PokerStars is back in Russia for the fifth time and the second ever EPT Sochi at Casino Sochi. The festival has a jam-packed schedule full of over 20 events to suit all buy-ins and the EPT National gets things started today.
Last year it was Czech player Matous Houzvicek who bested a field of 439 players to win RUB 7,770,000 ($134,589), his largest live cash ever.
The National has a reputation for large, enthusiastic fields to kick off the European Poker Tour Festival. Here are last year's EPT Nationals:
| Date | Event | Entrants | Prizepool (USD) | Champion | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 2018 | EPT Sochi | 439 | $ 710,727 | Matous Houzvicek | $134,589 |
| April 2018 | EPT Monte Carlo National | 1,501 | $1,778,871 | Guillaume Diaz | $305,444 |
| September 2018 | EPT Barcelona National | 4,348 | $4,797,370 | Jean-Pierre Fontaine | $622,198 |
| December 2018 | EPT Prague | 2,486 | $2,745,054 | Boris Mondrus | $435,705 |
The 2019 EPT Sochi National has three starting days and unlimited re-entries for RUB 66,000. On Day 1a and 1c the levels are 40 minutes. On Day 1b which gets underway tonight at 7 pm the levels are 30 minutes long.
Each Day 1 will play until 15% of the field remains. Players will have to make Day 2 to finish in the money. The levels are 60 minutes from Day 2 onwards.
Stay tuned to PokerNews as the EPT Sochi festival gets underway, with live reporting of the EPT Main Event and High Roller still to come over the next nine days.