Poker tournament in Europe
Old logo used prior to 2024
Old logo used from 2024 to 2024
The European Poker Tour (EPT) is 💶 a series of poker tournaments similar to those in the World Poker Tour (WPT), created by John Duthie, winner of 💶 the inaugural Poker Million tournament. It began in 2004 as part of the worldwide explosion in Texas Hold 'em popularity. 💶 Since 2011 the EPT has been sponsored and wholly owned and controlled by PokerStars the online casino and taped by 💶 Sunset + Vine for television broadcast across Europe.
In seasons 1-3, the most significant difference between the competing poker tours was 💶 the buy-in and its effect on the prize pool, with the EPT featuring buy-ins about half the size of the 💶 WPT. This changed in season 4 when the buy-in for most EPT events was increased to €8,000 (due to increased 💶 popularity and lack of space in participating casinos[1]). At 2007 exchange rates, this is approximately equal to the US$10,000 which 💶 is the buy-in for most WPT events.
Furthermore, the final table is made up of 8 players, as opposed to the 💶 6 player final tables popularised by the WPT.
For the first couple of seasons, Duthie commentated for the show alongside Colin 💶 Murray. Since the middle of Season 3, James Hartigan has been the lead commentator, with professional players Greg Raymer, Daniel 💶 Negreanu and Victoria Coren Mitchell providing analysis. Hartigan also presents the live webcast[2] from each event. The TV show was 💶 first hosted by Caroline Flack, then joined by Natalie Pinkham. Seasons 4 and 5 were hosted by Kara Scott, while 💶 Seasons 6 and 7 were fronted by Michelle Orpe. Since Season 8, there have been four different presenters with Kristy 💶 Arnett, Sarah Grant, Laura Cornelius and Lynn Gilmartin, with commentators James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton presenting the TV shows.
2010 EPT 💶 Berlin robbery [ edit ]
On 6 March 2010 four masked men, armed with knives and at least one hand gun 💶 robbed the EPT event in Berlin. According to the police, the robbers got away with €242,000. No one was seriously 💶 injured, only one guard got a minor cut while trying to detain one of the robbers. The panic which gripped 💶 the crowd was briefly captured on the live webcast before the camera cut away. The attackers were caught several days 💶 after the robbery and later convicted and sentenced to three years in prison.[3]
2024 rebranding [ edit ]
In 2024, the series 💶 was discontinued and rebranded as the PokerStars Championship. However, this only lasted one year and the EPT returned in 2024.[4]
2024 💶 EPT Online [ edit ]
In 2024, three scheduled stops on the EPT (in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Prague) were cancelled 💶 due to the COVID-19 pandemic – a fourth event (in Sochi) continued as planned.
An inaugural EPT Online series took place 💶 on sponsor site PokerStars instead, running from 8–18 November 2024. The series comprised 20 tournaments, including aR$5,200 Main Event, fourR$10,300 💶 High Roller events, and aR$25,000 Super High Roller. The Main Event, which had aR$5 million guaranteed prize pool, attracted 1,304 💶 entries. The final prize pool came toR$6.52 million, of whichR$1,019,082 went to the eventual winner "WhatIfGod", with Timothy Adams finishing 💶 as runner-up.[5]
EPT Main Event winners [ edit ]
