EPT Prague: Kenny Hallaert’s Year in Review
Most poker players are grateful to have just one year in their careers when the cards truly fall their way, particularly on the big stages where the lights shine brightest, and the money means the most.
But Kenny Hallaert has enjoyed several, and 2025 is most definitely one of them. The PokerStars Ambassador made his second World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table–an astonishing feat in poker’s modern era–and has consistently cashed in PokerStars events throughout the year.
He’s been so consistent, in fact, that Hallaert currently sits in second place on the PokerStars Live League Medium leader board, where there are big prizes and an Ambassador contract up for grabs (not that Hallaert needs another one).
His poker highlight might be obvious, but as the year draws to a close, we caught up with Hallaert to pick his brains about the rest of his 2025, his expectations for 2026, and more.
WHAT WAS YOUR POKER HIGHLIGHT OF 2025?
It’s got to be the WSOP Main Event final table!
HOW ABOUT YOUR NON-POKER HIGHLIGHT – HOW WAS YOUR 2025 IN GENERAL?
I’ve been enjoying life all year round and travelled a good amount, but a two-and-a-half-week trip to China was a highlight.
WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR YOU WISH NOW YOU’D DONE DIFFERENTLY? HOW?
I can honestly say I have no regrets–I recommend a year like this!
WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS/HOPES FOR 2026?
I try not to set any expectations. I just show up and see where the cards bring me. My hope is always to do better, but that is just impossible to ask.
Hallaert at the WSOP 2025 Main Event final table
WHAT ABOUT POKER IN 2026 — WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO?
All of the EPT stops, especially Paris in February, as that one was missing last year.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE/IMPROVEMENT THAT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO POKER OPERATIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR?
Just looking at PokerStars events, we’ve seen better management of players who are trying to stall the game and have good procedures in place to tackle this problem. Stalling for me is a form of (soft) cheating, so we should therefore handle this issue.
READ: EPT Prague: Tips from the top: Kenny Hallaert on how to make the most of your EPT
DO YOU THINK POKER TOURNAMENTS SHOULD START EARLIER IN THE DAY, AS SOME PLAYERS HAVE SUGGESTED? MAYBE 10 AM?
Personally, I have no strong preference. I think the start of tournaments could move a bit earlier, but maybe keep restarts at roughly the same time.
Strong arguments for having tournaments start earlier are being posted by respectable players on social media, though. But when I ask around, there are mixed answers.
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