Discover One of Europe's Best Kept Secrets With the Next 888Live Local
On June 6, the Harper's Bazaar included Tallinn in the list of the "10 most underrated European cities to book your next vacation to."
According to the popular online fashion magazine, "With its Unesco-protected Old Town, burgeoning foodie scene and fascinating hybrid of Russian and Scandinavian culture, Estonia's capital city Tallinn is a must-see for anyone bored of pedestrian city breaks."
"Easily accessible by a short direct flight from London," the magazine continues, "this charming city is the emerging star of the Baltics, aligning itself with its Scandinavian neighbors to the North rather than its former rulers in the East."
Off the European Poker Tour (EPT) schedule since 2011, Estonia's capital city has recently started to work hard to earn back its spot in the players' heart and hosted successful international events like the Unibet Open, The Grand Live, and the Kings of Tallinn.
If you are looking for a great place to visit in June and you would like to discover why the Harper's Bazaar decided to include Tallinn in a list that features other beautiful cities like Budapest, Edinburgh, Salzburg, Bruges, and the uber-romantic Verona, have a look at the upcoming 888Live Local Series - as you may soon be able to combine a great holiday with some top poker action.
888 Live Local Tallinn: June 25 - 28
The next leg of the 888Live Local series by 888poker kicks off in Tallinn on Tuesday, June 25, and is set to keep the local poker scene busy until Sunday, June 28.
Hosted at the Olympic Casino, only a stone throw from Tallinn's stunning medieval Old Town, the tournament features a relaxed 3-event schedule that has everything one needs to join a live poker event and enjoy some quality time off the felt.
The highlight of the series is the €20,000 GTD. €220 buy-in 3-day Main Event running between June 26 - 28. As usual, the professionalism granted by a top brand like 888poker, the guarantee offered by the poker room, and the affordable buy-in are what make the 888live Main Event one of the best tournaments for all those players who have yet to discover the thrill of top live poker events.
Also, the schedule of the 888live Tallinn features a €25 buy-in satellite to the Main Event on June 25, and a Turbo Deepstack Freezeout Event running alongside the Main Event's final table, on June 28. Those interested in cash games, will also get the opportunity to find some good cash action at the Olympic Casino, as the room plans to offer everyone the opportunity to enjoy their time in Tallinn to the fullest - and to play with some of the aggressive Finnish regulars that flock to the room almost every weekend.
Here's the full schedule of the 888live local event in Tallinn:
| Date | Time | Event | Buy-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun. 25 | 19:00 | Satellite to the Main Event | €25+€2 |
| Jun. 26 | 19:00 | Main Event Day 1A (1 re-entry) | €200+€20 |
| Jun. 27 | 19:00 | Main Event Day 1B (1 re-entry) | €200+€20 |
| Jun. 28 | 14:00 | Main Event Final Day | N/A |
| Jun. 28 | 16:00 | Turbo Deepstack Freezeout | €35+€5 |
Something You Should Know About Tallinn
Although the most logical choice for an accommodation may seem to be the Radisson Blu Hotel Olümpia, which is right where the casino is located, my advice is to get the opportunity to discover Tallinn and use the 888live local event as an excuse to pamper yourself and discover a new city.
My personal favourite, in this case, is the four-star Hotel Palace, a prestigious establishment built in 1937 that reopened its doors after a total makeover only one year ago. With rooms starting from €110/night, the hotel is located right at the entrance of Tallinn's buzzing Old Town giving you a privileged access to the city's famous party scene. The tournament venue is only a 5-minute walk away, and the hotel features also a nice relaxation area with a cozy spa - definitely a great treat after a hard day at the table.
If you are not into walking and you carry a smartphone in your pocket, you should then download a free app named Taxify. Available for iOS, Windows Mobile, and Android, Taxify allows you to get a taxi and at the same time avoid some embarrassing conversations in one of the world's toughest languages to learn. Taxify's Uber-like interface allows you also to easily choose the cheapest company available and know exactly when the driver is going to be right where you want him to.
What makes Taxify even more special, however, is that one of the guys behind the app is Martin Franke von Zweigbergk, a Tallinn-based Swede who also happens to be a well-known figure in Estonia's poker scene and to sit on the twenty-fourth spot in the country's live tournament poker all-time money list according to The Hendon Mob.
