PartyPoker.com Million IV - NEWS FROM THE CRUISE

Day Six: Wednesday, March 24 2005

After five days of intense, nail-biting poker action, it was down to this one night: six players going head-to-head for the PartyPoker Million IV jackpot of $1,500,000. Of the 735 players who started the tournament, only one would walk away the winner of the richest limit hold'em event.

"It's crunch time on the ship tonight," Mike Sexton said. "Tensions are running high as the six finalists each vie to become one of two millionaires."

Play kicked off at the final table at 8:00pm with blinds of $20,000/$30,000. Limits started at $30,000/$60,000. By 9:00pm, after six hands, these were the chip counts:

Adam Csallany: $330,000
Mathew Cherachal: $1,440,000
David Minto: $2,330,000
Paul Darden: $1,100,000
Richard Kain: $1,170,000
Michael Gracz: $860,000

By 9:50pm, Michael "The Kid" Gracz has soared into first place and is up to over $2.5 million. Richard Kain, who had been the chip leader coming into day four's play and came into the final table in second place, is busted out in the 54th hand of the night when Michael's 7-7 beat his A-Q.

Chip count:
Adam Csallany: $1,700,000
Mathew Cherachal: $1,060,000
David Minto: $1,600,000
Paul Darden: $500,000
Michael Gracz: $2,500,000

By 10:30pm, Paul Darden has been knocked out. He had gone all in, showed 7-7 but his set was beaten by chip leader Michael.

Chip count:
Adam Csallany: $2,000,000
Mathew Cherachal: $750,000
David Minto: $1,600,000
Michael Gracz: $3,000,000

With only four players remaining, the limits increase to $100,000-$200,000 and the blinds are now $50,000-$100,000.

By 11:35pm, after a series of million-dollar hands, Adam Csallany goes out in fourth place with $500,000. Adam had quite a run but his aggressive play was capped when he was check raised out of some big hands in late action. We are now down to three players.

Chip count:
David Minto: $1,700,000
Mathew Cherachal: $1,500,000
Michael Gracz: $4,300,000

Just before midnight, Mathew Cherachal bowed out in third place, taking home a tidy $700,000. Mathew, a regular player at PartyPoker.com, won his seat at the final table for just $32. However, he'd been on short stack and had been getting bullied left and right by chip leader Michael Gracz's aggressive pre-flop raises. Mathew finally got a hand and was all in pre-flop with A-Q. Michael called with his 9-8. The flop came K-5-5, which kept Mathew in the lead. The turn came 4 and the river was a boon for Gracz, the 9. The winning pair of 9s locked up at least $1 million for Gracz. He was now in commanding chip position with $5.6 million going heads up against David Minto.

Chip count:
David Minto: $1,750,000 approx.
Michael Gracz: $5,600,000 approx.

Going into the final heads up action David and Michael reveal their screen names:
Michael – NC
KidDavid – Mad Dog X2

Just before 1:00am, Michael raises preflop and David re-raises. There's now $960,000 in the pot preflop. Flop is A-Q-J rainbow. Both players bet $160,000. Turn is 4d. David bets $320,000. River is Ad. David bets and Michael re-raises David all in for his remaining $640,000. David doubles up with the diamond flush.

On a J-8-6 flop David bets and Michael raises. Turn is 2d. Michael checks. David bets $320,000. Michael re-raises to $640,000. David calls. River is the Kh. Michael bets $320,000 and David calls. Michael has flopped two pair with his J-8 and takes down a huge pot.

David now has $1,750,000 and Michael has about $6.5 million.

Heading into the final stretch, Michael and David are $1.2 million into the pot preflop. The flop comes 10-8-5. David bets and Michael calls. Turn is 7 and both players bet the minimum. The river is the 8. David bets and is called. His A-7 is outkicked by Michael's A-9. This leaves David with only $40,000 so it's showdown poker for the last hand of the PartyPoker.com Million IV as David cannot cover the blinds.

Michael turns over J-2 suited and David has 10-5. The flop is J-J-5. Michael has flopped a set of Js, and this holds up to earn him $1.5 million dollars and the PartyPoker.com Million IV championship title.

We caught up with David after the final round. "I'm married with three kids," he said, "and one of them is the same age as Michael! Winning $1 million probably won't change our lives, although it'll double out net worth! We'll probably save some and give some away."

In between celebrations, we asked Michael what he thought of the whole event. "I've had a lot of fun on the PPM4," he said. "It's one of the best tournaments on the WPT, although I swear everyone on the WPT is an alcoholic!" When asked by Linda Johnson for tips and advice, he replied: "Get lucky!"

Party Poker Party Points Can Be Redeemed for Cash

On the 1st of April Party Poker will have its first Category Upgrade. If you make it to SILVER or GOLD status you will be able to redeem 50% of your Party Points against cash on Sunday, the 3rd of April 05. The conversion rate will depend on your category.

Examples:

If you are a Gold Player and your total Party Point Balance on the 2nd of April equals 100,000 you will be able to redeem 50,000 Party Points on the 3rd. At 0.3 Cent per Point you will receive $ 150.

If you are a Silver Player and your total Party Point Balance on the 2nd of April equals 40,000 you will be able to redeem 20,000 Party Points on the 3rd. At 0.2 Cent per Point you will receive $ 40.

How will I know whether I am Gold, Silver or Blue?

You will be able to find out your category on the 1st of April by going to the Players Club pages in the “My Account” section. If you have earned more than 50,000 Party Points since the 1st of Jan 2005, you will become a GOLD member. If you have earned more than 15,000 Party Points in the same time period, you will become a SILVER player.

To check your current Party Point Balance please click here.

How can I redeem my Party Points?

On the 3rd of April 05, eligible players will have an additional option when logging into the Players Club pages in the “My Account” section. Once you click on the relevant link, the system will take you through the process.

Please note that only ONE cash redemption is allowed per player.

Party Poker Now has Guaranteed Tournaments Daily!

Go to PartyPoker.com Monday to Saturday at 16:15 EST and play for a pool of at least $8000. Also give yourself a chance to make good money playing in the $15,000 guaranteed tournament, Sunday to Thursday at 21:45 EST.

To take advantage of those events just visit the PartyPoker.com lobby and register for your seat now.

PartyPoker.com World Open

WANT TO BE ON TELEVISION AND PLAY FOR 1,000,000 USD?

Play the PartyPoker.com World Open:

When: 2nd of April – 10th of April 05
Where: Maidstone Studios, London UK
Prize Pool: 1 MILLION DOLLARS

Payout Structure:

Place Pay-Out
1st $400,000
2nd $150,000
3rd $100,000
4th $80,000
5th $50,000
6th $24,000

The event will be televised. So if you want to be famous, this is your chance!

Satellites now daily at 00:15!


You can qualify for the PartyPoker.com World Open by playing our special World Open Satellites. Winners of these tournaments will receive:

An entry to the PartyPoker.com World Open worth $14,000
9 nights in the exclusive Marriott Hotel for 2 people
Spending money of $1,200 to cover travel and other expenses
WORLD OPEN SATELLITE

Name: World Open Satellite $300 + $28


When: Everyday at 00:15 AM EST.


Game: No Limit Hold'em.


To Enter:
"($30 +$3) Qualifier to the World Open" Multi Table Tournament
"($10 +$1) Qualifier to the World Open" Multi Table Tournament
"($36 + $3) World Open Qualifier" Sit & Go Single Table Tournament
"($9 + $1) World Open Qualifier" Sit & Go Single Table Tournament
Direct Buy-in $300 + $28
These tournaments will now pay out one guaranteed "WORLD OPEN Package" and each tourney will accommodate 57 players only.

Players can win multiple entries to the World Open Satellite $300 + $28.
Players with multiple entries into the World Open Satellite $300 + $28 will have to play one entry and any extra entry above this will be refunded.
Players with only one entry to the World Open Satellite $300 + $28 will not be refunded any amount.
"($30 +$3) Qualifier to the World Open" Multi Table Tournament


When: Daily at 3:15 PM EST
One seat in the World Open Satellite $300 + $28 tournament will be awarded for every 11 entries.
If more than 11 enter, the remaining money will be awarded to the next three highest finishers on a 50%, 30%, 20% ratio. For example, if there are 100 entries, the prize pool breakdown will be as follows: 1st place - 9th place = Seat, 10th place =$24, 11th place=$14.4 and 12th place=$9.6.
If there are less than 11 entries then the prize pool will be paid out as per our Multi-table payout schedule, click here for more details.
Registration closes 5 minutes before the start of the Tournament.
Players who have qualified will be automatically registered for the next World Open Satellite.



"($10 +$1) Qualifier to the World Open" Multi Table Tournament


When: Daily at 3:45 AM EST
One seat in the World Open Satellite $300 + $28 tournament will be awarded for every 33 entries.
If more than 33 enter, the remaining money will be awarded to the next three highest finishers on a 50%, 30%, 20% ratio. For example, if there are 1000 entries, the prize pool breakdown will be as follows: 1st place - 30th place = Seat, 31st place =$80, 32nd place=$48 and 33rd place=$32.
If there are less than 33 entries then the prize pool will be paid out as per our Multi-table payout schedule, click here for more details.
Registration closes 5 minutes before the start of the Tournament.
Players who have qualified will be automatically registered for the next World Open Satellite.

"($36 + $3) World Open Qualifier" Sit & Go Single Table Tournament


When: Available 24/7.
The "($36 + $3) World Open Qualifier" Sit & Go Single Table Tournament will start as soon as there are 10 players registered.
The winner gets an entry into the World Open Satellite $300 + $28 Tournament.
Prize money for the 2nd place is $32.
Winners of the World Open Qualifier which finish after the registration of the World Open Satellite Tournament has closed on that day will be registered for the next World Open Satellite.
"($9 + $1) World Open Qualifier" Sit & Go Single Table Tournament


When: Available 24/7.
The "($9 + $1) World Open Qualifier" Sit & Go Single Table Tournament will start as soon as there are 10 players registered.
The first two places get an entry into the World Open Qualifier Sit & Go Single Table Tournament $36 + $3.
Prize money for the third place is $12.
Winners of the World Open Sub Qualifier will have to register themselves into the "($36 + $3) World Open Qualifier" Sit & Go Single Table Tournament of their choice.
There will be no refunds for multiple entries into the Open Qualifier Sit & Go Single Table Tournament $36 + $3.