There’s a major change in the offing for the PokerStars-backed European Poker Tour (EPT). The tournament series’ Grand Final, which has been held in Monte Carlo for the past six seasons, will pick up and head to Madrid, Spain. The Casino Gran Madrid will serve as the host venue for the Season 7 EPT Grand Final, which runs from May 7th to 12th.
EPT CEO John Duthie commented in a press release distributed by the world’s largest online poker site on Monday, “We wanted somewhere new, dynamic, and inspiring and knew that Madrid would tick all the boxes for the traveling poker player, regardless of age or desires. The same familiar team will be running the event and the schedule will, I am sure, provide something for everyone. All the usual qualifying satellites will be held on PokerStars, giving all players of all nationalities the opportunity to join us in launching from our new home. Hasta la vista!”
The Grand Final will boast a €10,600 buy-in for its first go-around in Madrid and the schedule for the series also includes a €25,000 High Roller Event. According to estimates released by PokerStars, hosting the EPT Grand Final could boost Madrid’s economy by as much as €10 million. That figure is split evenly into player buy-ins and ancillary effects stemming from media exposure.
As you’d expect with so much on the line, the Mayor of Madrid, Carlos Galbeño, welcomed the poker world with open arms: “The fact that the Casino Gran Madrid Torrelodones has been chosen to host the Grand Final of the seventh season of the European Poker Tour is great news for the Madrid community. However, it is especially important for our town, because not only will the event have a huge economic impact, it will also allow us to project our city as a prime tourist spot in Europe.”
The Madrid stop will be the second of the season in Spain for the EPT, which stormed into Barcelona in November. There, Swedish poker player Kent Lundmark stole the show and raked in well over $1 million. A field of 758 players turned out and the top 112 finished in the money.
The storied Monte Carlo in Monaco will sit idly by this year in what is surely a sad day for several poker players. Past champions of the Grand Final include Rob Hollink, Jeff “yellowsub” Williams, Gavin Griffin, Glen Chorny, Pieter De Korver, and Nicolas Chouity. Four different countries have captured Grand Final titles in the truly global event: the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, and Lebanon.
The EPT is currently camped out in Copenhagen, Denmark, where former PokerStars pro Peter Eastgate has made his triumphant, albeit temporary, return to the felts. Eastgate will also play in the National Heads-Up Poker Championship in Las Vegas next month; his future after that point is uncertain.
Here’s a look at the remaining EPT Season 7 schedule:
EPT Snowfest: March 20th to 25th
€3,500 + 250 buy-in Main Event
EPT Berlin: April 5th to 10th
€5,000 + 300 buy-in Main Event
EPT San Remo: April 27th to May 3rd
€5,000 + 300 buy-in Main Event
EPT Grand Final: May 7th to 12th
€10,000 + 600 buy-in Main Event
If you’re interested in heading to Madrid for the EPT Grand Final, satellites will be available on PokerStars on February 28th. The world’s largest online poker site happily accepts players from the United States. Sign up now.
