The 'Million Dollar Tour' in 2002

Happy New Year! 2002 will be a year for poker like no other in history. That's right, like no other in history. Forget about what you've heard about poker "shrinking." It's simply not true. There are more people playing poker now than ever before. Poker is thriving in brick and mortar casinos, and online poker is growing by leaps and bounds. And in 2002, tournament poker will "wow" you with opportunities for prosperity.

Why the "wow"? Well, there has been only one year in poker that has had two tournaments guarantee $1 million (or more) in prize money. That year was 2000, and those tournaments were the $10,000 buy-in championship event at the World Series of Poker and Ladbrokes Casino's Poker Million on the Isle of Man. In 2002, six tournaments are guaranteeing prize pools of $1 million or more! And three of those tournaments are guaranteeing $1 million or more to the winner! This is unprecedented in poker.

All six of these guaranteed tournaments will take place in the first five months of 2002. The first three are guaranteeing $1 million prize pools, and the next three are guaranteeing $1 million, $1.5 million, and $2 million to the winners! Let's look at who is "wowing" poker on the "Million Dollar Tour."

The first stop on the tour is the $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em championship event at the Jack Binion World Poker Open in Tunica, Mississippi, Jan. 23-26, 2002. Jack Binion has been tournament poker's biggest supporter over the last 30 years. He hosted the WSOP until a few years ago, and was the first person to guarantee a $1 million first prize in a poker tournament. That tournament (the main event of the 1990 WSOP, won by Brad Daugherty), fueled by Binion's $1 million guarantee to the winner, experienced the largest increase in number of entrants in WSOP championship event history. Thanks, Jack, for stepping up to the plate again with the $1 million guarantee in Tunica.

The next stop is the Commerce Casino's L.A. Poker Classic in February. This venue includes two tournaments boasting $1 million guarantees, a first for any tournament. The first $1 million tournament is a $1,570 buy-in limit hold'em event on Feb. 9, 2002. The second $1 million tournament comes in the $7,600 buy-in no-limit hold'em championship event, Feb. 23-25, 2002. On behalf of all players, hats off to Commerce Casino for providing not one, but two $1 million tournaments at the L.A. Poker Classic!

You've got to "cruise" to your next million. The PartyPoker Million, created by PartyPoker.com and hosted by Card Player Cruises, will be held on Carnival Cruise Line's Elation, March 10-17, 2002. This unique event is the combination of an online tournament and a "live" championship final. Players can make it to the PPM finals two ways. First, they can buy a seat directly into the finals aboard ship for $8,000 (call 800-305-3942 to book a cabin or for further info). Second, they can earn their way into the finals, which includes a free cruise for two and $500 in cash, by playing a PPM tournament on PartyPoker.com for a $22 buy-in. First place in the PartyPoker Million will be $1 million and $200,000 will be added to the prize pool – talk about value! This is a "party" you won't want to miss.

Our next stop on the "Million Dollar Tour" takes us to Europe. It is the second Poker Million tournament and it is sponsored by Ladbrokes Casino www.ladbrokes.com. This event will be held in London March 28-31, 2002. It is a $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament with a £1 million first prize (approximately $1.5 million). I played in the first Poker Million on the Isle of Man, and it was all first-class. I'm sure this one will be bigger and better.

The last stop on this dream tour is Binion's Horseshoe in Las Vegas at the WSOP in May. It is a $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament to determine the World Champion of Poker. This event is the "granddaddy" of all poker tournaments. And, for the first time in history, the winner will receive $2 million! Winning this event not only will make you a multimillionaire, it will immortalize you in the poker world forever.

Does it look like poker is shrinking to you? It doesn't to me. I hope to see you on the "Million Dollar Tour" in 2002. Take care.