European Poker Tour Berlin Expands For Tomorrow’s Start

The European Poker Tour (EPT) rolls into an expanded Berlin event tomorrow as the Spielbank Berlin is joined by the Grand Hyatt to play host to the biggest live poker tournament in Germany.

With over 170 players already qualified through satellites run by tour sponsor PokerStars – with more still available – organisers are expecting an even larger main event field than last year, when Canadian Ben Wilinofsky picked up $1,174,143 after defeating a 773-player field.

Last year’s main event saw long queues for the main event, with Spielbank Berlin director Steffen Stumpf pointing out that “we had some unfortunate bottlenecks at our tables”.

As such, the tournament has been expanded to include another venue, the Grand Hyatt – which is just 20 metres from the Spielbank – resulting in space for as many as 1,300 competitors in the €5,000+€300 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em main event that runs from Monday until next Saturday.

Events and Field Sizes Increased

Additionally, with many more competitors expected, the number of events and maximum field sizes have also been upped, ensuring that, “with the changes, we combine the best of both worlds – more tournaments, more starting places and a clearly more convenient game situation for all participants”, according to Stumpf.

The Grand Hyatt will also share side events with the Spielbank Berlin, although registration and payments will only be accepted at the latter with Stumpf pointing out that this has been done to “guarantee the highest safety standards, given that the entire cash flow will solely take place here at the Spielbank Berlin as last year”.

Cash games will also be available at the Spielbank, with 25 tables set aside just for these events.

Final Satellite to Berlin Takes Place Tomorrow

Now, it is still possible to win seats in Berlin, as well as the Grand Final in Monte Carlo – which will see a €10,000+€600 buy-in main event staged at the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort from April 23 to May 1 – with the final satellite for the German tournament taking place tomorrow at 20:15 BST (British Summer Time).

Five seats have been guaranteed by PokerStars for the €530 buy-in qualifier, with more likely to be added. Of course, all prize packages will include the main event buy-in, hotel accommodation and a substantial amount of cash for expenses.

While the qualifiers for Berlin end tomorrow, they will still be running next week for Monte Carlo – with buy-ins starting from only €5.45 or 100 FFPs (frequent player points).

Sign Up to PokerStars to Join Tour

These satellites take place around the clock and can be located in the PokerStars main lobby by selecting ‘Events’ and then clicking on the ‘EPT’ tab.

EPT Berlin Schedule (all times CET, Central European Time)

Sunday, April 15:

18:00, Event #1, €200+€20 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Unlimited Re-Buys Super Satellite to Main Event

21:00, Event #2, €300+€30 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Turbo

Monday, April 16:

12:00, Event #3, €5,000+€300 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Main Event Day 1a

17:00, Event #4, €2,000+€100 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha Turbo

20:00, Event #5, €500+€50 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em One Re-Buy Super Satellite to Main Event Day 1b

Tuesday, April 17:

12:00, Event #3, €5,000+€300 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Main Event Day 1b

20:00, Event #6, €1,000+€1,000+€100 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Turbo Bounty

Wednesday, April 18:

12:00, Event #3, €5,000+€300 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Main Event Day 2

18:00, Event #7, €2,000+€150 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Day 1

21:00, Event #8, €300+€30 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Turbo Rivers!

Thursday, April 19:

12:00, Event #3, €5,000+€300 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Main Event Day 3 (play down to 24 players)

12:00, Event #9, €3,000+€200 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Heads-Up Day 1 (32-player maximum)

12:00, Event #10, €500+€500+€50 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Turbo Bounty

13:00, Event #7, €2,000+€150 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Final Day

17:00, Event #11, €1,000+€100 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Day 1

21:00, Event #12, €300+€30 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Turbo

Friday, April 20:

12:00, Event #3, €5,000+€300 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Main Event Day 4 (play down to eight players)

12:00, Event #9, €3,000+€200 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Heads-Up Final Day

12:00, Event #13, €300+€30 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Women’s Event

12:00, Event #14, €10,000+€300 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Eight-Max Re-Entry Day 1

12:00, Event #15, €1,000+€100 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Turbo

13:00, Event #11, €1,000+€100 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Final Day

16:00, Event #16, €1,000+€100 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Day 1

18:00, Event #17, €1,000+€100 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha Single Rebuy Day 1

21:00, Event #18, €300+€30 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Turbo Win the Button!

Saturday, April 21:

12:00, Event #3, €5,000+€300 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Main Event Day 5 (final table)

12:00, Event #14, €10,000+€300 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Eight-Max Re-Entry Final Day

12:00, Event #16, €1,000+€100 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Final Day

12:00, Event #17, €1,000+€100 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha Single Rebuy Final Day

13:00, Event #19, €300+€30 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Turbo EPT Spring Fling (€30,000 guaranteed)

15:00, Event #20, €5,000+€200 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Six-Max Turbo

17:00, Event #21, €100+€20 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Hyper Turbo (10,000 starting stack, 10-minute blind levels, €10,000 guaranteed)