Sochi, Russia’s luxury holiday location, hosts PokerStars Championship event in May 2017
ONCHAN, Isle of Man – March 2017 – The biggest poker event Russia has ever seen, PokerStars Championship Sochi, will take place from May 20-31, 2017 at the Sochi Casino & Resort, PokerStars, an Amaya Inc., (NASDAQ: AYA; TSX: AYA) brand, announced today.
The PokerStars sponsored event will bring dozens of exciting poker tournaments to Russia’s premier holiday resort from May 20-31, including a guaranteed PokerStars Championship Main Event worth RUB 150,000,000 (approx. $2,600,000), the largest guaranteed prize pool ever featured in a Russian poker tournament.
The glamorous location, which played host to the 2014 Winter Olympics, is also famous for its beaches, lively nightlife, beautiful mountainous coastline and, of course, excellent skiing during the winter season, making it a favourite destination among Russian holidaymakers. The latest addition to the PokerStars Championship schedule will be one of the most exciting stops of the PokerStars Championship’s maiden season.
BIG NAMES HEAD TO RUSSIA
Russian super high roller and newly appointed Team PokerStars Pro Igor Kurganov said: “I’m excited to see PokerStars first ever sponsored live event in Russia and will be competing in the events, of course. I am interested to see the area after the massive investments it has received for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Sochi itself is a summer/ beach destination but I hope to make it out to the gorgeous and very close mountain region of Krasnaya Polyana, too!”
Team PokerStars Pros also expected to attend include Liv Boeree, Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier and Chris Moneymaker – who all have their eyes fixed on the glory of becoming Sochi’s champion.
11 POKER-FUELLED DAYS
PokerStars Championship Sochi also features must-play events such as the RUB 66,000 (approx. $1,160) PokerStars National Championship.
Highlights of the 11-day extravaganza include:
• No Limit Hold’em: May 20-22 – RUB 618,000 (approx. $10,860)
• PokerStars National Championship: May 20-25 – RUB 66,000 (approx. $1,160)
• PokerStars Cup: May 20-25 – RUB 19,800 (approx. $350)
• PokerStars Championship Super High Roller: May 23-25 – RUB 3,000,000 (approx. $52,700)
• PokerStars National High Roller: May 24-25 – RUB 132,000 (approx. $2,320)
• PokerStars Championship Main Event: May 25-31 – RUB 318,000 (approx. $5,590) – RUB 150,000,000 Guarantee
• No Limit Hold’em Single Day: May 26 – RUB 1,530,000 (approx. $26,880)
• PokerStars Championship PLO High Roller: May 27-28 – RUB 618,000 (approx. $10,860)
• PokerStars Championship High Roller: May 29-31 – RUB 618,000 (approx. $10,860)
• PokerStars Open: May 29-31 – RUB 13,200 (approx. $230)
Please note: All event buy-ins listed above are subject to change due to fluctutations in currency exchange and are designed in Russian rubles at a rate of 60/1. All rake and staff deductions are the same percentage as standard PokerStars sponsored events.
“Sochi is a premier location for hosting world class events and we are looking forward to bringing PokerStars Championship Sochi to this exciting location,” said PokerStars Director of Live Events Edgar Stuchly.
“With its vast array of 5-star hotels, outdoor activities, and 300 sunny days a year, alongside a brand new casino, Sochi is fast becoming a prime vacation spot and gaming destination, all in one.”
ONLINE ROUTE TO LIVE POKER IN SOCHI
PokerStars Championship Sochi Main Event packages are up for grabs in exclusive $8 buy-in Spin & Go tournaments now running on PokerStars. Players can also qualify for PokerStars Championship Main Event and PokerStars National Championship through special satellites from today on PokerStars.com.
The event, organised by Sochi Casino & Resort, promises to be a fantastic opportunity to play big money live poker with all the excitement that a PokerStars Championship brings, including full TV and webcast coverage, a host of celebrities and Team PokerStars Pros in attendance, and much more to entertain players and visitors. In addition to a packed schedule of events with 70+ tables in total, there will be cash games running 24 hours a day.
There will also be an exclusive Sochi Hotel discount promotion running where players who respond can enjoy a 50% discount on standard accomodations at the Mariott Hotel during the PokerStars Championship Sochi Main Event.
More information about PokerStars Championship Sochi can be found here: http://psta.rs/2jLfklf.
For further information, please contact [email protected].
About PokerStars Championship & PokerStars Festival
The PokerStars Championship, sponsored by PokerStars, is the world’s biggest poker tour. Bringing together some of the world’s most exciting and prestigious poker tournaments, the PokerStars Championship replaces some events previously part of the European Poker Tour, North American Poker Tour, Latin American Poker Tour and Asia-Pacific Poker Tour. Collectively, these events have paid out well over $1 billion in tournament prize pools globally on five continents since 2004. Confirmed PokerStars Championship sponsored live events for 2017 include the Bahamas, Panama, Macau, Monte-Carlo, Sochi and Barcelona, with more events to be announced in the coming months.
PokerStars Festival events, sponsored by PokerStars, are mainly tailored for recreational players and replaces some events previously part of the UK & Ireland Poker Tour, France Poker Series, Italian Poker Tour, Estrellas, Eureka, Asia-Pacific Poker Tour and Latin American Poker Tour. Confirmed 2017 PokerStars Festival sponsored live events are Rozvadov, Korea, Chile, Marbella, Manila and Uruguay with more eventsto be announced.
PokerStars Championship and PokerStars Festival poker tour brands are ultimately owned by Amaya Inc. (Nasdaq: AYA; TSX: AYA). Further information on the PokerStars Championship and PokerStars Festival is available online at www.pokerstarslive.com.
Play Responsibly! For more information on responsible gaming please visit our website at http://www.pokerstars.com/about/responsible-gaming/.
About Sochi Casino and Resort
Sochi Casino & Resort is the first world-class entertainment venue at the territory of the year-round Gorky Gorod mountain resort. Sochi Casino & Resort is one of a kind project that embodies the unique concept for Russia inspired by the best casinos of Las Vegas.
The facilities of Sochi Casino & Resort include 569 state-of-the-art slot terminals, 70 gaming tables for Black Jack, Russian Poker, Casino Texas Hold’em, Baccarat and a separate Poker Room. The Casino also features 7 individually designed VIP Halls, as well as Onyx and Dragon halls. Sochi Casino & Resort stands out not only as an elite gaming and entertainment project, but as a big venue that can conveniently accommodate up to 2,000 people at a time.
Sochi Casino & Resort features two restaurants – Brunello fine dining restaurant and Buffet casual restaurant, offering European, Russian and Asian cuisine, both run by the famous brand chef Ilya Zakharov, as well as the Royal Bar, the ballroom, the Velvet cabaret theatre, and the conference hall. Sochi Casino & Resort is connected to the Sochi Marriott Krasnaya Polyana Hotel through a passage where boutiques of famous luxury brands are located and this passage serves the second entrance to the Casino. Sochi Casino & Resort offers large-scale international poker and backgammon tournaments, stunning entertainment programs, performances by Russian and international stars, theme parties and much more.
Following the world’s best practices in gaming industry Sochi Casino & Resort has developed its Regal Rewards loyalty program. Loyal customers can get lots of benefits, bonuses and gifts.
The main mission of Sochi Casino & Resort is upscale customer service. We value every guest and the wishes of our guests are our highest priority, we are ready to address every request related to entertainment within our venue.
