Fresh off other recent announcements regarding the return of live poker, PokerStars added another event to the schedule this week. The site’s European Poker Tour will again head to Sochi, Russia, at Casino Sochi in March for another series.
The festival runs from March 18-27 with a $2,400 (₽175,000) Main Event running March 22-27. The announcement comes as more live events return, including the World Series of Poker and Brazilian Series of Poker. The World Poker Tour has also run several events in the US this year.
Other highlights from the series in Russia
Not too many details on the series are available yet, but a full schedule should be released as events get closer.
However, there are a couple more tournaments that have been announced. The $1,057 (₽77,000) EPT National event runs March 18-27.
Also, players looking for bigger action will find a $5,094 (₽371,000) High Roller. PokerStars Live will release dates and information on that event later.
Another EPT Sochi event kicks off this week as well with a festival running Oct. 2-11. Here’s a look at the highlights of the series:
- $1,827 (₽133,000) Main Event – Oct. 7-11
- $3,540 (₽257,600) High Roller – Oct. 10-11
A look back at the EPT Sochi 2021
The EPT’s return to Sochi began in March of this year. Russia’s Artur Martirosyan, known as “mararthur1” online, took down the Main Event for $325,000 and a spade trophy.
Viktor Kudinov won the High Roller for $98,000 after a heads up deal. Players should look for online qualifiers as the 2022 EPT Sochi gets closer.
Are more EPT events ahead?
Casino Sochi has hosted EPT events since 2017. The property promises safety measures in place to protect players and staff during the era of COVID.
Russia remains the only EPT stop announced so far. Players responded on Twitter about any possibility of another announcement regarding other venues in the future.
However, popular stops such as Barcelona, Prague, London, and Monte Carlo aren’t part of the plans as of now.
Could that change soon? That’s not known, but Stars recently announced the return of the Brazilian Series of Poker Millions as well. That series runs Nov. 24 to Dec. 5 at the WTC Sheraton Golden Hall in São Paulo with $2.8 million guaranteed.
PSPC getting closer?
On the horizon, PokerStars has promised another version of the PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC). The next event was set for Barcelona after the record-setting 2020 event in the Bahamas.
However the event was cancelled because of COVID. Could the PSPC return in 2022? No word yet, but with more live events returning it seems like there is at least a possibility.
The company continues to promote the popular Platinum Passes that reward players with:
- €22,500 buy-in
- Six nights’ hotel accommodation in a five-star hotel
- Airport transfers
- PSPC merchandise
- €1,250 in spending money
- Exclusive Platinum Pass winner events during the event
A pass is worth about €30,000, but one hasn’t been awarded in 18 months. That changes on Oct. 7 when the Cardplayer Lifestyle website hosts the Mixed Games Festival at the Westgate Casino in Las Vegas.
A $200 HORSE tournament caps the series with a Platinum Pass on the line for the winner. This puts the event right in the international poker spotlight with one player taking home quite a prize.