For the upcoming partypoker LIVE MILLIONS tour, the online poker room has introduced the “MILLIONS Passport,” giving poker players a more flexible option when qualifying for events.
Phased satellites
The MILLIONS Passport begins with online satellites. These satellites cost $109 to enter and use a “phased” format. A phased tournament is effectively a multiple starting flight event like we see in some of the big live tournaments during the year. The Phase 1 MILLIONS Passport satellites, or “Semi Finals” as they are called in the partypoker lobby, are held multiple times per day.
The Semi Final portions of the satellite run through Level 16. At that point, the players who still have chips advance to the MILLIONS Passport Final, held each Sunday at 16:00 server time. No direct buy-ins are permitted for the Final. Players must qualify for it via the first phase tournament.
Passport removes rigidity from satellite prizes
Each MILLIONS Passport Final will award at least ten $10,000 prize packages. The packages include a buy-in to one of the MILLIONS events, travel expenses, hotel accommodations, and “exclusive extras.” Partypoker says the prize package is more than an $11,000 value (yes, I know I wrote $10,000 a couple sentences ago – I’m just reporting what the poker room is saying).
Those who choose to play in the MILLIONS Online with their Passport, rather than one of the live tournaments, will receive more than $11,000 in online buy-ins instead of the expenses.
Once they win a prize package, players have 12 months to use it.
Said partypoker LIVE president John Duthie:
The introduction of the Passport for MILLIONS events in 2020 is the result of player feedback and is also aimed at the amateur game. Players can now win a package and choose their event through the passport – for example, a player can secure their package for the MILLIONS Caribbean Poker Party this month which was never an option before. We have also introduced a number of additional measures we believe helps recreational and amateur players.
Every partypoker MILLIONS Main Event has a buy-in of $5,300/€5,300/£5,300. Here is the schedule for this year:
May 2020 – MILLIONS Cyprus, Merit Casino
June 2020 – MILLIONS Vegas, Aria Resort & Casino
August 2020 – MILLIONS London, Park Lane Hilton
September 2020 – MILLIONS Online
November 2020 – MILLIONS Caribbean Poker Party, Baha Mar, The Bahamas
2021 – MILLIONS Prague, Hilton Prague
Cyprus and London are new to partypoker MILLIONS in 2020. The London Main Event is unique in that it does not allow for direct buy-ins. Anyone who wants to participate must either win a MILLIONS Passport and use it to buy-in to the partypoker MILLIONS London Main Event, or win a direct satellite into the tournament.
