The maiden PokerStars Open Main Event was a huge success in Campione, smashing guarantees and exceeding all expectations. Players from far and wide filled the Casino di Campione for a week of poker and a shot at becoming this exciting new tour’s first champion.

When all was said and done, the title went to a very deserving winner–already the winningest player in the final day field.

Adrian-Sorel State of Romania had accumulated more than $1.5 million in live earnings before this festival, plus plenty more online throughout his poker career, the highlight of which came at EPT Monte Carlo last year. There, he won the €3K Mystery Bounty for €232,898, plus whatever he picked in envelopes.

Now, after four days of play and one of the longest final days in recent memory–around 12.5 hours–the 38-year-old has another PokerStars trophy for his collection, plus a first-place prize of €363,000.

Once State got chips, there was no stopping him. He made all the right moves and picked up some luck when he needed it, no more so than in the final hand against Giorgio Soceanu, an Italian who lives in Romania. Soceanu has done well in poker too, with $183K in career cashes. But he didn’t do well when his A♠ 9♠ was outdrawn by State’s 10♣ 8♣ in the final hand.

“It’s been an amazing experience,” said State after his victory. “Of course you need to run extremely good to win a tournament, with coolers on your side. I’m really grateful for this win.”

When it comes to the new PokerStars Live League, this win puts State in a very good…state. “I would love to try to win it but I don’t know how my wife will react if I’m playing all the tournaments,” he says, laughing. “I have responsibility at home with a little daughter.”

Still, we’ll no doubt see him at future PokerStars Open events. “Nobody expected such big numbers and the PokerStars staff did extremely well to finish the tournament in time,” he says. “Amazing organisation and staff, super professionals.”

TOURNAMENT ACTION

It now feels like a lifetime ago, but it was actually only 12:30 local time when Sunday’s action began. We knew it would take a while–26 players remained, each guaranteed at least €8,600, and at 75 minutes a pop, the levels were long–but we settled in for the long haul. 

It took eight-and-a-half hours before all players assembled around a single table. Along the way, we lost Darius Neagoe, an online qualifier who topped the start-of-Day-2 chip counts, and Daniele Casino, a side-event winner from earlier in the festival.

Down to nine, it was table shorty Francesco Legnaro who missed out on the final table photo. He ran his pocket tens into Salvatore Russo’s pocket kings and couldn’t hit.

Once the photos were in the can, online qualifier Manel Montalban found himself with a healthy chip lead and despite the recent KO, Russo still trailed the rest. Only one double-up would be enough to get out of dodge, though. The average stack was 9 million, good for 45 big blinds at the 100K/200K/200K blind level.

FINAL TABLE CHIP COUNTS

Seat 1: Jakub Sterba (Czech Republic) – 3,800,000
Seat 2: Giorgio Soceanu (Italy) – 7,675,000
Seat 3: Adrian-Sorel State (Romania) – 13,950,000
Seat 4: Andreas Putz (Germany) – 5,425,000
Seat 5: Manel Montalban (Spain) – 16,675,000
Seat 6: Salvatore Russo (Italy) – 5,275,000
Seat 7: Barnaba Perone (Italy) – 8,125,000
Seat 8: Gaspare Sposato (Italy) – 7,600,000

While it didn’t impact the action too much, one insane hand must be mentioned. Sposato opened with Q♦ J♦ and Giorgio Soceanu called on the button with K♦ 7♦ . The flop came 9♠ 4♣ 3♠ , giving neither anything, and it checked through to the 4♦ turn. Here’s where things got spicy.

Sposasto made a delayed c-bet of two big blinds only for Soceanu to make 4.5 bigs – a pure bluff. Sposato sniffed it out and bumped it up 10 bigs. 

In a regular hand in a regular tournament, the player would fold their king-high, no-draw here. But this was neither. Soceanu picked up on something as he moved all in to put Sposato at risk. He quickly folded and was left with 25 big blinds, while Soceanu’s gutsy play took him up to more than 60.

The players then went on a dinner break, and when they returned, Andreas Putz of Germany would bust in the fast hand back. It was a blind vs blind cooler – ace-ten for Adrian-Sorel State in the small blind and ace-five for Putz in the big. He found no help and collected €43,340 and State chipped up nicely.

Sposato was next to fall. The UKIPT London 2024 champ picked up A♦ K♣ in the big blind after an under-the-gun open from Soceanu and a call from Barnaba Perone in the small blind. Sposato committed most of his stack but left himself a couple of bigs behind, and Soceanu just called with A♠ A♥ before Perone let his pocket fives go. It all went in on a ten-high flop and, with no help, Sposato, coolered, departed with €56,330.

This was music to the ears of Jakub Sterba from the Czech Republic, who was quietly sitting with just six big blinds. He moved all-in from the small blind with K♥ 6♣ over an under-the-gun open from State and quickly saw the bad news when State snapped with K♦ K♣ . The cowboys held, but Sterba enjoyed a significant pay jump up to €73,210.

The biggest pot of the tournament so far then went Soceanu’s way. Russo opened with 10♠ 10♥ on the button off a 41-big-blind stack, and Soceanu picked up A♦ J♦ in the big blind, playing 65 bigs. He three-bet, and when Russo jammed, Soceanu snap-called. Whoever won the ~21 million chip pot would be the new chip leader.

A K♠ Q♠ 5♠ flop was great for Russo as he had spades covered, not to mention he blocked Soceanu’s straight outs. That didn’t stop the 10♦ rolling off the turn, giving Soceanu the lead. Russo needed a spade or the board to pair on the river, but the A♥ didn’t help and Russo ended the tournament €95,190 richer.

STATE OF PLAY

The next hand of note saw the last remaining online qualifier, Manel Montalban of Spain, send his chips State’s direction. Montalban, a Sit & Go specialist, opened with Q♥ J♦ , and it folded to State in the big blind. He defended his K♦ Q♦ , and the flop fell 3♦ 8♥ 9♥ , which both checked.

The Q♣ turn was the action card giving both top pair, and Montalban made a delayed c-bet when checked to. State fired back with a check-raise, and Montalban called, taking them to the 7♣ river.

“The check raise on the turn is really going to work in his favour here because there aren’t many players who would [have the awareness] to check raise the turn in the first place,” said Nick Walsh in the booth. And he was right. State shoved and Montalban used a few time banks before calling and squirming when State showed the winner. He went to collect his €123,760 while State stacked the chip lead heading into three-handed play.

The rich got richer when Perone triple-barrelled bluff with nine-high when State held an ace on an ace-high board. With half his stack gone, Perone needed to make something happen soon.

Not before letting State and Soceanu battle in a big one, though. Soceanu raised from the small blind with K♣ J♠ , and State defended with 8♦ 7♠ and the chip lead. The 7♣ 3♦ J♥ gave both a piece, and State quickly called a small c-bet, then hit trips on the 7♥ turn. Soceanu checked this time, and State made a chunky bet. Soceanu stuck around to see the 4♠ river, and State recognised this was a spot for big value. He overbet the pot, and Soceanu made the call, giving State a dominating lead.

Perone was back to his bluffing ways soon after and lost another big pot to State. Perhaps frustrated with the way things had gone, Perone called off a small-blind shove from State with 9♠ 2♦ and was dominated by State’s K♥ 2♣ . The best hand held, Perone left with €160,880, and State had a monster chip lead heading into heads-up: 62 million vs 10 million.

HEADS-UP

But Soceanu was in no mood to roll over. He turned the nut flush in spades and his bet was called by State’s third pair, which improved to two pair on a fourth-spade river. Soceanu moved all in for double the pot, and State knew a correct call would end it. It was incorrect this time, however, and Soceanu’s comeback commenced.

Both won significant pots before State recouped his losses. He had 106 big blinds to Soceanu’s 16. It was too much to ask of Soceanu. It was meant to be for State.

He’s the first ever champion of the PokerStars Open.

PokerStars Open Campione Main Event

Dates: March 11-16, 2025
Entries: 2,434 (inc. 1,000 re-entries)
Prize pool: €2,326,080

1. Adrian-Sorel State (Romania) – €363,000
2. Giorgio Soceanu (Italy) – €225,200
3. Barnaba Perone (Italy) – €160,880
4. Manel Montalban (Spain) – €123,760
5. Salvatore Russo (Italy) – €95,190
6. Jakub Sterba (Czech Republic) – €73,210
7. Gaspare Sposato (Italy) – €56,330
8. Andreas Putz (Germany) – €43,340

FULL MAIN EVENT RESULTS

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IVARSSON TOPS LIVE LEAGUE AFTER SUPER HIGH ROLLER WIN

Alexander Ivarsson was victorious in the first Super High Roller event of the PokerStars Open era today, topping a 108-entry field to win €128,522. 

This is Ivarsson’s second PokerStars high roller title after his 2019 win in the €2,200 National High Roller at EPT Barcelona for €498,520 – the same year he placed 16th in the EPT Main Event. Today’s result might not hold a candle to that, but it does come with some added spice, which we’ll get to in a moment.

The tournament had a €4,975 buy-in – the largest on the Campione schedule – and kicked off yesterday, attracting the biggest names and bankrolls around, including Paul Runcan. The Romanian finished runner-up at EPT Prague in December for a monster €900,000 score and was denied a title once again, collecting €83,000 for second.

PokerStars Ambassador Sam Grafton snuck into the money, finishing 15th with 15 paid. He picked up the €8,350 min-cash.

By winning this event, Ivarsson now finds himself atop the Live League High leader board (albeit after only one event that meets the buy-in criteria). The Swede needs no added incentive to grind – we see him at just about every major PokerStars stop – but perhaps this fast start will see him expand his globetrotting agenda in 2025.

The top three in the High leader board when the year ends will win the following prizes:

HIGH (All tournaments with a buy-in of $5,000 and above)

• First place: 4 x EPT Main Event and 4 x EPT High Roller buy-ins – worth €62,400
• Second place: 4 x EPT Main Event buy-ins – worth €21,200  
• Third place: 2 x EPT Main Event buy-ins – worth €10,600

€4,975 POKERSTARS OPEN CAMPIONE SUPER HIGH ROLLER

Dates: March 15-16, 2025
Entries: 108
Prize pool: €492,372

1.Alexander Ivarsson (Sweden) – €128,522
2.Paul Runcan (Romania) – €83,000
3.Conor Bergin (Ireland) – €59,250
4.Francesco Pilato (Italy) – €45,600
5.Dawid Smolka (Poland) – €35,050
6.Tommaso Castellano (Italy) – €27,0001.
7.Umberto Ruggeri (Italy) – €21,600
8.Marek Lachata (Switzerland) – €17,250

COMPLETE HIGH ROLLER RESULTS

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STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

The debut of the PokerStars Open in Campione has been an enormous success and provided plenty of stories, some of which might have slipped under the radar…

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: LUKIC DUO SHINES IN CAMPIONE

The PokerStars Open Campione festival began with a true family affair as Slovenia’s Dejan and Vanja Lukic – a father-and-son duo – made the final table of the €220 Turbo Deep Stack Freezeout.

The Lukics proved that poker skills run in the family, navigating a 155-entry field to reach the final five. Dejan, the senior Lukic, was the first to say his goodbyes, busting in fifth for €1,840. 

But his son Vanja took the baton and ran with it, reaching heads-up against Italy’s Riccardo Bonelli. It didn’t go Lukic’s way this time, but he still walked away with €4,360 and a story that’s sure to become a favourite at family dinners.

Poker has a way of bringing generations together, and this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a father and son competing at a PokerStars event. Just a few months ago at EPT Prague, Dominic Cullen shared the floor with his son Ben, who was just seven years old when his dad made the final table of EPT London back in 2009. Now in his early twenties, Ben made his EPT debut alongside Dominic, who had won a package online.

LUCA PAGANO RETURNS: THE MAN BEHIND POKERSTARS’ COMEBACK IN ITALY

A force on the European Poker Tour and a prominent early member of PokerStars Team Pro, Luca Pagano was Italy’s leading light throughout much of this century. He made seven EPT final tables, won millions in prizes, and inspired a new generation of Italian talent.

But in 2017, Pagano decided it was time for a change. He stepped away from poker after more than a decade as a PokerStars Ambassador. “To tell you the truth, after just a few weeks, I missed being part of the PokerStars family,” Pagano told James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton on the Poker In The Ears podcast. 

The doors were always open, and now Pagano is back in a very big way. In fact, we might not be here in Campione without him. 

Pagano has returned as the PokerStars Live Consultant, responsible for all poker operations in collaboration with the Casino di Campione at the new PokerStars-sponsored poker room, where we’ve been enjoying the PokerStars Open debut this week. 

The new role might have been announced fairly recently, but it’s been several years of behind-the-scenes work to get here. It’s not easy opening a new poker room, not to mention bringing PokerStars back to Italian soil for the first time in 12 years.

Pagano and his team’s efforts have been well worth it. This event has exceeded all expectations, smashed all guarantees, and kicked off the Open era with a bang. 

Listen to Pagano’s full interview on the Poker In The Ears podcast below.

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BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

It’s not just the Main Event being played right now – far from it. Players from across Europe and around the world have made it clear there was no better place to play than Campione this week, and busting out of the big one hasn’t zapped anyone of their energy.

Every poker room on every floor of the expansive Casino di Campione is full right now, despite the Main Event being down to just nine tables. 

Right now four other tournaments are being played, so let’s explain what’s going down.

The €4,975 buy-in PokerStars Open Super High Roller is also enjoying an impressive debut with 108 entries, far more than expected. That means there’s almost half a million euro in the prize pool.

All of the biggest names to play this week were in the mix, including PokerStars Ambassador Sam Grafton, EPT/PCA winners Simon Brandstrom, Dominik Panka, and Giuliano Bendinelli, as well as online beasts Blaz Zerjav and Dan Wilson. 

Registration is now closed with 53 players remaining. We’ll give you information on the prizes when they’re confirmed. 

Elsewhere, the €550 PokerStars Open Second Chance event also proved popular, with 716 entries across two starting flights. They’re down to just 34 right now, all eyeing that €63,230 first-place prize.

David Docherty is among the big stacks. The Irish Open winner and 2023 UKIPT Player of the Year would love to get his Live League leader boards off to a good start with a win.

PokerStars Ambassador Rory Jennings is also still in contention, seeking his first major final table. His good friend Adam McKola finaled UKIPT Brighton back in 2023, could this be Jennings’ turn?

Meanwhile, the €400 PokerStars Open Mystery Bounty is off and running with two very busy starting flights playing tonight. 

It’s busy, busy, busy, and the action won’t stop until tomorrow’s curfew. What an incredible start for this exciting new tour!

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CASH GAME CRUSHER TURNS BACK THE CLOCK IN CAMPIONE

If you’ve been watching the opening levels from the live stream here in Campione, you’ll have seen Italy’s Eugenio Sanchioni wielding a big stack and applying pressure on Day 3 of the Main Event.

But here’s something you might have missed. At one point, commentator James Hartigan pointed out that Giada Fang—a talented player and member of the Italian commentary team—had informed him that Sanchioni is considered one of the top Italian cash game players by his peers.

The story checks out as Sanchioni is “eugol93”, a regular crusher battling in cash games with buy-ins up to NL$5K. He moved from his hometown of Fabriano to Vienna, Austria so he could continue to play on the global PokerStars client.

Formerly a tournament pro for seven years, Sanchioni made cash games his bread and butter three years ago and hasn’t looked back. “I’m getting old,” says the 32-year-old. “The tournament hours were too long, always at night.”

He wasn’t going to miss this event, though. Campione is just an hour from his home, and he’s a fan of the new PokerStars poker room. “I wanted to try this new PokerStars event for sure,” he says. “I get to see so many friends.”

Despite rarely dabbling in MTTs anymore, Sanchioni is putting on a fine performance in the Main Event, where he’s bordering on a top-10 stack at the time of writing. “I’m not so good at tournaments now, but I’m going to try,” he says. “Post-flop, maybe I’m better than some, but pre-flop? I’m not sure!”

Not even becoming the first PokerStars Open champion would make him switch back to tournaments. “No, no, I wouldn’t change my schedule,” he says, shaking his head. “I would like the trophy though! It would be very nice. I actually prefer the spadie trophy to the new one, but I will take it if PokerStars let me win this, no problem!”

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EXPLAINER: WHAT’S A SHOT CLOCK IN POKER?

Shot clocks are now very much part of the furniture at major poker tournaments, and if you’re watching the live stream, you’ll have noticed the PokerStars Open Campione Main Event has introduced them to the tables from Day 3 onwards.

But PokerStars, a company committed to introducing as many new players to the game as possible at its live events, never assumes its players are familiar with every tiny detail of tournament mechanics.

At the start of every day, the dealer at every table ensures players know what the shot-clock restrictions mean.

It’s rather like the safety briefing before takeoff on an aircraft. Most people, the seasoned travellers, ignore it, but it might be crucial, new information for some.

With that in mind, here’s a quick shot-clock refresher for anyone thinking about playing a PokerStars live event for the first time. This should tell you all you need to know.

WHAT IS A SHOT CLOCK IN POKER?

A shot clock is the device that measures the time a poker player has to make their decision during every hand. It typically sits beside the dealer, who controls it. It typically has a digital display that counts down a player’s decision-making time.

Players are required to either make their decision (check, bet or fold) before the clock reaches zero, or to use a time extension/time bank card to request further thinking time. (See more about time extensions below.)

Dealers will reset the shot clock after every decision, and will typically give a five-second warning as the countdown reaches the end.

WHY ARE SHOT CLOCKS NECESSARY IN POKER?

In short: play was sometimes getting a bit too slow. In past years, players were allowed an unlimited amount of thinking time on every street. (This is still the case in most cash games.) However, at certain points in a tournament, most notably around pay-jumps or the bubble, players would deliberately take far longer over trivial decisions than was necessary. They would try to “stall”, essentially pretending to be thinking about a decision for as long as possible, in the hope that an opponent at a different table would be knocked out.

This stalling might help the player in question navigate a pay jump, but it would slow the game down unnecessarily and sometimes unfairly. If everybody in the field did it, players would see very few hands and the game would become unbearable.

The shot clock limits the time any player can spend on any decision. It ensures the play progresses at an agreeable rate.

Further reading: How PokerStars Blog first reported the subject of shot-clocks 12 years ago.

HOW LONG DO I GET?

Accepted decision-making time varies from tournament to tournament, and from operator to operator. Right now in an EPT Main Event, each player has 15 seconds to act on their first decision and 30 seconds on any subsequent decision.

That means that after you’ve looked at your hand pre-flop, you have 15 seconds to decide what to do with it. That’s your first decision. If you raise and an opponent three-bets, you then get 30 seconds to respond to it. That’s your second (i.e., a “subsequent” decision). Similarly, if you go to a flop, you now get 30 seconds for all decisions.

This reflects the way in which decision-making can become gradually more complex as a hand develops. It is usually far more straightforward to make a decision pre-flop than it is at other times in the hand.

WHAT ABOUT IF I GENUINELY NEED LONGER TO MAKE A TOUGH DECISION?

If you find yourself with a genuinely tough decision that might take longer than 30 seconds to implement, you can use a time-bank card to earn another 30 seconds. You can play as many time-bank cards as you wish, provided you still have enough, until you come to your decision.

WHAT ARE TIME-BANK OR TIME EXTENSION CARDS?

At the point at which the shot clock comes into the tournament, players receive a specific allocation of these time-bank cards, each of which represents 30 seconds more thinking time. A player retains any unspent time-bank cards into a new day, and typically gets a fresh allocation at the start of a day’s play as well.

The number of time-bank cards will vary from tournament to tournament, but currently the PokerStars Open Main Event gives players six time-bank cards per day from Day 3 onwards.

Note: you do not need to physically put the time-bank card over the line or hand it to the dealer while you are still making your decision. The dealer will keep note of how many 30-second extensions you have used and ask you to settle up at the end of the hand.

WHAT IF I GO OVER THE 30 SECONDS?

As stated above, a dealer will automatically assume you wish to use a time extension if you allow your countdown to reach zero. They will restart the shot clock and you will have another 30 seconds.

If, however, you no longer have any time-bank cards and your countdown reaches zero, your hand will be declared dead and the pot will go to your opponent.

WHAT IF I DON’T NEED 30 SECONDS ON EACH DECISION?

If you can come to a decision quickly, then you should implement it as soon as possible. Although it’s acceptable to wish to conceal timing tells, or to balance your decision-making time, there’s no reason to use all of your 15 or 30-second thinking time on every street. This is particularly true if you’re just going to fold your cards and know that straight away.

The shot clock should not encourage you to take longer than you normally would. And tournament officials reserve the right to restrict a player’s thinking time, even in a shot clock tournament, if they believe a player is unnecessarily delaying the game’s progression.

This is plainly stated in EPT tournament rules, which read (under the PACE OF PLAY sub-heading):

• Players are required to make decisions within a reasonable timeframe.
• Players who are found to intentionally abuse time, deliberately stall, or purposely slow down the game’s progression will be subjected to a 5-second shot clock for all subsequent decision-making.
• In all tournaments, including shot clock tournaments, we retain the right to limit the time any player has to make a decision.

Article by Howard Swains, originally published in December 2024.

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BENEFORTI, THE LAST SILVER HOPE

Giacomo Beneforti might share a similar look to the hundreds of twenty-something Italian poker players who have taken part in the PokerStars Open Campione Main Event, but he’s got one unique quality separating him from the rest of the field: 

He’s the sole Silver Pass winner remaining.

Beneforti was one of 74 Power Path qualifiers when the event began, all of whom won packages worth $2,500 from a maximum $11 investment (many binked their passes from the free $0.50 Step 1 tickets every PokerStars player receives daily). Now he’s the last Silver hope, and he’s a good one.

The 27-year-old is an online tournament pro from Elba, a small island off Italy’s west coast that has produced a plethora of young poker talent, including UKIPT London 2024 winner Gaspare Sposato — a good friend of Beneforti’s — who is also still in contention.

Beneforti tried to qualify for Campione through regular satellites first, then binked the Silver Pass. He considered redeeming it for online tickets, but when Sposato told him he’d won a seat online to play the debut event on the PokerStars Open, Beneforti came along, pass in hand.

“I’ve really enjoyed the experience,” he says. “I didn’t know what to expect about the turnout, but I figured as it’s the first stop of the tour, it would be good numbers. It’s been amazing.”

Now he’s deep on Day 3 and approaching the big bucks. But like all young pros, he’s level-headed and composed. “I have no expectations about results, I try not to focus on it.”

Beneforti might be the last Power Pather alive, but he’s not the only one to book their trip thanks to an online qualifier. Like Sposato, more than 200 players won their way to Campione through seat-only direct satellites, and many are still alive at the time of writing.

Best of luck to all of them.

QUALIFIERS STILL IN

SILVER PASS

GIACOMO BENEFORTI 

SEAT ONLY

ALLESANDRO GIORDANO
MANEL SALA
MIRKO VINELLI
DAVIDE CALVARESI
LUIGI D’ALTERIO
FRANCESCO FAVIA
DAVIDE CASTELLANI
MATEUSZ PIOTR SZYMANSKI
DARIUS NEAGOE
ALEX FERRAGINA
SERAFINO ALOE
SIMONE MICHELE CATTANI
FABIO PIRODDI
PHILIPP TRABER
ENES AVDAGIC
MARCO PERRA
LUCA PITRUZZELLA
GIANLUCA PAGLIARO
GASPARE SPOSATO

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189 ADVANCE TO DAY 3

The 2,423-entry field is down to just 189 after a bubble-bursting end to Day 2.

Israel’s Yossi Maymon went on a tear as the clock ticked past midnight, ultimately bagging up a stack of 1,754,000, the biggest by far. His nearest competitor – Alessandro Giordano – ended with 1,341,000.

Silver Pass winner Kevin Falk had a rollercoaster end to the day, chip-leading at the final break only to bust in 239th. Andrew Barham, another Power Path qualifier, also departed in the money, as did Dominik Panka and PokerStars Ambassador Guillermo “Willo” Sanz.

The red spade is still repped by French commentator Benjamin Bruneteaux, though, who bagged 227,000 chips yesterday–good for 28 big blinds. 

PokerStars Blog has often faced the PokerStars Ambassador at the poker table, albeit in the Media Events held at European Poker Tour (EPT) stops. Now, Bruneteaux has upgraded to an event with actual cash prizes, and he’s using everything he learned in those media events—primarily, not having that second glass of wine—to his advantage.

Other notables still in contention include Sylwia Studniarz, who made a deep run at EPT Prague in December, poker journalist Terrance Reid, Antoine Labat, Ivan Banic, and Open High Roller champion Arni Gunnarsson. 

But when hundreds celebrate being in the money, there must be one who is heartbroken and leaves empty-handed. Unfortunately for Gianmarco Kovari, last night, that person was him.

As reported by PokerNews, the Italian had committed the majority of his stack pre-flop with A♥ K♠ on the stone bubble and was called by Spain’s Borja Diaz holding J♦ 7♦ . The 5♦ 9♥ 8♦ flop gave Diaz a flush and gutshot draw, and he bet it, forcing Kovari into a horrible spot. 

Understandably, he didn’t want to put his tournament life on the line with just ace-high, but with a chance to double up and make a run, there was just no getting away from it. Surrounded by onlookers, he called… and saw the good news. He was ahead.

But not for long. The 3♦ gave Diaz a flush and left Kovari drawing dead. He departed as the room erupted with applause, but he can take consolation in the fact that he got it in ahead, and the rest was out of his hands. GG.

The business end of the maiden PokerStars Open Main Event begins now. 

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€363K FOR THE CHAMP

The PokerStars Open Campione has set a new record for a standalone PokerStars festival (i.e. one not attached to the European Poker Tour), with 2,423 entries from 1,423 unique players and a smooth 1,000 re-entries.

Here are the key numbers from the €1,100 Campione Main Event:

Total entries: 2,423
Unique players: 1,423
Re-entries: 1,000
Prize pool: €2,326,080
First prize: €363,000
315 places paid, with a €1,790 min-cash

Here’s a look at how the entries break down, day by day:

Day 1A – 500 unique, 144 re-entries, 644 total (183 survivors)
Day 1B – 139 unique, 24 re-entries, 163 total (66 survivors)
Day 1C – 895 unique, 229 re-entries, 1,124 total (410 survivors)
Day 1D – 193 unique, 15 re-entries, 208 total (113 survivors)
Day 2 – 284 new entries

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CRUSHING STEREOTYPES (AND POWER PATH)

PokerStars events are for everyone. They’re oblivious to ethnicity, colour or creed. They don’t just celebrate talent; they celebrate difference, smashing prejudice and stereotype. 

One particular stereotype we hate is that all Swiss people work in banks. 

Now, meet Kevin Falk. He’s from Switzerland and he works in a bank.

We jest. “Yep, it’s a cliche,” says Falk, chuckling. 

The 36-year-old lives in Pully with his family, but when he’s not spending time with them or helping others with their finances, he’s trying to improve his own through poker.

Falk is a recreational player and won a Silver Pass in December in the first Power Path Open event, a special tournament allowing all players to buy-in directly (or use a Bronze Pass) for a shot at four Gold Passes and 10 Silver Passes, among other prizes. 

Usually, in Power Path, players must win their way to a Step 4 event via the other steps. There’s no skipping ahead to the final stage, regardless of bankroll. So when the opportunity to win a Gold Pass and skip the other steps came up, Falk took his shot. The event was capped at 1,000 runners, and he went all the way… to fifth.

“I bubbled the Gold Passes, but the Silver was a nice consolation,” he tells us on a break from the PokerStars Open Campione Main Event, the festival for which he chose to use his Silver Pass. His decision was a no-brainer. 

“It’s close to home, and I’d never been to Campione before,” he says. “I was coming anyway, so it’s nice to have a freeroll. Switzerland doesn’t have a lot of big events, this is probably the biggest.”

Since discovering poker at 18 with friends, Falk has been fortunate when it comes to winning packages. His Hendon Mob is decorated with flags, and he’s been to the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure twice due to his satellite prowess. In 2016, he battled through the jetlag on his first day in the Bahamas to win a coveted silver Spadie in a NLO8 event.

“Poker has been my hobby for half my life, and I’ve never lost the energy or passion for it,” he says. “I still play every Sunday and love to play live events. I’m fascinated by it.”

All poker players are dedicated and fascinated by the game – now there’s a stereotype we can get behind.

Falk has a stack of 185,000 at the time of publishing, with blinds at 1,000/2,500/2,500.

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A SILVER PLATTER

Around a quarter of the more than 300 online qualifiers for the Main Event won their way here through the Power Path. That’s a staggering amount when you consider that none of those Pathers spent more than $11 to win their Silver Passes worth $2,500.

Many of them have already fallen, but plenty are still alive and kicking.

Today in Campione, Andrew Barham, from London, England, joins Alin Afrentoaei of Bacău, Romania, in the Day 2 field at PokerStars Open Campione. Both are keen amateurs, but while Barham’s a serial qualifier to PokerStars’ live events, Afrentoaei is enjoying his first Silver Pass experience.

We first met Barham when he won a Platinum Pass to the PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC) in late 2019. His win was a real Moneymaker moment; it didn’t spark a global poker boom, but as the event he won was part of the Moneymaker tour, Chris Moneymaker himself dealt the cards for the heads battle–which lasted for only one hand.

Since the PSPC, Barham has continued to find qualifying success in both the Power Path and direct satellites. 

“I’ve developed a great fondness for Pokerstars live events,” he tells us. “I’ve been lucky enough to play and cash in PokerStars live events in the Bahamas, Monaco and Prague. I tell everyone to enter Power Path, it’s a great way to qualify with reduced costs.”

Barham says he always takes the long route, starting with either a free daily $0.50 Step 1 ticket, or by entering the $1 Step 2s. His perseverance paid off, and he won two Silver Passes within a few weeks of each other. He used the first for Prague in December, and now he’s here in Campione. 

“I’ve won a Platinum Pass, two Silver Passes, and a bunch of Bronze Passes,” he says. “I just need a Gold Pass now to complete the set! But more than anything, I’d like to win a PokerStars live event. My trophy cabinet is long overdue for a new addition.

“PokerStars live events are second to none, with great tournaments and amazing player experiences,” he continues. “The overall experience is so good that even when I’m losing, I somehow feel like I’m winning.”

It’s that experience that Alin Afrentoaei is enjoying for the first time this week. He’s played a couple of PokerStars events before (Prague and Malta) but never as a Power Path qualifier and all the perks that come with, from exclusive events and merch to having your own personal player liaison to help you get the most out of your trip. 

Afrentoaei has a day job in Bacău and only plays Power Path events during the week, followed by one big tournament session on Sundays. He won his first Silver Pass recently and hopes to add to his $5,657 in career cashes.

While some players might struggle to decide, he knew exactly which stop he wanted to use it for. “I knew it would be nice here in Campione,” he says. “I speak Italian too, which helps!”

At the time of writing, both players sit with stacks of around 75,000, good for around 50 big blinds.

They’re not the only members of the Silver Platter still in the Campione Main – far from it. We’ll be following them all and will update you on their progress as this enormous field whittles down.

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A RECORD-BREAKING DEBUT

Everyone expected the first PokerStars Open festival in Campione to be successful, but no one predicted quite how popular the event has proven to be.

In its first €1,100 Main Event, the Open has become the largest standalone Main Event in PokerStars history (i.e. a €/£/$1,100 Main not attached to a European Poker Tour festival), with ~2,300 entries and counting at the time of writing. We’ll bring you all the official numbers as soon as registration closes.

The atmosphere is electric, and as we stroll through the busy Casino di Campione, it’s evident that everyone knows they’re part of something special. The million-euro guarantee is a distant memory, and prizes will exceed even the loftiest expectations.

It means we’re in it for the long haul, though.

Brains far smarter than ours have worked out that, assuming 2,300 entries and a 50 big blind average on the final table, we won’t reach the final table until the 100K/150K/150K level (#38). If there are no changes to the schedule, that’s not expected to happen until 7:30 pm local time on Sunday, the festival’s final day. Uh oh.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Day 2 is about to begin — follow live updates on PokerNews.

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Not shaken or stirred: Arni Gunnarsson Mixes Up High Roller Win

These days, it’s standard practice for a tournament’s trophy to sit centre stage during the heads-up battle—a visual garnish reminding players what they’re really playing for. Not just the money, but the title. The prestige. 

Iceland’s Arni Gunnarsson, a semi-retired hospitality consultant and champion cocktail mixologist, eyed that trophy like the perfect pour. He was locked in a duel with Austria’s Adi Rajkovic for the first-ever High Roller title on the new PokerStars Open tour, plus a smooth €134,560 first-place prize.

Gunnarsson’s tournament hadn’t always gone down smoothly. He finished Day 1 on a second bullet with just eight big blinds, but now he found himself heads-up with a 3:1 chip lead. He waited patiently for a good spot, avoiding any big collisions. Finally, he found it, flipping with Q♦ 10♣ against Rajkovic’s 4♠ 4♣ , and a queen on the turn secured him the victory.

The moment we ask Gunnarsson to describe how he feels about his victory is the exact moment the trophy box is brought out. Suddenly, it hits him: that’s coming home with me. 

“It really means a lot to me,” he said, holding back tears. “I feel like I’m flying the flag for Iceland.”

Gunnarsson navigated his way through a 354-entry field in this €2,200 buy-in event and overcame a final table that included PokerStars Ambassador Alex Romero and EPT champion Simon Brandstrom. It’s his first tournament victory, but not his first time celebrating a huge win at a PokerStars event.

At EPT Barcelona 2024, Gunnarsson was enjoying a deep run in the €3K Mystery Bounty when he pulled a bounty envelope. “I have been taking care of my mum for the past few years as she has Alzheimers, so when I picked that bounty I took it and kissed it and said, ‘This is for you Mama’.”

He slowly peeled it open. Three zeros… four zeros… five zeros…

“I was like, Holy shit! €100,000!” he says, laughing. Still, today’s victory hits differently.

“This is way more precious. You get the money, but you also get the title and the trophy. And the prestige.”

Now leading the Live League Medium leaderboard, Gunnarsson plans to keep traveling the circuit. His life’s been building toward this moment ever since his father passed away suddenly from cancer 20 years ago.

“It changed my life perspective,” he says. “I was working way too much. That’s not how you live your life—you have to enjoy it. So, my priority became traveling the world and seeing new things. And when poker entered my life, it mixed right in.”

Arni Gunnarsson: award-winning mixologist, High-Roller-winning poker player.

€2,200 PokerStars Open High Roller

Dates: March 11-13, 2025
Entries: 354
Prize pool: €679,680

1. Arni Gunnarsson (Iceland) – €134,560
2. Adi Rajkovic (Austria) – €84,060
3. Gerard Cortes (Spain) – €60,040
4. Paellegrino Sallustro (Italy) – €46,180
5. Petros Karadimos (Greece) – €35,520
6. Jakub Sterba (Czech Republic) – €27,320
7. Alex Romero (Spain) – €21,900
8. Ettore Esposito (Italy) – €18,260
9. Simon Brandstrom (Sweden) – €15,220

COMPLETE HIGH ROLLER RESULTS

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SUMER HOLIDAY

One of the first questions we were going to ask Inan Sumer – a Power Path qualifier with no tracked poker cashes or online background – was how he found the level of competition so far at PokerStars Open Campione. 

Sumer – in town playing his first PokerStars live event thanks to Silver Pass – answered without us ever having to ask.

We arrived at his table in the last hand before the first break of the day. Sumer had called big bets on the flop and turn of a low board, then faced an even bigger one on the river. A gutshot had been completed, but there were plenty of missed draws out there his opponent could have. And Sumer was holding pocket kings.

Visibly frustrated, he slid his cards around then picked them up and shook them as if he was asking a magic 8-ball for the right answer. As the break timer ticked down, he ultimately folded and saw the good news. His opponent showed pocket aces.

Under the most pressure he’s ever faced in a poker game, this newcomer took his time and made the best decision. And he wants you to know that if he can qualify for an event like this, his first ever PokerStars event, and play well, then you could too. 

“I play Power Path a lot, always from Step 1,” he says. “I wish I had more time to play poker but I don’t. But to win a package to this tournament, having climbed through the steps, it gives you some confidence.”

Formerly a professional classical guitarist in his hometown of Istanbul, Sumer now lives in Scotland and has taken on multiple jobs including teaching maths and delivering Chinese food for his local restaurant to help cover the pricey Edinburgh bills. 

As a result, he practices strict bankroll management when it comes to his poker hobby. He says the Power Path is perfect for players under similar financial pressure, but who also want the thrill of potentially winning a dream poker package.

“I wasn’t expecting just how beautiful PokerStars would make the venue and the tournaments.” he says, staring wide eyed around the Casino di Campione. “I’ve realised I prefer to play in person with real people.”

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Open or EPT: Where should you use your Silver Pass?

Look, we get it. Struggling to decide which PokerStars event you should use your Power Path Silver Pass to attend is a first-world problem, like having too many good options at a restaurant. 

But as we’re a poker blog, and it’s a genuine dilemma many of you Silver Pass winners will face, we have to dive in and tackle it – with the help of a multiple-time Power Path qualifier.

Which PokerStars festival is right for you? For some of you, the location alone will swing it. Who wouldn’t want to live their best, lavish life in Monte Carlo or soak in some Barcelona sun when not at the tables? 

For others, the poker tournaments should be considered. The average skill level in the field, the potential size of the field, the side event schedule – these things matter.

So, should you use your Silver Pass to attend a PokerStars Open festival independent of the European Poker Tour (EPT)? Or should you go big and attend a PokerStars Open attached to Europe’s richest and most popular tour?

GLORY OR OPPORUNITY?

According to Thore Bödefeld, a seven-time Silver Pass winner and three-year poker professional, it all depends on what you’re looking for from your trip. 

If you want to give yourself the most opportunity to profit and potentially win a Spadie, perhaps the independent events are better. The Open Main Event will always have a €1 million guarantee, but the side events will have lower buy-ins generally, so players with smaller bankrolls have more opportunities to cash – even potentially win – a tournament. 

“But if you’re looking for glory, choose the biggest events for sure,” says Bödefeld, an MTT pro who regularly plays Power Path, splitting his Passes evenly between attending live stops and redeeming them for online tournament packages.

“I decided to use a pass for Campione as soon as the PokerStars Open was announced,” he tells us at the Power Path Meet-Up. “I think it’s good to use your passes on the smaller stops rather than before the EPT mains, especially for less experienced players. I would definitely recommend it.”

THE CASE FOR POKERSTARS OPENS

There are multiple reasons Bödefeld thinks independent PokerStars Open events are best suited to greener players. 

For starters, there are fewer top professionals in the field. Those who regularly battle in €5,300 EPT Main Events and €10,000 and €25,000 High Rollers will almost always play the €1,100 PokerStars Open when it’s attached to the EPT – because why wouldn’t they? It’s a huge event. But they’re much less likely to travel specifically for a PokerStars Open festival.

“Plus you get a lot of chilled locals, that’s what I like at the tables!” says Bödefeld.

Then you have the camaraderie of meeting and playing with players at a similar skill level and buy-in level to yourself. According to Bödefeld, this can have a huge impact on your poker progress, as having poker friends and mentors can prevent you from falling into potential pitfalls.

“I had bumps in the road for sure,” he says. “You’re never as good as you think you are, especially in the beginning. It’s part of the process.”

It was a Platinum Pass to the PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC) 2023 that kicked everything off for Bödefeld. He began taking the game seriously and even moved from his home in Norway to Austria to be more immersed in poker. “I figured it made sense to move where I would have more poker players around me,” he says.

And at a PokerStars Open festival, you’ll be surrounded by players, many of whom seek exactly what you’re seeking: success, fun, friendship, and making memories.

THE CASE FOR EPT OPENS

You won’t come closer to the feel of playing an EPT Main Event than playing a PokerStars Open Main Event during an EPT festival.

There are many perks. You’ll see (and maybe even play with) some of the biggest names in the game. 

A deep run will see you play on the PokerStars live stream with the full weight of an EPT production behind it.

As the fields are generally much larger, so are the prizes. 

And a good score could persuade you to extend your stay and take a shot in the EPT Main Event.

SO, WHERE SHOULD YOU USE YOUR SILVER PASS?

Ultimately, there’s no wrong answer. Whether you crave the prestige and high-stakes atmosphere of an EPT festival or prefer the more relaxed, welcoming vibe of an independent PokerStars Open, your Silver Pass puts you in an incredible spot. 

It’s about knowing yourself. Are you chasing glory or building your bankroll? Are you looking to challenge yourself against the best or find your footing among more casual competition? Is it all about location, location, location?

Whichever path you choose, one thing’s certain: you’ve already secured a golden (or, in this case, silver) opportunity. So trust your instincts, play your best game, and most importantly, enjoy the ride.

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SILVER RUSH IN CAMPIONE 

If there was ever any doubt about the popularity of PokerStars’ Power Path, it’s been thoroughly smelted at PokerStars Open Campione, where a silver rush unlike anything seen since the late 19th century is now in full swing.

No fewer than 74 players have migrated to Casino di Campione seeking wealth on this new poker tour thanks to a Silver Pass, granting each of them a bullet or two in the maiden €1,100 Main Event, depending on how they choose to spend it.

A Power Path Silver Pass is worth $2,500 and its flexibility means players have multiple ways they can use one. Want to fire two bullets into the Main? Go ahead. Want one bullet and the rest as spending money? That’s fine too. You get the idea.

And the beauty is that none of them paid more than $11 to win one. Sure, they may have entered a few times in the attempt to get over the line. But the highest level any player can enter Power Path for cash is $11 (or equivalent). After that, it’s all about winning through to a $55 Step 4 tournament where multiple Silver Passes – and on Sundays, Gold Passes worth $10,300 – are up for grabs.

Many of our silver contingent have used their passes in today’s Day 1A flight, including:

Felix Schneiders (Germany) – PokerStars Ambassador
Alin Afrentoaei (Romania)
Mickael Jose Lopes Dias (France)
Emmanouil Konstantinidis (Greece)
Francini Fabien Pierre Gaston (France)
Thore Bödefeld (Austria)
Piero Rimoldi (Italy)
Stefano Latini (Italy)
Federico Santambrogio (Italy)
Marian Toma (Italy)
Francesco Esposito (Italy)
Giacomo Beneforti (Italy)
Alessandro Comi (Italy)
Manuel Scolaro (Italy)
Luca Delfino (Italy)
Gianluca Irpino (Italy)
Dionisio Vitti (Italy)

We’ll be tracking their progress as the day plays out. And we’ll be meeting the rest tonight. 

Those Power Path qualifiers who aren’t still playing are getting together for tonight’s exclusive Silver Pass meet-up, offering a chance to mingle with their fellow Path slayers over free drinks and finger food. 

With so many of them, it’s going to be busy. Hopefully, it’s not too exclusive, or PokerStars Blog will be turned away.

Live League tips from the Player of the Year

UKIPT 2024 Player of the Year Alex Romero advises on collecting points and making a run in the new PokerStars Live League.

Last November, Alex Romero was crowned the UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) Player of the Year. It was a prestigious prize battled for by Europe’s best, and for his victory, the PokerStars Ambassador won a UKIPT 2025 package worth £15,000 (£11,000 in live event credits plus £4,000 in cash expenses).

One month later, however, the UKIPT ceased to exist. 

Not that Romero cared. “It’s so much better now,” he says. “Now I can fight for three leader boards. There are more opportunities.”

You see, while the UKIPT is no more, its spirit lives on, and it’s gone global. 

The PokerStars Open – debuting in Campione this week – is a behemoth combining all of PokerStars’ popular regional tours (UKIPT, Estrellas Poker Tour, France Poker Series, and Eureka Poker Tour). It means his prize is no longer restricted to tournaments in the British Isles, so he was free to spend his live credits on this exciting new tour.

Those leader boards and opportunities he’s referring to? That’s the PokerStars Live League, the new Player of the Year format covering all major PokerStars live events. There are three leader boards based on buy-in levels (-€/£/$999, €/£/$1,000-4,999, and €/£/$5,000+) and big prizes to be won in all of them.

Perhaps the most sought-after prize – particularly for aspiring professionals – is the promise of a 12-month PokerStars Ambassador contract worth €100,000. “It doesn’t matter about the buy-ins you play, you can win and become a PokerStars Ambassador,” says Romero.

At the time of publishing, the Spaniard is deep in the €2,200 High Roller at PokerStars Open Campione (55/354 remaining), and he hopes to kick off his Live League in style. 

“This High Roller has been amazing,” he tells us on a break. “I expected way fewer players, but the turnout has been incredible. This is the kind of tournament you’ll need to win to fight for the Medium leader board.”

When it comes to topping a points-based competition like this, we could think of no one better to advise than Romero. He only won one event in the 2024 UKIPT season – a small heads-up at the Irish Open – yet he managed to finish first in points thanks to a rigorous schedule and consistent cashing.

“Last year was good for me, but not complete,” he says, hinting at his desire to win a bigger title. “But I had a lot of deep runs and collected a lot of points.”

So here’s his advice: play everything you can.

“It’s not a sprint, it’s a long race. You have to try and go to every stop and just keep going, play and play,” he says. “Even if you win a big tournament, it’s still important to play all the stakes and play as much as you can.”

Best of luck to all of you planning to compete in the Live League throughout the year. You can find out more about it here.

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DOCHERTY LEADS HIGH ROLLER

It seems like the poker community got our message yesterday. This event in Campione not only awards huge prizes but the first batch of Live League points, and players from across Europe and beyond have wasted no time trying to kick off their campaigns with a bang.

We had 307 entries into the maiden €2,200 PokerStars Open High Roller on Tuesday (March 11) — a fantastic turnout by all measures — and 120 players bagged chips at the end of the day. Scotland’s David Docherty has the overnight chip lead, having turned his 30,000 starting stack into 261,500 after ten 40-minute levels.

As well as being an Irish Open champion, Docherty’s a former UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) Player of the Year, so he’s a grinder who knows about consistency.

PokerStars Ambassadors Sam Grafton (42,000) and Alex Romero (72,500) also made it through, as did EPT champions Simon Brandstrom (39,000), Giuliano Bendinelli (82,000) and Arsenii Karmatckii (21,000), and Sunday Million Anniversary winner Vanessa Kade (72,500).

Registration remained open until the start of today’s Day 2, but we don’t have the official numbers just yet. We’ll bring you those and the payouts and prize pool when they’re confirmed.

Take a look through the full High Roller Day 1 picture gallery here.

Photography by Manuel Kovsca.

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START THE LEAGUE SEASON STRONG

The High Rollers are rolling into Casino di Campione as I type, lured by a lot more than the bragging rights they’ll earn by becoming one of the first champions on the brand-new PokerStars Open.

This €2,200 buy-in tournament is the first chance for players to earn a juicy chunk of valuable Live League points, a new promotion that will award huge prizes and a PokerStars Ambassador contract worth €100,000. 

Both the PokerStars Open Main Event and High Roller count towards the Medium league table, which measures tournaments with buy-ins of €1,000 up to €4,999.

A good start in the Live League could not only propel these players to the top of the League tables but also inspire them to play more events across the PokerStars Live tours as they build on their early success. 

It would be well worth it. Here’s a look at what’s up for grabs in the different leagues:

HIGH

All tournaments with a buy-in of €/£/$5,000 and above

• First place: 4 x EPT Main Event and 4 x EPT High Roller buy-ins – worth €62,400
• Second place: 4 x EPT Main Event buy-ins – worth €21,200  
• Third place: 2 x EPT Main Event buy-ins – worth €10,600

MEDIUM

All tournaments with a buy-in of €/£/$1,000 to €/£/$4,999

• First place: 4 x EPT Main Event and 4 x PS Open Main Event buy-ins – worth €25,600
• Second place: 6 x PS Open Main Event buy-ins – worth €6,600
• Third place: 3 x PS Open Main Event buy-ins worth €3,300

LOW

All tournaments with a buy-in equal to or less than €/£/$999

• First place: 10 x PS Open Main Event and 10 x Cup buy-ins – worth €15,000
• Second place: 10 x PS Open Cup buy-ins – worth €4,000
• Third place: 5 x PS Open Cup buy-ins – worth €2,000

You’ll notice the Low League measures performance in buy-ins of less than €999. That means players who took part in the opening events of this festival (a €220 KO and a €220 deep-stack turbo) have already got their names on the board simply by taking part.

Yep, you don’t even have to cash to pick up points.

You can learn more about the Live League here. It’s going to be fun to follow as the year ticks on. 

But who will kick off their League season strong? 

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WE’RE BACK…BUT WHERE ARE WE?

PokerStars Blog has arrived in Campione, and we can’t tell you how nice it feels to be back in Switzerland. No, sorry, Italy. No…Switzer…Ital…just where are we exactly?

*Googles*

Campione d’Italia is a small town (like, really small – fewer than 2,000 residents) surrounded by Switzerland, resting peacefully along Lake Lugano and staring up in awe at the Swiss Alps. 

And yet it’s entirely Italian; we crossed the border on our ten-minute walk to work. This sleepy exclave has long been known for its beauty and it’s said that Victorian travellers referred to the waterfront as “Paradiso”. It’s quite breathtaking, we have to admit (we’ll save you our amateurish phone photos, though — professional shots will be coming soon).

It won’t be so sleepy here this week, however. The PokerStars Open has chosen the ludicrously enormous Casino di Campione as its first stop, and thousands of players are expected to arrive over the coming days. 

While the Italian Poker Tour (IPT) has been a regular visitor here, the last time PokerStars Blog was in Campione was in 2012 for the European Poker Tour (EPT), where Jannick Wrang won €640,000 and defeated Olivier Busquet heads-up. 

That event had 570 entries. It will be a whole lot busier this week for the PokerStars Open, though, with 300 online qualifiers and counting already entered into the €1,100 Main Event and live qualifiers running here in the casino. Many of those have chosen to use their Power Path Silver Passes to play what might be their first big live event, so there will be plenty of great stories to follow. It’s our job to tell them to you.

Before that, we’ve got the €2,200 High Roller, which begins at 18:00 local time (WET+1). You can expect to see some PokerStars Ambassadors in the mix, with Sam Grafton, Barny Boatman, Alex Romero and Felix Schneiders already in town. 

They’ll soon be joined by Kerry-Jane Craigie, Adam McKola, Rory Jennings, and EPT commentators Benjamin Bruneteaux (Benny), Julien Brecard (Yu), and Guillermo Sanz (Willo).

Stay tuned to the PokerStars Blog as the news and stories reveal themselves. We’ll be here all the way (and at least now we know where here is).

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SIDE EVENT RESULTS

While every PokerStars Open stop will be headlined by its flagship events — the Main Event, High Roller, Super High Roller, Second Chance Main Event, and Mystery Bounty Cup — there will always be plenty of fantastic side events running throughout each festival.

Click here to see all the side event results at PokerStars Open Campione.

Below you’ll find their winner’s photos (there’s a full gallery here).

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ABOUT POKERSTARS OPEN CAMPIONE

It’s been six long years, but PokerStars is heading back to Italy with a bang next week, thanks to the PokerStars Open tour’s first stop – the PokerStars Open Campione.

Offering stunning views of Lake Lugano, it’s not hard to see why the brilliant PokerStars Poker Room has been opened at the Casinò di Campione. Poker operations in the casino are overseen by Italian poker legend and former PokerStars Team Pro Luca Pagano, so you know you’re in safe hands.

Get ready for an eclectic mix of tournaments and cash games at this “always-on” venue, catering to all players and bankrolls. Regardless of your skill level, this is a fantastic chance to immerse yourself in a vibrant poker community.

Plus, there aren’t many better places to unwind off the table than the elegant surroundings of Campione d’Italia, an Italian commune bordering the Swiss canton of Ticino. That’s right – it’s Italian charm mixed with Swiss beauty. As far as the perfect balance of competition and leisure activities goes, you won’t find much better.

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POKERSTARS OPEN CAMPIONE SCHEDULE

KEY DATES:

PokerStars Open High Roller: March 11-12 – €2,200
PokerStars Open Main Event: March 12-16 – €1,100 (€1,000,000 GTD)
PokerStars Open Second Chance: March 14-15 – €550
PokerStars Open Super High Roller: March 15 – €5,000
PokerStars Mystery Bounty Cup: March 15-16 – €400

View the full tournament schedule here.

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HOW TO FOLLOW UPDATES FROM CAMPIONE

PokerStars Blog will be in Campione reporting from the event from Tuesday, March 11, through to the Open final table on Sunday.

PokerNews will also be on hand to bring live updates on all the action from the tournament floor itself. You’ll find hand details, chip counts, and everything else from the Main Event, over on their site.

FOLLOW MAIN EVENT LIVE UPDATES ON POKERNEWS

But be sure you bookmark this page as well. On the PokerStars Blog, you’ll find all the latest news and stories both on and off the felt, as well as interviews from big names and online qualifiers. Many of the stories we’ll bring you will be about amateurs taking part, so you’ll find out what it’s like to play a PokerStars Open.

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FUN AWAY FROM THE TABLES

Power Path Meet and Greet
Date: Wednesday, 12 March
Time: 19:30 – 20:30
Location: Players’ Lounge

An exclusive party for anyone who played through the Power Path online and won a Silver Pass to Campione. There’s lots of fun socialising to be done, but you can also potentially win a Main Event ticket worth €1,100, as well as Bronze Passes worth $109, so this is not to be missed. Food and drink is covered too.

Lugano Tourist Train
Open to all
Tickets from info desk

There’s no better way to explore this beautiful city than aboard the tourist train, known to locals as the Red Arrow. You’ll travel alongside the lake and soak in the stunning sights, including Monte Brè and the Monte San Salvatore funiculars, while enjoying some Ticino music. The journey takes 40 minutes, but passengers can get off and reboard as they wish, ensuring you catch everything you want to see at your own pace.

FURTHER PLAYER BENEFITS 

• Open to All Players 
• Online account assistance with PokerStars staff 
• Exclusive Campione merchandise 
• Complete our onsite feedback survey and win prizes on our Spin the Wheel 

Main Event and High Roller players: €50 buffet voucher to spend in the venue (one per entry).

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VENUE INFORMATION

The PokerStars Open Campione takes place at Casino di Campione, the license holder and operator of this event.

Address: Piazzale Milano, 2, 22061 Campione d’Italia CO, Italy
Telephone number: +41 916401111
Dress Code: Smart casual. No sports clothing and footwear (e.g. tracksuits, shorts, shirts, trainers, etc)
Minimum Age: 18
NB: Must bring a valid government-issued passport or valid European Union Citizen ID card to participate

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WHAT IS THE POKERSTARS OPEN?

A new era of live poker in Europe begins in 2025 with the launch of the PokerStars Open, an exciting new tour consolidating PokerStars’ popular and prestigious regional tours under one dynamic banner.

The PokerStars Open combines the best elements of the UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT), Eureka Poker Tour, Estrellas Poker Tour (ESPT), and France Poker Series (FPS) to create a schedule of unmissable events across some of Europe’s most vibrant destinations. 

The schedule consists of five standalone stops – including three brand-new locations – plus PokerStars Open Main Events at EPT Monte Carlo, EPT Barcelona, EPT Malta and EPT Prague.

All events take place at established partner casinos and will feature PokerStars’ industry-leading dealers and floor staff, seamless registration processes, unmissable player activities, an informative Live app, and a fun and friendly atmosphere at every stop.

Each festival will be headed by a €1,100/£1,100 PokerStars Open Main Event with €1M/£1M guaranteed, supported by a large side-event schedule and tons of fun activities to deliver the world-class live event experience PokerStars is known for.

Each stop will feature a wide range of online satellites, offering more players the chance to qualify. You can also use your Power Path Silver Passes to play PokerStars Open events.

The PokerStars client provides more information on qualifying routes. 

Head to the official PokerStars Open site for more information on upcoming stops.

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EVERYTHING ELSE

POKER NEWS LIVE UPDATES
Our live reporting partner is offering hand-by-hand updates from the Main Event.

POKERSTARS OPEN CAMPIONE OFFICIAL SITE
The PokerStars Live official page with everything you need to know about the tournament series in Campione.

FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
The full PokerStars Open Campione schedule can be viewed here.

DOWNLOAD THE POKERSTARS LIVE APP
All the info you need on your mobile device from the Apple iStore or Google Play for Android.

POKERSTARS BLOG ON TWITTER
Follow us on Twitter.

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