PokerStars introduces Online EPT Tournament.
After the WSOP 2020 witnessed a shift to online poker, the European Poker Tour (EPT) is also expected to move into the virtual realm, as announced by PokerStars - the online poker market leader and organizer of the EPT. The coronavirus crisis is driving live poker tournaments towards the digital space.
An Exciting Virtual Experience
Post pandemic, many major land-based poker tournaments are moving online, and the EPT is no exception. However, this doesn't mean the tournaments lose their spark; PokerStars plans to make the first online EPT just as thrilling as the live ones.
A Pivotal Event in Poker
The online EPT is a novelty for PokerStars, thus the expectations are high. The virtual tables need to be bustling with life—just like the live ones. Consequently, the online EPT runs from November 8-18, 2020, and features a tournament schedule akin to the live events. Surprises await the winners as they take their place in EPT history. Live broadcasts are also planned.
The first online EPT is a significant date on all poker enthusiasts' calendars. With a guaranteed prize pool of $20 million, 20 events, and buy-ins ranging from $215 to $25,000, it warrants the attention of poker players worldwide. Moreover, mini EPTs with buy-ins as low as $2.20 are organized to connect the entire PokerStars community.
The EPT origins trace back to 2004, during the Texas Hold'em pandemic. Aelite poker players like Phil Ivey, Joe Hachem, Marcel Lüske, Ram Vaswani, Patrik Antonius, and Andy Black have graced the EPT finals. Last year, Sweden's Simon Brändström won the EPT Main Event in Barcelona, pocketing €1,290,166. It should be noted that the EPT skipped 2017, with the PokerStars Championship taking its place.
Broadcast Live on Twitch
The EPT's online version will be broadcast via PokerStars' Twitch channel, similar to regular tournaments. Joe Stapleton and James Hartigan will report on the event for six days, as they usually do. Additionally, ambassadors Spraggy, Lex Veldhuis, and Fintan Hand will share their perspectives - on their Twitch channels as well.
Severin Rasset, a PokerStars manager, emphasized that the EPT is a top-notch tournament series and a crucial event for poker fans and players. It's not just about the high cash prizes and nail-biting drama, but also about fostering the community and unity. Despite the coronavirus crisis, the EPT's schedule, prizes, and tournaments are designed to keep the EPT alive.
A Successful Shift to Online Poker
The year's WSOP, which was facing cancellation, had a strong online showing. It proved that large, well-known poker tournaments could carry on successfully online. Surprisingly, no player could win more than one bracelet, while many first-time winners were able to snatch a bracelet. This shows that online poker is the only option amidst global travel restrictions and closed poker rooms like Mirage, Mandalay Bay, and Excalibur.
MGM Resorts closed three poker rooms on the Strip, signifying a decrease in tourism. While their poker rooms will remain closed indefinitely, Wynn Resorts is maintaining its poker room albeit on a limited basis. Poker players are looking forward to the upcoming online EPT, hoping to recreate the excitement of the live events while navigating the unprecedented times.
The famed poker rooms of the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, where the World Series of Poker takes place, are still shuttered. In terms of Europe, numerous gambling establishments and casinos across France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and the U.K. have re-entered lockdown, rendering large tournament series nigh impossible to play. As a result, online poker tournaments seem to be the only secure alternative.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
