What better way to end 2024 than with Italy’s most beloved tournament in an extra-large format? It’s time to introduce you to the EPO, the European version of the Italian Poker Open—or the European Poker Open- because that’s exactly what it is.
A tournament with a €1,100 buy-in in the format that took 2024 by storm, the Mystery Bounty, scheduled to take place at the King’s Resort in Rozvadov, the largest poker room in Europe, from December 18th to 23rd, 2024.
It’s not just about the Main Event (which, by the way, features a Top Bounty of €100,000) during the last week of Advent. There are also numerous Side Events for all budgets, including a one-day High Roller tournament with a €1,500 buy-in and a guaranteed prize pool of €100,000.
No more spoilers, though—let’s dive into the complete schedule of the EPO - European Poker Mystery Bounty - 2024 together!
Main Event
The EPO Main Event features a €1,100 buy-in, a guaranteed prize pool of €1 million, a starting stack of 60,000 chips, and the option to make up to 2 re-entries per flight. The tournament unfolds over 3 days with 6 qualifying Day 1 flights:
• 4 Speed flights with 30-minute levels.
• 2 Normal flights with 40-minute levels.
As is customary in EuroRounders schedules, there will not be a Sunday morning Turbo flight, staying true to the original IPO structure. From Day 2, levels will increase to 50 minutes, and play will begin at 2:00 pm instead of 5:30 pm.
On the Final Day, scheduled for Monday, December 23rd, at 1:00 p.m., levels will be extended to 60 minutes to ensure maximum playability during the tournament’s crucial stages.
Recap
Recap:
• Wednesday, December 18 - 6:00 pm - EPO Main Event Day 1A “Speed” - €1,100 buy-in - 60,000 starting stack - 30-minute levels - max 2 re-entries available - late reg open until the 10th level.
• Thursday, December 19 - 5:00 pm - EPO Main Event Day 1B “Speed” - €1,100 buy-in - 60,000 starting stack - 30-minute levels - max 2 re-entries available - late reg open until the 10th level.
• Friday, December 20 - 11:00 am - EPO Main Event Day 1C - €1,100 buy-in - 60,000 starting stack - 40-minute levels - max 2 re-entries available - late reg open until the 10th level.
• Friday, December 20 - 6:00 pm - EPO Main Event Day 1D “Speed” - €1,100 buy-in - 60,000 starting stack - 30-minute levels - max 2 re-entries available - late reg open until the 10th level.
• Saturday, December 21 - 11:00 am - EPO Main Event Day 1E - €1,100 buy-in - 60,000 starting stack - 40-minute levels - max 2 re-entries available - late reg open until the 10th level.
• Saturday, December 21 - 6:00 pm - EPO Main Event Day 1F “Speed” - €1,100 buy-in - 60,000 starting stack - 30-minute levels - max 2 re-entries available - late reg open until the 10th level.
• Sunday, December 22 - 2:00 pm - EPO Main Event Day 2 - €1,000,000 guaranteed - 50-minute levels.
• Monday, December 23 - 1:00 pm - EPO Main Event Final Day - €1,000,000 guaranteed - 60-minute levels.
Structure Sheet
Side Events
During the week, there will be 7 Side Events with a total of €183,000 guaranteed. Special attention goes to the EPO Pot Limit Omaha with a €250 buy-in and €20,000 guaranteed, split over two days (scheduled between Friday and Saturday), and, of course, the High Roller tournament with a €1,500 buy-in and €100,000 guaranteed, which will take place entirely on Sunday.
Below is the complete list of all the Side Events scheduled from December 19th to 23rd.
Recap
• Thursday, December 19 - 12:00 pm - EPO Morning Turbo Bounty (Cap 180) - €8,000 guaranteed - €110 + €20 buy-in - Stack 15,000 - 15-minute levels - max 2 re-entries available - late reg open until the 8th level.
• Friday, December 20 - 4:00 pm - EPO Pot Limit Omaha - Day 1 - €20,000 guaranteed - €225 + €25 buy-in - Stack 80,000 - 40-minute levels - unlimited re-entries.
• Friday, December 20 - 8:00 pm - King’s Friday Night Turbo (Cap 180) - €15,000 guaranteed - €135 + €15 buy-in - Stack 15,000 - 15-minute levels - max 2 re-entries available - late reg open until the 6th level.
• Saturday, December 21, 2:00 p.m. - EPO Pot Limit Omaha - Final Day - €20,000 guaranteed.
• Saturday, December 21 - 9:00 pm - King’s Saturday Night Turbo (Cap 180) - €20,000 guaranteed - €130 + €20 buy-in - Stack 15,000 - 15-minute levels - max 2 re-entries available - late reg open until the 6th level.
• Sunday, December 22 - 4:00 pm - EPO High Roller - €100,000 guaranteed - €1,350 + €150 buy-in - Stack 100,000 - 25-minute levels - max 2 re-entries available - late reg open until the 8th level.
• Sunday, December 22 - 6:00 pm - EPO Sunday Pot Limit Omaha (Cap 117) - €10,000 guaranteed - €130 + €20 buy-in - Stack 20,000 - 20-minute levels - unlimited re-entries - late reg open until the 8th level.
• Monday, December 23 - 5:00 pm - EPO Closer (Cap 180) - €10,000 guaranteed - €130 + €20 buy-in - Stack 20,000 - 20-minute levels - unlimited re-entries - late reg open until the 8th level.
Satellites for the Main Event
If the €1,100 buy-in feels steep for players used to tournaments under €500, don’t worry—the schedule includes 6 qualifying satellites offering 10 guaranteed tickets each, all for a €150 buy-in. With double events on both Thursday and Friday, these are opportunities not to miss!
Recap
• Wednesday, December 18 - 3:00 pm - Sat EPO Mystery Bounty - Day 1A (Cap 117) - €11,000 guaranteed - €135 + €15 buy-in - Stack 10,000 - 15’/10’ levels - late reg open until the 8th level.
• Thursday, December 19 - 2:00 pm - Sat EPO Mystery Bounty - Day 1B (Cap 117) - €11,000 guaranteed - €135 + €15 buy-in - Stack 10,000 - 15’/10’ levels - late reg open until the 8th level.
• Thursday, December 19 - 8:00 pm - Sat EPO Mystery Bounty - Day 1C (Cap 117) - €11,000 guaranteed - €135 + €15 buy-in - Stack 10,000 - 20’/15’ levels - late reg open until the 8th level.
• Friday, December 20 - 2:00 pm - Sat EPO Mystery Bounty - Day 1D (Cap 117) - €11,000 guaranteed - €135 + €15 buy-in - Stack 10,000 - 15’/10’ levels - late reg open until the 8th level.
• Friday, December 20 - 9:00 pm - Sat EPO Mystery Bounty - Day 1E (Cap 117) - €11,000 guaranteed - €135 + €15 buy-in - Stack 10,000 - 15’/10’ levels - late reg open until the 8th level.
• Saturday, December 21 - 3:00 pm - Sat EPO Mystery Bounty - Day 1F (Cap 117) - €11,000 guaranteed - €135 + €15 buy-in - Stack 10,000 - 15’/10’ levels - late reg open until the 8th level.
Practical Tips
Understanding Mystery Bounty Strategy
While Mystery Bounty tournaments add an extra layer of excitement, the format doesn’t differ from a standard NLH tournament until bounties come into play. Even then, given the slim chance of hitting a Top Bounty, risking your tournament life for a bounty that could be worth less than half your buy-in rarely makes sense. Conversely, if you’re managing a large stack, it may be worth taking some risks, especially against short stacks.
Prepare for the Structure and Atmosphere
The King’s Resort offers a great vibe, and staying up late with friends can be tempting. However, tournaments with this structure are physically and mentally demanding. Decide whether to go all-in for three or four consecutive days or aim to qualify in an earlier flight to return refreshed on Sunday for Day 2—luck permitting, of course.
Plan Ahead
Before heading out, plan your schedule carefully. Decide which tournaments or satellites to play and when to join the Main Event Day 1, sticking to your budget and schedule as much as possible. Remember that satellites have limited seats (capped at 117 each), and the weekend crowds may make it harder to enjoy breaks or grab a snack without long waits.
Comments