The first Poker Million in 2000
Back in 2000, I was lucky enough to win a freeroll tourney at my local casino where first prize was an all expenses paid trip to the Isle of Man and a $10k entry into the first Poker Millions. I’m wanting to write an article about that experience and have searched in vain for a list of the starting players, about 165 or so, as I recall. Are there any poker historians out there who might have such a list? Thanks.
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There were 156 entries fwiw (if ChatGPT is correct). Hope you find what you're looking for.
Is this the John Duthie win? I used to have a recording of the video broadcast of this, I imagine it might be available somewhere online.
I couldn't find the complete player list, but you have the top 10 out of the 156 entrants at the hendon mob:
https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.p...
1st England John Duthie £1,000,000 $1,426,330
2nd Israel Teddy Tuil £100,000 $142,633
3rd England Ian Dobson £50,000 $71,317
4th England Tony Bloom £25,000 $35,658
5th United States Gary Lent £15,000 $21,395
6th England Barny Boatman £14,000 $19,969
7th England Mohammed Barkatul £10,000 $14,263
8th England Ali Sarkeshik £8,000 $11,411
9th England Simon Trumper £6,000 $8,558
10th England Dave Welch £2,000 $2,853
And I found an old article at CNN: Million-pound poker prize up for grabs
November 13, 2000
The competition is taking place on the Isle of Man, off the west coast of England.
"The poker world has been waiting for some time for an event of this scale," veteran U.S. champion "Amarillo Slim" Preston, one of the entrants, said before the tournament opened.
"Poker is becoming one of the world's most popular pastimes and this event will revolutionise what people think of the game."
Amarillo will join the likes of fellow poker greats Johnny Chan and Phil Helmuth around the tables at the Ladbroke Casino in the Hilton Hotel in the town of Douglas.
The jackpot on offer in Sunday's final beats the million-dollar prizes paid out at the annual World Series of Poker in Las Vegas -- and tournament organisers hope to draw in millions of television viewers with live broadcasts.
And I found two clips on youtube:
Here are a couple more articles on the Poker Mi££ion that I think you'll find interesting:
that's a hell of a pay jump from 2nd to 1st.
From Part 1:
'The organizers, Ladbrokes and Sky Sports ... had guaranteed a million-dollar top prize. But what if fewer players turned up to the capital town of Douglas on the Isle of Man? ...
“They’d guaranteed a million for first, regardless of how many runners there were. They had to add some money on to have some prizes in the final apart from the first prize in order that the event didn’t implode. They couldn’t guarantee extra players being in the Isle of Man; you couldn’t nip down the road.” ...
Winning would have meant a £1,000,000 payday, unheard of in 2000. Finishing sixth for just $14,000 hurt. ...'
As I recall (so this might be incorrect), there were more players who wanted to play, but they couldn't get in. Back then, no event had late registration or even alternates. And apparently that was all they could fit at the venue. I recall hearing about struggles to get into the last few live one-table satellites, as that had become the only way left to get a seat in the event. They had set aside space for the winners of these satellites, and there were no other spots left for direct entry. However, I was NOT there in person, and this is my memory only. So very subject to error. Maybe somebody else can confirm or deny.
I remember watching this live on UK TV. I think it was on Sky, but I can't be certain
Your spot on and I wish those days would come back.
Lots of poker back then on our TV, late night poker, poker million and later the WPT, my favourite the Premier league series and highlights of the WSOP and various other cash game series.
2025, nothing.
Million pounds was guaranteed to first. 1250 pounds was the prize pool. So first took 80% of of total prize pool and top four took 95%. Was a wee bit top heavy.
Even better, make the final table and lose money.
Million pounds was guaranteed to first. 1250 pounds was the prize pool. So first took 80% of of total prize pool and top four took 95%. Was a wee bit top heavy.
Even better, make the final table and lose money.
Yeah I think the buyin was £6.5k so a 9th place = a losing trip.
Add in your expenses. (FYI isle of man is not close to a random street in the UK!)
Neil Channing was an entrant.
He tells a funny story about re-raising Phil Hellmuth preflop:
Phil folds then approaches him later during the break and asks Neil what he had.
'You know Phil there are only 3 possible hands I could have done that with.'
Phil's reply 'I knew it. I knew you had it.'
(Neil is implying he had AA, KK or ??)
If I remember correctly, they had to keep the venue secret until kist before.
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