There’s a reasonable argument to be made that the modern poker landscape can be traced back to one person. Chris Moneymaker.
We all know the story. The accountant from Tennessee that satellited into the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event for just $86 on PokerStars. He took his seat in the $10,000 buy-in event, battled through a field full of the best poker players on the planet, and left Las Vegas with $2.5 million and a WSOP bracelet.
But the repercussions spread far beyond Moneymaker’s bank account. His victory sparked the modern poker boom, giving amateur players around the world the belief that they could battle the game’s best and come out on top. Poker’s popularity soared. The way the game was viewed by society shifted. Suddenly, it was no longer just gambling in a smokey back room. It was a game of skill respected by most of society.
PokerStars is trying to re-create that moment with the Moneymaker PSPC Tour that launched last August. It’s a series of $86 events that will award a Platinum Pass to each of its winners along with the first place money. The Platinum Passes will give them an opportunity to turn $86 into several million after battling their wits in the $25,000 PokerStars Players Championship this January at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.
Earning a Platinum Pass gives you an opportunity to create your own Moneymaker story. When he won the 2003 WSOP Main Event, it was the biggest field in the history of the event at a time when a $10,000 buy-in was the biggest you could find. Over the last few years, players improved and wanted to play bigger. Soon, there were $25,000 high rollers popping up at tournament stops around the world.
The Players Championship is going to be the largest $25,000 buy-in field in the history of the game. They are normally small, stacked fields with only the game’s best, but this one will be much bigger. With over 300 Platinum Passes awarded throughout the year, it should easily become the biggest $25,000 buy-in field in poker history. The creation of the Platinum Pass promotion is giving the average player a chance to battle at the highest level and potentially walk away with millions.
Each pass is valued at $30,000 with a $25,000 seat into the Players Championship and another $5,000 for travel and lodging.
So far on the Moneymaker Tour, there have been stops at Stones Gambling Hall, Lucky Chances Casino, Foxwoods, Gardens Casino, online at PokerStarsNJ.com, Mohegan Sun and Maryland Live!
There are only three stops left and Run It Up Reno will be hosting one of the final stops on Tuesday morning. The tour wraps up in November with stops at Talking Stick Casino in Arizona and Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
This is one of the two ways to secure your spot in the Players Championship at Run It Up Reno, but from a symbolic standpoint, this seems like the more preferred method to qualify for it. To model your victory after the man who started it all, down to the dollar amount you qualified for, is just too poetic of an opportunity to pass up.
Make sure you get to the Peppermill tournament area early on Tuesday since the $86 Moneymaker Spectacular gets underway at 10 a.m. The event will be live streamed on a three-hour delay. The stream can be found on RunItUp.TV at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET.
