Microgaming Poker Network Poker Tour Announce Vienna as 2016 Tour Opener as they attempt to continue to improve their product going into their third season.
All recreational poker players dream of playing in European Poker Tour (EPT), World Poker Tour (WPT) and World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Events.
I know I do.
But, until you are (a) good enough, (b) lucky enough, or (c) wait for your rich parents to die – then you should think of setting your sights a little lower.
The Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) first decided to launch a live poker tour back in 2014. Like most smart outfits they started out small. It was more Proclaimers than One Direction with 83 entrants in the £450 Main Event in London, and 109 entrants in the €500 Main Event in Malta.
Undeterred by those small numbers, and buoyed by what they had learned, the tour returned for a second season this year. It’s expanded, the coverage has increased, but the buy-ins have remained at an even keel, allowing those with blushing bankrolls to get in on the action.
The size of the tour was stretched from two events to three, the guarantees rose, as did attendance across the field. The first event was held in Tallinn. 148 players ensured the €40,000 guarantee would be smashed and Mikita Andreichykau walked away with the $18,104 first prize.
Warren Lush was instrumental in attracting Daniel “Jungleman” Cates to the $400k GTD event in Tbilisi. Unfortunately, the pulling power of the man who plays in the highest cash games in the world wasn’t enough, and the team had to dip into their pockets to part with a $64,500 overlay. Levan Khurtsidze topped a field of 610 players to take the $65,221 first prize. Finally, the MPNPT held their climax in Dublin. 570 players entered the main event and Daniel Tighe walked away with the $60,655 first prize, and the $200,000 guarantee was met.
The tour numbers are growing.
The fun never ends.
It will all begin again in January 2016.
The MPNPT has announced that the season opener will take place in Vienna. The popular Montesino Casino will host the action and the €550 Main Event will carry a €200,000 guarantee.
“Our event in Dublin had a huge prize pool of €256,500 and we expect to beat that with the Vienna festival,” said Alex Scott, Head of Poker at Microgaming. “Vienna is an amazing city that can only be made better by a weekend of top-quality poker action”.
You can qualify online for a €1,500 Main Event package, that includes a €550 Main Event buy-in, a €150 side event buy-in, hotel accommodation and some travel expenses.
