Daniel Mayoh is hoping that an extra year of work at the poker table will go a long way to helping him defend his $2,500 H.O.R.S.E. title at the 2020 Aussie Millions.

Despite coming in as defending champion, Mayoh admits that it will be an achievement just to cash in what is consistently one of the toughest fields at the festival.

"There's not a lot of recreational players in this field," said Mayoh. "I'll know all of the Melbourne regulars, and actually over the last twelve months, there has been a lot more mixed games being played here in Melbourne.

"There's a good dozen of us who have got a lot more experience than we did this time last year. We'll see if that translates today!

As well as winning his first championship ring here in Melbourne, last year saw Mayoh head to Las Vegas for the first time to take part in the World Series of Poker.

"I was only there for the first two weeks, playing a few of the $1,500 Mixed Game events. I was a little put off by some of the Americans. They're very...insulting, or condescending if they think you're playing badly they'll insult you for it, even though they want bad players at their table! I really didn't get it.

"If I go back this year I'll do it with a thicker skin and just put headphones on and ignore it a bit more!"

With the experience under his belt, Mayoh said he has also been putting in the work in cash games here in Australia too.

"I played a lot of mixed cash games at the World Series and that was great, it's just harder to get those games up here. It's all about getting the games spread that we want, so when we do it it's a really great chance to play. Now I'm ready for the Aussie Millions!

"I've just been really looking forward to this, to have a chance to defend my title."

Tags: Daniel Mayoh