Berlin hosts EPT Germany

The biggest event in Germany's poker season, the European Poker Tour's German stop, will be held for the first time in its capital city, Berlin

The European Poker Tour (EPT) 2010 will make its first ever stop in Germany's capital city when the tournament opens at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in the heart of Berlin. The tournament has moved from Dortmund, where it has been held for the past three years and is the third new location for the EPT following successful debuts in Kiev and Vilamoura, Portugal.

In a bid to transform the event into one of EPT's major stops in the calendar, organisers have guaranteed a €1 million prize to the eventual winner. Record numbers are expected for this year's event, which has proved hugely popular in Germany since it started in Season three, attracting massive fields from all over Europe and beyond. Last year’s EPT was the third biggest event of the season - as well as the biggest poker tournament ever held in Germany, and attracted 667 players. The 2009 event was won by Berliner Sandra Naujoks, who took home the significant sum of €917,000 in prize money. By claiming the title, the Team Poker Stars pro became the second ever female EPT champion as well as the fifth player to win the EPT title in their home country. Naujoks will be back again for the 2010 Berlin EPT, hoping to once again claim victory, this time in her home city.

She'll be joined by other players including Julien Brochard, Thomas Bichon Arnaud Mattern, Katja Thater, Luca Pagano, Noah Boeken, Marcel Luske, Johnny Lodden, William Thorson, Chad Brown and Victoria Coren. A total of 667 players took to the felt in the 2009 event, a figure that this year's organisers are keen to improve on.

The 2010 Berlin EPT will offer a number of tournaments including NL Hold 'em with €1,000, €1,500 and €2,000 buy-ins and the €1,000 PL Omaha. Players will begin the €5,300 buy-in Texas Hold 'em Main Event with 30,000 chips and blinds begin at 50-100. Levels will be 60 minutes long on Day 1 and will increase to 75 minutes on subsequent days. The final table will produce a champion on Sunday, the final day of play.

The European Poker Tour and Spielbank Casino is also hosting a spectacular welcome party in honour of the first ever EPT Berlin tournament. The party takes place from 8pm on the eve of the EPT Berlin main event at prestigious venues E4, in Berlin's city centre.