Traditionally, the WSOP signals the end of the “poker season” for the major tournament circuit. Then, there’s a bit of a lull/break until EPT Barcelona commences to mark the beginning of the new season. This year’s EPT Barcelona just wrapped up and was a major success, drawing praise from many in the poker community as one of best events on the poker calendar. As we get into the final months of 2018, here are five other can’t-miss festivals from around the world worth attending.
EPT Open Sochi (September 21-29)
The European Poker Tour passes through Sochi, Russia for a second time in 2018, with the RUB 132,000 (around $2,125) buy-in Main Event set to run from September 25-29. A RUB 258,000 (around $4,150) High Roller is also on the schedule for Septemeber 28-29.
The Sochi Casino & Resort is a regular annual stop for the EPT, and the EPT Sochi was a massive success when it ran there last time around.
PokerStars Ambassador Mikhail Shalamov said the festival drew more than 1,300 players from 61 different countries. The $3,352 buy-in Main Event saw 861 players compete for the $478,451 first prize, which was taken down by Russian Arsenii Karmatckii.
PokerStars announced in June that the EPT would return to Sochi for a second time in September, this time with an “open” format and a smaller buy-in for the Main Event. This will open up the tournament for even more players, and with $1 million guaranteed prize money, the Main Event champion will still come away with a hefty prize and, of course, a Platinum Pass.
WSOP Europe (October 9-November 2)
We’ve seen quite a few significant moments in poker history take place at the WSOP Europe Main Event since its inception in 2007. Annette Obrestad won as an 18-year-old in the event’s inaugural year, John Juanda survived a 19-hour final table to take down the championship in 2008, and Phil Hellmuth added to his legacy with his 13th WSOP bracelet in 2012.
King’s Casino in Rosadov, Czech Republic, will host Europe’s largest poker festival for the second straight year, and with 10 WSOP bracelets up for grabs, poker’s biggest names will no doubt be on hand.
Over €13,000,000 in guaranteed prize money will be awarded across the 10 tournaments, including the €10,350 Main Event and €100,000 Super High Roller, both of which will boast €5,000,000 guaranteed prize pools.
The 2017 WSOP Europe ended up drawing 7,689 entries overall and exceeded the €25 million mark in prize money, so expect both the high rollers as well as those with high hopes to come out to King’s for this one-of-a-kind festival.
Online qualifier Marti Roca de Torres took down the Main Event last year, outlasting 529 entrants to take home €1,115,207 and prove the poker dream is still alive!
Battle of Malta/Malta Poker Festival (October 25-November 6)
The isle of Malta plays host to two great festivals back-to-back this fall, with the Battle of Malta running from October 25-30 at the Casino Malta, and the Malta Poker Festival scheduled for November 1-6 at the Portomaso Casino.
Since its inception in 2012, the Battle of Malta has earned a reputation as one of the most fun festivals on the poker circuit. The BOM is geared toward low- and mid-stakes players, with events ranging from the €55 buy-in Super Satellite, to the €500 Main Event and the €1,200 High Roller.
Patrik Antonius, one of the most successful high-stakes players in poker history, has committed to playing the BOM Main Event this year, which will have a €1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool!
Just two days after the BOM wraps up, the inaugural Malta Poker Festival kicks off at the Portomaso. This festival is new for 2018, as the former owners of the BOM are starting a new tradition and giving the poker community good reason to stay an extra week in Malta!
The MPF Grand Event is the centerpiece of the MPF, with a €550 buy-in and €500,000 guaranteed prize pool. Other tournaments on the schedule include the Grandmaster High Roller €1,200 buy-in, the all-new Hendon Mob Championship and even a blackjack tournament.
The parties that take place in Malta during this two-week stretch will be the stuff of legends, don’t miss out!
Caribbean Poker Party (November 9-18)
partypoker is raising the bar for this year’s Caribbean Poker Party, with guaranteed $10 million prize pools for both the $5,300 Main Event and the $25,500 MILLIONS World!
The festival runs out of a new location for 2018, taking place at the luxurious Baha Mar Casino in the Bahamas. The Caribbean Poker Party schedule includes 11 events and appeals to low-to-mid stakes players and high rollers alike.
In addition to the pair of $10 million guaranteed tournaments, the schedule also features five different $275 buy-in events, a $10,300 High Roller, and a $250,000 Super High Roller Championship that is certain to draw poker’s biggest names to the tropical islands!
The $10 million Main Event prize pool is double the guarantee of the 2017 CPP Main Event, in which Sam Greenwood came out with the win in a field of 1,061 entrants and took home the $1 million first prize.
888poker LIVE London (November 23-December 2)
Among the multitude of great activities one can engage in London, the city is also known for great casino action. In that vein, the 888poker LIVE tour comes to the Aspers Casino in London for one of the final events on the poker calendar for 2018.
The €1,100 buy-in Main Event anchors this festival, and it comes with a €500,000 guaranteed prize pool, which represents a close to 20% increase over last year’s prize money for the same event.
Tom Hall took down the championship in 2017, overcoming a field of 427 players, surviving a 12-hour-plus final day and taking home €78,888.
The 2018 schedule also features a €2,200 High Roller and €5,000 Super High Roller, along with plenty of low-to-mid-stakes buy-in events. The €220 Opening Event kicks off the festival, and other affordable options include the €60 Swordfish, €80 Turbo Deepstack, and €125 Omaha Pot Limit events.
Former WSOP Main Event champions Joe Cada, Martin Jacobson, and Scott Blumstein will all be in attendance, lending additional prestige to the festivities, and the 888poker LIVE London will no doubt draw many other of the biggest names in poker as well!
If online casino action is your preferred cup of tea, why not warm up for the big London event with some live casino action or video poker at dreamz.com – a new online casino in the UK.
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