In the world of DC Comics, the Joker and Harley Quinn are two of Batman’s greatest adversaries. The Joker Poker Series at Imperium Milan, taking place November 7–16, also features a distinctive comic-book theme, drawing on DC’s characters and settings. The series features a guaranteed prize pool of €400,000. The centerpiece of the festival is the Joker Mystery Bounty, with a guaranteed prize pool of €300,000.
The Joker Mystery Bounty is by far the largest tournament in the series. Qualifiers begin on Saturday, November 7, with the first of a total of 13 starting flights. Through November 13, players will have numerous opportunities to qualify for the remaining tournament days. The buy-in is initially €70 on the first few starting days. For later flights, it increases to €80, before entry to Day 2 costs €250, €300, or €350, depending on the flight.
Players start Day 1 with 40,000 chips. Late registration is open until the end of the tenth level. The qualifying phase ends on Friday, November 13, with Day 1M. This is followed by three more tournament days: Day 2A on Friday evening, Day 2B and Day 2C on Saturday, and a turbo flight on Sunday. The final day is scheduled for Monday, November 16.
A special feature is the additional prizes for the top players in each flight. The chip leaders of Day 1 flights A through I will receive a ticket to the Batman High Roller worth €660. The leaders of the later flights J, K, and L will receive a €560 bonus as well as a ticket to the Gotham Closing. There’s also a special incentive on the second day of the tournament: Every Day 2 chip leader wins a ticket to the €1,500 WSOP Circuit Main Event.
The Batman High Roller is another major tournament on the schedule. It features a guaranteed prize pool of €50,000, and the buy-in is €660. Players will start with a stack of 50,000 chips, and blind levels will last 40 minutes. The first day of the tournament begins on Thursday, November 12, at 8:00 p.m. The final day follows on Friday, November 13, at 6:00 p.m. Late registration is open for eight levels on Day 1; an additional four levels are scheduled for the final day. In addition to the prize money, the winner will receive a ticket to the €1,500 WSOP Circuit Main Event. Several satellites with a €90 buy-in are also planned. Depending on the date, two, three, or five tickets are guaranteed.
The Joker Poker Series isn’t just about superheroes and villains from the DC Universe—it’s also all about variety. On Sunday, November 8, the Harley Quinn PLO 6 Cards Double Boards is on the schedule. The tournament begins at 4:00 p.m., costs €550, and guarantees €10,000. The starting stack is 100,000 chips, and blind levels last 20 minutes. On Sunday, November 15, the Split 7-Handed Harley & Joker will follow. The tournament starts at 6:30 p.m., costs €150, and offers a €5,000 guarantee. It will be played with 40,000 chips and 20-minute levels. The top two finishers will each receive a ticket to the Gotham Closing.
The program outside of the major tournaments includes, among other things, a Sviten tournament, a Deepstack Knockout, and several satellites. The Deepstack KO takes place on Monday, November 9, at 5:30 p.m. The buy-in is €150, consisting of a €60 regular buy-in, a €60 bounty portion, and €30 in fees. The Gotham Closing marks the end of the festival and guarantees €15,000. The first starting flight is scheduled for Sunday, November 15, at 8:00 p.m. The buy-in is initially €30; after the first level, it increases to €40. The game is played with 35,000 chips and 20-minute levels. On Monday, November 16, a Turbo Flight will follow at 4:30 p.m. The final day begins that same evening at 8:30 p.m. Direct entry is available for €100, with players starting with 350,000 chips. In addition, the chip leader of the first flight will receive a €200 bonus in the form of Imperium Flix credit. The chip leader after the tenth level of the final day will receive a ticket to the €1,500 WSOP Circuit Main Event.
For more information, visit the Imperium Milano website.