Large Field Expected for Day 1b of the 2024 EPT Paris €5,300 Main Event
After a strong turnout on yesterday's first flight, the flagship tournament of the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Paris stop is looking forward to an even bigger turnout for Day 1b. The €5,300 EPT Main Event takes place for the second time in the City of Love and there is space for poker enthusiasts from all over the world thanks to more than 130 tables in the spacious convention halls of Le Palais des Congrès.
One year ago, the very same tournament drew a total of 1,606 entries and Razvan Belea who went from online satellite winner to EPT champion, taking home the golden shard trophy along with the top prize of €1,170,000.
Belea was among the participants on Day 1a but failed to make it through, whereas last year's runner-up Peter Jorgne bagged up 286,000 in chips for a spot in the top five so far. The Romanian, along with two thirds of the field gone on Day 1a, can take advantage of the single re-entry and take another shot at defending his title here in Paris.
2023 EPT Paris Final Table Results
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Razvan Belea | Romania | €1,170,000 |
| 2 | Peter Jorgne | Sweden | €780,100 |
| 3 | Fabrice Bigot | France | €535,850 |
| 4 | Brian Delaney | United Kingdom | €412,200 |
| 5 | Henri Kasper | Estonia | €317,050 |
| 6 | Konstantin Held | Germany | €244,000 |
| 7 | Denzel Spekman | Netherlands | €187,650 |
| 8 | Johan Schultz-Pedersen | Denmark | €144,300 |
| 9 | Mehdi Chaoui | Morocco | €111,000 |
Day 1b will kick off at noon local time and two hours prior to the start, there were already more than 250 players registered. Whether or not four figures will be reached for the second and final flight remains to be seen but the late registration remains all day long and even until the start of Day 2 on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.
All participants start their journey with 30,000 chips, which represents 300 big blinds in the opening level of 100/100 with a 100 big blind ante. Today's schedule mirrors Day 1a as a total of ten 60-minute levels will be played with 20-minute breaks after every two levels and a 75-minute dinner break after Level 6 at approximately 6.40 p.m. local time.
€5,300 EPT Main Event Day 1 Structure
| Level | Duration | Small Blind | Big Blind | Ante |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 min | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 2 | 60 min | 100 | 200 | 200 |
| 20-minute Break | ||||
| 3 | 60 min | 100 | 300 | 300 |
| 4 | 60 min | 200 | 400 | 400 |
| 20-minute Break | ||||
| 5 | 60 min | 200 | 500 | 500 |
| 6 | 60 min | 300 | 600 | 600 |
| 75-minute Dinner Break | ||||
| 7 | 60 min | 400 | 800 | 800 |
| 8 | 60 min | 500 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| 20-minute Break | ||||
| 9 | 60 min | 600 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| 10 | 60 min | 600 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
Some 200 players out of 607 entries advanced on Day 1a and they will be joined by the survivors today. As of Day 2, the renowned PokerStars live stream broadcast with cards-up coverage and commentary will also commence as well on the social media channels of the brand.
Follow along all the action right here on PokerNews, as the live reporting team will be on the floor to capture as many key hands as possible en route to crowning the EPT Main Event champion in Paris for the second time in as many years.