Start planning now. Malta to host biggest European Poker Tour Festival ever held. EPT teams up with Hilton Mallta and VisitMalta for Maltese Debut

ONCHAN, ISLE OF MAN – March 25, 2015
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The PokerStars.com European Poker Tour (EPT) Malta Poker Festival is set to become the biggest event in the history of the Tour, with a record number of tournaments being held and 24-hour cash games running from March 17-28 at the Portomaso Casino.

Adding to what looks set to be a memorable EPT, the Tour has partnered with VisitMalta, the island’s official tourism board, to showcase all the Mediterranean destination has to offer. Plus, in
addition to hosting the event and hundreds of PokerStars online qualifiers, Hilton Malta is on board as the Official Hotel Sponsor of EPT Malta.

Michael Holmberg, General Manager of PokerStars Europe, said: “It’s with great pleasure that we bring the EPT to Malta. We’ve been working behind the scenes for many months to make this event happen, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome poker players from all over the world to the home of PokerStars Europe.

“Our biggest tournament schedule ever, combined with one of the most favourable climates on the planet, will make EPT Malta a truly memorable event.”

The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) CEO, Mr Paul Bugeja, said: “As Malta’s Tourism Authority we are happy to support PokerStars in holding the prestigious European Poker Tour in Malta. This event will definitely provide Malta an opportunity to enhance our reputation in this particular niche. “The MTA is supporting this event in order to support the tourism industry in the lean months of the year, whilst promoting Malta with hundreds of poker players and their families who are expected to visit Malta for this tournament.”

To watch a short video about EPT Malta, go to: http://psta.rs/1Gxs1TI

BIGGEST EPT EVER

With 69 scheduled tournaments and over 30 cash game tables available across 12 days, EPT Malta is offering more poker than ever before in the Tour’s 11-year history. The crown jewel of the
schedule is the €5,300 EPT Malta Main Event, which will be webcast live from May 24-28 on PokerStars.tv.

Other tournament highlights include the €1,100 IPT Malta Main Event and the EPT High Roller double: a €25,500 buy-in on March 18, and a €10,300 buy-in on March 27, each with an optional single re-entry. March 19 will be Suesswaren Grasel Day at EPT Malta, with the Tour’s official chocolate sponsor handing out chocolate Easter eggs to participants in every tournament scheduled that day.

With 24-hour cash game action, organised and run by EPT staff and dealers, players will receive the same high quality service they’ve come to expect at an EPT festival around the clock.

HELPING HANDS CHARITY EVENT

The EPT Malta tournament schedule will also feature an invitation-only charity poker tournament on March 21. All proceeds will go towards Right To Play, PokerStars’ official charity partner. Right To Play uses the power of sport and play to transform children’s lives. This year, over 2,500 volunteers from around the world will help change the lives of 185,000 children. Fatima Moreira de Melo, Team PokerStars Sport Star and Right To Play ambassador, said: “For me, one of the most fun ways to raise money and awareness for charity is by playing poker. Right To Play is a fantastic charity that I’m honoured to be associated with, and I can’t wait to represent them at EPT Malta.”

For press enquiries, contact
press@pokerstars.com

About the European Poker Tour
The European Poker Tour (EPT) is the world’s richest and most popular poker tour. Since 2004, the EPT has paid out over €665 million in tournament prize pools and hosted successful festivals cross Europe. The EPT also visits the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA), which takes place every January in the Bahamas, one of the richest poker festivals in the world. Season 11 of the EPT builds on the success of a decade of world-class live poker events, and major poker festivals are being held in Barcelona (which celebrated the 100th EPT event) London, Prague, Deauville, and Malta, with the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final to be held in Monaco.