EPT Barcelona: Fedor Holz Wins Big, PokerStars Announces Major Changes

Fedor Holz emerged victorious in the €50,000 Super High Roller tournament at the European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona, securing €1,300,300 in prize money. The tournament saw 102 entries, with 78 unique players and 24 re-entries. Holz defeated Sam Greenwood in the heads-up final. Additionally, the EPT Barcelona event featured a €25,500 one-day tournament with 165 entries, where Pratush Buddiga, David Yan, and Andrey Shatilov shared the third-place prize, with Buddiga winning the cup for the all-in.

PokerStars announced significant changes to their live tournament series starting in 2017. The series will be divided into two main events: PokerStars Championship and PokerStars Festival. The Championship series will feature higher buy-ins, with the main event at €/$5,000, and will include stops in locations such as the Bahamas, Panama, Macau, Monte Carlo, and Barcelona. The Festival series will have lower buy-ins, with the main event ranging from $1,000 to $1,500, and will be held over 6-7 days. Details about the new series will be gradually released on the updated PokerStars tournament website.

Phil Ivey partnered with Rosters.com for a fantasy sports promotion, where participants could compete against Ivey in team-building skills. The winner, qowenwojp, received a $15,000 prize package, including a ticket to the WSOP main event and travel expenses. Additionally, Andy Beal, a billionaire known in poker circles, was named to Donald Trump's economic advisory team. Beal's net worth is estimated at $10.7 billion by Forbes. In Sochi, a gaming zone 'Krasnaya Polyana' will be established, covering an area of approximately 16.5 hectares. The decision was made to boost the local economy, create jobs, and enhance the region's infrastructure and tourism appeal.