The first partypoker LIVE Million is underway in Russia with close to 400 players taking part on the first live Day 1 at the spanking new and ultra-glamorous Sochi Casino and Resort.
MainEventTravel has great rates at the partypoker-recommended Marriott Sochi Krasnaya Polyana Hotel – but do check visa requirements before you travel to Russia.
The partypoker LIVE Million event is the biggest live poker tournament yet held in Russia with a whopping $1m guaranteed prize pool – and $200k for first place. Among those competing are partypoker Global Ambassador Sam Trickett, sponsored pro Natalia Breviglieri and Jan-Peter Jatchmann, partypoker’s Ambassador for Germany. The latter two bust Day 1c yesterday but are likely to re-enter. There were 147 players who made it through from the 389 who took part. Trickett, ranked number 1 in the England all-time money list and in the top 10 live tournament earners of all time, is set to compete today; some 250+ players are already in seats.
Part of the fun yesterday was a trip up the mountains! Dusk Till Dawn's Simon Trumper lead the way for the partypoker Millions Sochi Players' Welcome Party, which looked like an incredible experience for everyone involved.
A standard feature of partypoker LIVE tournaments is that players can compete in online Day 1s for the $1,100 Main Event. These started Sunday, March 12 - with the live event now underway in Sochi. Day 1d is today, with 1e tomorrow at noon and Day 2 starting at 3pm. Day 3 is on Sunday with the final on Monday, March 27. The schedule also includes the Russian Poker Championship and High Roller events – both with huge guarantees, as well as Win the Button turbos, Open Face Pineapple, HORSE and Speed Bounty events.
There will be all cash games available 24/7 at the event including No Limit, Pot Limit Omaha and Fixed Limit and mixed games.
Sochi is accessible from flights via Moscow and St Petersburg where there are 21 connecting flights available daily from cities such as London and Brussels. Visitors from most countries will need visas from the Russian embassy so do check before you travel.
Sochi hosted the Winter Olympics and has long been a popular holiday destination in Russia but the new Sochi Casino and Resort is a unique departure in Russian tourism and aims to match the very best casinos in Las Vegas. partypoker is the first global poker operator to host a major live poker event there.