Wednesday, 4th December 2024 18:52
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The first three stops on the highly anticipated EPT 2025 tour schedule have been announced, and we’ll be returning once again to your favourites for another year of sensational live poker.


We haven’t even finished this year’s action (we’ve still got poker’s Christmas holiday to EPT Prague to come) yet we’ve already got plenty to look forward to in 2025 as the European Poker Tour (EPT) announces the first three stops on next year’s schedule.

There will be no surprises when it comes to locations. Paris, Monte Carlo and Barcelona are not only iconic poker destinations but three of the most popular places to play, with both regional and EPT main events often breaking records when the tour comes to town.

We’ll break down what you can expect from each event in a moment, but first, here are those all-important dates for your calendars:

  • EPT Paris – February 12-23, 2025
  • EPT Monte Carlo – April 30 – May 10, 2025
  • EPT Barcelona – August 18-31, 2025

And you better keep your eyes peeled and your ears to the ground, because there’s a high chance more events will be added to that schedule as the year progresses.

“We’re excited to announce the first part of the calendar with the return of EPT Paris, Monte-Carlo, and Barcelona for 2025”, said Live Events Senior Business Development Manager, Julien Liarte. “These iconic stops have become cornerstones of the European Poker Tour, each offering unique experiences and unparalleled competition. We can’t wait to welcome players back for another incredible year of live poker.”

EPT PARIS

The EPT 2025 schedule kicks off with the return of EPT Paris from February 12-23, back for a third year after quickly establishing itself as a can’t-miss, must-play festival for both locals and players all around the world.

We’ll be returning to the stunning Le Palais des Congrès in the French capital, a venue that proved incredibly popular due to its ideal location and size.

We needed the space, for sure, as EPT Paris 2024 saw event attendance nearly double on its previous year, with the France Poker Series (FPS) Main Event drawing a whopping 4,149 entries from 1,930 players, boasting its biggest field ever. A 34-year-old Dutchman named Mateusz Moolhuizen took that one down for a €470,830 top prize.

The EPT Main Event also had large-scale success, with a huge 1,224 players from 69 countries playing in the event, creating the sixth-biggest field in EPT history. We also found a legendary champion with poker icon (and now PokerStars Team Pro) Barny Boatman landing a €1.3 million payday while becoming the oldest victor in the tour’s history.

Reflecting on its success, PokerStars are thrilled to be returning to Paris for the first stop on the 2025 tour, bringing with it an action-packed schedule and a range of tournaments to accommodate all players, with the spacious venue making room for over 135 tournament tables. 

Off the felt players can look forward to a jam-packed programme of activities to allow them to experience the magic of an EPT live event and the local Parisian culture.

“Barrière is pleased to once again host the European Poker Tour in Paris, a global capital of entertainment,” said Gregory Rabuel, Barrière CEO. “Together with PokerStars, we are ready to offer an unforgettable experience to all players and poker enthusiasts.”

EPT Paris online satellites will be live on the client from Sunday, November 17, offering players the opportunity to win a full package to EPT Paris worth €8,000. Those packages include:

  • €5,300 EPT Main Event buy-in
  • 8 nights’ accommodation for player and +1 at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile
  • €484 in expenses

Players will also have the chance to win a package (worth €3,300) to the France Poker Series (FPS) Main Event, featuring a €1,100 buy-in and 7 nights’ accommodation for the player and their guest, plus €261 expenses. 

With three different passes available, online qualifiers can also win their way through Power Path: 

  • Gold Pass: EPT Paris Main Event entry + 8 nights’ hotel for player and +1, plus expenses (worth €9,300/$10,300)
  • Gold Pass: EPT Paris Main Event entry, FPS Paris Main Event entry, FPS Paris Cup entry, plus expenses (worth €9,300/$10,300)
  • Silver Pass: FPS Main Event entry, FPS Paris Cup entry, plus expenses (worth €2,300/$2,500)

The remaining value of each Gold Pass will be credited as expenses (€1,784 minimum). At the same time, players can also enjoy limited edition merchandise, live event liaison support and exclusive FPS/EPT Paris activities. 

EPT MONTE CARLO

Next up we’ll see the tour return to arguably the most breathtaking poker room on the planet – the iconic Salle des Etoiles in Monaco, home of EPT Monte Carlo.

Hosted once again at the lavish Monte-Carlo Casino®️ from April 30 – May 10, this stop is arguably the most prestigious in European poker and you won’t want to miss it. The location oozes glitz and glamour and the picturesque venue is a sight to behold thanks to a roof that rolls back to expose the Mediterranean sky.

EPT Monte-Carlo is the perfect poker spot for players to experience the beauty of the Cote d’Azur, and with exciting and exclusive activities for players and guests off the felt, there’s no better place to be.

Last year we saw a 43-year-old semi-professional poker player named Derk van Luijk take down the EPT Main Event for a cool €1 million, while Bulgaria’s Atanas Malinov steamrolled his way to the FPS Main Event title and a €303,190 payday.

EPT BARCELONA

We’ll also be heading back to perhaps our players’ favourite stop, Barcelona and the iconic Casino Barcelona, for 14 days of huge events and incredible prize pools from August 18 – 31.

As a staple of the European Poker Tour, the 2024 event saw thousands descend on Catalonia for an incredible two weeks of top-tier poker and activities to celebrate 20 years of incredible poker moments. 

Last year’s EPT Barcelona Main Event drew 1,975 entries from 1,469 unique players making it the fourth-biggest field in the tour’s 20-year history, with players from 82 countries competing for a share of the whopping €9,578,750 in prize money. It was American crusher Stephen Song who took it down, winning €1,290,386.

Meanwhile, France’s Sylvain Berthelot captured the Estrellas Poker Tour (ESPT) Main Event title, topping one of the biggest events in PokerStars history (7,138 entries) to win €499,224.

PokerStars players can expect more of this action in August 2025, with thousands travelling across the globe for their shot at raising the next EPT Barcelona trophy.

THE ACTION DOESN’T STOP THERE

PokerStars looks forward to announcing more incredible live events on the 2025 calendar over the coming months, as well as sharing information on online satellites that allow players to experience the thrill of a PokerStars live event first-hand without breaking the bank.

Power Path is by far the most flexible way to qualify for live events. Both Silver and Gold Passes give players the freedom to choose which stop they’d like to visit and what events they would like to play at those festivals.

All PokerStars players receive a free $0.50 Step 1 ticket every day they play, giving you daily shots at spinning it up into a package worth $2,500 or $10,300.

Start your Power Path journey today, but keep an eye out for those direct satellites too. They’ll be coming soon.

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