Poker Million
Encyclopedia
The Poker Million has been a televised European poker tournament since its inception in November 2000. The final debuted to 30 million viewers and has since remained popular. It was created by UK gaming outfit Ladbrokes
with the help of sports promotion firm Matchroom Sport
. In 2009 sponsorship was transferred from Ladbrokes to Full Tilt Poker
, which produced Poker Million VIII.
The exact format for The Poker Million has changed with sponsorship over the years, but typically involves a starting field of 72 players in 12 heats. The winners of each heat advance to one of two semi-final tables. The semi-final tables play down to three players, and then combine to form the final table.
, who later created the European Poker Tour
, defeated Teddy Tuli with a full house on the final hand to win the first place prize of £1 million.
The tournament returned in 2003 with Poker Million II. Snooker-player Jimmy White won $150,000 for first place at a final table featuring heart rate monitors and exposed hole cards.
The field for Poker Million III was expanded to feature 72 players, including 36 online qualifiers and number of celebrities. Among the celebrities were snooker stars Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams and 2003 winner Jimmy White; rugby World Cup star Mike Tindall; and, sports celebrities Tony Cascarino and Phil Taylor (15 time World Darts Champion). Irish poker professional Donnacha O’Dea won first place and $300,000.
Ladbrokes
guaranteed a $1 million first place prize for Poker Million IV. Freeroll qualifier Tony Jones outlasted 66 fellow online qualifiers, eventually defeating television celebrity Helen “Hells_Bells” Chamberlain heads up to claim the million dollar prize.
Northampton, UK resident Rajesh “foggy71” Modha won Poker Million V after qualifying in a $9 satellite. He overcame a final table draw that seated two-time bracelet winner and chipleader Mel Judah to his left, earning $1.2 million for the effort.
Joe Beevers won Poker Million VI when his pocket nines held up against Marty Smyth’s King high. It was the second consecutive year Smyth was eliminated at the final table of the Poker Million.
Smyth returned in 2008 to win the Poker Million VII for $1 million, after being reduced to one set of blinds on the third hand at the final table.
James Akenhead won the 2009 Poker Million VIII, held in London on December 4. Akenhead entered heads up play at a slight chip disadvantage to Juha Helppi. Akenhead eventually gained the chip lead and got all-in pre-flop with pocket tens to Helppi’s pocket 6s. Akenhead earned $500,000 for 1st, and Helppi $250,000 for 2nd.
Gus Hansen
won the 2010 Poker Million IX on December 10, defeating Tony Bloom
heads up to win the $1,000,000 winner takes all prize from a final table of 8.
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes plc is a British based gambling company. It is based in Rayners Lane in Harrow, London owned by Bhavin Kakaiya. From 14 May 1999 to 23 February 2006, when it owned the Hilton hotel brand outside the United States, it was known as Hilton Group plc...
with the help of sports promotion firm Matchroom Sport
Matchroom Sport
Matchroom Sport is a sport event promotions company founded by the English entrepreneur Barry Hearn. It first came to attention in the sports of snooker and boxing and is also involved in pool, bowling, golf , fishing, darts and poker...
. In 2009 sponsorship was transferred from Ladbrokes to Full Tilt Poker
Full Tilt Poker
Full Tilt Poker is an online poker card room that opened in June 2004 with the involvement of poker professionals Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey, Andy Bloch, Mike Matusow, Jennifer Harman and Chris Ferguson...
, which produced Poker Million VIII.
Format
The Poker Million is a no-limit Texas holdem “shootout” tournament. Shootout tournaments differ from standard tournaments in that starting tables do not rebalance as players are eliminated. Instead, each starting table is an independent “heat” which plays down to one player, who then advances to the next round.The exact format for The Poker Million has changed with sponsorship over the years, but typically involves a starting field of 72 players in 12 heats. The winners of each heat advance to one of two semi-final tables. The semi-final tables play down to three players, and then combine to form the final table.
History
Poker Million I was sponsored by Ladbrokes and Matchroom Sport and took place at the Hilton Hotel on the Isle of Man in November, 2000. Coverage of the final table drew 30 million viewers. John DuthieJohn Duthie
John Duthie is a London-based English television director and creator of the European Poker Tour.-Film and television:...
, who later created the European Poker Tour
European Poker Tour
The Pokerstars European Poker Tour is a series of poker tournaments similar to those in the World Poker Tour , created by John Duthie, winner of the inaugural Poker Million tournament. It began in 2004 as part of the worldwide explosion in Texas Hold 'em popularity...
, defeated Teddy Tuli with a full house on the final hand to win the first place prize of £1 million.
The tournament returned in 2003 with Poker Million II. Snooker-player Jimmy White won $150,000 for first place at a final table featuring heart rate monitors and exposed hole cards.
The field for Poker Million III was expanded to feature 72 players, including 36 online qualifiers and number of celebrities. Among the celebrities were snooker stars Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams and 2003 winner Jimmy White; rugby World Cup star Mike Tindall; and, sports celebrities Tony Cascarino and Phil Taylor (15 time World Darts Champion). Irish poker professional Donnacha O’Dea won first place and $300,000.
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes plc is a British based gambling company. It is based in Rayners Lane in Harrow, London owned by Bhavin Kakaiya. From 14 May 1999 to 23 February 2006, when it owned the Hilton hotel brand outside the United States, it was known as Hilton Group plc...
guaranteed a $1 million first place prize for Poker Million IV. Freeroll qualifier Tony Jones outlasted 66 fellow online qualifiers, eventually defeating television celebrity Helen “Hells_Bells” Chamberlain heads up to claim the million dollar prize.
Northampton, UK resident Rajesh “foggy71” Modha won Poker Million V after qualifying in a $9 satellite. He overcame a final table draw that seated two-time bracelet winner and chipleader Mel Judah to his left, earning $1.2 million for the effort.
Joe Beevers won Poker Million VI when his pocket nines held up against Marty Smyth’s King high. It was the second consecutive year Smyth was eliminated at the final table of the Poker Million.
Smyth returned in 2008 to win the Poker Million VII for $1 million, after being reduced to one set of blinds on the third hand at the final table.
James Akenhead won the 2009 Poker Million VIII, held in London on December 4. Akenhead entered heads up play at a slight chip disadvantage to Juha Helppi. Akenhead eventually gained the chip lead and got all-in pre-flop with pocket tens to Helppi’s pocket 6s. Akenhead earned $500,000 for 1st, and Helppi $250,000 for 2nd.
Gus Hansen
Gus Hansen
Gustav "Gus" Hansen is a professional Danish poker player who lives in Monaco. In his poker career, Hansen has won three World Poker Tour open titles, the 2007 Aussie Millions main event and was the season one winner of the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament...
won the 2010 Poker Million IX on December 10, defeating Tony Bloom
Tony Bloom
Anthony Grant "Tony" Bloom is a football club chairman and successful poker player.-Poker and betting:Bloom made a name for himself as a successful sports bettor and property investor...
heads up to win the $1,000,000 winner takes all prize from a final table of 8.
Results
| Date | Winner | Prize | Other Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-Nov-2000 | John Duthie John Duthie John Duthie is a London-based English television director and creator of the European Poker Tour.-Film and television:... |
£1,000,000 |
|
| 14-Mar-2003 | Jimmy White Jimmy White James Warren "Jimmy" White MBE is an English professional snooker player. Nicknamed the "Whirlwind" and popularly referred to as the "People's Champion", White is a multiple World Championship finalist renowned for losing each of the six finals he contested.White's extensive list of achievements,... |
$150,000 |
Joe Beevers Joseph "Joe" Charles Beevers is an English professional poker player and a member of The Hendon Mob.... Bruce Atkinson (poker player) Robert Bruce "Elvis Senior" Atkinson is an English professional poker player and the President of the European Poker Players Hall of Fame.Atkinson started off playing seven card stud in the early 1980s, but moved to hold'em later.... Steve Davis Steve Davis, OBE is an English professional snooker player. He has won more professional titles in the sport than any other player, including six World Championships during the 1980s, when he was the world number one for seven years and became the sport's first millionaire... |
| 09-Jul-2004 | Donnacha O'Dea Donnacha O'Dea Donnacha "The Don" O'Dea is an Irish professional poker player. In his youth he was a swimmer, and represented Ireland in the 1968 Olympics. He was also the first Irish swimmer to swim 100m in less than one minute... |
$300,000 |
Dave Ulliott David A. Ulliott , known by the nickname Devilfish, is an English professional gambler and poker player. Formerly, Ulliott was a minor figure in the Hull underworld, but went on to become a World Series of Poker bracelet-winner, and a mainstay of televised poker... Zac Goldsmith Frank Zacharias Robin "Zac" Goldsmith, MP is an English environmental journalist, entrepreneur and Conservative Party politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for Richmond Park since winning the seat at the 2010 general election.Goldsmith is the middle child of the late financier Sir... |
| 19-Aug-2005 | Tony Jones | $1,000,000 |
Helen Chamberlain Helen Marie Chamberlain is an English television presenter.She previously worked as a holiday camp entertainer and Disc Jockey before working on a variety of radio and television programmes... Martin Wendt Martin Wendt is a Danish professional poker player.In the 2005 Poker Million, Wendt was at one time the chip leader, but ended up finishing in 3rd place, earning $200,000... Donnacha O'Dea Donnacha "The Don" O'Dea is an Irish professional poker player. In his youth he was a swimmer, and represented Ireland in the 1968 Olympics. He was also the first Irish swimmer to swim 100m in less than one minute... |
| 15-Dec-2006 | Rajesh Modha | $1,200,000 |
Andreas Høivold Andreas Høivold , is a Norwegian professional Poker player.He became famous when he came 3rd in Poker Million V in 2006, despite having turned pro only seven months prior... Mel Judah Mel Judah is an Australian professional poker player, also known as "The Silver Fox" . He learned poker at the age of 14 by watching his father play 5-card draw.... Marty Smyth Marty Smyth is a professional poker player from Belfast, Northern Ireland with a track record including wins in the 2007 Irish Poker Open Championship and the 2008 Poker Million. He won his first WSOP bracelet in the 2008 $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha World Championship.-Poker career:Marty Smyth has... |
| 21-Dec-2007 | Joe Beevers Joe Beevers Joseph "Joe" Charles Beevers is an English professional poker player and a member of The Hendon Mob.... |
$1,000,000 |
Marty Smyth Marty Smyth is a professional poker player from Belfast, Northern Ireland with a track record including wins in the 2007 Irish Poker Open Championship and the 2008 Poker Million. He won his first WSOP bracelet in the 2008 $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha World Championship.-Poker career:Marty Smyth has... Liam Flood Liam Flood is an Irish bookmaker and professional poker player who is a former European poker champion.-Poker career:Flood began playing poker tournaments in the 1980s in Ireland. He won the Irish Poker Open in 1990 and 1996, becoming one of only four players to have won that tournament multiple... Howard Lederer Howard Henry Lederer is an American professional poker player and brother of poker professional Annie Duke, and author and poet Katy Lederer. On September 20, 2011, the U.S... |
| 12-Dec-2008 | Marty Smyth Marty Smyth Marty Smyth is a professional poker player from Belfast, Northern Ireland with a track record including wins in the 2007 Irish Poker Open Championship and the 2008 Poker Million. He won his first WSOP bracelet in the 2008 $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha World Championship.-Poker career:Marty Smyth has... |
$1,000,000 |
Donnacha O'Dea Donnacha "The Don" O'Dea is an Irish professional poker player. In his youth he was a swimmer, and represented Ireland in the 1968 Olympics. He was also the first Irish swimmer to swim 100m in less than one minute... Ciaran O'Leary Ciarán O'Leary is an Irish professional poker player who resides in Seattle, Washington, USA.-Early life:O'Leary grew up in modest conditions in the single street village of Carrigaline, County Cork, Ireland. Son of greyhound trainer Terry O'Leary and mother Sheila, Ciarán was one of three children... Liam Flood Liam Flood is an Irish bookmaker and professional poker player who is a former European poker champion.-Poker career:Flood began playing poker tournaments in the 1980s in Ireland. He won the Irish Poker Open in 1990 and 1996, becoming one of only four players to have won that tournament multiple... |
| 4-Dec-2009 | James Akenhead James Akenhead James Akenhead is a professional English poker player, sponsored by Full Tilt Poker. and part of the London based poker group The Hitsquad... |
$500,000 |
Juha Helppi Juha Helppi is a Finnish professional poker player from Helsinki.-Career:Juha was originally a poker dealer, but made a name for himself in the first World Poker Tour event in Aruba, where he eliminated Kathy Liebert on the way to defeating professional player Phil Gordon in a heads-up challenge... Dag Martin Mikkelsen Dag Martin Mikkelsen is a Norwegian poker player, known as "dmmikkel". At the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event Mikkelsen at one time was the chip leader. Eventually he came in 42nd place and won the largest sum a Norwegian has ever won in WSOP... Luke Schwartz Luke Schwartz is a professional poker player from London, England.Schwartz's first cash was at the Grosvenor World Masters in 2005 where he won £3,900 for his eighth place finish in the £1,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event... Taylor Caby Taylor Caby is an American poker player and entrepreneur. He is co-founder and CEO of CardRunners, the poker training website, and a Managing Partner at Hold'em Manager, the poker analytics software.- Career :... |
| 10-Dec-2010 | Gus Hansen Gus Hansen Gustav "Gus" Hansen is a professional Danish poker player who lives in Monaco. In his poker career, Hansen has won three World Poker Tour open titles, the 2007 Aussie Millions main event and was the season one winner of the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament... |
$1,000,000 |
Tony Bloom Anthony Grant "Tony" Bloom is a football club chairman and successful poker player.-Poker and betting:Bloom made a name for himself as a successful sports bettor and property investor... James Bord James Bord, born 1981, is a professional poker player. Originally from Stanmore, U.K., he now divides his time between London and Las Vegas. His biggest victory was the 2010 World Series of Poker Europe main event, where he won $1,313,611. and became the first British champion of that event... Barny Boatman Barny M. P. Boatman , is an English professional poker player and the oldest member of the poker-playing foursome known as The Hendon Mob... Howard Lederer Howard Henry Lederer is an American professional poker player and brother of poker professional Annie Duke, and author and poet Katy Lederer. On September 20, 2011, the U.S... Patrik Antonius Patrik Antonius is a Finnish professional poker player, former tennis player and coach, and model from Vantaa, Finland. He currently resides in Monte Carlo... |