When 27 year-old Tennessee accountant Chris Moneymaker turned a $39 online satellite tournament win on PokerStars.com into a $2.5 million windfall at the World Series of Poker back in 2003, people around the world asked “Why not me?”
Poker Stars has answered that question with the announcement of the Moneymaker Millionaire, the biggest ever, free to enter tournament for online pokers yet seen on the Internet.
Starting this week, PokerStars.com is giving players from around the world the chance to compete for a $2.5 million prize pool – including a brand new Aston Martin DB9 Volante and a trip to the exotic Bahamas – to play down to one winner and a $1 million first prize at the main event.
Free entry to the tournament will help many players realise an ambition to follow in the footsteps of 2003 World Series of Poker champ, Chris Moneymaker. Acknowledged as one of the major reasons behind the massive rise in popularity of online poker, Moneymaker’s real life success story has been a source of inspiration to thousands of novice and semi-professional players worldwide. Having gained virtually all of his poker experience online, the Tennessee accountant astounded a field of over 800 skilled players by winning $2.5 million – elevating the Moneymaker name to celebrity status overnight.
“PokerStars.com gave me the experience I needed to become a champion,” said Moneymaker. “Now everyone, regardless of their poker experience, has the chance to win part of a prize pool of $2.5 million – the same amount I won in the World Series of Poker.”
Over the next five months, a series of daily, weekly and monthly online tournaments will be run from July through December, with times that accommodate players from all over the world. First time entry is free for new and existing customers, with subsequent entry costs based on 10 Frequent Player Points (FPP).
Overall, 27 finalists, will receive roundtrip airfare and accommodations for two to the Bahamas for one week at the luxurious Atlantis Island Resort, which will play host to the final tables of the Moneymaker Millionaire tournament.
Chris Moneymaker will be there to offer the finalists his support, best tips and insights into the game. Finalists will compete for a first place prize of $1 million in cash and prizes including the Aston Martin DB9 Volante, with a further $1million in cash payments awarded amongst the remaining finalists and over $500 000 being distributed to online players who didn’t make it to the Bahamas.
The Moneymaker Millionaire tournament will be launched with a multi-million dollar advertising campaign featuring Chris Moneymaker as you’ve never seen him before. These advertisements bring the champion’s amazing story to life in a humorous way.