Canadian Club Putting Up $2.5 Million in National Poker Competition

Allied Domecq Spirits North America and Canadian Club Whisky are teaming up with 2004 World Series of Poker Champion, Chris Moneymaker, to give poker players around the country the opportunity to win $2.5 million. The “Smooth Road to Vegas” poker tournament will begin this month and conclude in Las Vegas at the end of August.

Players begin the quest by playing at participating bars in select cities around the country. At the end of each poker night, players will receive points based on their chip counts. At the end of the six week tournament, the point leader will advance to the Canadian Club Poker regional finals. Regional cities include Boston, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, and Tampa.

The winner of each regional final, along with five other Canadian Club sweepstakes winners, is awarded a trip for two to Las Vegas to compete at the final table. While the grand prize is $2.5 million, it does not come without a catch and, in reality, is almost guaranteed to not be won. The catch: after winning the $10,000 first prize, the final table champion then plays one hand against Chris Moneymaker. If the contestant wins the hand and holds the same hand that Moneymaker held when he won the World Series, a full house, fives over fours, the $2.5 million prize is awarded.

Moneymaker will appear at some of the “Smooth Road” locations and will also continue to promote Canadian Club through his attendance at various events after the competition is completed.

For complete “Smooth Road to Vegas” details, visit http://www.ccsmooth.com.

Originally published May 19, 2005