, so I had better get him back.”

Six years later, Jackson is quick to imagine the presence of his father at this year’s event.

“You’d be seeing his face everywhere,” smiled Jackson. “You’d be hearing his voice. He would always like to be the loudest on the table, especially this time of the year.”

In the late 1980s, Warne played Australian Rules Football for the St Kilda reserve team. Earlier this week Andrew Bassat, current president of the St Kilda Football Club, won a special charity tournament. Jackson says his father would have enjoyed it, considering his fanatical support of the club.

“I was playing [poker] last week, and St Kilda were on the TV in the poker room. If the Saints were on and Dad was there, the poker table would be the funnest environment ever.”

Warne the Podcaster

Warne’s father is a huge influence in some of his work outside of poker, with a podcast called Warnes Way, featuring interviews with cricketing greats such as Ian Botham and Merv Hughes, as well as other celebrities such as Piers Morgan and Ed Sheeran.

“It was something that my dad and I were going to start together before the pandemic. It’s all about talking to some of his friends and getting them to share stories about dad. It’s going really well.

“I think eventually it’ll turn into a regular podcast where I’m interviewing the person, but speaking with some of the cricketers like Aaron Finch or Glenn Maxwell, and hearing their stories about dad is nice for me to hear. They all just really loved my dad and miss him. I think it just shows the impact dad left on everyone.”

Warne at the 2026 WSOP

In 2022, Jackson made it to Day 3 of the WSOP Main Event, narrowly missing out on the money. This year, he’s ready for another crack at it.

“I’ve just booked my flights for the 2026 WSOP this summer. I’m there from the start of June until the end. It was literally my dad’s dream to go to Vegas and play together for the whole five or six weeks. I obviously went there all the time with him, but never got the chance to play because I wasn’t old enough. It wasn’t until after he passed away that I got to play the Main Event.”

Jackson says he’s planning on playing a full WSOP schedule this year, up to and including the 2026 WSOP Main Event, and is hoping to emulate the performance of a compatriot: Malcolm Trayner, who won the $1,500 Mystery Millions for $1,000,000 two years ago.

“I get inspired by Malcolm and what he did. I look at that and think if he can do it, then why can’t I do it? I’m so excited just to go over there and just sit, play, and have cards in my hands.

“And the chips! That was one of my favourite things to hear, the sound of all the chips in the tournament room. This year it’s coming around quick and I’m so excited.”

However, there may need to be some rearranging of Jackson’s schedule. With the WSOP Main Event final table being played out on ESPN in August, he may have a clash with some prior media commitments.

“I’m meant to be working for Sky Sports in August, so I might have to say, ‘Hang on, guys, I’ve made the WSOP final table!” There will have to be some sort of compromise.”

But any compromise would be worth it for Jackson, whose love of poker shines through just as much as his father’s love of the game did.

Surprisingly, neither Jackson nor his father has ever cashed in the Aussie Millions Main Event. Through to Day 2 at the earliest opportunity, Jackson will have his father there right alongside him the rest of the way.

During the interview, Jackson flashes us his phone screensaver: a picture of him and his father.

“I feel like dad’s here in spirit. Every time I tap my phone, it’s me and him together as the background. It’s so good to be here.”

Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor.

He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.