Those who enjoyed “Face the Ace” have another poker-themed game show to look forward to, as the PokerStars-sponsored “PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge” is set to premiere on Fox on Sunday, October 11th.
The new series will air after Sunday NFL coverage and will feature a series of online qualifiers trying to win the $1 million first place prize. In order to make it on the show, contestants had to win a freeroll on PokerStars and submit a minute-long video explaining why they deserved to appear. Those who are fortunate enough to be selected have a ways to go before the $1 million is in their pockets.
Contestants will have to survive a series of four heads-up poker matches before the money is theirs, but they will have a little help along the way. During the first round, players will face off against a famous sports star or celebrity like Jerome Bettis, MMA fighter Tito Ortiz, or Playboy Playmate Jayde Nicole. Even though these celebrities will likely have comparable or less poker experience than the challenger, the challenger will also have the benefit of Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu sitting by their side offering them advice. During the first round, Negreanu will be seated right next to the contestant offering his insight, but should the player advance to Round Two, Negreanu relocates to an isolation booth while the player takes on their next opponent.
Round Two will feature a match against a Team PokerStars Pro like Barry Greenstein, Vanessa Rousso, or former World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event winner Chris Moneymaker. Contestants can still seek advice from Negreanu, but it will be out of earshot of their highly skilled opponents. For every Round One and Round Two match won by a contestant with Negreanu’s help, PokerStars will donate $10,000 to a charity of the Canadian pro’s choosing. Charitable donations will also be made should one of the Team PokerStars Pros or celebrities eliminate the contestant.
Once the first two matches are in the books, the bond between contestant and Negreanu will be turned on its head, as the coach becomes the competition in Rounds Three and Four. After spending two matches picking up the contestant’s tendencies and playing style, Negreanu will square off against them. If the contestant can beat the pro in back-to-back heads-up matches, they will walk away $1 million wealthier.
Contestants will earn prizes for each round they successfully win. If they beat the celebrity in Round One, they’ll earn a prize package to the 2010 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in the Bahamas. If they manage to best the pro in Round Two, they’ll net $25,000. If they want, players can take that money and walk away or they can put it on the line to face off against Negreanu. If they opt to play in Round Three and win, they’ll earn $100,000 and a seat at the final show’s Table of Champions, which will give players a second chance to take on Negreanu for $1 million. Those fortunate few who make it to Round Four will win the coveted $1 million should they best Negreanu a second time.
The Million Dollar Challenge will be hosted by Chris Rose of “Best Damn Sports Show Period” and “Poker Superstars Invitational” fame and, like “Face the Ace,” will air approximately once per month. After the first two shows air in back-to-back weeks on October 11th and October 18th, it will return again November 22nd and December 13th, with its final episode airing on December 27th.
Viewers will also have a chance to get in on the action with freeroll tournaments on PokerStars.net and other giveaways set to take place when the show airs in two weeks.
