Hi All,

Todd - 147 - There is no guarantee on EPT Berlin this year. Last year's guarantee actually cost our Germanics team €50K. First prize was €950,000 and they had to add money to the prizepool to hit the guarantee they offered. We don't believe in manipulating the prize pool to hit guarantees so the money was added. The guarantee was a great launch vehicle for EPT Berlin, but it is unnecessary now. The event drew 945 players and should hopefully be even bigger this year.

While we can't announce the dates yet, I can say that it is almost assuredly going to conflict with either San Remo or the Grand Final. The time slot chosen for WPT Florida is the exact dates of the Grand Final from Season 5 and Season 6.

Holdem - 148 - That is a new one for me, I'm curious where you heard it?

JP - 149 - Don't I get any time for a vacation???

Cheers,

Neil
PokerStars Live Events Specialist

And the time slot for San Remo/Monte Carlo was the time slot for the WPT Championship before the EPT existed (they've now moved the WPT Championship to get away from those events). Anyway, I and I'm sure most American players would greatly prefer to have Florida conflict with San Remo rather than with the Grand Final.

Actually, it wasn't until Season 5 of the EPT (2009) that they conflicted. Our dates for EPT MC and SR the last two seasons have been decided by the Grand Prix de Monaco and when it was running. We could go before that and then San Remo was held 3-4 days prior to Monaco. Just like if the Grand final were placed in Cannes this year (a popular rumour) it would have to end before the start of the Film Festival (May 11).

Regardless, I agree, it is too bad that large events are going to conflict. It is starting to happen more and more and is sadly inevitable at this point.

Cheers,

Neil
PokerStars Live Events Specialist

According to that popular rumor would the Grand Final be in the same casino that hosts the Partouche Poker Tour event (the Palm Beach Casino)?

That popular rumour has actually covered BOTH Cannes properties, Barriere and Partouche. Since we partner with both, Barriere for EPT Deauville and Partouche for France Poker Series, that rumour has had some good legs.

My favorite rumour is Malta! Mainly because I have never been there and some players I spoke to who went to IPT Malta said it was amazing! Plus, it is getting into late spring and the weather should be pretty good. After all, if I have to pick rumours, I'm going to pick the ones that involve places I want to go...lol.

Cheers,

Neil
PokerStars Live Events Specialist

CANNE 1 time pls

Dublin starting directly after the Irish Open would be ideal. Many players will already be there for this event. EPT originally had an event in Dublin and now would be a great time to return and stimulate the lagging Irish economy. Also an ideal location and time of year for a higher buyin Fairways and Felt event. Please no locations in France with the 4% tax taken directly out of the prize pool. Don't think many people know about this, but it should be one reason for Pokerstars to never have the Grand Final in France, Denmark, or any country where taxes are taken directly form the prize pool. I also think many players would be concerned about returning to the Palm Beach Casino in Cannes after the multitude of events that occurred at Partouche Poker Tour event in September. I know I will not be returning there to play the Grand Final the last week of April if the event is held there and will instead attend the WPT in Florida. Another major benefit of Dublin over Cannes is the fact the online direct buyins for all events would be allowed which will bring a major increase in participation for these events whereas online direct buyins are not allowed in France forcing players to carry thousand of euros in cash on them which most of us would prefer not to do if unnecessary.

Nothing stimulates a lagging economy like a bunch of poker pros coming into town and winning a ton of money from the locals.

lol <3 above 2 posts.

dublin right after irish open would be sicktho . turn it into an awesome spot and ya, 4% tax for no reason makes me sad.

Yeah, the Grand Final not conflicting with WPT Florida or the $25k championship would fit nice in my little American bubble world.

Hi All,

Quick note - EPT Copenhagen is not being filmed for TV, but will be webcast on Day 4 and the Final Table for broadcast on http://www.pokerstars.tv/

Randal - I told "H" and she said she has added it to her notes for the Grand Final destination

Cheers,

Neil
PokerStars Live Events Specialist

EPT site says there is an 800 player cap for the Main in Berlin. This true and why if so? Got mid 900's last year i believe

Hi Holdem,

Due to licensing issues within Germany, we can't hold the tournament in the Hyatt this year. We have moved to the Casino across the street from the Hyatt and their capacity is smaller. We are attempting to get more tables in, but right now the maximum is 40 tables. I hope there will be more, but we don't want to give incorrect information out, especially since Day 1B sold out last year.

Cheers,

Neil
PokerStars Live Events Specialist

'licensing issues', lolz
probably a good decision!

Why not have three Day 1's then if apparently the demand is there?

Hi All,

Funki - "lolz"? - Have you seen any tourneys run in Germany in the last few months by anything other than local casinos? If I meant we had security concerns about having the event at the Hyatt again, I would have said so. I will never lie on here, you guys would just catch me.

Highland - It is being strongly considered. Thomas and I are looking at the structure to see how deep we have to play on Day 1 to eliminate 66% of the field. We don't want to add a second day 2 so could only bring back a third of the field. I personally hope it isn't needed and we can get more tables in as I think the event could easily draw 1,000+.

Cheers,

Neil
Pokerstars Live Events Specialist

You guys already eliminate too much of the field on Day 1, I think eliminating 2/3 would kill the tournament.

Hi Todd,

For the normal EPT stop (8 levels, no dinner break) we eliminate an average of 40-43% of the field. That is too much? I think it was too fast at the PCA this year (10 levels) and it has been addressed for next year. But normally, I think that is right on for a 5 day event.

What do you think is better for Berlin in specific. Playing 10 levels on three Day 1's or potentially turning 300 players away because we just can't get any more tables into the casino?

Cheers,

Neil
Pokerstars Live Events Specialist

doesn't mean the licensing issues aren't related to the robbery! either way I don't care, just thought it was funny

No worries Funki

Cheers,

Neil
Pokerstars Live Events Specialist

It probably is right on for a 5 day event, which means my disagreement is with it being a 5 day event. But yeah PCA was bad because it meant extra levels played for 60 minutes, the structure was worse than the year before.

I don't think you can eliminate 2/3 with 10 levels anyway, can you? So you'd have to make even more 60 minute levels, which makes the structure even worse. The other issue with 3 Day 1s is that the people playing Day 1A are really getting screwed by having to wait around for 2 days.

From your perspective as a company trying to please its customers it's probably best to turn away the least amount of people and make 3 Day 1s. But you're definitely sacrificing the structure (which as I stated I think is already too fast) and also seriously inconveniencing 1/9 of the field (the 1/3 that survive Day 1A).

Curious if anyone knows the dates for EPT San Remo still not post on EPT site which is weird since it is so close?

ept sanremo and grand final dates please...

they are getting close , i'm going crazy to set my live tournaments schedule and sanremo and grand final (WHERE?) are the most important tournaments , in the next 3/4 months so please tell us asappppp

Hi All,

No three Day 1's for EPT Berlin. We will have minimum 40 tables each day.

I want to encourage everyone who is going to DBI through us or the casino to do it in advance. We had 387 players on Day 1A last year and 550+ on Day 1B...not including the 50-100 players who got shut out (who, doing the math, all could have had seats on Day 1A). Day 1B of this event WILL sell out, it is only a question of when.

This event will be filmed on Day 2, 3, 4 and 5 for international broadcast.

Also, as of this time, there also will be no gaming logos allowed inside the tournament area. This is a German requirement for the event. Think Dortmund from a couple of seasons back. We are working to get this changed, but players should arrive assuming they will not be allowed to wear any gaming logos. Doesn't matter if it is .com, .net, .it. .fr or .anything at all. You will be asked to remove it or it will be taped over.

Cheers,

Neil
Pokerstars Live Events Specialist

Neil how about a tease or a hint as to when the rest of the schedule will be out?