PartyPoker Million

Poker is entering an exciting new age. It's expanding not only in terms of "brick and mortar" poker rooms, but in online poker rooms, as well. The advent of online players should certainly create a larger base of poker players throughout the world. Brick and mortar casinos will benefit from this growth, and that is good for the entire industry.

Tournament poker as we know it is about to be revolutionized. The revolution is due to a combination of online tournaments and "live" poker events. It's the biggest breakthrough for tournament poker in years, and perhaps ever. The number of million dollar purses could increase dramatically in the future because of the combination of online and live tournaments.

The PartyPoker Million (PPM) is taking the first step into this unique arena. The PPM is a limit hold'em tournament with a guaranteed first prize of $1 million! (Yes, that's six zeroes.) The total prize pool is estimated to be $2.6 million, which would make it the second-largest tournament in history behind the $10,000 buy-in main event at the World Series of Poker.

Here's the best part. Players may enter the tournament for as little as a $22 buy-in and progress through the preliminaries and semifinals by playing online, or they may pay an $8,000 buy-in to enter the finals directly. This format will allow everyone to play. It will appeal to the "little guy" and the high roller.

Think about this: For $22, the cost of going to the movies with a companion (and getting some popcorn), you can play an enjoyable and fun poker tournament and perhaps win a luxurious cruise for two, $500 in cash, and $1 million! (Yes, only one player will win the million, but 100 players will win a cruise for two, $500 in cash, and the chance to play for a share of an estimated $2.6 million in prize money, with 36th place receiving $10,000.)

Here's how it works: The preliminaries and semifinals will be held online at PartyPoker.com beginning Aug. 1, 2001. The finals will be a "live" event held aboard Carnival Cruise Line's "Elation" March 10-17, 2002 (departing and returning to San Pedro, California). The finals will be hosted and conducted by Linda Johnson and Card Player Cruises.

Players who prefer to play online (for $22) must win a preliminary tournament to advance to the semifinals, but may play as many preliminary tournaments as they wish and may qualify twice. The semifinals will be held over five days (Jan. 31 and Feb. 1-4, 2002). Players will choose which day(s) of the semifinals they wish to play. Those who win two preliminary tournaments must play their semifinals on different days.

Each day of semifinals will consist of two rounds of one-table tournaments. Depending on the number of preliminary winners, players must win or place second in the first round and must win the second round to advance to the finals. Twenty players each day (a total of 100 players) will advance to the finals. Each of those 100 players will win a luxurious seven-day cruise for two, $500 in cash, and a paid entry ($8,000) into the finals and the chance to win $1 million and enjoy the experience of a lifetime.

A total of 100 players will qualify from the semifinals, and up to 200 additional players may enter the finals by paying an $8,000 entry fee and the cost of the cruise. Registration of these additional entrants will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and only 200 seats will be available. (For those who preregister with Card Player Cruises and then win a semifinal, their deposit/entry fee will be fully refunded.) All of the additional $8,000 entry fees will go to the prize pool for second through 36th place.

For those of you who are looking for an exciting, affordable tournament with big prize money, the PartyPoker Million might be for you. Take care.