WPT, WSOP and EPT News

The U.S. Department of Justice‘s recent online poker crackdown may have slowed down the action at some sites, but the live poker tournaments are still forging ahead (despite diminished numbers and reduced television coverage). Today we’ve got news from three of the live circuit’s biggest players – the WPT, the WSOP and the EPT. We’ll start across the pond and work our way back to the U.S.

The European Poker Tour kicked off its popular San Remo tournament yesterday. The Italian leg of Season 7 of the tour is the last stop before the Grand Final in Spain next month. EPT San Remo is being hosted at the Casino Sanremo and will run from April 27 through May 3. This year a total of 17 events are on offer with the last ending just a few days before the Grand Final is scheduled to begin. Last year, the San Remo Main Event set a new record with 1240 entrants creating a total prize pool of over €6,000,000.

In related news, the EPT recently announced that the Grand Final would feature a new event called “Champion of Champions.” The invitation only tournament is strictly for past EPT winners. Thus far, more than half the invited field of 70 pros have already confirmed their intent to compete for the €50,000 top prize.

Back in the U.S., the World Series of Poker Circuit also started a new stop yesterday at the Harrah’s in Chester, Pennsylvania. This is the first time that the WSOPC has visited the state, and thus far the response has been very positive. This WSOPC leg will run through May 10 and will offer a total of 38 events culminating in a $1500 buy in Main Event that also serves as a WSOPC National Championship qualifier.

Finally, the WSOP’s toughest competitor – the World Poker Tour – is also in the midst of an East Coast tournament. Their Seminole Hard Rock Showdown is entering Day 2 of the Main Event. A total of 406 players ponied up, but the field’s already been pared down to just 290 competitors. A number of notable pros showed up to throw down in Seminole this weekend including: David Baker, Ali Eslami, Tyler Kenney, Vivek Rajkumar, Mike Sexton, Joe Tehan and Matt Waxman. All of those pros have earned a seat in today’s Day 2 action.

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