888Live returns to Cost Brava for four days of fun, sun and poker from 18th to 22nd May. A total of 65 online qualifiers, VIPs and specially invited guests, including UK poker pro Rupert Elder, were flown in from around Europe to enjoy a relaxing poker holiday and to play in the $50,000 guarantee Main Event.

Guests arrived at the five-star Guitart Monterrey Hotel on Wednesday and were welcomed to the event that evening by 888poker Ambassador Kara Scott at a champagne reception. The following morning there were some specially laid on beach activities for players and their guests, including Banana Boat rides and Jet Skiing, and in the evening there was a Main Event Satellite Freeroll.

The Gran Casino Costa Brava is the venue for the poker tournaments and is a short walk from the hotel. The modern casino has a spacious poker room and there was a lively atmosphere as the Freeroll tournament kicked off at 8pm with 130 runners, a competitive mix of 888poker guests and local players.

With the opportunity to re-buy and a turbo structure, there was plenty of action as everyone was eager to grab a slice of that $50,000 guarantee the next day. Play went on until the early hours when eventually nine lucky players grabbed their ticket for entry into the Main Event.
888Live Costa Brava Main Event – Day 1 on Friday, May 20.

Cards are in the air at 5pm today for the Day 1 of the Main Event with Kara Scott giving a welcome speech and issuing the traditional “Shuffle up and deal.” This is the second live event in her new Ambassador role since finishing 3rd at the 888Live London Local event in March.

The tournament is expected to attract around 200 runners including the 888 qualifiers and Freeroll winners. The buy-in is €330 for those who haven’t qualified already, and that will get you a starting stack of 25,000 chips.

There are also special prizes on offer including an iPhone 6s for making a Royal Flush and Sony speakers for making a full house, eights or better. Day 1 is expected to wrap up around 2am with the survivors reconvening at 5pm on Saturday to play down to a winner, and the final table will be streamed on twitch for the first time.

That won’t be the end of the fun and poker though. At 6pm on Saturday, there will be a Special Bounty Freeroll with a $5,000 guarantee, and to round off the four-day event there is a Farewell VIP Party at the “Disco Tropics” where the celebrations will no doubt go on into the early hours.