$250k Buy-in Monte Carlo Championship To Make Poker History

Setting a new world record for the biggest buy-in for a poker tournament in the history of the game, high rollers everywhere will be eagerly awaiting the start of the $250k buy-in Monte Carlo Championship come November 29th.
Monaco would certainly seem to be the appropriate venue to hold such an exclusive tournament. Despite being the second smallest country in the world with a population of just 32,000 people, 2000 of its citizens are millionaires and a further 50 are billionaires.
The event is being organised by the International Poker Players Association (IPPA) in conjunction with the SBM of Monte Carlo and will be even more exclusive in that the tournament will be limited to just 48 players.
The idea is to produce a high quality poker field and as IPPA President Yosh Nakano explains;
“We wanted to produce a high-end poker tournament that offered a big buy-in event with quality play. We felt that we could do a good job at putting an event together that would provide the best all-around player in the world.”
The thirteen top pros who have already jumped at the chance to enter the mega-tournament include Phil Ivey, Johnny Chan, Tom Dwan, Patrik Antonius, Gus Hansen, Huck Seed, John Hennigan, Robert and Michael Mizrachi,  Freddy Deeb, Tony G, Bruno Fitoussi and Allen Cunningham.
The No Limit Hold’em only tournament will take place between Nov. 29 and Dec. 2, but don’t worry if your bankroll won’t allow you to to fork out the $250,000 entry fee as satellite qualifications will also be available.
“For as little as $1,000 – less if you win a satellite – a player can play in a qualifier and have an opportunity to win the $5 million first-place prize at the Monte Carlo IPPA Championship,” said Nakano.
The current holder of the world’s largest buy-in poker tournament is the Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge 2009, which was won by Dan Shak, after defeating Phil Ivey heads-up to collect the $1.2 million first place prize.