EPT Snowfest

John Duthie, Chief Executive of the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour (EPT), today announced the second half of the Season 6 schedule. The remaining six events span from Scandinavia to the French Riviera. The schedule includes the much-celebrated EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo in April, as well as the exhilarating new event in the Austrian Alps: the first ‘EPT Snowfest’ in Saalbach-Hinterglemm.

The addition of EPT Snowfest, running March 21-26, 2010 is likely to prove a massive hit with players. They can enjoy plenty of invigorating ski and snowboard action when they’re not competing at the poker tables. Saalbach-Hinterglemm is one of Austria’s premier ski areas and offers some of the finest on and off-piste skiing in the country. As part of their prize, PokerStars qualifiers will be staying at the luxurious Alpine Palace hotel during the six-day € 3,750 event. The prize package also includes a bus transfer to and from Salzburg Airport and a six day ski package: lift pass, skis, boots and poles.

The European Poker Tour, sponsored by PokerStars.com, is now the world’s largest poker tour in terms of both players and prize pools. The tournaments take place in some of Europe’s most exciting destinations. “There has been huge enthusiasm for the new EPT schedule and also for the bigger ’Festivals of Poker’ like the one we held in London, and will be holding at the PCA, Sanremo and Monte Carlo events,” said John Duthie.

“The spectacular success of the EPT London Poker Festival a few weeks ago shows that players really relish the chance to play more side events, with a variety of games and buy-ins. We had huge names entering – and winning – these events which created massive interest throughout the week. With 730 players, the Main Event broke the record for the biggest poker tournament ever held in the UK!” said Duthie.

Last season’s EPT proved an outstanding success. With 11 events on the schedule, EPT Season 5 generated an overall prize pool of almost €55 million (approx $77 million USD) with 7,901 players from 97 countries participating. EPT Season 6 has 13 events, and seems certain to smash records once again.

Online satellites for the new EPT event in Vilamoura, Portugal and the PCA in The Bahamas are running now on PokerStars.com with buy-ins from as little as $2.22. Players who qualify on PokerStars don’t just win their seat: they also win luxury hotel accommodation (or cash equivalent) and spending money as part of their prize package.