Two amateurs, Steve Begleiter and Kevin Schaffel, reached the final table of the WSOP 2009 Main Event. Meanwhile, the WPT tournament series faces declining participation and ownership changes.
Maks 'Decay' Lykov made history by becoming the first Russian to win the EPT Kyiv tournament, defeating Alexander Dovzhenko in a thrilling final. Lykov's victory secured him a prize of €330,000.
The European Poker Tour (EPT) hosted a live video broadcast from Kyiv, featuring insights from top poker professionals.
Leks Feldhus' aggressive play and behavior during the WSOP 2009 main event sparked controversy and discussion among poker players.
ESPN has signed a new seven-year deal with WSOP, ensuring the World Series of Poker will remain on air through 2018. Despite an 8% drop in ratings this year, the network is committed to broadcasting the popular poker event.
WPT Enterprises, Inc., owner of the WPT and PPT brands, has been acquired by Gamynia Limited. The company's future under new ownership remains uncertain.
Phil Ivey, the renowned poker player, has won two WSOP bracelets this year, adding to his five previous ones. He has earned over $10 million in tournament winnings this year and is confident in his ability to win the WSOP Main Event.
The tournament in Yalta had 102 participants. Liqa Gerasimova finished third. Shavket Usmanov finished first and Alexander Gnatenko finished second.
The European Poker Tour (EPT) stage in Kyiv is set to feature a variety of tournaments, including a high roller event with a €20,500 buy-in. GipsyTeam will be there, providing live updates.