PokerStars to broadcast EPT Grand Final Madrid
29 Apr 2011
This is a historic moment for poker in Europe, as PokerStars pioneers true live poker on TV with ‘EPT Live’ to a large audience by terrestrial, satellite and online channels across the European Union. It is expected to be the most-watched live poker show of all time.
Alfredo Alvarez Jardón, Marketing Director of the Casino Gran Madrid, said: “We are pleased to be part of this major step forward in poker broadcasting in Europe. It’s significant in that it means many people will be able to watch the action from so many countries, further positioning the Gran Casino Madrid as one of the leading centres of poker in Europe.”
Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu, one of the best Poker players in the history of the game, said: "PokerStars has always been a leader in terms of innovation, and once again they are giving fans and viewers a new kind of experience they are sure to love. Broadcasting hole cards shown on TV in over half a dozen stations across Europe, puts the EPT's premiere event on par with other major live sporting events taking place in the continent this month."
Live webcasts of EPT tournaments have been a resounding success over the past three seasons, typically broadcast on PokerStars.tv with hole cards concealed. But following similar broadcasts with hole cards revealed during the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) in January of this year, the concluding action from the EPT Grand Final will also be shown with cards up. A two-hour delay between action and broadcast ensures players' security is not compromised, as PokerStars will put to work its technology and staff to ensure the highest levels of security and integrity in the game
Beginning at 2pm CET on May 12, EPT Live will broadcast the start of the Main Event final table with commentary and expert analysis in English, Spanish, Dutch, German, Italian and Russian. At 11pm CET, when approximately four players remain, play will resume simultaneously on live television networks in numerous countries, including Spain, Holland, Romania, Slovenia and Germany, as well as on PokerStars.tv.
Spectators from around the world will be able to see all the action, all the decisions, all the agony and all the ecstasy of the most crucial stages of Europe's most prestigious poker tournament – and all from their own homes.
The PokerStars EPT Grand Final, which this year has relocated from Monte Carlo to the Spanish capital Madrid, usually attracts more than 800 players to compete for a first prize of close to €2m.
The final table of the €10,000 Main Event will be screened on May 12, followed the next day by full coverage of the EPT Tournament of Champions. The Main Event will decide who assumes Nicolas Chouity's crown as EPT Grand Final champion. The Tournament of Champions pits the previous winners of EPT main events against one another in an exclusive invitational event. All of May 13's action will be webcast live on PokerStars.tv.
More than 40 of the world’s top poker players have already confirmed their participation, including: Liv Boeree (EPT6 San Remo Champion); Vicky Coren (EPT3 London Champion); Galen Hall (EPT7 PCA Champion); Carter Phillips (EPT6 Barcelona Champion); Sandra Naujoks (EPT5 Dortmund Champion); Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier (EPT4 PCA Champion); Arnaud Mattern (EPT4 Prague Champion); Pieter de Korver (EPT5 Monte Carlo Champion); and Jason Mercier (EPT4 San Remo Champion). It should be one of the toughest poker tournament fields of all time!
The EPT Grand Final Madrid Poker Festival takes place from May 5-13 at the Casino Gran, Madrid. It features 28 individual events, including: the €10,000 Main Event; the invitation-only Tournament of Champions; a €25,000 High Roller event; a €500 Women-only competition; a €5,000 Heads-up tournament; and many more events starting from €220. Registration for all events is available now through PokerStars or the casino.
Last year in Monte Carlo, Lebanon's Nicolas Chouity triumphed from a field of 848 to win €1.7m for first place in the Main Event, a year after the Team PokerStars Pro Pieter de Korver won €2.3m.
If you would like further details on this event or to embed the PokerStars EPT Live Madrid webcast feed onto your website, please contact press@pokerstars.com.