The poker world is in Monte Carlo right now for PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT), and the event is now in full swing. The Main Event is already underway, with the Day 1 action complete and Day 2 action beginning May 2.
There are already a few big games in the books at EPT Monte Carlo, including the France Poker Series (FPS) Main Event. The €1100 buy-in game saw more than 2100 entries for a prize pool of over €2 million.
FPS games were well attended in general in Monte Carlo, with the €550 FPS Cup drawing almost 1400 entries for just shy of €660k in prizes and the €2200 FPS High Roller getting 1234 entries for €2,369,280 in prizes.
In total, five tournaments so far have cracked €1 million in prizes, including the Main Event, which got almost 1100 entries for a massive prize pool of more than €5 million.
Million-Euro-Plus Prize Pools
| Event | Entries | Prizes |
|---|---|---|
| Event 19 — €5500 Main Event | 1098 | €5,325,300 |
| Event 16 — €100,000 Super High Roller | 37 | €3,589,740 |
| Event 15 — €2200 FPS High Roller | 1,234 | €2,369,280 |
| Event 1 — €1,100 FPS Main Event | 2138 | €2,052,480 |
| Event 10 — €25,000 NLH Unlimited Re-Entry | 69 | €1,656,690 |
- Online Qualifiers now running, including Freerolls
- PokerStars’ first-ever EPT stop in Cyprus!
- EPT Main Event October 16 – 22
- Includes Mystery Bounty, High & Super High Roller Events
Former Chess World Champ on the Felt
Among the players to bag a Day 1 stack in the big game in Monte Carlo, was former chess world champion, Magnus Carlsen. The chess master was the world champ right up until the day before he played in the Main Event but relinquished the title after deciding not to defend it.
Instead, it appears Carlsen is trading in checkered squares for green felt with a bag at the end of Day 1b. It took him a couple of bullets to get the bag, but in early Day 2 action, he had already spun that up to more than 100k.
While poker will certainly have more variance than his best game, the strategic thinking of a chess grandmaster and world champ will undoubtedly serve him well in the poker arena.
However, this is far from Carlsen’s first foray into the world of poker. Even while he was still the world chess champion, Carlsen was expanding his horizons with online poker play and sponsorships with companies like Unibet.
Still Lots of Action in Monte Carlo and Online
There is still a lot of live-action left in Monte Carlo, but players who are stuck at home watching on the PokerStars livestream are not left out of the fun. An online Mini EPT Monte Carlo series is running on the PokerStars client, including a $5.50 Main Event with $40k guaranteed.
Click the link above for details on the Mini EPT series online, and see below for the remaining live games at EPT Monte Carlo.
- Deposit $20 and get $30 worth of free play
- One of the best mobile apps
- Biggest MTT guarantees
| DateTime | Event | Buy-In | Starting Stack |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 03, 12:00 | Hyper Turbo Knockout (€1,000) – Freezeout | €2,100 | 20,000 |
| May 03, 12:00 | EPT Main Event – Single Re-Entry Day 3 | €5,300 | 30,000 |
| May 03, 12:30 | NL Hold’em – Unlimited Re-Entry | €25,000 | 100,000 |
| May 03, 12:30 | EPT Mystery Bounty (€1,000 Mystery Bounty) – Unlimited Re-Entry Day 2 | €3,000 | 30,000 |
| May 03, 14:00 | NL Hold’em – Single Re-Entry Day 1 | €1,100 | 30,000 |
| May 03, 14:00 | Seniors (50 years or older) – Single Re-Entry | €1,100 | 30,000 |
| May 03, 18:00 | Qualifier to EPT High Roller – 'Win Your Seat at 100,000 chips’ – SEAT ONLY – Unlimited Re-Entry | €2,730 | 10,000 |
| May 03, 21:00 | Hyper Turbo Knockout (€5,000) – Freezeout | €10,150 | 20,000 |
| May 04, 12:00 | Mystery Bounty (€500 Mystery Bounty) – 30 Minute Levels – Unlimited Re-Entry | €1,650 | 30,000 |
| May 04, 12:00 | Qualifier to €1,650 Mystery Bounty – 'Win Your Seat at 50,000 chips’ – SEAT ONLY – Single Re-Entry | €370 | 10,000 |
| May 04, 12:00 | Qualifier to EPT High Roller – 'Win Your Seat at 100,000 chips’ – SEAT ONLY – Unlimited Re-Entry | €2,730 | 10,000 |
| May 04, 12:00 | NL Hold’em – Single Re-Entry Final | €1,100 | 30,000 |
| May 04, 12:00 | Seniors (50 years or older) – Single Re-Entry | €1,100 | 30,000 |
| May 04, 12:00 | EPT Mystery Bounty (€1,000 Mystery Bounty) – Unlimited Re-Entry Final | €3,000 | 30,000 |
| May 04, 12:00 | EPT Main Event – Single Re-Entry Day 4 | €5,300 | 30,000 |
| May 04, 12:30 | EPT High Roller – Single Re-Entry Day 1 | €25,000 | 50,000 |
| May 04, 12:30 | H-O-R-S-E – Single Re-Entry | €550 | 50,000 |
| May 04, 18:00 | Mystery Bounty (€500 Mystery Bounty) – 20 Minute Levels – Unlimited Re-Entry | €1,650 | 30,000 |
| May 04, 20:00 | Hyper Turbo – Freezeout | €1,050 | 20,000 |
| May 05, 12:00 | Qualifier to €2,200 Deep Stack – 'Win Your Seat at 50,000 chips’ – SEAT ONLY – Single Re-Entry | €500 | 10,000 |
| May 05, 12:00 | EPT Main Event – Single Re-Entry Day 5 | €5,300 | 30,000 |
| May 05, 12:30 | EPT High Roller – Single Re-Entry Day 2 | €25,000 | 50,000 |
| May 05, 12:30 | Mystery Bounty (€500 Mystery Bounty) – 30 Minute Levels – Unlimited Re-Entry | €1,650 | 30,000 |
| May 05, 14:00 | €2,200 Deep Stack – Unlimited Re-Entry Day 1 | €2,200 | 50,000 |
| May 05, 14:00 | €550 NL Hold’em – Unlimited Re-Entry Day 1 | €550 | 30,000 |
| May 05, 19:00 | NL Hold’em – Unlimited Re-Entry Day 1 | €25,000 | 100,000 |
| May 05, 21:00 | Hyper Turbo Knockout (€1,000) – Freezeout | €2,100 | 20,000 |
| May 06, 12:00 | NL Hold’em – Unlimited Re-Entry | €330 | 50,000 |
| May 06, 12:00 | NL Hold’em – Unlimited Re-Entry Final | €25,000 | 100,000 |
| May 06, 12:00 | €2,200 Deep Stack – Unlimited Re-Entry Final | €2,200 | 50,000 |
| May 06, 12:00 | €550 NL Hold’em – Unlimited Re-Entry Final | €550 | 30,000 |
| May 06, 12:30 | EPT High Roller – Single Re-Entry Final | €25,000 | 50,000 |
| May 06, 12:30 | EPT Main Event – Single Re-Entry Final | €5,300 | 30,000 |
| May 06, 13:00 | €2,100 6 Handed – Unlimited Re-Entry | €2,100 | 50,000 |
| May 06, 16:00 | €5,150 6 Handed – Unlimited Re-Entry | €5,150 | 50,000 |
| May 06, 18:00 | Last Chance Super Hyper Turbo – Freezeout | €1,050 | 50,000 |
