EPT Season 9: Changes afoot

"We're about to see a whole new European Poker Tour. Today the EPT announced its full schedule for Season 9, and veterans of the tour will notice some significant changes.

First and foremost, there will be fewer events in Season 9. The 13-event schedule has been reduced to seven can't miss festivals around Europe, plus the PCA. No longer will players be forced to fly all over Europe 13 times a year. Instead, they'll be offered eight stops with nearly two weeks of poker available at each one.

"We looked at every EPT season up until now and asked ourselves how we could make the tour even better for the players," said EPT President Edgar Stuchly. "In the end, every change comes down to making this a better tour for the people who make this tour what it is: our players."

The Season 9 schedule kicks on in Barcelona in August. After that, it moves on to San Remo, Prague, the Bahamas, Deauville, London, Berlin, and Monaco.

To complement the normal big buy-in events, the EPT will partner with many of the regional tours like the Estrellas Poker Tour in Spain and the UK & Ireland Poker Tour. Now players will have the chance to play lower buy-in events alongside the big EPT action.

For those who like the action a little bit higher, the EPT is introducing a €10,000 championship series. Included will be a €10,000 heads-up event in Barcelona, a €10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha championship, and a €10,000 8-Game championship. What's more, you will be able to win your seats to these events in PokerStars online satellites.

The EPT will also offer a brand new €50,000 televised tournament in Barcelona when the season kicks off in August.

EPT's Live Poker Specialist, Neil Johnson explained: "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. 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."

As Season 8 closes out in Monaco this week, here's your first look at Season 9.

For more information, visit EPT.com

Enjoy!

European Poker Tour Season 9 schedule

EPT Barcelona: Aug 15-25 (Main event Aug 19-25) €5,000 + 300
EPT San Remo: Oct 3-11 (Main event Oct 5-11) €5,000 + 300
EPT Prague: Dec 5-15 (Main event Dec 9- 15) €5,000 + 300
2013 PCA: Jan 6-15, 2013, $10,000 + 300
EPT Deauville: Jan 30-Feb 9, 2013(Main event Feb 3-9) €5,000 + 300
EPT London: Mar 6-16, 2013 (Main event Mar 10-16) £5,000 + 250
EPT Berlin: Apr 24-May 4, 2013 (Main event Apr 28-May 4)€5,000 + 300
EPT Monte Carlo: May 6-15, 2013 (Main event May 6-12) €10,000 + 600"