Le Tournoi d’une Vie brings poker thrills to the small screen
As you probably remember, PokerStars players visited the Bahamas in January last year for the sensational PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC). It was every bit as exciting as anyone had anticipated, with the focus of attention on the numerous Platinum Pass winners on the trip of a lifetime.
Seventy nine of those Platinum Pass winners came from France, a country that remains at the centre of the poker world — particularly this week as the European Poker Tour (EPT) has descended on Paris.
It just so happens that one of poker’s most talented documentarians, Victor Saumont, is also French and PokerStars is lucky enough to have the man known as “Tapis_volant” on its payroll.
Saumont spent his time in the Bahamas following the French Platinum Pass winners, sampling the thrills and disappointments, the elation and the heartbreak. As always, Saumont’s 80-minute film gets right to the heart of the poker player’s experience.
Victor Saumont, filmmaker
ANOTHER BLOCKBUSTER
A few years ago, Saumont was the man behind Nosebleed, which followed two high-rolling French players in a documentary unrivalled in its honesty about the life of a high-stakes grinder. PSPC – Le Tournoi d’une Vie (The Tournament of a Lifetime) does the same for the low-stakes recreational player at the PSPC.
Recently subtitled for an English-speaking audience, this is truly a must-watch documentary for any poker fan. There are characters from all walks of life, crossing swords at the poker tables with players such as Erik Seidel and Fedor Holz.
But Saumont is also permitted unique access to these players’ innermost thoughts as they attempt to battle towards what could be life-changing money. Poker tournaments come and go for the pros, but for recreational players they can mean so very much more.
Enjoy PSPC – Le Tournoi d’une Vie in the player below. (And check out Nosebleed too if you have the chance.)
MORE ABOUT THE EPT
EPT official site
EPT Paris coverage hub
