The World Series of Poker draws the world together around the card table but, by the end of June, players are a bit spent (both physically and cash-wise). The “powers that be” with partypoker and their extremely successful LIVE series aren’t daunted by this, however, as they have teamed up with ARIA Resort and Casino in Las Vegas for the inaugural partypoker MILLIONS Vegas.
$5 Million Guarantee, Tournament Starts on June 28
The tournament will be the continuation of the successful MILLIONS series that partypoker has put forth and their first step into Las Vegas will be a big one. The $10,000 ($300 juice) event will feature two Day Ones for players, with one entry allowed per day. In a change of pace for the series, players will also be able to buy in on Day 2 during the first two levels of action. This should ensure that the $5 million guarantee is met, which will take 500 players (or thereabouts).
“The partnership with ARIA in Vegas is a significant step, marking the first time partypoker LIVE has hosted a tournament in the United States,” John Duthie, the President of partypoker LIVE, stated to the partypoker Blog. “The poker team at ARIA is well known for being genuinely passionate about the game. We believe they see things the same way we do and that it’s not all business, it is about listening to players and growing the game.”
Sean McCormack, the Director of Poker Operations with ARIA and one of the most respected industry professionals in the game, echoed Duthie’s sentiments. “We’re looking forward to MILLIONS making its debut this summer at the resort. Our team is excited to add an event of this magnitude to our extensive summer schedule.”
What isn’t known at this time is if there will be other events that will lead up to the partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Vegas. There will be four satellites for the event, two $515 events (with unlimited re-entry) on June 27 and two more that will be held on June 28 (for the Day 1B action). A final satellite with a $2000 buy in (and unlimited reentry) will be run on June 29, with those players getting into the action for Day 2.
partypoker Setting Up Shop in the Western Hemisphere
To say that partypoker LIVE is setting up shop in the Western Hemisphere for the next few months would be an understatement. They will conduct the MILLIONS North America at the Playground Poker Club in Montreal from now until May 26. After their stop in Las Vegas at ARIA, the LIVE staff will zoom back across the Atlantic for a quick stop at the King’s Casino in Rozvadov. The MILLIONS Europe will run from August 10-18 with a €10,000 Main Event and a €5 million guarantee for that event.
It will all culminate in a run to the Caribbean. The partypoker Caribbean Poker Party has become one of the more popular stops on the international tournament poker scene, probably because of the opportunity to head to the Bahamas and get out of the cold in November. From November 15-24, the Caribbean Poker Party will rage, with it all culminating in the MILLIONS World Bahamas Main Event from November 18-23.
partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Becoming A Major Tour?
In just a short couple of years, the partypoker LIVE MILLIONS events have begun to challenge those tournaments with more age. Players are now having to decide on playing in the MILLIONS events or with the European Poker Tour and the World Poker Tour, who are the two circuits that have the best credibility. Under the leadership of Duthie and with Poker Hall of Famer Mike Sexton involved with partypoker, the LIVE circuit is beginning to make inroads. Could they be considered a “major” circuit very soon?