EPT Paris to become biggest debut event in tour history
First trip to the French capital will eclipse EPT's previous biggest debut in Berlin in 2010
The European Poker Tour’s (EPT) first trip to Paris will today set a new mark. It will become the biggest debut event in the EPT’s near 20-year history.
With 661 entries registered on Day 1A, and a further 604 already registered an hour before Day 1B play even began, we’re already up to 1,265. With a wait list in operation, and a single re-entry permitted for all players, there’s little doubt that the final number will be closer to 1,400.
For a first-time stop on the EPT, these are sensational numbers.
THE EPT’S NEW STOPS
The last time a “new” stop appeared on the EPT was when the tour landed in Sochi in 2018. The Main Event attracted 861 entries. Prior to that, the most recent other debut was in Malta in March 2015, when Jean Montury beat a field of 895.
Player numbers of around this mark have been the most common for debut stop — at least in cities visited for the first time since the EPT was a well-established entity.
Prior to this trip to Paris, the biggest debut took place in Berlin in 2010, when there were 945 entries.
There is perhaps a special case to be made for the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA), which spent the first years of its life as part of the World Poker Tour (WPT), then as a standalone entity, before joining the EPT in 2008.
That first EPT version of the PCA attracted 1,136 entries. So even if we accept that as a “debut” event, Paris beats it.
EPT’s biggest debuts
Paris (2023): ??
Berlin (2010): 945
Malta (2015): 895
Sochi (2018): 861
Sanremo (2008): 701
Madrid (2011): 686
Campione (2012): 570
Prague (2007): 555
Snowfest Hinterglemm (2010): 546
Budapest (2008): 542
Dortmund (2008): 493
(PCA (2008): 1,136)
Most recent EPT debuts
Paris – 2023
Sochi – 2018
Malta – 2015
Campione – 2012
Madrid – 2011
Loutraki – 2011
Tallinn – 2010
Snowfest Hinterglemm – 2010
Berlin – 2010
Vilamoura – 2009
COULD THIS BECOME THE BIGGEST EPT?
For many years, one city has dominated all discussions about biggest EPTs: Barcelona. The five biggest EPT Main Events have all taken place there, with last year’s Main Event hitting an extraordinary 2,294 entries.
EPT Paris won’t beat that. The venue isn’t big enough to accommodate that many entries, even if there were that many players wanting to play.
However, the biggest Europe-based EPT Main Event outside of Barcelona took place in Sanremo in 2010. That hit 1,240 entries — and we are going to beat that this week.
Of course, Barcelona made its debut in the first season of the EPT. It was, of course, the very first event. There were 229 entries back then in 2004.
EPT Barcelona has grown more than 10 times bigger since then. If Paris underwent the same expansion, prepare for EPT Paris 2040 hitting 14,000 entries.
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