Back After 8 Years: PokerStars EPT London this October
For the first time in eight years, the PokerStars European Poker Tour is returning to London. From October 18 to 28, the most important European tournament series will once again come to the English capital.
It seems almost a little unreal that the European Poker Tour last visited London in 2014. Since the first live events of the online giant PokerStars in 2004, London hosted the EPT eleven years in a row. After that, it was a washout for almost a decade. A too expensive location, a legally too difficult terrain, scheduling conflicts with other tournaments - the reasons for the abstinence of the tour in London were manifold. Now, however, the EPT is coming back and will be held at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel in the heart of the British capital.
Highlights of the 2022 EPT London
via Sabrina756 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
After eight years, the European Poker Tour is coming back to London with a full schedule. As is customary with all EPT stops by now, the slightly lower-priced events of the local series are held before the EPT's big events. In the case of England, this is the UKIPT (United Kingdom & Ireland Poker Tour).
These are the main tournaments of EPT London this year:
- UKIPT Main Event: 18 - 22 October (£1,100).
- UKIPT Mystery Bounty: 20 - 21 October - (£440)
- EPT H.O.R.S.E. Championship: October 20 - 21 (£1,100)
- UKIPT High Roller: October 21 - 22 (£2,200)
- EPT Super High Roller: October 21 - 23 (£50,000)
- EPT Main Event: 22 - 28 October (£5,300)
- EPT Platinum Pass Mystery Bounty: 24 - 26 October (£3,000)
- EPT High Roller: 26 - 28 October (£10,300)
Platinum Passes to be Won
As part of EPT London, PokerStars is offering two Platinum Passes worth $30,000 for free. One such pass allows the winner to enter the PokerStars Player's Championship at the Caribbean Adventure in January 2023. The pass includes the $25,000 buy-in, travel allowance, and a week's stay at a 5-star resort in the Bahamas.
The Platinum Pass Mystery Bounty will feature a Platinum Pass worth $30,000 as a mystery bounty. In addition, all online qualifiers for any UKIPT London and EPT London event are eligible to participate in an all-in shootout tournament on October 22 in the Hilton Park Lane. The winner of this tournament will also receive a Platinum Pass.
» How to win Platinum Passes for the PokerStars Player's Championship
Special Conditions in the Hilton Park Lane: Cashless
There is one specific rule for all EPT and UKIPT tournaments in London this year. The entire event is cashless. Since the EPT London takes place at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel and not directly in a casino, the entire event is without direct payment options. Buy-ins are available either through the PokerStars client or at the Hippodrome Casino, about 10 minutes away.
All cash games will take place at the Hippodrome Casino. There will be a free shuttle service from the Hilton Park Lane to the Hippodrome and back.
Details of the schedule will be published here shortly.
History of the EPT London
From 2004 to 2014, the EPT was held by PokerStars in London. The tournament had its peak in 2010 when 848 players took part and in the end, the Briton David Vamplew won the tournament. The last winner was the German player Sebastian Pauli in 2014.
These are all winners and player numbers of the EPT London main events:
| Year | Casino | Entries | Winner | Country | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Grosvenor Casino | 175 | John Shipley | UK | $359,479 |
| 2005 | Grosvenor Casino | 242 | Mark Teltscher | UK | $495,935 |
| 2006 | Grosvenor Casino | 398 | Victoria Coren Mitchell | UK | $941,513 |
| 2007 | Grosvenor Casino | 392 | Joseph Mouawad | Lebanon | $1,224,044 |
| 2008 | Grosvenor Casino | 596 | Michael Martin | USA | $1,831,099 |
| 2009 | Grosvenor Casino | 730 | Aaron Gustavson | USA | $1,353,158 |
| 2010 | Hilton London Metropole | 848 | David Vamplew | UK | $1,408,407 |
| 2011 | Hilton London Metropole | 691 | Benjamin Spindler | Germany | $1,172,241 |
| 2012 | Grosvenor Casino | 647 | Ruben Visser | Netherlands | $895,369 |
| 2013 | Grand Connaught Rooms | 604 | Robin Ylitalo | Sweden | $919,574 |
| 2014 | Grand Connaught Rooms | 675 | Sebastian Pauli | Germany | $803,182 |
» All you need to know about PokerStars in our Review
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