Poker in a Palace

At the EPT Deauville I came so close to finally winning a Triple Crown. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get it done, but I still won a bunch of money for finishing second in the Deauville Main Event. So I can’t be too sad about that. After Deauville I flew out to California to play in two World Poker Tour events—the L.A. Poker Classic at the Commerce Casino and the Shooting Stars at Bay 101 in San Jose. I went pretty deep at Commerce and cashed the Main Event in 40^th place, but didn’t make the money at Bay 101.

EPT Deauville Main Event Final Table

Next on my itinerary was the EPT Vienna. I had been to Vienna before to take part in a televised tournament, but we played in a casino that was full of smoke and it wasn’t a very nice experience. But this time, I was really excited to go because the tournament was held inside Hofburg Palace. It was just incredible. I never imagined we’d be allowed to play in a place like that. Everyone was in awe at our surroundings. It was actually a perfect venue for a poker tournament because it was so comfortable and spacious but it didn’t seem like a poker tournament belonged there. This is a place where you’d usually hold fancy balls or serious meetings, but it was actually perfect for a poker tournament. In fact, right before the EPT got there, all the European leaders met at Hofburg Palace to discuss the situation in Ukraine. I couldn’t believe they let us in there!

I had a wonderful experience in Vienna especially because only a few days into the festival I played the €2,000 buy-in Eureka High Roller event and won it. The tournament got over 450 players and to be able to win a big event like that is pretty sweet.

Nothing happened for me in the EPT Main Event or the High Roller but I decided to clear my calendar and stay an extra week in Vienna. My trainer Lincoln is now working at the most famous fighting gym in Vienna. I wanted to train with him as much as I could while I was there and we got in a couple of hours a day. It was really fun and it was great to hang out with him.

I really hope the EPT returns to Vienna next year. I’m on the EPT Council and the next time we have a meeting I’m going to push for us to have the tournament there again next season. Hopefully they’ll let us come back to Hofburg Palace!

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