Who Wants to be a Merit Poker Millionaire?

Poker has been making millionaires for over three decades, with 1991 WSOP Main Event winner Brad Daugherty being the first player to claim a seven-figure tournament payout. Since then, poker’s biggest stages have continued to change lives, awarding life-altering sums to players who dared to dream big.

Now, 34 years later, Merit Poker is set to make history of its own, guaranteeing its first-ever millionaire at the upcoming Merit Millions.

Running from April 7-13 at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel & Spa, the Merit Millions will bring together top pros and dream chasers, all looking to turn a $10,400 buy-in into the million-dollar payday that awaits the eventual champion.

Event Details

The Merit Millions gives players plenty of chances to run up a stack, with four Day 1 flights from April 9-11. Each flight lasts eight levels, and late registration stays open for 12 levels, with unlimited reentries during that time.

Bust late on in Day 1? No problem, Day 2 kicks off on April 12, and for the first four levels, late registration remains open, giving last-minute hopefuls one final chance to jump in.

After late registration closes, it’s all about survival. The tournament will play down to the final table on Day 2, where every remaining player locks up a cash. But the real fight happens on the final day (April 13). That’s when the finalists battle it out for the $1 million guaranteed top prize. With huge pay jumps at stake, ICM strategy will be key, and every decision at this stage could be worth five to six figures.

Players start with 1 million chips (250 big blinds), and levels run for 40 minutes throughout Days 1 and 2. Then, they increase to 60 minutes on the final day, ensuring plenty of room for maneuvering when it matters most.

Satellite Opportunities

For players looking to get into the Merit Millions without paying the full $10,400 buy-in, a series of qualifiers will provide an affordable alternative.

These satellites allow participants to win a seat to the main event for just $1,185 by turning their starting stack into 100,000 chips. Players who enter these qualifiers compete for a chance to join the tournament on one of three Day 1 flights: Day 1A, Day 1B, or Day 1C. Each qualifier runs at 6 p.m. between April 8-10, giving multiple opportunities to secure a seat.

Merit Millions Full Schedule

Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

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