We Got Ourselves a New Chris Moneymaker 20 Years After Making History
His name is Michael Rossi and he is recreating the magic that our friend Chris Moneymaker began way back in 2003, courtesy of our dear friends at Americas Cardroom.
Moneymaker, you will recall, won the Main Event at the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) and forever revolutionized poker being that he was the first to qualify via an online poker site. This would be forever known as the "Moneymaker effect". Ever since that time we have witnessed more unknowns winning during the WSOP with the top prize in the millions.
Not long ago, Rossi busted out of a live poker tournament. Trying to decide what to do with his day, he took advantage of a $90 satellite offered on America’s Card Room awarding 25 seats to the Moneymaker Tour $2,500 Main Event.
“I had some rakeback in my ACR account,” Rossi tells Poker.org. “I decided to cash it in and enter the satellite. I won it. I won one of the seats on one bullet.” Busting out of that live tournament may have been the best thing to happen to the Tampa native.
Why is that?
It allowed Rossi to enter the main event, and the rest is history. He would go on to win the Moneymaker Tour Main Event and a cool $134,265.
Americas Cardroom CEO Phil Nagy had another surprise waiting.
“I called up Phil Nagy and told him we have a story on our hands here,” said the face of the new tour Chris Moneymaker. “He’s a dog,” Moneymaker told Nagy,” James Carroll has a three-to-one chip lead heads up. But, if this kid wins, let’s put him in the [WSOP] Main Event this year.” Nagy replied, “Screw the Main Event, let’s put him in Triton.” Shortly after that phone call, the tables had turned quickly, and Rossi found a way to win the tournament.
“I’m glad I didn’t know everything I was actually playing for,” said Rossi. “It’s incredible, I feel so blessed.”
In the end, Moneymaker and Nagy will gift Rossi both a $10,000 WSOP Main Event ticket and a $100,000 Triton London package.
Did someone say London calling?
Americas Cardroom's two High Stakes Adventures in Vietnam and Cyprus were so immensely popular with players that Americas Cardroom is keeping the momentum going with the London High Stakes Adventure.
Next up is Jolly Old England (London), where you’ll play in the world’s highest-stakes poker tourneys against the best players on the planet!
This one features 2 Satellites: 5 Massive $125k Packages.
Exotic travel, first-class accommodations and flights. This package has it all!
• Each package includes $110,000 for buy-ins/entry fees to the series in London.
• Additionally, $15,000 cash is provided for 1st class airfare and a luxury hotel.
• The $15,000 in travel expenses is covered by WPN out of its own pocket to give you the most epic experience possible.
Main Online Satellites: Buy-in $2,650
Sunday, May 28th 2:05pm ET | 3 Packages GTD | $375,000 TOTAL VALUE
Sunday, July 16th 2:05pm ET | 2 Packages GTD | $250,000 TOTAL VALUE
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
