At partypoker, everyone is given the chance to win big. Their satellites and Passports allow an aspiring player to turn a small investment into a massive prize.
Meet Mike Hill, affectionately called "DaBookie" in British poker circles, has made partypoker history last week as he luckily turned a $22 satellite into a MILLIONS Passport worth at least $10,000. Check out his amazing poker story below!
Mike Hill isn't the usual modern-day poker player. He may not be a young math whizz kid who plays multiple tables for hours on end, but his mind is still as sharp as ever when it comes to the game. "I am a retired bookmaker, property developer, and racehorse syndicate manager from Stockport. I have been playing poker since 2005 and live poker since 2007. I'm currently looking for new challenges."
Back in 1989, Hill took over his first betting shop on his 27th birthday and spent 23 years in the venture. He then expanded to three shops alongside a successful phone betting service, "During this time I saw the evolution of the business from enclosed frowned upon back street business through to the introduction of the National Lottery and the deregulation that followed the high street staple it is or was today."
Not a Stranger in Winning Satellite Tournaments
The very first time Mike Hill played online poker was back in 2005, and he's still doing it recreationally at the now-GVC Holdings-owned Ladbrokes. He changed sites when the site lost a market share and managed to win a package to the 2007 EPT Grand Final in Monaco. "I won a satellite for $24.80 into the nightly $109 final and won the package. I fell just short of the money and decided at the start of 2008 to have a crack at the live game and here we are today. There's so much more to this story though!"
Last week, history repeated itself when Mike Hill entered a $22 satellite for a MILLIONS Passport at partypoker. He progressed from the Quarter Final into the $109 Semi Final and made it through that. Starting the final with 950,000 chips put him among the big stacks, but winning a Passport was far from a forgone conclusion.
Hill recalled, "I started 7/110 in the final so was cautious at first. "I had top pair against an aggressive player who also had loads of chips and check-called three streets as he blasted off."
That hand sent Hill into the chip lead. He said, "Later on, I think I was 11/14 and raised with queen-ten of clubs in late position. The big blind, who was also quite short-stacked, called. We saw an A-9-4 flop with two clubs. He checked, I jammed and he called with ace-nine. The turn was the king of clubs and that gave me a comfortable stack again."
After what felt like ages, the packages were awarded and Hill had finished 5th place, thus landing himself a glittering $10K MILLIONS Passport!
Where Will He Use His MILLIONS Passport?
Where he uses his MILLIONS Passport mainly depends on how things are going with the coronavirus. Mike said, "As we stand, it really depends on the coronavirus going away. Initially, I fancied Cyprus but we will see, I have enjoyed the Caribbean Poker Party after winning two packages in recent years and suffering horrendous beats out of both major events, so maybe it owes me one?!"
Mike is extremely happy with the Passport promotion that partypoker offers. Imagine, his $22 is now worth a $10,000 package! This is something that appeals strongly to the recreational players on the site. He said, "I think the Passport system works better than tournament dollars as it provides the full package, which appeals to more players. Personally, it appeals to me as it probably encourages more recreational players to play as they are winning their dream as opposed to a lump of tournament dollars."
Hill believes that the Phased tournaments, the early stages of the Passport system, are very well-suited to recreational players. The final, however, is a true test of one's skills. "Obviously the system suite recreational players and the more that play the better value the event is for everyone. The structure of the phases suits a more direct style, which negates the skill factor (or at least changes the styles and actions of players) and allows a little luck to go a long way. The final, however, is a true test, but with no direct buy-in, it means a more level playing field. It's well thought out and seems to work for all."
Join Mike Hill and Win a MILLIONS Passport too!
You too can follow in Mike's footsteps by playing in partypoker's MILLIONS Passport phased satellites.
He started at the $22 level, but you can jump in for even less with $2.20 Round 1 and even freerolls are available.
