The European Poker Tour (EPT) has been making waves in the world of live tournament poker, as stops around the continent continue to break records. In a recent press release, PokerStars says that they fully expect the jointly sponsored Monte-Carlo Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final will attract records numbers. While the entire festival is still three weeks away from kicking off, players participated last Sunday in a Mega Qualifier to the event. Prior to the qualifier (which guaranteed 20 seats), 210 players had already entered via directly paying in or by winning a satellite. It is widely expected that this event will set new attendance records for the European Poker Tour.
About the EPT Grand Final
The festival in Monte Carlo will conclude Season 10 of the EPT and is jointly sponsored by PokerStars and the Monte-Carlo Casino. Last year, Ireland’s Steve O’Dwyer won the event and over €1.22 million ($1.67 million USD). The European Poker Tour’s Grand Final this year is a €14,000 ($19,182 USD) event, with at least 230 participants guaranteed. That means that this event already has a prize pool of €3.22 million (approximately $4.41 million USD).
This year’s Season 10 finale for the EPT will be an entire festival of poker, running from April 23 to May 2, offering some huge tournaments as well as a large schedule of side events. Other notable events include the €25,000 ($34,255 USD) High Roller, and the €100,000 ($137,000 USD) Super High Roller tournaments. The venue is the prestigious Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort in Monte Carlo, located in luxurious Monaco. Players looking to get a discount on accommodations are out of luck, as the first ever “Early Bird Exclusive” that gave the first 50 players to register a 50 percent discount on a hotel package has sold out.
As mentioned earlier, there will be a significant number of side events, 21 of which are priced at €500 and under to allow players to get a chance at fame and fortune. Some of these events include atypical rules, such as the €200 ($274 USD) Deuces Wild tournament and the €300 ($411 USD) Run It Twice event.
Big Names Already Have Punched Their Ticket
Any big event in Monte Carlo is sure to bring in some big names, and the Grand Final of the EPT for Season 10 promises to deliver. Already confirmed for the Grand Final include PokerStars Team Pros Jose ‘Nacho’ Barbero and Marc-Andre Ladouceur. Also confirmed at Aussie Millions champion Ami Barer and EPT champions Mike McDonald and Kevin MacPhee. Other notables confirmed for the event are Dimitar Danchev and Dominik Panka.
Live Broadcast from Monte Carlo
The television cameras will be set up at the event in Monte Carlo. Heats 3 and 4 of “Shark Cage” will be filmed during the event, which is a new PokerStars television show where qualifiers, poker legends, and celebrities face off for a shot at a $1 million winner-takes-all first place prize. While no names have been released for the two heats in Monaco, the last heats held at the PCA in January featured Jason Alexander and Jennifer Tilly. The EPT will also have some of its action filmed, as PokerStars confirmed that the final will be shown cards-up on April 26.
About the European Poker Tour
The European Poker Tour is currently in Season 10 and is sponsored by PokerStars. Dating back to 2004, the tour has paid out over €574 million ($786 million USD) in prize pools, held across the entirety of Europe. The EPT also boasts the inclusion of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) which is held in January in the Bahamas. The PCA is notable for being the largest poker festival held outside of Las Vegas. During Season 10, the EPT has held events in Barcelona, London, Prague, Vienna, and other cities.
