However, after reviewing the situation, executives at PokerStars have decided to postpone the event indefinitely.
EPT Sochi decision revisited
The EPT was due to start on March 18 at Casino Sochi, Russia. However, following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, a decision was made to host it later in the year. Although logical, the postponement raised a few eyebrows within the poker community.
SERIOUSLY? RESCHEDULED? Anybody going to participate in a tournament in Russia?
One CardsChat follower questioned whether anyone would want to play in Russia right now. Other Twitter users remarked that cancelling the series altogether would be a better option.
Subsequently, PokerStars’ tournament team had some time to reflect, and a second decision was made to cancel EPT Sochi.
“PokerStars can confirm that EPT Sochi has been cancelled. An event will not be held in Sochi until such time that it is safe for staff and players, and appropriate to do so. Qualifiers can contact live@pokerstarslive.com with any queries,” read the message sent to CardsChat.
There is a growing sense of unease and consternation from countries around the world as Russia continues to bomb Ukrainian cities. As such, governments, financial institutions, and businesses are in the processes of blackballing Russia.
Russian citizens, who aren’t to blame for the attacks on Ukraine, are now suffering the consequences of President Vladimir Putin’s decisions. And, with the wave of sanctions mounting, PokerStars has decided that cancelling EPT Sochi is the best course of action.
The forthcoming European Poker Tour (EPT) in Sochi has been postponed due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
EPT Sochi has been postponed and will now take place in October due to the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. (Image: PokerStars)
PokerStars’ series was due to take place at Casino Sochi between March 18 and 27. As well as a $2,000 main event, the schedule featured an EPT National tournament, a high roller, and the Sochi Cup.
CardsChat spoke to a PokerStars’ representative about the postponement. They confirmed that EPT Sochi has been rescheduled with immediate effect.
PokerStars won’t travel to Russia in March
The series is now scheduled to take place Oct. 1 – 10, barring any further issues with Russia or its surrounding countries. Players who have won an EPT Sochi prize package, or those who have already bought into events, should contact live@pokerstarslive.com.
The decision to reschedule EPT Sochi comes in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Under the orders of President Vladimir Putin, Russian troops attacked multiple Ukrainian cities in the early hours of Feb. 24.
The Russian President described it as a “special military operation” designed to “demilitarize and de-nazify” neighboring Ukraine. The rest of the world, including the US and UK, saw it as a declaration of war and, as we speak, the situation is escalating.
Although a full-scale war may yet be averted, thoughts are already turning to the dangers of traveling to Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian airspace is closed to commercial flights, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has said that flying within 100 nautical miles of Russia and Belarus is a risk.
Other cancellations could follow EPT Sochi postponement
Canceling a poker tournament isn’t even a minor concern in context, but a war between Russia and Ukraine has made it unsafe to host an event at Casino Sochi. It may also destabilize large parts of Europe if the conflict escalates further.
PokerStars’ EPT Prague is due to start on March 5. Although the Czech Republic is over 850 miles from Ukraine, air travel could be severely disrupted. Players may also avoid traveling due to personal safety concerns.
The Belgique Poker Masters in Bratislava could also see attendance figures drop due to the war in Ukraine. Although the small stakes series is traditionally attended by locals, people from neighboring countries do travel to the Slovakian capital to play.
Host venue Casino Banco is still advertising the event. However, with Slovakia sharing a border with Ukraine, and the situation changing by the hour, it may yet become a casualty of the conflict.
Poker is an afterthought at a time like this, but Europe’s live tournament schedule could be entering another period of uncertainty after two years of cancellations due to COVID-19.
The WSOP Main Event is in full swing, but tournament players aren’t sitting idly by while the final few battle for an $8 million top prize. With events taking place across the US and the world at large, another crop of big winners has bet their way into the spotlight this week. In addition to shining a light on breakout performances from grinders like Milos Ivanovic, we’ve got the lowdown on UNO’s first-ever world champion. To see how a game of UNO earned someone $50,000 and more, scroll down for our Big Winners of the Week ending Nov. 14.
(Image: WSOP)
Scott Ball
Little One for One Drop
World Series of Poker
$396,445
Just a few weeks after winning his first WSOP bracelet, Ball kept the rungood rolling in one of the series’ marquee events — a $1,111 NLH that sends 10% to the One Drop Foundation. The five-day tournament at the Rio in Las Vegas attracted 3,797 entrants for a prize pool of more than $3.8 million and a $380K donation to the cause of global clean water. Ball’s victory brings his total winnings for the 2021 WSOP to more than $1.5 million, and puts him in second place for WSOP Player of the Year and first place on the Velo “No Limits” leaderboard.
(Image: Twitter/The Wynn)
Milos Ivanovic
Wynn Classic No Limit Hold’em $400K GTD
$201,898
Ivanovic may have squeaked into our list of this week’s Big Winners after the Wynn’s $1,100 event trickled over into Sunday morning, but he’s a more-than-worthy addition. The Chicago pro is in Las Vegas for tournament season and already had fifth-place finish at the Fall Classic prior to beating a field of 1,438 entries on Sunday. Ivanovic came through a tough final table that included former GUKPT champion Yiannis Liperis on route to picking up his biggest payday by more than $160,000.
(Image: Paul Phua Poker)
Artur Martirosyan
Main Event
Eurasian Poker Tour Casino Sochi
₽7,150,150
($100,736)
Martirosyan might be a solid bet to do well in any WSOP event he enters, but the Russian wasn’t in Las Vegas last week. Instead, he stayed in his native Russia, a decision that proved to be profitable as he outlasted a 598-entry field on Sunday to win the $10,500 EAPT main event. The Partypoker-sponsored event attracted some of Eastern Europe’s top pros and upcoming stars. However, it was 2021 Super High Roller Bowl Europe champion Martirosyan who added to his $2.7 million in live earnings with a convincing victory over fellow Russian, Artur Adamyants.
(Image: Facebook/King’s Resort)
Bjoern Smolders
Main Event
German Poker Days Kings Resort
€65,450
($75,043)
The German Poker Days’ marquee tournament might have taken place in Rozvadov, Czech Republic, but that didn’t stop 2,206 players from anteing up, or 174 of those entrants from exercising their right to rebuy last week. Nor did it stop Dutch amateur Smolders from scoring the biggest payday of his poker career on Sunday. Even in the face COVID restrictions in Europe, Smolders was able to enter the €175 ($200) event and grind his way through four days of poker to beat Frenchman Safwane Bahri heads-up. In addition to picking up a five-figure prize, Smolders earned a reason to return to Rozvadov at the start of December thanks to a free seat in the €10,000 ($11,400) WSOPE Main Event.
(Image: Twitter/VenetianPoker)
Joseph Cook
NLH DeepStack Championship The Venetian
$67,894
Cook’s trip from Arizona to Las Vegas has been a successful one over the past two weeks. He cashed in Event #8 at the WSOP for $1,050 and went deep in the Main Event last week before hitting the rail in 322nd place. Cook took a portion of his $33,900 Main Event winnings across the Strip to the Venetian on Saturday for the $1,100 one-day deep stack event. After weaving his way through a field of 341 players, Cook chopped the prize money heads-up to take his weekly winnings over the $100,000 mark.
(Image: Sean Compton)
Aldwin Rodriguez
UNO Championship Series Invitational
HyperX Esports Arena
$50,000
At 20, Rodriguez isn’t even old enough to play most games offered at the Luxor in Las Vegas. But in the HyperX Esports Arena, where he took on seven other finalists to claim the first-ever world championship for UNO, the long-time kitchen table staple. More than 450,000 people watched the mechanical engineering major at Sacramento State University compete against a star-studded field via UNO’s new TikTok channel. Despite beating a host of famous faces, including gamer Richard Tyler Blevins (aka Ninja), and retired NASCAR racing driver Clint Bowyer, Rodriguez isn’t turning pro. Instead, he’s going to use the largest UNO prize in history to help his family.
(Image: Canterbury Park)
Tony Wazwaz
Cheap and Deep Canterbury Park
$24,460
The poker community might be focused on the big money events at the WSOP right now, but tournament life goes on elsewhere in the US. The aptly named Cheap and Deep attracted a bumper field of 648 players to Shakopee, Minnesota, last week. That gave local grinder Wazwaz the chance to turn his $300 buy-in into a five-figure sum and his biggest win to date on Sunday night. The Canterbury Park Casino regular eventually cut a deal with Yer Vang before winning the final pot and lifting the trophy.
PokerStars has been forced to fall in line with Russian gambling regulations by closing off its international platform to local players.
Russian poker players will only have to access PokerStars through a localized platform from November 2. (Image: PokerStars Sochi)
The latest update isn’t a complete changing of the guard. However, it means that Russians have to use a localized platform that doesn’t offer online casino gaming.
In practical terms, Russians no longer have access to PokerStars via the traditional dot.eu extension. Instead, they have to download and use pokerstarsinsochi.com.
Gambling Regulations in Russia Force Change
The switch from PokerStars to PokerStars Sochi is a result of Russian online gaming regulations. The current laws only allow gambling in certain regions of Russia, Sochi being one of them.
These laws have been in place since 2009 but it’s only in recent years that efforts have been made to enforce them online. PokerStars subsequently partnered with Casino Sochi and, in 2018, it launched a localized platform in conjunction with its partner.
This move allowed PokerStars to remain active in Russia, but players were still able to use its dot.eu platform. All that changed on Nov. 2 when PokerStars.eu was closed off to Russians.
Anyone in Russia wanting to use PokerStars will now have to use the Sochi-affiliated platform. The good news for locals is that this will only be a minor inconvenience.
Existing customers don’t have to close their old accounts and withdraw their balances. All they need to down is download the Russian game client via pokerstarsinsochi.com and log in. Account transfers will be processed automatically, and, for all intents and purposes, everything will be the same as before.
PokerStars Russia Will be Broadly the Same
As well as retaining their screen names, account balances, and hand histories, Russians will still be able to access PokerStars’ international player pool. So, be almost all measures, the latest change is superficial.
However, the one material change that Russians will notice is the lack of casino games. When pokerstarsinsochi.com launched in 2018, it did so without any casino games due to local regulations.
This is one of the reasons Russians stuck with the dot.eu platform (which does offer casino games). They no longer have that choice, which means casino gaming are off the menu for now.
That might not come as a major blow to poker players. However, casino games do attract a certain type of player. Therefore, the lack of additional gaming options may cause a drop in traffic or, potentially, a reduction in the number of Russian fish entering the international network.
PokerStars is making moves in the US while it continues to take small steps back into Europe’s live tournament arena. With the forthcoming WSOP generating a sense of tournament fever, PokerStars is seizing the initiative with three COOP events.
PokerStars is upping the ante in the US by hosting three Championships of Online Poker in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey. (Image: PokerStars)
The online events will take a format that’s proved successful internationally and apply it to the state-based dynamics of the US poker market. In practice, this means there will be three Championships of Online Poker in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
The multi-event series will run simultaneously in each state between Sept. 10 and Sept. 27. Players in Pennsylvania will have access to 65 tournaments offering a combined guarantee of $2 million. PokerStars customers in Michigan can play for $1.5 million in guaranteed prize money, while New Jersey grinders will have access to a $1 million guarantee across 60 events.
US COOPs build on PokerStars’ international success
The US COOPs will follow the format of the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP), which is currently running on PokerStars’ international network. The aim is to offer an equivalent to US players, which is why the champions of seven special events in each state will win COOP trophies in addition to prize money.
Buy-ins for US COOPs start at $10, but PokerStars is running a series of satellites costing less than $1 each, as well as a selection of freerolls.
US COOP main events
Like any other tournament series, PokerStars’ COOPs will each culminate in a $300 main event with two starting days.
Pennsylvania Championship of Online Poker (PACOOP) Main Event: $200,000 guaranteed prize pool
Michigan Championship of Online Poker (MICOOP) Main Event: $150,000 guaranteed prize pool
New Jersey Championship of Online Poker (NJCOOP) Main Event: $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
US online poker laws mean that all three series will run separately from each other, with no shared player pools or prize money between them. While players don’t need to be residents of Pennsylvania, Michigan, or New Jersey to play, they must be located within the borders of each state if they want to ante up when the tournaments begin.
European tournament scene blossoming again
While players in the US prepare for a new selection of COOPs and the WSOP in Las Vegas, players in Europe are looking foward to the return of the European Poker Tour (EPT). The popular series has been in and out of commission since March 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The EPT made a brief comeback in March when it traveled to Sochi, Russia, where COVID restrictions were less stringent than they were in other parts of Europe at the time. That stop made Artur Martirosyan the first and only EPT champion of 2021 when he took down the $2,300 Main Event at Casino Sochi.
Since then, enhanced COVID restrictions have made it almost impossible for the EPT to host other live events. The good news, however, is that restrictions are loosening once again, allowing the EPT to return to Casino Sochi in October for its second official outing of 2021.
Indeed, restrictions in most European countries are now such that live tournaments are possible. The one remaining issue is travel. Although it’s not impossible for players to move from country to country, it’s not easy. Given that EPT events often attract players from a variety of nations, it’s no surprise that PokerStars is taking a tentative route back onto the live circuit.
Where can I play live poker in Europe? That’s a question many of you are probably asking yourself right now.
Live poker is returning to Europe, but you’ll have to wait longer to play in some countries than in others. (Image: TGE/Shutterstock)
Although online poker is booming, there’s a certain magic that fills the air when chips are riffling. Unfortunately, that magic has been lost in recent months due to COVID-19.
The status of live poker in Europe is currently fractured and unclear. To help you sort through the wreckage caused by COVID-19 restrictions, we’ve profiled the latest lockdown laws. Even though there’s a lack of general lack of conviction and clarity from politicians, we’ve put together a COVID casino map.
All dates are subject to change but, from our research, here’s where you can play live poker right now, and a guide to when other casinos in Europe will reopen.
Russia
Status:Open
(Image: Worldometers)
Russia isn’t awash with casinos. In fact, the government made gambling illegal in all but four regions – Altai, Krasnodar, Kaliningrad, and Primorsky – back in 2009. From more than 55 casinos in 2002, Russia now has just three live venues: Tigre de Cristal Hotel & Resort in Primorsky Krai, Casino Sobranie in Kaliningrad Oblast, and Casino Sochi, the one poker players know well as it hosts WPT, EPT, and other major tournaments.
We know that Casino Sochi has been open since January because it’s hosted multiple live events. Casino Sobranie is open and offering a daily selection of cash games and tournaments.
Tigre de Cristal is also open with a full range of casino games. However, despite offering poker for a brief spell in 2018, its run of games didn’t last very long due to a lack of interest. So, as it stands, you can play poker in Russia at Casino Sochi and Casino Sobranie.
Spain
Status: Open
(Image: Worldometers)
PokerStars nixed its $25,000 Players Championship at Casino Barcelona this year amid uncertainty caused by COVID restrictions. Although local laws probably won’t be an issue in August, the main problem PokerStars would have come up against is travel bans.
Despite the loss of a major event, some casinos in Spain are open. Casino Barcelona is back in business with cash games running from 2pm until 9pm every day.
Tournaments are still off the menu, but the following provisions are in place to make sure there is at least some action:
Masks are mandatory
Alcohol gel is available for all players
Perspex dividers are in place at the table
Cards, chips, racks, and all surfaces are disinfected on a regular basis
Other casinos in Spain have similar provisions in place, including Casino Marbella, Casino De Juego De Torrequebrada, and Gran Casino Costa Brava.
Due to Spain’s regional approach to COVID restrictions, some venues aren’t open. At the time of writing, Casino de Ibiza and Casino de Madrid remain closed.
Czech Republic
Status: Closed Expected Reopening: May 3
(Image: Worldometers)
The Czech Republic declared a national state of emergency on March 12. That sent the country into another lockdown and meant its network of live casinos had to close.
Not long after King’s hosted the European leg of the 2020 WSOP Main Event in December, the doors were shut again. They remain closed, but changes are afoot.
The state of emergency ended on April 11. Although certain restrictions remain in place, curfews were lifted, and non-essential movement was permitted from that date.
Casinos are still closed, but last week, Industry Minister Karel Havlicek said that shops, markets, and other services could reopen on May 3 if the current “favorable trend” continues. He didn’t mention whether or not casinos would be included in the May 3 reopening.
The infection rate in the Czech Republic is now averaging around 3,000 per day. And, more importantly, the number of daily deaths is now below 50 so, if the government is using a data-driven strategy, this could facilitate the reopening of casinos sooner rather than later.
United Kingdom
Status: Closed Expected Reopening: May 17
(Image: Worldometers)
The majority of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland have been in a state of lockdown since December.
Casinos in all four countries have been closed since then and, in general, remain so at the time of writing.
We say “in general” because the latest round of easing on April 12 allowed businesses with outdoor facilities to reopen. This means casinos such as London’s Hippodrome could open their rooftop bars. However, Brits will have to wait until May 17 before they can go inside and start playing poker.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plan is to resume social contact and almost all “non-essential” business on May 17. From there, the UK should be completely free of all COVID restrictions by June 21.
That’s the plan and, although the government has backtracked over multiple issues in recent months, the stats are in the public’s favor. There were 29 deaths on April 28 in a country of 66.65 million. So, assuming the downward trend continues, casinos in the UK should be active before the end of May.
Italy
Status: Closed Expected Reopening: June 2
(Image: Worldometers)
The original epicenter of COVID-19 in Europe is faring better than it was. 75% of the country was put into a state of lockdown on March 15 and they’ve remained that way ever since.
However, with daily cases dropping below 10,000 for the first time since early March, Prime Minister Mario Draghi has signaled that restrictions will start lifting as of Monday.
Italy has a traffic light system in place and, from May 3, 75% of the country will drop into the yellow “low risk” zone. That means bars and restaurants can open but only if they serve customers outside. This move is expected to trigger a wave of easing that will result in a summer opening for casinos across Italy, including Casinò di San Remo and Saint-Vincent Resort & Casino.
Although unconfirmed, Italian media outlet GiocoNews reports that government insiders are saying casinos will reopen as of June 2.
France
Status: Closed Expected Reopening: June 2
(Image: Worldometers)
Soaring infection figures prompted President Emmanuel Macron to follow his European counterparts and impose a nationwide lockdown in March. The draconian measure forced the country’s casinos to close but, this week, they were offered a glimmer of hope.
Although slight, there is a chance that venues such as Casino Barrière in Deauville will be able to reopen in June. But, at this stage, it’s very much a case of if and not when. Macron is due to announce his plan for easing restrictions on Friday. It’s unclear exactly what his roadmap will contain.
Prime Minister Jean Castex has said that the country’s “state of health emergency” status will end on June 2. As part of this change, Macron is expected to allow businesses with outdoor facilities to reopen in mid-May. This may mean that larger venues such as Casino de Trouville-sur-Mer can open their outside bars.
Indoor gaming certainly won’t be possible in May. At the earliest, Macron has said that indoor venues won’t reopen until June, and only in regions where infection rates have “dropped sufficiently.”
Germany
Status: Closed Expected Reopening: June 30
(Image: Worldometers)
The outlook for German casinos is bleak, at least until June 30. Venues across the country have been closed since March 4, 2021, and they look set to remain locked down unless infection rates fall.
The latest blow for Germans came last Thursday when the federal government implemented what’s been described as an “emergency brake.” As per the legislation, any region that experiences more than 100 COVID cases per 100,000 residents for seven days must do the following:
Restrict contact to one household/person
Impose curfews between 10 pm and 5 am unless there’s an emergency
Allow only non-essential stores to serve customers who produce a negative COVID test; if infection rates exceed 150 per 100,000, stores can only offer pick-up/delivery services
The average infection rate in Germany last Thursday was 161, with only one state out of 16 having fewer than 100 infections per 100,000. Therefore, at present, casinos in Germany, including Spielbank Berlin and Casino Baden-Baden, remain closed.
If infection rates drop, venues may be able to reopen on a regional basis. If not, June 30 is the earliest point at which the government can change things.
Some might not have thought it possible, but the WPT crowned a new champion in 2021 and, against the odds, it happened in a live setting.
Maksim Sekretarev is the WPT Russia Main Event champion after a dominant display at Casino Sochi. (Image: WPT/Oleg ParaMon)
Despite many parts of Europe being under lockdown restrictions, Russia’s Casino Sochi was open for business last week.
Masks were on display throughout the WPT Russia Main Event, but when the final chip fell, winner Maksim Sekretarev was able to lower his and raise a smile.
Locals turn out in force for live WPT main event
There was a distinctly local vibe in the ₽245,000/$3,328 main event. Due to travel restrictions across Europe, the 251 entrants were mainly from Russia and nearby countries like Serbia.
While COVID-19 issues meant WPT Russia wasn’t as popular as it could have been, hosting a live event in the current climate is a feat in itself.
Unlike in Australia, where a WPT League event recently went down without any restrictions, Russia still has some safety precautions in place. That didn’t dampen the spirits of those who anted up at Casino Sochi, however.
Sekretarev seized his opportunity to become a WPT champion under trying conditions on a fast-paced final day. He’d dominated the action leading up to Sunday’s finale, and didn’t let off.
Within four hours of play, he’d torn through the final six and clinched his first live title.
The fact that Sekretarev eliminated each finalist is impressive. The fact he built a dominant a stack with three left made his demolition job all the more remarkable.
Sekretarev flip flops to victory
Sekretarev’s fall and subsequent resurgence hinged on a classic coin flip. He moved all-in with A♥ Q♦ over the top of Ravil Khamatgareev’s raise.
Khamatgareev put his stack on the line with pocket jacks and probably wished he hadn’t after the flop ran out Q♥ 3♣ 2♠. Things didn’t get any better on the turn and river as the 9♣ and 8♣ brought the hand to an end.
That pot gave Sekretarev a commanding lead over Andrey Volkov. The deficit at the start of heads-up play was almost 4:1, and it took Sekretarev just four hands to get things done.
The final hand saw everyone miss the board, but Sekretarev’s K♥ Q♣ scooped the pot over Volkov’s 10♦ 8♦.
WPT Russia Main Event Result
Maksim Sekretarev – $160,694
Andrey Volkov – $107,135
Ravil Khamatgareev – $78,232
Vladimir Bozinovic – $57,942
Vanush Mnatsakanyan – $43,530
Sergey Bobrik – $33,183
With the final hand played and everyone cleared from the tournament area, Sekretarev was allowed to drop his mask and pose for pictures.
The newest WPT Champion 🏆 Congrats to Maksim Sekretarev for winning #WPTRussia for ₽11,996,600 ($160,694)! 🥂
The win is one he’ll remember for a long time to come. However, it also symbolizes the gradual return of live poker tournaments in Europe. Although parts of the US and Australia are getting back to business, countries such as the UK are still on national lockdown orders.
However, with more winners popping up around the world, it’s a sign that things are gradually getting back to normal.
Casino Sochi is getting ready for two months’ worth of tournament action thanks to the World Poker Tour and the European Poker Tour.
WPT Russia will take place at Casino Sochi this month, and pave the way for PokerStars’ EPT in March. (Image: Partypoker Live)
Despite COVID-19 restrictions across much of Europe, the WPT has confirmed it will return to Russia this month.
Partypoker will co-host the 14-event festival set to take place at Casino Sochi from Feb. 19 to 28. Once the WPT’s bandwagon has departed, PokerStars will roll into town on March 19.
WPT Russia to Offer 14 COVID-Safe Tournaments
A $3,337 main event will highlight WPT Russia, but those able to attend can expect a lot more from the festival. WPT CEO Adam Pliska promises a packed schedule full of side events and “off-the-felt” activities.
What those activities will be in the current climate is unclear. Although Casino Sochi is open for business, there are still COVID-19 restrictions in place.
Per the WPT’s tournament guidelines, the following safety protocols will be used throughout the series:
Players must wear masks at the table
All players will have their temperature checked upon entering the casino
Chips and tables will be sanitized during each break
There will be a dedicated cleaning team in place for the entire series
Tables will be eight-handed
In addition to the WPT’s measures, Casino Sochi tests all members of staff on a daily basis.
PokerStars Will Keep Close Watch on WPT Event
Given the lack of live poker in 2020, the safety measures will likely be seen as nothing more than a minor inconvenience. What’s more, the WPT wants to ensure that its first major European event of 2021 goes off without a hitch.
Like its counterpart, PokerStars will have a series of rules in place with regards to masks, physical distancing, and sanitization. Again, a minor logistical nightmare is a small price to pay for the return of live poker tournaments in Europe.
But, while it’s good news that WPT Russia and EPT Sochi will be taking place over the next two months, it doesn’t mean the industry is back to full strength.
Who Can Visit Casino Sochi?
Even though all concerned have COVID-proofed their events as best they can, players are still at the mercy of local governments.
British poker players are likely to be casualties of ongoing travel restrictions. Until today, flights into Russia from the UK were banned. Even with the restrictions lifted, the UK is still in the midst of a national lockdown with no end in sight. That means no one is allowed to travel unless it’s for essential business reasons.
For those in countries where travel is permitted, Russia still has two entry restrictions in place:
Incoming travelers must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken 72 hours prior to arrival
In the absence of a test or following a positive test on arrival (temperature checks are in place at Russian airports), visitors must quarantine for two weeks
It may be impossible or impractical for certain players to jump through these hoops. In which case, attendance figures for WPT Russia and EPT Sochi could be lower than usual.
What’s more, with plenty of major online events in the coming weeks, the desire to travel may not be there for some.
Regardless of whether it’s a slower-than-expected start to 2021, the wheels are turning again. Live poker may not be back to full strength in Europe, but the next two months could set up a strong second half of the year.
The World Poker Tour has enjoyed a successful year by switching things up and going digital but, with 2021 on the horizon, it’s looking to head out on the road again.
Casino Sochi will likely play host to WPT Russia in February as the tour looks to get back on track after a rocky 2020. (Image: WPT/Flickr)
Although the shockwaves of COVID-19 will reverberate for the foreseeable future, the WPT is planning to resume normal service in February.
A year on from the first wave of lockdowns, WPT Russia will take place inside Casino Sochi. The festival, which is still listed as provisional by the WPT, will be run in conjunction with Partypoker Live and feature a $3,300 main event.
As planned, WPT Russia will also offer a variety of side events and run from Feb. 19 to 28. Qualifiers are already running on Partypoker and start at $0.04.
The organizers have also confirmed that WPTDeepStacks Russia will take place at Casino Sochi in July. The team hopes to add stops in other countries when COVID-19 restrictions allow.
With many countries still in a state of flux, predicting when and where tournaments can happen in 2021 is almost impossible. However, Russia has offered a degree of stability throughout the pandemic.
Casino Sochi has been open for business since the summer, and resumed running poker tournaments in August. PokerStars held a European Poker Tour event there in October.
COVID-19 related deaths in Russia have increased to an average of 400 per day in recent weeks. Despite that, the recovery rate is 98%, which is why many businesses remain open across the country.
That’s something the WPT is banking on. Coupled with the news that COVID vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are close to being rolled out, has given the WPT confidence it can safely host events in Russia next year.
WPT to Mix Live and Online Events
The return of live tournaments doesn’t mean the demise of the WPT’s recent online innovations. Owing to the success of this year’s events, the WPT Online Series will return in May ahead of the WPT World Online Championships in September.
“Despite ongoing uncertainly with regards to live events, we can promise players a schedule packed full of WPT festivals in 2021. We are looking forward to working with the WPT team to produce schedules of the highest quality, both live and online,” said Partypoker managing director Tom Waters.
News that tournament poker will return to some semblance of normality is a welcome change of tone. After a year of tarnished plans and postponements, we can start to look forward to at least a few live events in 2021.
Live poker tournaments might be impossible to run in certain parts of the world right now, but the Russian coastal resort of Sochi is buzzing with activity this week.
Russia’s Anatolii Zyrin won the EPT Sochi National as COVID-19 restrictions lift and players descend on Casino Sochi. (Image: WPT)
With PokerStars’ European Poker Tour (EPT) rolling into town last week, locals and those able to travel took to the felt, despite any ongoing concerns related to COVID-19. In the EPT Sochi National event, the organizers collected 508 entries, which is just 213 fewer buy-ins than in 2019.
Strong Numbers For EPT
The first of three starting flights in the $1,025 EPT Sochi National event started on Oct. 2. By the time Day 1C was over, 302 unique entrants and 206 re-entries pushed the prize pool to $442,074.
That’s down on the 721 total entries and $762,875 prize pool from March 2019. However, with live poker tournaments still on lockdown in various countries, hosting an international event is a win in and of itself. What’s more, the turnout is strong given that COVID-19 has restricted movement around the world for more than six months.
PokerStars was forced to cancel an EPT event at Casino Sochi in March 2020. Despite holding out hope, the organizers pulled the plug three days before the scheduled start. EPT Barcelona, which was due to take place in August, was also canceled soon after. The current event in Sochi is the first time an EPT has taken place since March.
A current view from the felt at EPT Sochi. (Image: Oleg ParaMon/PokerStars LIVE)
When play in the National ended on Monday, Anatolii Zyrin emerged victorious. Beating Almat Idrisov earned the Russian pro $85,695. The victory was Zyrin’s second EPT Sochi title in two years, taking his lifetime earnings to $1.7 million.
The conclusion of the National also signaled the start of the EPT Sochi main event on Wednesday. Three starting flights led into three additional days of knockout action ahead of a winner being crowned on Saturday.
Lockdown Over, Players Travel to Casino Sochi
Those who traveled to Casino Sochi also have a selection of side events and cash games on offer. Under normal circumstances, these things would be seen as a standard. However, in the wake of COVID-19, the opportunity to enjoy a full roster of options is a luxury.
Poker is slowly returning to normal in parts of the world, but not everywhere. Tournaments remain virtually impossible in the UK, Spain, and in other European countries because the constant movement of players throughout an event makes cleaning procedures and social distancing difficult.
Certain countries in Europe have shown it is possible to run a tournament, however. Kings Casino Rozvadov has been hosting cash games and tournaments for more than two months, and Casino Sochi has been doing the same since August.
PokerStars worked with the host venue and the local Marriott Hotel where players are staying to ensure everyone is protected. Temperature checks are mandatory, and PPE equipment and hand sanitizers are available on request.
Perhaps the biggest sign of life returning to normal is the presence of non-locals in Sochi. A look through the recent finishers shows players from Ukraine, Cyprus, and Italy.
PokerStars is hedging its bets and introducing Spin & Go qualifiers for its next scheduled live event at Casino Sochi, Russia.
PokerStars is running EPT Sochi Spin & Go satellites as poker returns to the Russian coastal resort. (Image: PokerStars Live)
Although casinos across Europe are reopening, the dynamics are far from stable. Russia currently has one of the fastest rising infection rates in the world, with 6,248 new cases recorded just today.
Despite the spike, Casino Sochi announced it will host its first “post-quarantine” poker festival in August. The announcement follows the addition of European Poker Tour Sochi satellites to PokerStars’ Spin & Go lobby.
PokerStars Confident EPT Sochi Will be Possible
A PokerStars spokesperson said the qualifiers will begin today. They acknowledge that the tournament’s status is subject to change but, as of now, believe the EPT Sochi event will take place as scheduled in October.
At the time news broke, Casino Sochi had yet to announce that poker is back on offer. At 10:30 BST, the casino’s social media team posted an Instagram update in Russian (see translated version above).
With players able to ante up and tournaments returning next month, the omens are positive. PokerStars intends to pick up where it left off and salvage what it can from 2020’s schedule by returning to Russia on October 2.
Organizers had hoped to run the Sochi event just before COVID-19 took hold. Even after canceling events in Europe at the start of March, Sochi remained in place. Just three days before the March 20 start date, PokerStars was forced to pull the plug.
The cancellation of more events followed and it looked as though the EPT wouldn’t return until 2021. Glimmers of hope have since pierced the darkness as casinos across Europe have reopened their doors.
Casino Sochi Reopens but COVID-19 Still Strong in Russia
With King’s Casino Rozvadov one of the first to start hosting poker tournaments again, other venues are contemplating a return to normalcy. For Casino Sochi, the first cards will be dealt on August 6. That should give staff time to adjust to any restrictions ahead of the EPT Sochi in October.
The only potential issue for PokerStars is the current infection rate in Russia. Although President Vladimir Putin began easing lockdown restrictions in June, critics have said the country’s death toll hasn’t been accurately recorded (11,614 at the time of writing).
Russia often walks to the beat of its own drum and prefers to keep its internal affairs are private as possible. However, the latest data on Worldometer shows it has 739,947 total recorded cases of COVID-19.
That’s the fourth-highest infection rate in the world right now. Moreover, with infections increasing at an average rate of 6,000+ per day, Putin may be forced to move the country back into a state of lockdown.
For now, Casino Sochi is open and PokerStars is betting on the pandemic being under control by October. Spin & Go satellites for EPT Sochi are available from $5.50, alongside standard qualifiers to the $2,400 main event.
Aleksey Badulin won the World Poker Tour (WPT) Russia Main Event after beating all-comers at Casino Sochi.
Moscow native Aleksey Badulin won the second WPT Russia Main Event, banking $261,572. (Image: WPT/Tomas Stacha)
When the ₽210,000/$3,300 tournament started on Jan. 21, it marked the second time the WPT hosted a main event in Sochi. Now a base for live poker events in Russia, the coastal resort welcomed a cast of local and international players.
Thanks to five starting days and a ₽95,500,000/$1,523,800 guarantee, the WPT Russia Main Event attracted 489 entrants, including Partypoker ambassadors Anatoly Filatov and Matas Cimbolas.
Local Talent vs. Visiting Pros
As expected, Russian pros were also out in force. Veteran Vitaly Lunkin was among those flying the flag for Russia deep into Day 3, while Natalia Nikitina became the last woman to fall, bowing out in 20th place.
At the start of Day 4, just 12 players remained. Vahe Martirosyan started the session out in front with 3.2 million chips, but all eyes were on Filatov. Sitting in fourth, the young Russian was more than used to performing on the big stage.
With more than $5 million in live earnings already to his name, Filatov has previously tasted victory at Casino Sochi. Winning the 2018 Partypoker Millions Russia, Filatov walked away with $944,230 after topping a field of 692 entries.
With experience on his side, the Partypoker representative started fast. Taking a handful of early pots, Filatov cemented his position in the top five. However, while the Russian made his presence felt, it was Roman Timergazin who struck first.
After opening the action with A♥Q♠, Timergazin called a three-bet shove from Mikhail Sokolovskiy. With only 15 big blinds, Sokolovskiy made a move with A♦J♣, but luck wasn’t on his side.
As the board ran out 4♠Q♥6♣5♣7♦, Timergazin took his stack to 1.9 million while Sokolovskiy headed to the rail to pick up his $18,583 consolation prize.
With that, the elimination floodgates opened. Next to fall was Filatov. Despite being among the early favorites, he lost his way midway through the session and made a desperate move with J♥T♣. Pushing all-in from late position, Filatov found a willing caller in Timergazin, who was holding pocket jacks.
The case jack only compounded Filatov’s misery as the J♣2♣4♥4♠8♣ board sent him packing in 11th. At this point, it looked as though Timergazin would become the new WPT Russia champion. But, as more players fell, his time in the spotlight faded.
Tides Turn Toward Badulin
As attacks rained in from all sides, Timergazin eventually fell in sixth place when his A♣9♣ couldn’t out race Ernest Shakaryan’s pocket eights. With five left, Badulin started to make his move.
The eventual champion took out Sergey Kharlamov before sitting back as Vahe Martirosyan was double teamed by Shakaryan and Vlada Stojanovic. The resulting carnage soon left Badulin within touching distance of the title.
After Shakaryan fell in third, Badulin got the job done head up. After taking the lead against Stojanovic, the Russian pushed the pace. By applying maximum pressure with all-in moves once his opponent was short on chips, Badulin eventually won the tournament with A♠2♣.
With no other choice but to push back against the unrelenting aggression, Stojanovic made his final move by shoving all in with Q♥2♦. Badulin called and secured the WPT Russia title after the J♦6♥7♦3♦J♣ board offered Stojanovic no help.
WPT Russia Main Event Title
Aleksey Badulin – $261,571.56
Vlada Stojanovic – $185,831.25
Ernest Shakaryan – $135,833.63
Vahe Martirosyan – $102,488.75
Sergey Kharlamov – $78,837.50
Roman Timergazin – $60,254.38
Egor Voitusenko – $46,176.25
Vladimir Lappo – $36,040
Dmitriy Ponomarev – $28,719.38
Speaking to WPT reporters after the event, Badulin said he felt calm throughout the final table. While he says he has no immediate plans for spending the prize money, Badulin will be flying to Las Vegas in June courtesy of the free seat he won for the WPT Tournament of Champions.
Increased interest in high-roller events has led Partypoker to raise the stakes and launch a new tournament series in the Russian seaside resort of Sochi.
Casino Sochi will play host to a new event from Partypoker known as the Millions Super High Roller Series Sochi. (Image: Twitter/About Casino)
Now something of a hotspot for poker, Sochi will now host the Partypoker Millions Super High Roller Series.
Taking place at Casino Sochi from March 6 to March 15, the event will feature eight, high-stakes tournaments with buy-ins starting at $25,000.
Partypoker Working with Poker Central, Triton
The series will be run in coordination with Poker Central and Triton Poker. Along with being Partypoker partners, the two companies have helped to reinvigorate the high-stakes poker scene.
Through its streaming service PokerGo, Poker Central has popularized the Super High Roller Bowl. First run in 2015, the invite-only event initially cost $500,000 to enter, and took place in Las Vegas. Today, the series has evolved, with Poker Central offering Super High Roller Bowls in the US, Asia, and the UK.
Building on this success, the Partypoker Millions Super High Roller Series Sochi will feature another international showdown. The $250,000 buy-in tournament will be the richest poker event ever held in the country.
In tandem with the ever-expanding Super High Roller Bowl series, Triton Poker is increasing its international presence. Founded in Asia and now the go-to brand for poker’s elite, Triton has become a global force over the last two years.
In 2019, it broke the record for the highest buy-in event ever when it hosted a £1.05 million/$1.27 million tournament in London. Attracting the likes of Tom Dwan, Bryn Kenney, and Bill Perkins, the super high roller was eventually won by China’s Aaron Zang.
High-Stakes Short Deck Action
With its $250,000 buy-in, we have to say the Partypoker Millions Super High Roller Series Sochi isn’t really for everyone. Still, Partypoker’s press release promises a total of eight tournaments during the Sochi series, including a $100,000 showdown held in conjunction with Triton, and aimed at the high roller on a budget.
To add some variety, Partypoker says the tournament will be played using the increasingly popular short deck format.
Although the current wave of interest in high-stakes action means the series is aimed at the top end of the market, satellites will be available.
For those who can’t attend, the Millions Super High Roller Series Sochi will be streamed on Partypoker’s Twitch channel. Additionally, PokerGo will show the Super High Roller Bowl Sochi live on March 13.
The growth of poker in China looks set to receive another boost thanks to Yi Ye and his recent win in the 2019 PokerStars EPT Open Sochi Main Event.
Casino Sochi played host to the EPT Open Sochi. (Image: Casino Sochi)
Despite commercial poker venues being illegal in China, the country continues to be a breeding ground for talent. On October 13, Ye added his name to the ever-growing list of Chinese poker champions by taking down the $2,040 Main Event inside Casino Sochi.
Yi Takes Control of Turbulent Finale
With 879 entries collected over the course of three starting flights, just over $1.6 million in prize money was up for grabs. When the final six returned on Day 4, Ye was nestled in among those chasing Giorgiy Skhulukhiya.
Things quickly changed, however, as two players fell by the wayside within the first level. From there, the remaining four passed the chip lead back-and-forth before Ye finally took control.
With Lidiya Kozenkova and Natalia Panchenko seemingly gunning for each other, Ye was able to nip in and steal the chip lead. The former eventually faded in fourth before talks of a deal came and went.
Panchenko looked to be the cat with nine lives when play resumed, but things eventually went south. Moving all in with J♦T♣ on a 9♥8♥3♦8♦ board, the Russian needed some help against Ye’s A♣8♠.
Unfortunately, a 3♣ on the river gave Ye the pot, and took the EPT Open Sochi Main Event down to two.
Ye Gambles It All for EPT Open Sochi Glory
At this point, the clock was stopped again as the players tried to make a deal. After 10 minutes, Ye refused to give Skhulukhiya anything more than an ICM split, which caused play to restart.
That proved to be the right call as the Chinese poker pro sealed the deal two hands later. Moving all-in with K♥Q♠, Skhulukhiya need to win a race against Ye’s pocket sixes to stay alive.
By the time four community cards had been dealt, Ye had locked it up with a set. As the final board ran out A♦7♠5♥6♥8♠, Ye scooped the remainder of his opponent’s chips to claim the EPT Open Sochi Main Event title.
2019 PokerStars EPT Open Sochi Main Event Result
Yi Ye – $301,378
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya – $182,991
Natalia Panchenko – $129,097
Lidiya Kozenkova – $96,817
Egor Sukhov – $76,328
Abdul Mamin Abdal Ali Han – $57,129
The win for Ye was his third cash in Sochi. A poker pro for seven years, but having only recently switched to tournaments, the 40-year-old made the money in Russia back in 2018, and earlier in 2019.
In claiming the EPT Open Sochi Main Event title, he banked his biggest ever payday. What’s more, he’ll go down as another champion for Chinese poker players to admire.
With Macau’s special status allowing it to host cash games, many wealthy main-landers have honed their skills in the enclave. This appears to be having a trickle-down effect, as China is quickly becoming a force in the game.
With Ye winning an EPT title, it will only inspire more Chinese poker players to find a way on to the international scene in search of similar successes.
