PokerStars European Poker Tour Grand Final Returns to Monaco in 2012

February 06, 2012

Brett Collson Chief Editor

After a one-year visit to Madrid in 2011, the European Poker Tour Grand Final will return to Monaco in 2012. PokerStars recently announced that the event will run from April 23 through May 1 at the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Casino. Monte Carlo had hosted the event for six years before it was moved to Spain in 2011.

"This will be the biggest and best EPT festival ever held, and we're putting together an incredible tournament," said EPT President Edgar Stuchly.

As always, the Grand Final will be highlighted by the €10,000 Main Event. Last year, Ivan Freitez outlasted a field of 686 players to claim victory and a €1.5 million payday in Madrid. Other past winners of the prestigious tournament include Nicolas Chouity, Pieter de Korver, Glen Chorny, Gavin Griffin, Jeff Williams and Rob Hollink.

In addition to the Main Event, this year's Grand Final will feature a €100,000 buy-in Super High Roller. A similar Super High Roller event has been featured at the EPT's PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in the past, but the event in Monaco will be the first hosted on European soil. The huge buy-in is certain to attract some of the biggest names in poker. Viktor "Isildur1" Blom won the most recent $100,000 Super High Roller in the Bahamas for $1.2 million.

There are four stops on EPT Season 8 before the Grand Final kicks off in April. Following the conclusion of EPT Deauville on Monday, the tour heads to Copenhagen in February, followed by stops in Madrid and Campione in March, and then Berlin in April.

Here's a look at the remaining EPT Season 8 schedule:

Event	Date	Buy-in
EPT Copenhagen	Feb. 20-25	DKK 37,250
EPT Madrid	March 12-17	€5,300
EPT Campione	March 26-31	€5,300
EPT Berlin	April 16-21	€5,300
EPT Grand Final	April 23-May 1	€10,600