Online Hopefuls and Pros Descend on Romanian Capital For the Start of 888poker LIVE Bucharest
Bucharest, the bustling capital of Romania, plays host to a mixture of seasoned pros and online qualifiers when the €888 888poker LIVE Bucharest begins at 5 p.m. local time.
Day 1a is the first of four opening flights for this event, held at Poker Room Bucharest in the heart of this ancient city. Players receive a starting stack of 88,000, with unlimited reentries allowed until the start of Day 2. Qualifiers can earn their way into the tournament on 888poker for as little as $0.01, with the main online qualifier featuring a buy-in of $109.
Play on the first three starting flights consists of 11 45-minute levels, with a turbo Day 1d flight featuring 20-minute levels. There is a 15-minute break after every three levels. The remaining field from the four opening flights combines for Day 2 on August 13, with the final table taking place on August 14 and ending with the crowning of a new champion.
Past Champions
| Year | Champion | Entries | Prize | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Slaven Popov | 272 | €35,000 | Alexandru Arnautu |
| 2019 | Darius Neagoe | 505 | €62,300 | Nicolae Bogdan |
| 2018 | Andrei Racolta | 469 | €71,042 | Krzysztof Chmielowski |
It was Slaven Popov who lifted the trophy last year. The Bulgarian, who had deep runs in several major tournaments over the previous decade, finally broke through with his first live tournament win by defeating a field of 272 players to earn €35,000 after a heads-up deal. Last year’s tournament marked the return of the festival after a three-year hiatus, when local Darius Neagoe prevailed over 505 opponents. Andrei Racolta, another native Romanian, won the inaugural event in 2018.
Bucharest is the land of Dracula, beautiful parks, and stunning architecture. And, in five days' time, a new poker champion will be crowned in this burgeoning metropolis. PokerNews will be following the action the entire way providing live updates.