The European Poker Tour (EPT) is much more than a series of poker tournaments; it is an institution that has defined high-level play in Europe and served as the stage for some of the most legendary feats in professional poker. The EPT is one of the most prestigious circuits in global poker, known for its elegance, competitiveness, and international reach.
Created in 2004 by television producer and player John Duthie (winner of the first Poker Million), the EPT emerged during the poker boom and quickly established itself as the most lucrative and popular circuit in Europe. Its history is marked by record-breaking participation, million-euro prizes, and the rise of new generations of players who have found in this tour the perfect platform to launch their careers into stardom. In this article, we’ll explore the history, key moments, and impact of the European Poker Tour (EPT).
Origin and evolution of the EPT
The European Poker Tour (EPT) was born in 2004 in response to the rise of online poker and growing interest in live tournaments across Europe. Its creator, John Duthie—a British professional player and television producer—envisioned a circuit that would bring together the continent’s best players in the most iconic casinos. Inspired by the success of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and the World Poker Tour (WPT), the EPT quickly positioned itself as a sophisticated and competitive alternative, with refined aesthetics and high-level television production.
From its first season, the EPT stood out for its traveling format, bringing poker to cities like Barcelona, London, Copenhagen, and Monte Carlo. Backed by PokerStars, the circuit gained notoriety and attracted both professionals and amateurs, becoming a global benchmark.
Rapid expansion
The first EPT season, held between 2004 and 2005, featured seven events in some of Europe’s most emblematic capitals. The inaugural tournament took place in Barcelona, Spain, with 229 participants in the Main Event. Swedish player Alexander Stevic made history as the first EPT champion, winning €80,000. That first season also included stops in London, Dublin, Copenhagen, Deauville, Vienna, and the Grand Final in Monte Carlo (Monaco), where Dutch player Rob Hollink earned €635,000.
The EPT’s expansion was extremely rapid. By the second season, the tour had added new venues, such as Baden in Austria, and the prize pools continued to grow. In the 2006 Monte Carlo Grand Final, Jeff Williams won €900,000. This growth demonstrated the strong demand in Europe for high-quality poker tournaments accessible through online qualifiers—a model that PokerStars (sponsor and owner of the tour since 2011) would successfully capitalize on.
Tournament format and structure
The EPT is defined by its main format: No Limit Texas Hold’em, the most popular variant of modern poker. Each stop on the circuit includes multiple events, but the Main Event is the most coveted. The buy-in for this event has varied over the years, starting around €3,000 and stabilizing at €5,000 from the fourth season onward, aligning it with major U.S. tournaments.
The tournament structure includes several days of play, with progressive blind levels and a final table of eight players—unlike the WSOP, which uses nine, or the WPT, which uses six. This setup allows for a more strategic and extended dynamic, favoring technical play and televised storytelling.
Iconic venues and international expansion
Although the EPT began as a European circuit, its success led to expansion beyond the continent. Cities like Prague, Vienna, Berlin, San Remo, and Dublin became regular stops, while destinations like Sochi and the Bahamas (via the PCA, PokerStars Caribbean Adventure) marked its global reach.
Monte Carlo, host of the Grand Final for several seasons, became the symbol of luxury and prestige for the EPT. The Casino de Monte-Carlo has hosted some of the most memorable final tables, with world-class players competing for millions in prize money.
Records and legends
From its third and fourth seasons onward, the EPT entered an era of maturity and exponential growth. Player fields multiplied, and prize pools reached impressive figures. Season 4 (2007–2008) was filled with names that are now legends: Mike McDonald, just 18 years old, won EPT Dortmund; Jason Mercier made his mark at EPT Sanremo; and Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier took home €2 million by winning the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA), an event that had become part of the EPT circuit. Beyond the money, EPT champions gain international recognition, sponsorship deals, and access to elite tournaments.
This era also solidified the EPT as a space where female players could succeed at the highest level. Victoria Coren (now Coren Mitchell) became the first woman to win an EPT title in Season 3, and in Season 5, Sandra Naujoks triumphed in Dortmund, joining an elite club that would later include Liv Boeree.
These are examples of figures who built their reputations through this circuit. The EPT has also served as a platform for emerging talent who, after excelling in online poker, transition to the live stage.
Historic moments and a televised heist
Not all of the EPT’s standout moments were joyful. On March 6, 2010, during EPT Berlin, four armed and masked men stormed the gaming hall and stole €242,000. Panic was briefly captured on the live broadcast before the cameras shut off. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, and the attackers were caught days later and sentenced to three years in prison. Despite the disruption, the tournament continued, and Kevin MacPhee emerged as the winner.
Cultural and media impact
The EPT has influenced not only the poker world but also popular culture. Its television production, featuring expert commentators and strategic analysis, has educated generations of players. Live broadcasts, YouTube recaps, and social media coverage have turned the EPT into a media phenomenon.
It’s important to highlight that the circuit has contributed to the professionalization of poker in Europe, raising standards for organization, security, and transparency. Its focus on player experience—from registration to the awards ceremony—has been replicated by other tournaments.
Rebranding and the modern era
In 2017, PokerStars announced a complete reorganization of its live event calendar, and the EPT was rebranded as PokerStars Championship. However, this phase lasted only one year, as the EPT brand was too strong and valuable to retire. In 2018, the European Poker Tour returned with a redesigned calendar focused on Europe.
Season 14 (2018) marked the tour’s rebirth with memorable stories, such as Maria Lampropulos’s victory at the PCA, becoming the first woman to win that specific event. The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted the calendar in 2020 and 2021, with only one live event held in Sochi, Russia, each year. In response, the EPT innovated by launching EPT Online on PokerStars—a successful series that crowned “WhatIfGod” as the Main Event champion of the $5,200 tournament, with a prize pool of $6.52 million.
Adaptation and the future of the EPT
Over more than twenty seasons, the EPT has adapted to technological, economic, and social changes. Its integration with PokerStars’ online ecosystem has allowed players to qualify from home, democratizing access to the circuit. It has also implemented responsible gaming measures, security protocols, and hybrid formats that combine live and digital play.
Today, the EPT is not just a tournament circuit—it is an institution that symbolizes excellence and excitement and represents the global poker community. Its legacy lives on in every player who sits at its tables, aspiring to write their own name in the history book of this legendary tour.
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