Erik Shahbazyan: The Challenges and Triumphs of Organizing Poker Tournaments

Erik Shahbazyan has been a prominent figure in the world of poker tournament organization for Russian-speaking players. His journey began in 2009, and since then, he has been instrumental in creating the Russian Poker Tour (RPT), which is the first and most well-known brand among Russian-speaking poker players.

Shahbazyan's experience in the industry has been marked by both successes and challenges. The last tournament series in Ukraine had over 800 participants in the main event, showcasing the popularity and reach of RPT. However, organizing tournaments in Belarus has proven to be particularly difficult due to heavy regulation. Poker is heavily regulated in Belarus, and cash games are not considered a sport, making it challenging to conduct tournaments there.

Before venturing into the world of poker, Shahbazyan was involved in the publishing business. He launched a magazine called Casino Style in 2005, which quickly became popular and successful. The magazine achieved self-sufficiency after the first issue, a rare feat in the publishing industry. Despite his success in publishing, Shahbazyan has never been a frequent casino player, attributing his interest in the industry to the idea of creating a platform where casinos could find clients and vice versa.