EPT: European Poker Tour, Grand Final

For any serious poker player, the European Poker Tour represents one of the most important tournament series on the poker calendar. EPT Season 5 has travelled to some of Europe’s finest cities, awarding millions of dollars in winnings along the way. Yet, as with all good things in life, it must unfortunately come to an end. That end to EPT Season 5 is now in sight, as the Grand Final at EPT Monte Carlo, beginning on April 27, is on the horizon – but what an end it will be!

Last year’s EPT Grand Final saw the poker elite gather in Monte Carlo, all hoping to claim victory and millions of Euros in prize money. A record 842 players produced an €8.4 million prize pool to make it the richest poker tournament in Europe. This year, the schedule is expanding as Poker Stars introduce a number of new side events in addition to the Main Event.

The ‘European High Roller Championship’, ‘European Pot Limit Omaha Championship’ and daily Battleship tournaments will all debut this year. Add to this the introduction of a 2 day EPT Monte Carlo Poker Camp, and the new schedule will make EPT Monte Carlo a true festival of poker.

EPT Monte Carlo will get underway on April 27, and Poker Stars is giving you the chance to be a part of the action. Satellites are now under way for an $18,800 package which awards entry into the EPT Grand Final! The main event package will comprise your tournament buy-in, luxury accommodation, and $1,000 towards expenses. Qualifiers are running now starting from $2.22 or 111 FPP, and you can find them under the Events > EPT tab in the PokerStars.com lobby. For more information, visit the EPT Monte Carlo events page.

In addition, Poker Stars will also be offering satellites to win an exclusive package for the ‘European Pot Limit Omaha Championship’. Satellites to win an $8,570 package are running now located under the Events > EPT tab in your PokerStars.com lobby.

This year you will also be able to buy-in directly to side events online through your PokerStars.com account, up until 3 hours before the event begins. Starting on April 20, you will be able to buy-in to your chosen side event by locating it under the Events > EPT tab in your PokerStars.com lobby. Onsite registration for all side events will not open until two hours before each event begins.

EPT SAN REMO
Before the Grand Final, there is still time for the EPT to make its highly anticipated return to Italy for EPT San Remo. At the debut events last season, 701 players anted up to compete for a share of the €3.1 million prize pool. The eventual champion was PokerStars qualifier Jason Mercier, who took home €869,000. The action is set to return to Casino San Remo from April 18-23, and you could be there by qualifying through Poker Stars satellites, which are running NOW. Cash and FPP qualifiers are available from $2.22 or 111 FPP, and you can find them under the Events > EPT tab in your PokerStars.com lobby.

EPT: Deauville, Moritz Kranich Wins!

Just six months after getting married, Moritz Kranich, the 28-year-old online pro from Hamburg beat off competition from 644 players from 50 countries including PokerStars-sponsored WSOP champion Peter Eastgate and Team PokerStars Pro Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier to capture EPT Deauville for $851,400 after winning his seat in a €650 satellite on PokerStars.

Moritz Kranich first started playing poker four years ago, kicking off with freerolls then progressing to $5 Sit and Gos. Within four months he was up to $100 SNGs. In August 2006, the 28-year-old IT student started focusing on MTTs and last September hit the big time – with 3rd place in the $1,050 WCOOP Second Chance for $77,000. He has also won the S109 Rebuy tournament. In live events, he has made three final tables including the German Poker Championship. He had his biggest live cash two weeks ago in the $5k side event at the PCA, where he finished 12th place for $19,100.

PCA 2009 Champion

Poorya Nazari wins $3,000,000 and the title of PCA 2009 Main Event Champion. The 22-year-old Richmond Hill man literally played his cards to become a multi-millionaire, Poorya and dont let his name fool you, spent about $700 to enter the competition and knocked out over 1,000 people to win the cash. He spent months climbing the poker charts, jumping from an online game to a gut-wrenching Texas hold ‘em tournament in the Caribbean.

Nazari admitted he spent many late nights glued to his seat, looking at his cards. He said the best way to get through it is to play within your comfort level and have a support system behind you.

Visit PokerStars today and see how you can become the next champ at their many coveted tournaments!

EPT London 08: Michael Martin

Highlights from Michael Martin’s win at EPT London 08!

Michael has been playing poker for five years and turned pro in January 2007 after graduating in English from Penn State. Originally an athlete – he played college hockey for two years – he took up poker at the end of a hockey season and never looked back. Between November 2007 and April 2008 he won over $1,000,000 – after coming 2nd at the Master Classics of Poker in Amsterdam in November 2007 and then making 5th place at the EPT4 Grand Final in Monte Carlo. Michael’s mother has flown over specially to rail her son at today’s final table and has always supported his decision to become a poker pro. Michael said: “When I started, my dad wasn’t keen at all but my Mum was an enabler. She lent me my first $100 to play online with and when I made my first $1,000, I asked her if i should cash out and she said no!” Michael’s girlfriend Jen is also flying in to London to give her support.

Watch EPT London 08: The Winner – Michael Martin on PokerStars.tv