There are many fun and exciting things happening in the Czech capital this December, and the PokerStars European Poker Tour Prague certainly makes the list. The season-ending festival kicked off a couple of days ago at the Hilton Hotel Prague, and the action is starting to pick up.
The entire festival lasts until December 14, with some PokerStars Open action heating things up for the main EPT segment. In total, there are over 70 events on the docket, so players will have plenty to keep them busy across the entire period.
Prague is one of the oldest stops on the EPT calendar, regularly running since 2007, and in 2025, it returns for its 18th iteration. Last year, the stop saw some record-breaking numbers in both the EPT Main Event and the Eureka Main Event (which now runs under the new PokerStars Open flag), and PokerStars will be looking to break those records back-to-back.
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PokerStars Open Prague Off to a Strong Start
The action in Prague kicked off with the €1,650 PokerStars Open Main Event, and with two starting flights officially in the books, the total number of entries is up to 224. This is still quite a bit away from last year’s total of 4,732, but it’s still early days.
There are still four Day 1 flights on the docket, and it’s a well-known fact that later flights tend to attract much larger numbers. This means that things are about to get quite crowded in the tournament area. Each flight will play down to 15% of the field, with all players making it past the cutoff advancing to Day 2 on Saturday, December 6.
With plenty of play left, it’s too early to talk about definitive chip leaders, but a few players managed to build decent stacks, including Austria’s Gerald Karlic, who finished the runner-up in last year’s record-breaking event.
The final day of the PokerStars Open Main Event takes place on Monday, December 8, which is also when the first of the two starting flights for the €5,300 EPT Prague Main Event kicks in. In the meantime, players can enjoy a colorful schedule of tournaments, including the €825 PokerStars Open Cup.
EPT Prague Main Event Looking to Break Records
Prague has become one of the staples on the PokerStars EPT schedule, attracting players from Europe and other parts of the world. With its magical December atmosphere, it is one of the best places to visit during the holiday season as it is, and the opportunity to compete in one of the biggest and most prestigious tournaments in the world only adds to the magic.
Last year’s Main Event attracted 1,485 entries, setting the attendance record for the Prague stop, but with the popularity of live poker on a steady rise, there is no reason to think this year’s tournament couldn’t go just a bit further.
As always, PokerStars will be doing the live coverage of the event, starting with Day 2 (December 10). Broadcasts will be hosted by the well-known Joe Stapleton — James Hartigan duo, and they’ll be joined by expert commentators like Maria Ho, Griffin Benger, and Nick Walsh.
Enjoying Prague Away from the Tables
While there is no doubt that most players will be focused on the tournament action, even with a tightly-packed schedule, there will be plenty of time to enjoy what Prague has to offer outside the confines of packed casino hallways.
- PokerStars is doing its part to create a fun and social atmosphere with numerous fun activities like:
- Silver Pass Meet-Up & Welcome Drinks (today, Dec 4)
- Xmas Quiz (Dec 5)
- EPT Welcome Drinks (Dec 9)
- The Big Sing-Along (Dec 10)
- Happy Hours (Dec 7 & 12)
For those looking to explore the city, Prague Christmas Markets are open every day at Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, alongside numerous smaller ones scattered around the city. In addition to the main tourist attractions, these markets will give you an opportunity to truly take in the holiday spirit and enjoy a unique experience that ought to help you get over any bad beats.
The European Poker Tour is wrapping up yet another season in style, and players are pouring into the Czech Capital as we speak. While all the final numbers and stats are still a few days out, we can already say with confidence that it will be another festival for poker history books.
