European Poker Tour (EPT)'s 20th Anniversary: Looking Back at the Past Ten Years

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EPT20

The European Poker Tour (EPT) has long been a proving ground for poker's elite, where strategy, skill, and a bit of luck collide to crown champions on the grandest stages.

As the tour progressed from Season 11, it witnessed the emergence of new talents and unforgettable moments. Each season brought its own set of heroes and stories, shaping the legacy of the EPT and solidifying its place as one of the most prestigious circuits in the world of professional poker.

This article continues our dive into the history of the EPT, following up on part one, which explored the first ten years of its inception and the champions who defined that era.

Season 11

Adrian Mateos
Adrian Mateos in 2024

The 11th season of the EPT marked a historic moment for Spain as Adrian Mateos became the first Spaniard to win an EPT Main Event. Mateos's victory at the 2015 EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo occurred just two years after his win at the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) Main Event at the age of 19.

This season also introduced Malta as a new stop, with Jean Montury claiming victory, and saw the final EPT event held in Deauville, France.

DateEventEntrantsMain Event WinnerCountryPrize
Aug-14EPT Barcelona1,496Andre LettauGermany�794,058
Oct-14EPT London675Sebastian PauliGermany��499,700
Dec-14EPT Prague1,107Stephen GranerUnited States�969,000
Jan-14PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA)816Kevin SchulzUnited States$1,491,580
Jan-15EPT Deauville592Ognyan DimovBulgaria�543,700
Mar-15EPT Malta895Jean MonturyFrance�687,400
May-15EPT Grand Final, Monte Carlo564Adrian MateosSpain�1,082,000

Season 12

Dzmitry Urbanovich
Dzmitry Urbanovich at 2023 PCA

Season 12 of the EPT saw the tour return to Dublin for the first time since Season 5, where young Polish star Dzmitry Urbanovich claimed victory.

This season was also notable for John Juanda, becoming the second WSOP Europe Main Event champion to bank an EPT title. Meanwhile, future WSOP Main Event winner Hossein Ensan captured the title in Prague.

Triple crown winners Mike Watson and Niall Farrell also hoisted trophies above their heads, winning the PCA and EPT Malta, respectively.

DateEventEntrantsMain Event WinnerCountryPrize
Aug-15EPT Barcelona1,694John JuandaIndonesia�1,022,593
Oct-15EPT Malta651Niall FarrellUnited Kingdom�534,330
Dec-15EPT Prague1,044Hossein EnsanGermany�754,510
Jan-16PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA)928Mike WatsonCanada$728,325
Feb-16EPT Dublin605Dzmitry UrbanovichPoland�561,900
May-16EPT Grand Final, Monte Carlo1,098Jan BendikSlovakia�961,800

Season 13

Sebastian Malec
Sebastian Malec

In 2016, only three EPT festivals were held, but they were packed with drama and excitement. The highlight of the season was Sebastian Malec��s victory at EPT Barcelona, where he became the second Polish player to win an EPT Main Event.

Aliaksei Boika and Jasper Meijer van Putten also found success in Season 13 but paled in comparison to Malec's seven-figure windfall.

DateEventEntrantsMain Event WinnerCountryPrize
Aug-16EPT Barcelona1,785Sebastian MalecPoland�1,122,800
Oct-16EPT Malta468Aliaksei BoikaBelarus�355,700
Dec-16EPT Prague1,192Jasper Meijer van PuttenNetherlands�699,300
Complete Guide to EPT Barcelona 2024 - Everything You Need to Know

PokerStars Championship

In 2017, PokerStars announced it was to overhaul its live tournament schedule. As a result, the EPT was rebranded as the PokerStars Championship.

There were seven PokerStars Championship festivals:

  • Bahamas
  • Panama
  • Macau
  • Monte Carlo
  • Sochi
  • Barcelona
  • Prague

The PokerStars Championship was discontinued after one season, with the EPT brand returning once more.

Season 14

Maria Lampropulus
Maria Lampropulus

The EPT returned in 2018, focusing on Europe, including a new stop in Sochi, Russia. Arsenii Karmatckii emerged victorious in Sochi, becoming only the fourth Russian to win an EPT title. The season also saw the tour��s regular stops in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Prague.

Maria Lampropulos kicked off the season by taking down the PCA Main Event for $1,081,100. She became the first woman to win the tournament. She was the EPT's only fourth female Main Event champion, following on from Liv Boeree, Victoria Coren-Mitchell and Sandra Naujoks.

DateEventEntrantsMain Event WinnerCountryPrize
Jan-18PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA)582Maria LampropulosArgentina$1,081,100
Mar-18EPT Sochi861Arsenii KarmatckiiRussia?27,300,000
May-18EPT Monte Carlo777Nicolas DumontFrance�712,000
Sep-18EPT Barcelona1,931Piotr NurzynskiPoland�1,037,109
Dec-18EPT Prague1,174Paul MichaelisGermany�840,000

Season 15

Mikalai Pobal wins the 2019 EPT Prague Main Event
Mikalai Pobal Wins the 2019 EPT Prague Main Event

2019 was notable for being the first time the EPT held the same five stops as the previous year, which led to record-breaking attendance, particularly at EPT Barcelona. Simon Brandstrom of Sweden won the biggest prize of the year at EPT Barcelona, while Mikalai Pobal made history by becoming the second two-time EPT champion with his win in Prague.

DateEventEntrantsMain Event WinnerCountryPrize
Jan-19PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA)865Chino RheemUnited States$1,567,100
Mar-19EPT Sochi563Uri GilboaIsrael?27,475,000
May-19EPT Monte Carlo922Manig LoeserGermany�603,777
Sep-19EPT Barcelona1,988Simon BrandstromSweden�1,290,166
Dec-19EPT Prague1,154Mikalai PobalBelarus�1,005,600

Season 16 & 17

Artur Martirosian
Artur Martirosian

The coronavirus pandemic drastically impacted the EPT schedule. In 2020, only one live event took place in Sochi, Russia, where Ruslan Bogdanov emerged victorious. The following year saw just one event as well, with Artur Martirosian winning the EPT Sochi Main Event.

DateEventEntrantsMain Event WinnerCountryPrize
Oct-20EPT Sochi637Ruslan BogdanovRussia?15,984,500
Mar-21EPT Sochi852Artur MartirosianRussia?24,633,000

Additionally, there were 20 tournaments held online at PokerStars as part of the inaugural EPT Online. Sweden's "WhatIfGod" won the $5,200 EPT Online Main Event for $1,019,082 after defeating Timothy Adams heads-up.

Season 18

Giuliano Bendinelli
Giuliano Bendinelli

Following the end of the coronavirus pandemic, the EPT returned to normality, with five stops throughout 2022. Two stops were in Prague, Czech Republic, and the tour returned to London, England, for the first time in eight years. The EPT also visited regular destinations, such as Monte Carlo and Barcelona.

The EPT returned with a bang, with several events breaking attendance and prize pool records throughout the year. The 2022 EPT Barcelona Main Event became the biggest of all time, with 2,294 entries recorded. Italy's Guiliano Bendinelli was the victor in that tournament and pocketed the �1,491,133 allocated for first place.

DateEventEntrantsMain Event WinnerCountryPrize
Mar-22EPT Prague1,190Grzegorz GlownyPoland�692,252
May-22EPT Monte Carlo1,073Marcelo Simoes MesqueuBrazil�939,840
Aug-22EPT Barcelona2,294Giuliano BendinelliItaly�1,491,133
Oct-22EPT London749Ian HamiltonUnited Kingdom�664,400
Dec-22EPT Prague1,267Jordan SaccucciCanada�913,250

Season 19

Gilles Simon
Gilles Simon

Two new stops were announced as part of the 2023 EPT season. Paris became the 13th European capital to host a stop on the European Poker Tour, and popular poker destination Cyprus joined the action.

There were stories aplenty as PokerStars qualifier Razvan Belea dominated in Paris and Canada's Mike Watson became only the third two-time EPT champion in history with victory in Monte Carlo, seven years after previously taking down the 2016 PCA Main Event.

Another monster EPT Barcelona Main Event saw Simon Wiciak crowned champion, before PokerStars 'Dare to Stream' winner Gilles Simon became the inaugural winner of EPT Cyprus. The year was rounded out in stunning style with a memorable comeback for popular Irish player Padraig O'Neill, who overcame Jon Kyte heads-up after the Norwegian had held a near unassailable chip lead.

DateEventEntrantsMain Event WinnerCountryPrize
Feb-23EPT Paris1,606Razvan BeleaRomania�1,170,000
May-23EPT Monte Carlo1,098Mike WatsonCanada�749,425
Aug-23EPT Barcelona2,120Simon WiciakPoland�1,134,375
Oct-23EPT Cyprus1,320Gilles SimonNetherlands$1,042,000
Dec-23EPT Prague1,285Padraig O'NeillIreland�1,030,000

Season 20

Barny Boatman
Barny Boatman

The 20th season of the EPT followed a familiar path, revisiting the same five stops as the previous year. EPT Paris kicked off the season with a historic turnout, shattering its attendance record. The spotlight shone on poker legend Barny Boatman, who triumphed to claim his first EPT Main Event title. Overcome with emotion, Boatman fought back tears as confetti cannons erupted to celebrate his victory.

Next up was EPT Monte Carlo, where yet another Main Event attendance record was broken. Derk van Luijk emerged victorious from a field of 1,208 players, becoming the second EPT champion of 2024.

The spotlight now shifts to EPT Barcelona, where we await the next player to etch their name into poker history. The season will culminate with stops in Cyprus and Prague, rounding out the EPT's 20-year history.

DateEventEntrantsMain Event WinnerCountryPrize
Feb-24EPT Paris1,747Barny BoatmanUnited Kingdom�1,287,800
May-24EPT Monte Carlo1,208Derk van LuijkNetherlands�1,000,000
Sep-24EPT Barcelona----
Oct-24EPT Cyprus----
Dec-24EPT Prague----
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Editor & Live Reporter

Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

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