The Monte Carlo Millions

The city-state of Monaco is known as a tax haven for the wealthy -- a playground for the fat wallet set. Though this perception is not entirely true, it is a fact that tax and financial loopholes have allowed Monaco to become something of a rogue state. That being said, it is also one of the heaviest defended areas in the world, with over 550 police officers to police just under 36,000 people, a ratio of one police officer for every 65 people. A city-state with a mixed identity, a large number of wealthy individuals, and a mysteriously large number of cops . . . what better place for the Monte Carlo Millions poker tournament?

Monte Carlo Millions - Prima Poker - Prima Network

Monte Carlo Millions was the first ever poker tournament to be staged in the principality of Monaco, which is a county unto itself though surrounded on all sides by France. The inaugural event, The Monte Carlo Millions original tournament, was completed on November 12th, 2004. Prima Poker and the Prima Network began this tournament to cash in on the worldwide explosion in poker popularity, mostly brought on by the televising of some rather exciting Hold 'em tournaments in America in the early 2000s. The Prima Network is the world's largest online poker network -- their games are powered by Microgaming software, the leading developer of Internet gaming systems. The company itself, Prima, licenses to more than 30 operators worldwide. The Prima Network ensures that a critical mass of online poker players and a wide variety of games and tournaments are available at all times -- the Monte Carlo Millions seemed like a way for them to celebrate this global poker phenomenon.

The original field of players was limited to 80 and the buy-in was $14,000 American. A large majority of the competitors were world famous poker pros, while the remainder of the field was comprised of online satellite winners and those lesser known professionals seen beating out a living in tournaments all over the world.

The Monte Carlo Millions has been broadcast on television internationally since its inception -- in the United States the event airs on Fox Sports Net.

Monte Carlo Millions - Phil Ivey vs. Jani Sointula

According to poker analysts from the UK's "PokerZone" program, that initial 2004 Monte Carlo Millions tournament event was dominated from start to finish by that man considered by many to be the world's top tournament player, Phil Ivey. With three players remaining, however, Ivey was outplayed by an unknown Finn who goes by the moniker Jani "Hellraiser" Sointula. Sointula would in fact go on to take the title and $400,000 American first prize after first knocking out the Goliath known as Phil Ivey.

To understand the appeal of the Monte Carlo Millions, or MCM, you must understand the strange appeal of Monaco. There are places in the world that make the mouth water with suspense: Amsterdam, Casablanca, Bali, and yes, Monaco. These are areas of the world where people seem to operate differently. Playing in a poker tournament in Monte Carlo, especially in a million dollar tournament, must be the closest one can get to feeling just like James Bond. And when the prize pool grew the next year, the appeal of the tournament could only have grown.

Monte Carlo Millions - MCM 2005 Tournament

In November 2005, the second MCM tourney featured a 120 player field and a $25,000 buy in. This MCM featured the largest prize pool in European History at the time: $3 million, with $1 million going to the winner of the final table. The tournament was notable for offering the last spot at the final table to the winner of a "second chance" tournament. This second chance tourney was made up of a field of players eliminated from the main event. Ivey won the 2005 tournament over Paul "ActionJack" Jackson, vindicating his embarassing defeat a year earlier at the hands of an amateur.

The 2005 tournament had a classic ending. Phil Ivey had a five to one chip lead on the underdog, Paul Jackson, coming into the heads up match. Jackson, who'd previously won in to the tournament via a satellite to the Bay 101 Tournament on bet365.com, a card room on the Prima Network, was no stranger to tough opponents to be sure. But in Monte Carlo, playing in the Private Salon in the most exclusive poker tournament in the world, Phil Ivey proved too intimidating a force. In one particularly evocative moment, Jackson bet $80,000 after the flop turned up J, J, 7. Ivey re-raised for $150,000, and this move was followed with another raise of $150,000 by Jackson. Always ice cold, Ivey contemplated his next move for what felt like an eternity to television viewers, and finally pushed all-in. This had the desired effect -- psyching out "Action Jackson", who instantly folded his hand.

Monte Carlo Millions - Phil Ivey

Phil Ivey, a five-time WSOP gold bracelet winner, grew up in New Jersey and began his pro poker career in Atlantic City. In 2000, at the age of 23, he won his first WSOP title by beating out huge names such as Amarillo Slim and Phil Hellmuth in the $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha tournament. He has become one of the most feared and respected poker players in the world. Ivey was quoted in Poker Pro magazine as saying about the Monte Carlo millions - "It was nice to be a part of this and to play here was amazing. I'm looking forward to coming back next year and defending my title. This has been a superb tournament." Unfortunately, Ivey never had that second chance. The MCM is no more.

It is a shame that the Monte Carlo Millions has gone the way of the Professional Poker Tour and the Poker Superstars Invitational. The world was saturated with poker, and some tournaments had to dry up. But when a poker tournament rolls into a town like Monaco, poker fans pay attention. A mysterious and luxurious setting, a huge cash prize, and the bragging rights of winning a tournament made up of the best players in the world -- if only I could have been there. Martini in hand, shaken not stirred.

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