The schedule has been cut down in terms of tour stops, with eight compared to the 13 we saw in Season 8, but despite the condensed schedule each stop will boast an expanded program of events, including a €10,000 tournament in every city.
The Grand Final will once again return to Monte Carlo and will include a €25,000 High Roller and a €100,000 Super High Roller. The PCA will host the same two high-stakes events but the numbers will be in dollars instead of euros.
The focus for Season 9 will be making every EPT stop a true festival of poker, including more events, more prize money and more ways to qualify.
“EPT Season 9 will bring a new level of innovation to our tour and will enhance the experience for all players,” said EPT President Edgar Stuchly.
The EPT will be partnering with regional poker tours like the UK & Ireland Poker Tour and the Estrellas Poker Tour to offer events accessible to every bankroll.
Additional improvements for Season 9 include enhanced online qualification through PokerStars, as well as a brand new EPT Hotels Concierge service to assist players with anything from buying concert tickets to replacing forgotten personal items.
“We have had a lot of fun working with our players and our tournament staff to create some of the most exciting poker tournaments in the world,” said EPT Live Poker Specialist Neil Johnson.
“With all the incredible improvements coming to the tour, many of them created from player suggestions, EPT 9 will solidify us as the can’t-miss destination for European poker,” he said.
Season 9 of the EPT kicks off August 15, 2012 in Barcelona. Here is the full schedule:
EPT Barcelona – August 15-25, 2012 EPT San Remo – October 3-11, 2012 EPT Prague – December 5-15, 2012 2013 PCA – January 6-15, 2013 EPT Deauville – January 30 – February 9, 2013 EPT London – March 6-16, 2013 EPT Berlin – April 24 – May 4, 2013 EPT Monte Carlo – May 6-15, 2013Visit www.pokerlistings.com