Executives of the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour (EPT) today announced the first half of the schedule for EPT Season Six, which according to the tour's organization, kicks off in August with the EPT Moscow event. Online satellites for the EPT Moscow, Season Six start today on PokerStars.com, players who qualify on PokerStars don't just win their seat; they also win hotel accommodation (or cash equivalent) and spending money as part of their prize package.

 

"The new EPT season includes many events which have made the past five seasons such a triumph with world record breaking fields and prize pools across Europe. We have set very high standards and we aim to improve on them still further in Season Six -- with new additions to the schedule as well as a richer mix of games and buy-ins to cater to more players." said John Duthie, chief executive of the EPT.

 

In 2008, the EPT reported a massive growth, overtaking other top class poker tournaments in terms of amount of players registered and prizes paid. EPT Season Five generated an overall prize pool of almost $77 million and registered a total of 7,980 players from 97 countries, including 3,077 PokerStars qualifiers. The four richest prize pools available in poker tournaments outside the United States last year occurred at the PCA when a total of $12.7 million was paid to the players, followed by the  EPT Monte Carlo with $12.3 million; EPT San Remo with $7.5 million and the EPT Barcelona with $7 million.

 

"This year's EPT will be bigger and better than ever, kicking off in August in one of our newly scheduled destinations -- magnificent Moscow in Russia. Overall, the tour will visit an unprecedented thirteen countries* -- an increase of four events on top of last season. As well as Russia, the tour will include new stops in Portugal this November, and other destinations to be announced shortly." added Duthie.

 

 

The PokerStars European Poker Tour Season Six schedule so far is as follows. Further dates and an undated schedule will be announced soon.

 

EPT Moscow: August 17-23, 2009 ($ 6,900) @ Radisson SAS, Moscow, Russia. Max Limit: 600 players.            

 

EPT Barcelona: September 4-9, 2009 ($11,590) @ Casino Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. Max Limit: 700 players.     

 

EPT London: October 1-7, 2009 ($8,370) @ Hilton Metropole, London, UK. Max Limit: 800 players.

 

EPT Warsaw: October 20-25, 2009 ($6,460) @ Hyatt Regency, Warsaw, Poland. Max Limit: 400 players.

 

EPT Vilamoura: November 17-22, 2009 ($7,400) @ Casino Vilamoura, Portugal. Max Limit: 600 players.

 

EPT Prague: December 16-21, 2009 ($7,400) @ Hilton Prage, Czech Republic. Max Limit: 600 players.

 

PCA: January 4-14, 2009 ($10,000+600) @ Atlantis Casino, Bahamas. Max Limit: 1600 players.