Poker Million

After nearly one year of qualifying buildup, the final 72 players in the Ladbrokespoker.com Poker Million made their way to London for a chance to play on television, and more importantly, win the $1 million first prize. Twelve qualifying heats and two semifinals hit the can over two weeks of filming at the Sky Sports Isleworth studios.



The six finalists who remain will be revealed between April and July, as the 15-show series is aired weekly until the final table is played out live on Sky Sports, with $1.7 million in prize money still up for grabs.



Play was intense, but the real fun was in the Sky Sports studio green room, where wives, friends, and backers could sweat their stars while watching the cards via a live feed. Lingkoping, Sweden, was there in force, as was a crowd of beer men from Norway. And each night, the bar and restaurant at the Paddington Hilton heaved with the spread laid on by Ladbrokes host and marketing man Nigel Blower.



Ladbrokes is not resting on its laurels after pumping $855,000 in added money into the Poker Million, with the Ladbrokes European Online Championship of Poker (LEOCOP) scheduled for the last week in April; $1.2 million is guaranteed in prize money over the eight days, with a free 2005 Ladbrokes Caribbean cruise package added to every event.



Satellites for the championship event are being held at all levels, starting at as little as $3.



Sun 24th April $150 + $12 No-Limit Hold'em (Unl. Rebuys) $50,000 GUARANTEED

Mon 25th April $200 + $15 Limit Hold'em (Max 3 Rebuys) $50,000 GUARANTEED

Tue 26th April $200 + $15 Limit Hold'em (Max 3 Rebuys) $50,000 GUARANTEED

Wed 27th April $500 + $40 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout $160,000 GUARANTEED

Thur 28th April $250 + $20 Pot-Limit Hold'em (Max 3 Rebuys) $70,000 GUARANTEED

Fri 29th April $125 + $10 Supersatellite for Championship Event $750,000 GUARANTEED

Sat 30th April $2,500 + $175 CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT $750,000 GUARANTEED

Sun 1st May $300 + $20 Limit Hold'em $30,000 GUARANTEED