Holiday Extravaganza is a series of promotions running until January 26. Here are the details for each.
The European Poker Tour or EPT Prague is well underway, and the Eureka Poker Tour events have set the stage with record-breaking fields and career-defining victories. Bulgaria’s Martin Tsvetanov and Poland’s Piotr Sztenkiel emerged victorious in the Eureka Main Event and High Roller, solidifying their places in the poker spotlight.
Here’s a closer look at the drama, the cards, and the moments that defined these monumental events.
The year may be wrapping up, but PokerStars has one last gift to deliver before we say goodbye to 2024. The New Year Series is set to kick off on December 22nd, 2024, running through January 14th, 2025, with a lineup of 359 events and a massive $35 million guaranteed prize pool.
From the get go, it’s clear there’s a lot to be said about the event and we’re here to break down the details before the year ends.
A jumbo announcement as PokerStars unveils $30M Gtd New Year Series, plus Million Dollar Ticket giveaways, a special Ambassador bounty tournament, the first Power Path Open, and more.
— PokerStars Blog (@PokerStarsBlog) December 9, 2024
All the info:
🌍 https://t.co/J6kX0KK2c5
🇬🇧 https://t.co/GzElcyFgiB
🇺🇸 https://t.co/r9QA1dC6X3 pic.twitter.com/ULoeoxQ7lL
Alejandro “Papo MC” Lococo secured his biggest career cash, his first eight-figure payout, and a WSOP bracelet. In a post-victory interview, Lococo shared that Adrian Mateos convinced him to travel to the Bahamas and play in the tournament. Here’s how the action unfolded.
As EPT Prague 2024 rolled into the weekend, the tables at the Hilton Prague were anything but quiet. Players ranging from up-and-coming talents to poker legends converged in the Czech capital for three days of jaw-dropping plays, surprise eliminations, and career-defining wins.
From Thomas Santerne’s continued dominance to Espen Jorstad finally breaking through for his maiden EPT title, the action delivered in every sense of the word. Meanwhile, the Eureka Main Event and High Roller added their own blend of drama and anticipation as they unfolded. Here’s everything you need to know about what went down over this unforgettable weekend.
This December, PokerStars is giving the fans a reason to celebrate with the return of 25 Days of Poker Madness. From December 6th to December 30th, players across North America can look forward to 25 consecutive daily tournaments, each equipped with an affordable $25 buy-in and a secret prize or two to uncover. The promotion also includes freerolls, random chest drops, and a host of surprises that’ll keep the action alive throughout the holiday season.
Let the Poker Madness begin! Starting on Friday, 25 days of non-stop poker action on Poker Stars
— PokerStarsUSA (@PokerStarsUSA) December 3, 2024
💥 Daily $25 tournaments with added prizes shown in the lobby from 9pm the night before
💥 Daily and Weekly freerolls
💥 Chest drops for players in each tournament. pic.twitter.com/MS7U87VEmy
The WPT World Championship event series already kicked off on December 3rd, but the initial World Championship event will be kickstarted from December 14 onwards. Melvin Schroen, content creator from PokerListings, will be going to Las Vegas to give you plenty of exclusive insights!
ClubWPT Gold $5M Freeroll
This December, the Wynn Las Vegas will host one of the most exciting events in poker history: the ClubWPT Gold $5M Freeroll. Imagine nearly 2,000 players, all gathered with a dream of winning the $1,000,000 first-place prize. For the World Poker Tour (WPT), this is more than just a tournament—it’s a celebration of their newest online platform, ClubWPT Gold. And we will be sitting at the front row!
- Day 1 › Friday, December 13, 2024
- Day 2 › Saturday, December 14, 2024
- Final Table › Sunday, December 15, 2024
The battle has been tough for a while already to get hold of a ticket for this exclusive freeroll. There are approximately 2,000 seats available and already for months, qualifiers were available through various platforms of WPT such as ClubWPTGold.com. Signing up is for free, and from there onwards you can enter contests, raffles, and other promotions. The goal is to become a Golden Passport, which gives you access to the $5M GTD Freeroll. The tournament is set to kick off next week, but several tickets are still to be won, for example through one of the raffles/challenges through one of the many WPT Ambassadors such as Patrik Tardif, Brad Owen, and Phil Ivey.
What makes this event truly unique isn’t just the prize pool—it’s the experience. Players will compete not only for the $5 million in prizes but also for 100 coveted seats to the $10,400 WPT World Championship. For those lucky enough to make the money, there’s even more excitement: a second-chance drawing with a 1-in-5 chance of winning a free entry to the World Championship.
The entire event is not just about poker, although it’s the core of it all of course. Wynn Las Vegas, one of the most luxurious venues in the world, will be an experience on its own. Wynn Las Vegas, one of the most luxurious venues in the world, will treat players like VIPs. Those with a Golden Passport will receive high-end swag bags and access to the exclusive Gold Lounge, a space to relax and recharge between games. For anyone who hasn’t signed up yet, there will be an activation booth on-site to help create accounts and hand out last-minute passes.
As the field shrinks to 297 players, the freeroll takes an epic turn: it transforms into a Mystery Bounty tournament. With $720,000 in bounties up for grabs, including two worth $100,000 each, every knockout could be a life-changing moment. At the final table, the drama continues with additional bounties, including one worth a whopping $200,000.
We even took note that a brand-new McLaren GTS will be handed out to one lucky winner, worth more than $240,000! The raffle for this Supercar will not be just among the players who have access to the $5M Freeroll, but it’s for EVERYONE! Simply get an account sorted for ClubWPT Gold, or if you already have an account- Go to the registration desk where you can sign up for this massive raffle!
$10,400 WPT World Championships
The WPT World Championships Main Event is where we are all lookout for, this is where all the big money is being handed out. Where we have seen iconic victories in the past in this event, which then was hosted with a massive GTD, it is now down without a guaranteed prize pool. However, certainly there will be plenty of action as many players of the US/Canada, and from the rest of world, would want to compete for that coveted title of being the WPT World Champion!
The structure of the tournament is set for a duration of six playing days, housing several opening flights. As the opening flights are obviously the first ones to be played, we will be mainly focusing on those in the beginning. While the ClubWPT Gold $5M Freeroll still will be in full swing, the WPT World Championships will already kick off on December 14. Before that time, a plethora of live- and online satellites will be available.
Melvin Schroen, content creator of PokerListings, will be heading to the poker capital of the world on December 10, and will make sure you won’t miss out on any of the fun that comes along with this event! Written daily recaps, exclusive interviews, and even a vlog will be on the schedule! So make sure to keep track of our Social Media Platforms, as it will be one big rollercoaster of emotions and iconic moments of poker history!
Here is the tournament structure for the opening flights of the WPT World Championship:
| Level | Small Blind | Big Blind | Big Blind Ante | Break/Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 300 | 500 | 500 | |
| 2 | 300 | 600 | 600 | |
| 3 | 400 | 800 | 800 | |
| Break | 15 Min | |||
| 4 | 500 | 1000 | 1000 | |
| 5 | 600 | 1200 | 1200 | |
| Break | 15 Min | |||
| 6 | 800 | 1600 | 1600 | |
| 7 | 1000 | 2000 | 2000 | |
| Dinner | 75 Min Break | |||
| End of Late Registration | ||||
| 8 | 1500 | 2500 | 2500 | |
| 9 | 1500 | 3000 | 3000 | |
| Break | 15 Min | |||
| 10 | 2000 | 4000 | 4000 | |
| 11 | 3000 | 5000 | 5000 |
The cards are on the table for Ontario’s online poker and daily fantasy sports (DFS) players. After three days of appellate court hearings, the question of whether Ontario poker players can legally compete with players in other licensed international jurisdictions remains unresolved.
The case is shining a spotlight on a two-year gap in the province’s regulatory framework, leaving operators, players, and other stakeholders eager for clarity. While a decision from the Ontario Court of Appeal isn’t expected until 2025, the implications of this ruling could ripple far beyond the province’s borders.
If there’s one name that keeps popping up on the European Poker Tour (EPT), it’s Andras Nemeth. The Hungarian poker legend has achieved what few can dream of — securing his fifth EPT title, a feat that places him firmly among the tour’s elite. Nemeth claimed victory in the €10,200 Mystery Bounty event at EPT Prague 2024, walking away with €132,980 in total winnings.
Nemeth’s victory was no stroll in the park. The 42-entry field was packed with top-tier talent, but the Hungarian maestro’s precision, calculated risks, and a pivotal ace-high hero call at the final table propelled him to glory. With nearly $7.7 million in lifetime tournament earnings, Nemeth has once again reminded the poker world why he’s a force to be reckoned with.
The Triton Million is back and promises to be one of the most exciting poker events of the year. The tournament will take place from December 7-9, 2024, at the beautiful Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. It is part of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise Series, which will also give a true golden bracelet to the winner! And that’s not all, as there also will be a $100,000 Triton Poker Series Main Event on the schedule.
This tournament is special because it has a $1,000,000 buy-in, making it one of the most expensive poker events in the world. Elite poker players and business folks will compete for a huge prize pool, a WSOP bracelet, and the famous Triton Trophy. Every team consist out of two players, who both will have to buy in for $500,000 each.
The format of the Triton Million adds to the excitement. For the first eight levels, the tournament separates the invited ‘amateur’ players and the professional players into two groups. After that, they combine into one field, creating intense matchups between poker’s biggest names and the recreational side.
The list of invitee-pro pairings is impressive and currently counts a total of 34 players, divided in 17 pairs. Some of the matchups include:
- Paul Phua & Phil Ivey
- Ossi Ketola & Patrik Antonius
- Philip Sternheimer & Ben Heath
- Esti Wang & Adrian Mateos
- Santhosh Suvarna & Nick Petrangelo
- Elton Tsang & Justin Bonomo
- Jessica Teusl & Fedor Holz
- Vinny Lingham & Jason Koon
- Jared Bleznick & Alex Kulev
- Ryan Feldman & Daniel Negreanu
WSOP Paradise Series
The Triton Million is part of the larger WSOP Paradise Series, which runs from December 3-14, 2024. This series will have 15 bracelet events and will take place at the luxurious Atlantis Resort.
Some of the key events include:
- A $5,000 Main Event, which will attract players from all over the world, including tons of online qualifiers.
- A $1,500 Mystery Bounty event which still is increasing in terms of popularity.
- High roller events with buy-ins of $50,000 and $100,000 for poker’s top elite players.
The series also includes daily satellites and side events, giving players of all levels a chance to take part in the action.
The Atlantis Resort is the perfect location for this series, offering great poker facilities, beautiful beaches, and a vibrant atmosphere.
Poker’s Biggest Showdown
With the Triton Million and the WSOP Paradise, the Bahamas will become the centre of the poker world in December. The mix of high stakes, star players, online regulars, and a stunning venue makes this event one of the most exciting in poker history. And of course it will be streamed live on the usual channels of Triton Poker. Don’t miss out on it!
| 12:00 PM | Saturday Dec 7, 2024 | 1 | #2 TRITON MILLION INVITATIONAL | $500,000 | 1,000,000 | 50 MINS |
| 12:00 PM | Sunday Dec 8, 2024 | 2 | #2 TRITON MILLION INVITATIONAL | $500,000 | 1,000,000 | 50 MINS |
| 12:00 PM | Monday Dec 9, 2024 | FINAL TABLE | #2 TRITON MILLION INVITATIONAL | $500,000 | 1,000,000 | 50 MINS |
| 12:00 PM | Tuesday Dec 10, 2024 | 1 | #7 NLH MAIN EVENT | $100,000 | 250,000 | 50 MINS |
| 12:00 PM | Wednesday Dec 11, 2024 | 2 | #7 NLH MAIN EVENT | $100,000 | 250,000 | 50 MINS |
| 12:00 PM | Thursday Dec 12, 2024 | FINAL TABLE | #7 NLH MAIN EVENT | $100,000 | 250,000 | 50 MINS |
What happens when six UK influencers team up with PokerStars ambassadors? The Creators’ Cup — a competition designed to mix poker with pop culture while inviting new players into the game. This four-month-long journey starts online and culminates at the Irish Poker Open in April 2025, offering fans and players alike the chance to win big and have some fun along the way.
Attending a live series has never been easier. Just two simple steps separate you from the journey of your dreams: complete a challenge, win a freeroll, and get ready to pack your bags for a series in the UK or Spain.
Apple and Google are facing fresh legal challenges over their alleged involvement in distributing unregulated gambling apps. A lawsuit filed in New Jersey on November 27th, 2024, accuses the tech giants of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act by enabling the proliferation of sweepstakes casino apps on their platforms.
The case, brought by Julian Bargo, raises questions about the blurred lines between virtual gaming and gambling. With claims of financial harm and accusations of fostering unregulated gambling, the lawsuit could have significant implications for the gaming industry and the responsibilities of app store operators.
The European Poker Tour kicks off today with their final event of 2024 in Prague! While the first EPT was held in the capital city of the Czech Republic back in 2007, this year marks the 16th time they are hosted by King’s Casino Prague (formerly Hilton Prague Hotel). Who will be the successor of Padraig O’Neil and take down the EPT Prague Main Event? And how will the newly added 10-Game Mixed Games Tournament be received by the crowd? With PokerListings, we will keep track of everything that is going on at this grand upcoming event, but let’s dive into some good old history first!
2007: The First EPT in Prague
The first EPT in Prague took place in December 2007 at the Hilton Prague Hotel. Poker was growing in popularity in the Czech Republic, and with the EPT arriving in their capital city, it marked the beginning of a new era. The Main Event attracted a total of 555 entries, and Arnaud Mattern from France took down the event for €708,400. Is he still playing, you ask yourself now? As it’s not the first name that comes to mind when thinking about big champions in the history of the EPT. Yes, he is still playing and not without any success! His last cash dates back to 2023, but he has collected over €2,000,000 in live cashes throughout the years, including two more final tables during European Poker Tour Main Events (5th – Monte Carlo 2008, 3rd – Tallinn 2010).
Interesting fact: During the EPT 2007 in Prague, there were only FOUR tournaments on the schedule.
2008: Italian Galore!
In 2008, it was Salvatore Bonavena who took down the Main Event for €774,000, which had 570 entries, leaving fellow countryman Massimo Di-Cicco in second place for €445,000. Another Italian made it to the final table, resulting in a 5th-place finish for Franco Cirianni. Bonavena, until then fairly unknown in the poker world, catapulted his career this way and now has close to €3M in total career earnings. In the past five years, Bonavena seems to be taking it easier when it comes to his live poker escapades, according to his Hendon Mob profile. Where the Italians were cleaning the tables from top to bottom, we saw more familiar names in the top ranks, such as Jonathan Duhamel (10th), Raul Mestre (9th), and Andrew Chen (3rd).
Interesting fact: Still only FOUR tournaments on the schedule!
2009: The First ‘Home Game’ Winner!
Jan Skampa was the first winner coming from the ‘home country’ Czech Republic, besting a field of 586 entries for a whopping €682,000. The final table had one all-time EPT legend in the line-up, Luca Pagano, known for several final table finishes during EPT Main Events between 2004-2010. Back to Jan Skampa, who took it easy after his win in 2009, as he seemed to have quit playing tournament poker ever since 2011.
Interesting fact: Martin Kabrhel, who had just kicked off his poker career, took down a €2K side event for €100,000! It was also the first time in Prague with a total of 9 tournaments on the schedule.
2010: Wales Legend Roberto Romanello Takes Down Main Event
Roberto Romanello, a well-known poker player from Wales, confirmed his status by finishing the job on his second final table during an EPT Main Event in 2010 with his victory in Prague for €640,000. The total number of entries (563) hit an all-time low for Prague statistics, but that didn’t prevent Romanello from walking away with the most prestigious trophy. Other notable names at the final table were Marcin Horecki (3rd) and Kevin MacPhee (9th). A total of 16 events were on the schedule for the EPT 2010 in Prague.
2011: Martin Finger Takes the Top Spot!
Do we remember Martin Finger? Of course we do! With over €8,000,000 in total live tournament earnings in 2024, he has definitely made his way up ever since winning the EPT Main Event of 2011 in Prague. Finger is mainly found in the high-stakes scenes nowadays and is still expanding his resume worldwide. Two Dutch players were at the final table of this record-breaking Main Event with 722 entries. Patrick Renkers (9th) and David Boyaciyan went deep in the tournament, where Boyaciyan (remember the name) managed to finish as the runner-up behind winner Martin Finger.
Interesting fact: Anton Wigg from Sweden won a €5K side event for €72K, having already won a Main Event the previous year in Copenhagen. Other side event winners were Martin Kabrhel (again) and Bryn Kenney (#1 All-Time Money List).
2012: Eureka Poker Tour Makes Its Debut in Prague
The Eureka Poker Tour had already made its debut in 2011, but not yet in Prague until 2012. The first Eureka Main Event in Prague was won by Cypriot player Menikos Panayiotou, who doesn’t have many cashes to his name, but he does have a bracelet (2022)! The EPT Main Event continued to break records, and this time it was Swede Ramzi Jelassi who took down the event for €835,000. Remember the Dutchman Boyaciyan from the previous edition? He went on to take 3rd this time for €310,000!
Interesting fact: Martin Finger (Winner Main Event 2011) took down a side event, as well as Dan Smith and all-time Finnish legend Juha Helppi. (32 events on the schedule by the way!)
2013: EPT Prague Stays on Track!
For the first time in history, the Main Event in Prague got over 1,000 entries, and it was Julian Track from Germany who took down the event for €725,700 after a heads-up deal with Georgios Sotiropoulos. Looking back on this final table nowadays, it was definitely one of the toughest line-ups, with Stephen Chidwick (3rd), Ole Schemion (5th), and Max Silver (6th) all making rock-steady runs. Andrew Chen, one of the icons in the history of the EPT, made it to the 13th spot.
Interesting fact: Vanessa Selbst took down the €5K PL Omaha Champs side event for €100,700. Perhaps even bigger, the Charity Challenge was won by tennis legend Rafael Nadal, who won the sit-and-go against Fatima Moreiro de Melo (Hockey), Andriy Schevchenko (Football), Daniel Negreanu (Poker), Ronaldo Nazario De Lima (R9 – Football), and Alberto Tomba (Skiing).
Tournament Schedule EPT Prague 2024
With a tournament schedule of over 70 unique events, EPT Prague has evolved throughout the years like never before. Prague has almost always been the final stop of the year for the European Poker Tour, and many poker players worldwide consider this stop as one of the final stops in Europe before heading to the Bahamas or the US, or to call it a day and spend the rest of the year with their families. The Main Event consists of six playing days and two starting flights. Padraig O’Neil, reigning champion in Prague, will most likely defend his title, while Jon Kyte from Norway, the runner-up from that same event, will try to shine on the big stage once again.
Not only will all eyes be set on the Main Event or the Eureka Main Event this time around, PokerStars has also introduced a new format with the 10-Game Mixed Games Tournament, as well as the Spin & Go Challenge! All in all, there is a lot about to happen in Prague in the coming weeks, where many new winners will be crowned!
Here are the highlighted events of EPT Prague 2024:
| Tournament Name | Dates | Buy-in |
|---|---|---|
| Eureka Main Event | Dec 7 – Dec 11, 2024 | €1,100 |
| Eureka Highroller | Dec 10 – Dec 11, 2024 | €10,300 |
| EPT Main Event | Dec 11 – Dec 16, 2024 | €5,300 |
| EPT High Roller | Dec 14 – Dec 16, 2024 | €10,300 |
| 10-Game Tournament | Dec 13 – Dec 14, 2024 | €10,300 |
| Mystery Bounty (Day 1 & 2) | Dec 6 – Dec 7, 2024 | €550 |
| EPT Super High Roller | Dec 11 – Dec 13, 2024 | €50,000 |
| EPT High Roller | Dec 14 – Dec 16, 2024 | €25,000 |
The Banco Casino in Bratislava hosted yet again an edition of The Festival Series a couple weeks ago. With over 50+ unique tournament on the schedule, it was a certainty that every type of player would find their own preferred tournaments in multitude. With this article, we are going to look back on everything that went on throughout this amazing ‘Mixed Games’ live poker series.
Where usually the stop in Bratislava consists out of 8 days, the organisation had to reduce it this time to 7 days. Where the days were reduced with one, you would automatically think there would be less tournaments available, but the opposite is true. With over 50+ tournaments, the cash game challenge, several casino games tournaments, and the one-hand Flip and Go games on the schedule, the fireworks would be launched into the air straight from the get-go.
Lars Hole Wins Newly Introduced Tournament
The Festival Series is never afraid of making spontaneous decisions and this time a total of two new tournaments would make its debut on the tournament schedule. Where the U25-tournament unfortunately didn’t find enough players before it seeing to be cancelled, it was the Pot-Limit Razz Progressive Knockout tournament which stole all the spotlights on the first day of the event.
With a mere buy-in of €125 players could enjoy a great mixed games format which is easily to follow for the natural hold’em players as well. It’s perhaps one of the easiest formats in poker to get familiar with, although it’s an art to stay out on top in this discipline. With the progressive knockout feature enabled, The Festival crew tried to enhance even more players towards this tournament. Eventually a total of 80 entries were made and it was Norwegian Lars Hole who managed to bag the victory in this event for €1,010 and for sure a lot in bounties on top of that. Giorgio Savignone, all the way from Italy, managed to get the same cash prize as Hole, but sadly wouldn’t make it to keep his own bounty. Scott ‘Pokerbrahs’ Kenyon from the UK, and well-known Twitch Streamer, had to settle for the Bronze medal and a worthy €680 in prize money, excluding bounties. (It was Scott Kenyon who eventually would take down the Player of the Series award by having the best results overall in the entire week!)
The Hendon Mob Championship
The Hendon Mob Championship has been part of The Festival Series ever since 2022, when the start of the collaboration between world’s largest poker database owner and The Festival Series got celebrated with it’s first tournament in… Bratislava! For the third consecutive year, The Hendon Mob Championship would be part of the event and this time bigger than ever before. With a total of three starting flights, a total of 436 entries were made, accumulating a total prize pool of €93,195. For the winner was a first prize reserved of €17,745 and an additional package to the grand final of The Hendon Mob Championship in Cape Town worth approximately €2,000.
After long hours of play, it would eventually be former 2011 November Niner Martin Staszko who would headline the final table. He wasn’t only a member of the final nine back then, he managed to finish in 2nd place during the Main Event which was won by Piusz Heinz. Where Staszko collected $5,433,086 back then, he was aiming for the title during this epic €250 multi day tournament.
Staszko, busting players right, left, front and center at this final table, had a commanding chiplead with three players remaining. It all looked super promising for the pro, until the moment he clashed with Norwegian Vegard Granli :
Staszko: Q K
Granli: A 10
After a 3-bet preflop from Granli, Staszko only made the call after calculating the stacks on the table, and both saw a flop of 10 8 J . It doesn’t take much logics to know that this would go in on the flop (check out this great odds calculator which helps you review your own gameplay!), and that’s exactly what happened. The A landed on the turn to give Staszko the better combination, but the 4 gave Granli the nut flush and the winning hand. From here onwards, Granli managed to maintain his chipcounts to a decent level.
While Hristo Dimitrov busted out of the tournament in 3rd place for €8,300, the battle was real between Granli and Staszko. After a long battle which costed the needed blood, sweat, and tears, it was Granli who eventually bested Staszko in the final heads-up, and made it happen that the trophy went to Norway this time! Another 2nd place for Staszko, which only is the second runner-up finish in his career of the Czech superstar if you add his runner-up in the WSOP Main Event to it.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vegard Granli |  | €17,745 |
| 2 | Martin Staszko |  | €12,025 |
| 3 | Hristo Dimitrov |  | €8,300 |
| 4 | Vitaliy Kryza |  | €6,375 |
| 5 | Jason Shellum |  | €5,125 |
| 6 | Ronen Mordechai |  | €4,200 |
| 7 | Ziga Klopcic |  | €3,325 |
| 8 | Jan Erik Iversen | | €2,450 |
| 9 | David Vesely | | €1,850 |
Watch the Full Final Table action of The Hendon Mob Championship Bratislava here:
The Festival Series – More Than Just Poker
Whoever knows is familiar with The Festival Series knows that the event is not just solely about poker tournaments, nor just the Main Event. While of course, the €550 Main Event is covering a guaranteed prize pool of €500,000, and multiple other tournaments having guaranteed prize pools, it’s not just these which are attracting players from all over the world. Hospitality events, side activities organized around the poker schedule, are available to whoever has qualified online through one of the many online operators connected to The Festival Series. Take for example Redstar, who had sent a fair amount of players on the plane to Bratislava, or Coolbet which is often the main supplier of players to the event, or any of the other operators making use of the iPoker network, all these online qualifiers could make use of the great hospitality events such as visiting the Escape Room, the Christmas Market, a lunch party in Hungary just across the border, Back to the Basics in the gaming room next door to Banco Casino, or what to think of the Player’s Party at Club Great in the heart of Bratislava, or a guided tour through the medieval city centre!
Not just the iPoker Network offers online qualifiers to the event, big brands such as Partypoker and Unibet also provide weekly tournaments online where players can buckle up themselves with a full package including hotel, merchandise, and a €550 Main Event buy-in. The Festival Series is perhaps one of the fewer live events in the world which has such an astronomic amount of online partners available, which basically cover Europe entirely and beyond.
After every single hospitality event, players had the option to enjoy free one-hand flips at the casino, rewarding multiple free tickets leading towards one of the casino games tournaments such as Blackjack, Roulette, and Slots. Great added value to a package which is already priceless due to all memories that come with it!
Side Event Action
With 50+ tournaments all included within one week of extreme poker action, dozens of side events would be played out. You’ve not seen so many different poker formats available ever before during a live event. Of course, when offering such a large variety of tournaments, you won’t have fields as big as on the European Poker Tour, but that’s not what The Festival Series stands for; They try to give players the real ‘home game’ vibe, by offering fun and entertaining formats, which are not played elsewhere. We have listed a couple of the tournaments below for you, so you get a bit of a view of what tournaments are being offered:
| Tournament | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | 1st Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heads Up | 32 | €6,840 | Jaroslaw Falkowski |  | €3,420 |
| H.O.R.S.E | 47 | €4,911 | Giorgio Savignone |  | €1,341 |
| PLO High Roller | 39 | €37,050 | Franke Von Zweigbergk |  | €14,300 |
| Crazy Pineapple | 83 | €8,673 | Johan Brauer |  | €2,423 |
| PLO 4/5/6 Card | 76 | €16,245 | Ylva Kim Thorsrud | | €3,547 |
| Sviten Special | 77 | €16,458 | Aki Pyysing |  | €4,958 |
| 2-7 Triple Draw | 60 | €6,270 | Barrie Dear | | €1,920 |
| NLH 15k GTD | 166 | €17,347 | Majken Christensen |  | €3,572 |
| Mystery Bounty (Excl. Bounties) | 405 | €45,562 | Rotem Bar Noy | | €7,492 |
| OFC High Roller | 17 | €16,150 | Scott Kenyon | | €5,915 |
| NLH High Roller | 59 | €56,050 | David Vedral |  | €18,050 |
| NLH PKO Late Night Madness | 213 | €12,140 | Maksym Ronshyn | | €1,820 |
The Festival Series €550 Main Event – €500,000 GTD
The Main Event of The Festival Series has been proven to be a catapult for many rising poker talents in the past. Michel Molenaar, who took down the 2022 Main Event for €126,550, is now travelling all over the world in the chase of more poker momentum. Young Polish player Gabriel Rymar, who not only took down the 2023 Main event for €80,000, but also the Deepstack Tournament for over €14,000, is also working his way up the ranks in tournament poker.
This year, the €550 Main Event already kicked off on the the second day of the series with the first out of six opening flights. Of course, despite all the lights being shed on the side activities and side events, the Main Event still offers a guaranteed prize pool of €500,000, which is always the aim to surpass. This time, they didn’t manage to cover it and it resulted in a minor overlay. However, it was that minor that the faces of everyone involved got covered with big smiles, mainly thanks to the late registration being open for the first two levels of Day 2. A whopping 131 entries were made in just 90 minutes of play, putting the total amount of entries up to a staggering 973 entries.
At Banco Casino Bratislava, it is mandatory that regardless the guarantee in a tournament, there will always be reduced a fee of 5% of the entire prize pool, which also happened this time. In the end, if you calculate it correctly, it would mean that the casino took €11,499 of the prize pool in theory. You wondering yourselves, why it’s such a strange amount with xx,499 on the end? Well, that’s because it’s The Festival Series! It had been decided that a symbolic €1 would be added to the eventual first prize, resulting in an astronomic €77,001 for the winner!
Final Day Action
With only 16 players returning for the final day of the Main Event, it was Dutchman Jaap Smits who was leading the pack towards the final table. With often a bit unorthodox plays with ‘loosy goosy 3-bets’ following the commentator of the live stream George Sandford, it was the Dutchman who own-handed made it happen that the final table would be over in no-time! He wasn’t afraid of colliding with other players, and it turned out very well for him in the end. However, there was one player who managed to stand ground against the rage of the Dutchman thus far as Sebastian Kotowicz, Polish regular of Banco Casino Bratislava, managed to stop the intercity coming from Den Bosch, The Netherlands. (Without any help of any external software or tools!)
Kotowicz, who had gathered roughly $290,000 in live tournament career earnings prior to this tournament, managed to take it all down in the final hand when his turned flush would overcome the turned two-pair of his opponent Smits. Check all the action of the final hand below:
Due to the victory of Sebastian Kotowicz in The Festival Series Main Event of Bratislava 2024, he kept the streak ongoing for his country Poland. As mentioned before, it was young countryman Gabriel Rymar who took down the event in the previous year, and it would keep the trophy in the hands of the great country that Poland is.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sebastian Kotowicz | | €77,001 |
| 2 | Jaap Smits |  | €53,100 |
| 3 | Matus Gabzdil |  | €37,600 |
| 4 | Andre Berg | | €27,700 |
| 5 | Halvor Dahlberg | | €19,700 |
| 6 | Cristian Bele |  | €14,600 |
| 7 | Paul Minzariu | | €11,300 |
| 8 | David Kozma |  | €8,800 |
| 9 | Ilya Smolko | | €7,000 |
Future of The Festival Series
While the official communication still needs to come, The Festival Series already announced during the recent stop their schedule for next year in 2025. In terms of the live events there will be stops in Rozvadov (June), Malta (September), and Bratislava (November. But not all eyes are only set on the live events this time; With two online series planned to be held in 2025, The Festival Series tries to conquer the online poker industry as well alongside the iPoker Network. The first online series will be held in February/March on iPoker and houses a total series guarantee of over $2,000,000, and the online qualifiers for the live events will be launched as well in 2025!
Make sure to follow PokerListings and keep staying up to date about everything in regards of The Festival Series and it’s online qualifiers. If you would more specific information, please give the crew of The Festival Series a follow as well on Social Media.
Omaha regulars topped the leaderboards of the best cash game players at nearly every stake in November. We’re highlighting the most successful results of the past month together with StatName. By the way, a subscription to StatName can be purchased at a discount – details at the end of the article.
But first an important note:
- StatName considers net profit at cash tables. Rakeback and rewards from leaderboards and promotions are not included in the statistics.
- StatName tracks results only at cash tables. Fast-fold poker tables are not included.
- StatName statistics may differ from your HUD statistics because some hands may be lost during import. However, the sample of hands in StatName remains representative and provides an accurate picture of the player.
The future of online gambling in the United States just got a little clearer — or at least that’s the hope. The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) has put forward the Model Internet Gaming Act, a blueprint designed to bring order and uniformity to the often chaotic world of iGaming regulation. Think of it as a recipe, one with all the right ingredients — responsible gaming measures, licensing frameworks, and even a hard ban on sweepstakes casinos. Now it’s up to individual states to decide if they want to follow it.
This draft legislation, now open for public comment, doesn’t just tinker around the edges. It proposes significant changes aimed at enhancing consumer trust, curbing illegal gaming practices, and ensuring that iGaming contributes meaningfully to state economies. If adopted widely, it could redefine how online gambling operates in the U.S.
Series, missions, leaderboards, bonuses — we collected information about all the promotions available in different online poker rooms in one article. So, regardless of whether you favor GGPoker or WPT Global, there is something for everyone!
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is raising the stakes when it comes to tournament integrity with new electronic device rules, debuting at the WSOP Paradise Series in the Bahamas this December. These changes follow a tumultuous summer where whispers of unfair play overshadowed the glory of high-stakes poker. Now, as players prepare to battle it out at Atlantis Paradise Island, they’ll need to leave more than just bad beats behind — they’ll also need to rethink how they use their devices at the table.
The updated rules, highlighted by poker community figure Kevin “Kevmath” Mathers on X, aim to address long-standing concerns over real-time assistance (RTA) tools and rail-side coaching. With stricter policies in place, it looks like the WSOP is hoping to create a more level playing field this December.
The 2024 WSOP Paradise rules include a section regarding Electronic Assistance and Coaching.
— Kevin Mathers (@Kevmath) December 1, 2024
Full rules at https://t.co/rF2KKEHr07 pic.twitter.com/8dvMOuYa6K
Patrick “Egption” Tardif has become a well-known name in the poker world, combining fine poker skills with a fun and engaging personality that connects with fans everywhere. As a WPT Global ambassador, Twitch streamer, Tardif has created a special place for himself in the poker community.
In this interview, he talks about his journey from competitive gaming to becoming a professional poker player. He opens up about the ups and downs of his career, his goals for both live poker and online streaming and how he stays motivated through it all. From dealing with losing streaks to entertaining his followers and planning his next big move, Patrick’s story is one about determination, growth, and chasing his dreams.
Melvin: You’ve been streaming for several years now and have been connected to some big poker brands as an ambassador. What positive aspects came with the WPT Global role when compared to your previous ambassadorships?
Patrick: With some of the other brands I’ve been an ambassador for, they had strong notoriety, but even to the everyday person, they often wouldn’t know which poker site it was. The World Poker Tour is one of the most recognisable brands in the world — people often see it when they turn on poker on their TVs.
I’ve also really enjoyed the team, both on the ambassador side and behind the scenes. The WPT Global team, from top to bottom, made the transition as smooth as possible, and I’ve hit the ground running.
Melvin: WPT Global has 12 ambassadors. You call it soccer on your side of the world, but here we call it football. If you were the coach/manager of the WPT Global football team, what would your 4-3-3 line-up look like?
Patrick:
- Patrick: Goalkeeper: Apestyles.
- Defense: Me, Romulo, Marcelo, Dan.
- Midfield: Brad, Pete, Ethan.
- Attack: Xuan, Ivey, Kessel.
Melvin: The WPT World Championship is around the corner, and PokerListings will be present as well. Will you be there? What makes this live series unique compared to others, in your opinion?
Patrick: I’m really looking forward to my first WPT World Championship this year! Any time spent in Las Vegas at the Wynn is a good time. WPT events have a unique atmosphere that stands out from other major events. You’re playing for the most prestigious prize in poker. The staff at the Wynn are top-notch, which creates an unrivalled poker experience.
Complete Schedule Overview – WPT World Championships
Melvin: WPT Global recently partnered with Triton Poker. Will we see you at these events soon? What are your thoughts on Vladimir ‘Gambledore’ Korzinen? And do you watch the streams of world-class poker to improve your own game?
Patrick: The Triton Poker Series has been on my radar since its inception, and I often watch the live streams when I’m not streaming myself. I’ve always enjoyed battling the best in the world, and I think 2025 will be the year I finally bet on myself and play my first Triton.
As for ‘Gambledore,’ he was a breath of fresh air on the Triton broadcast. Watching someone learn on the fly, play his own game, and still dominate some of the best players in the world was incredible. In one series, he achieved more than many poker players do in their entire careers. His run at the last Triton was one for the history books.
Read More About Vladimir ‘Gambledoor’ Korzinen Here
Melvin: Have you ever had a downswing so significant that you reconsidered your poker career? What are the most important swing periods in your career?
Patrick: I don’t think any seasoned poker player has gone through their career without a “why am I even doing this anymore” type of downswing. I’ve had 3-4 notable downswings in my career.
One in particular was so challenging that, at its darkest point, I truly questioned if I could still win. Fortunately, I’ve always maintained a solid support system, kept my head down, and persevered. I haven’t faced anything like that in quite some time.
Melvin: Poker is hotter than ever. Live events are popping up everywhere, and online series are multiplying compared to a decade ago. How is the Twitch environment right now? Do you think it’s growing, or stagnating, or was it more popular before?
Patrick: Twitch as a platform is undeniably stagnating, but the reasons are complex. These days, it’s crucial to broadcast and promote yourself across as many social media platforms as possible. The days of staying exclusive to one service are over.
For online poker content, especially at high stakes, there’s an uphill battle due to the need for delay. It’s tough to maintain an interactive viewer experience, but elite streamers make it work through community building and good moderation.
Melvin: What inspired you to start playing poker, and how did you transition from being a casual player to a professional?
Patrick: My biggest inspiration would be my competitiveness. Coming from a strong gaming background with a lot of high-level competitive gaming, I’ve always loved climbing the mountain.
Whether it was GameBattles leaderboards or reaching the highest level in Diablo, I’ve always enjoyed a challenge. Poker is the ultimate never-ending challenge — there’s always new competition and elite players to chase.
There’s a lot of ambiguity about who the best poker player is, but you can often get a ballpark idea. I strive to be mentioned in those conversations.
Melvin: How do you balance playing high-level poker with keeping your content entertaining for your audience?
Patrick: There’s definitely a trade-off. I do sacrifice some of my poker ability to make the stream more entertaining, but it’s worth it because of the partnerships and ambassador roles that come with it.
Personally, I just enjoy talking. I love sitting there and cracking jokes—even when no one is watching. It’s great that I’ve found a way to monetize that.
Melvin: What are your short-term and long-term goals in poker, both as a player and a content creator?
Patrick: As a poker player, I’m already competing at a high level. The next step for me is playing in the Super High Roller fields against the best in the world. My long-term goal is to bridge that gap and narrow the lead that the top players have over me.
In the short term, it’s about putting in the hours, staying disciplined, and hustling.
As a content creator, I want to continue producing exciting content. There was a time when I aspired to be the go-to choice for poker content. For me, great content comes naturally when I’m playing better poker and growing as a player. Watching me win at an elite level is what will set me apart, so my poker and content goals go hand in hand.
Make sure to follow us on our social media channels as we regularly share content related to the online poker streams of Patrick ‘Egption’ Tardif. Not only will you be able to check out our most recent video content, we will also share everything what you need to know about one of the largest poker operators in the world at this moment: WPT Global. Stay tuned, Stay connected, Stay PokerListings!