EPT Season 7 (2010-2011)
Recap of the 7th European Poker Tour Season
Season 7 of the European Poker Tour revolutionized the tournament by changing locales and introducing new expenses. For the first time, EPT charged an added cost of between €250 and €600 per event. Buy-in costs and prizes were regulated, resulting in more numerous but smaller prize amounts. Several new events were added, and one was resurrected from Season 1. This season was dominated by relative unknowns, making it one of the most interesting in EPT history.
New Beginnings in Tallinn
Season 7 kicked off at Swissôtel Tallinn in Estonia. This six-day event cost €4,000 to enter, with an additional €250 in expenses. Starting in mid-August 2010, the event had 420 entrants competing for 56 payouts. The final table featured mostly unknown players. Norwegian Kevin Stani won the €400,000 first place prize, a great improvement from his past performances. EPT Leaderboard regular Arnaud Mattern of France came in third, taking €160,000.
Brits Dominate Vilamoura
The second event returned to Vilamoura Casino in Portugal. This six-day event had a €5,000 entry fee plus €300 in expenses. Englishman Toby Lewis took home the €467,835 first place prize. The Season 1 Grand Final winner settled for seventh place and a €55,872 purse. Two other Brits at the table were footballers-turned-poker players: Sam Trickett and Teddy Sheringham. Sheringham, who retired from football and began playing poker, spent his €93,120 earnings on a new Aston Martin.
London Changes Venue
The EPT then moved to London, choosing the Hilton London Metropole over the popular Grosvenor locale. Relative unknown David Vamplew outlasted 847 entrants and defeated John Juanda at the final table. Juanda, with four WSOP bracelets, lost the ₤900,000 first place prize to Vamplew.
Return to Vienna
Vienna, Austria, hosted 578 players at Kursalon, each paying €5,000 plus €300 in expenses. Germans held three seats at the final table. Canadian Daniel Negreanu, a favorite due to his extensive experience, was surprisingly upset and finished fourth. Michael Eiler of Germany won the €700,000 top prize.
Barcelona Mid-Tour
Barcelona saw more entrants than ever before, with 758 participants. Unknown Kent Lundmark of Sweden won the €825,000 first place prize. All final table contenders were relatively unheard-of Europeans.
EPT Prague Takes Winter Spot
Prague replaced the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) as the mid-winter event. Hosted at the Hilton Prague Hotel, it saw 563 entrants. Roberto Romanello from Wales won the €640,000 prize.
Deauville’s Larger Venue
Deauville moved to the larger Deauville International Centre, accommodating 891 entrants. Lucien Cohen, an amateur player from France, won the €880,000 prize. Martin Jacobson of Sweden and Canadian Alex Wice took second and third places.
Scandinavian Dominance in Copenhagen
EPT Copenhagen saw a final table with three Swedes, a Finn, and a Dane. Swede Michael Tureniec won the DKK 3.7 million prize. Juha Helppi, a Finnish World Poker Tour title holder, finished 8th.
Snowfest in Salzburg
The Alpine Palace Card Casino in Salzburg hosted EPT Snowfest, a six-day event with a €3,500 buy-in plus €250 in expenses. Unknown Russian Vladimir Geshkenbein won the €390,000 prize, defeating Europeans Kevin Vandersmissen and Koen de Visscher.
Calm Return to Berlin
Berlin’s event had a standard €5,000 buy-in plus €300 in expenses. Canadian Ben Wilinofsky captured the €825,000 first place prize. German Maximiliam Heinzelmann came in second, winning €500,000.
Sanremo’s Record Turnout
Casino Sanremo in Italy hosted a week-long event with nearly a thousand buy-ins. Brit Rupert Elder won the €930,000 first place prize, defeating Max Heinzelmann after a long final table bout.
EPT Grand Final in Madrid
For the first time, the Grand Final was held in Madrid, Spain, lasting a week. Venezuelan Ivan Freitez won the €1.5 million prize, becoming the first Latin American to win an EPT title. Freitez also cashed out in Sanremo, Snowfest, and Copenhagen.
Conclusion
Season 7 of the European Poker Tour was marked by many firsts and unexpected wins. These elements made it a memorable season in EPT history.