EPT Deauville Set, NBA Star Joins PCA, Bilzerian’s $5 Million Game

EPT Deauville Schedule Announced

The schedule for the opening event of the European Poker Tour was announced earlier today and in typically brash fashion the organisers have planned a bustling 10-day fiesta. Taking place inside the plush surroundings of Deauville’s Casino Barrière, the festival will feature an impressive 45 tournaments, including a Main Event with a €5,300 buy-in.

Kicking things off on January 22nd will be the Season 3 finally of the France Poker Series (FPS) which will see players compete for a €500,000 guaranteed prizepool for a buy-in of €1,100. As the FPS draws to a close the EPT’s main run of events will get underway and capitulate with a Main Event and €10,300 High Roller between January 26 and February 1st.

Another key feature of this year’s EPT Deauville will be the GPI’s European Poker Awards which will honour some of the game’s finest individuals in a lavish ceremony on January 29th.

To check out the full schedule for EPT Deauville, click here.

NBA Stars Joins PCA Cash Action

Whilst a host of poker pros have been doing their thing in the opening event of this year’s PCA, NBA star George Arenas has been testing his mettle at the festival’s cash tables.

With big bankrolls and even bigger egos currently enjoying the Bahamian sunshine, Arenas has been able to sit down with the likes of Scott Seiver and Jason Mercier and play for pots worth upwards of $10,000.

Although exact details of the game are yet to surface, onlookers have noted that Arenas has been remarkably calm in the face of such tough opposition and even found time to joke with the pros whilst raking in pots worth around $30,000.

With the PCA set to run until January 13th it’s likely that Arenas will have plenty more chances to play with the pros and add a few more dollars to his bankroll.

Bilzerian Blows $3.5 Million

Dan Bilzerian might not be the best poker player in the world but when it comes to taking a risk no one could ever accuse him of being weak.

Thanks to a combination of fearlessness and a rich father Dan recently sat down for a private game of poker with a starting stack worth $5 million. Accepting an unnamed opponent’s challenge to a high stakes duel, Dan tweeted that his opponent wanted “to take [his] head off” and at one point he almost lost it after a $3.5 million bluff went wrong.

24 hours after the session Dan lamented about his session on Twitter and explained that despite his penchant for bluffing he still managed to book a win.