Press Release

The 30th European poker championship - a dazzling anniversary event at casino Velden

29.07.2019 - Casinos Austria

a first-rate poker event: one-and-a-half weeks of packed tournament rooms, cash game tables and top spirits at lake Wörthersee.

When Casinos Austria first organised a European Poker Championship in 1990, none of the initiators had any idea of the scale the tournament would have 30 years later – the premiere consisted of a three-day Seven Card Stud tournament with around 90 participants. For the 30th European Poker Championship, which took place from 17 to 28 July 2019, over 10,000 guests came to Casino Velden. Thus in the last few days there was not only a major anniversary to celebrate, but the transformation of the European Championship into an absolute highlight on the global calendar of poker tournaments as well.

The high point of the European Poker Championship is traditionally the title in the most popular game, No Limit Hold'em. The four-day main event brought together a global array of 240 poker players and concluded Saturday night with a victory for Austria-based German Christian Rudolf. He won the final table in a thrilling duel against his compatriot Jens Jeremies and left Casino Velden with € 144,000 in prize money.

Truly high stakes were also played for in the second half of the tournament: in the € 5,400 high roller event, the top players in the German-speaking poker scene competed for the title, but in the end it was Dutchman Teun Mulder who secured the € 97,000 in prize money. At the most expensive tournament of this European Poker Championship, the super high roller event, Austrian Christopher Frank maintained the upper hand, leaving again with € 120,000 in prize money.

The crowning finale this year was the major free roll tournament. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary, Casino Velden donated € 30,000 in prize money. The gift was quite popular, with 210 players battling it out for the prize money of € 10,000 without paying an entry fee.

What guests excel at in Casino Velden apart from the gaming action is celebrating, especially as the casino itself is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2019. For this a single party was not enough – numerous invitations and surprises awaited the players in the European Poker Championship in the evenings after an exciting day at the tournament. There were traditions such as the Carinthian "Jausn" (a plate of cold cuts accompanied by local bread, cheeses, pickles and spreads) and the suckling pig meal as well as the 30th anniversary party. In the midst of it all were Jessica Teusl, who rejoiced over her third title in the Ladies Championship, and Antonio Turrisi, who got to celebrate his second victory in the European Championship in Seven Card Stud this year.

During the one-and-a-half weeks of the tournament, the casino employees once again demonstrated the outstanding competence of Casinos Austria when it comes to poker. The anniversary event made every wish come true and offered a conceivably wide range of options for tournament and cash game players. Casino Velden Director Paul Vogel was particularly pleased with the response from the guests: "When long-time regulars and those visiting us for the first time here at beautiful Lake Wörthersee are equally enthusiastic and already asking about the date for next year, it's the best praise for us. I would like to thank everyone who has honoured us over the past two weeks and look forward to welcoming them back to Casino Velden."

Photo 1: Winner of the main event Christian Rudolf (seated) with Casino Velden Poker Manager Gerald Golker, Casinos Austria Poker Manager Niklas Sattler, Casino Velden Director Paul Vogel und Tournament Manager Dietmar Printschler (from L to R).

Photo 2: Poker hall during the European Poker Championship

Photo 3 (from L to R): Casino Baden Director Edmund Gollubits, Director Paul Vogel and his predecessor at Casino Velden Othmar Resch, with the dancers at the 30th anniversary party.

Photo 4: Director Paul Vogel on the terrace of Casino Velden.

© Casinos Austria/Manuel Schischkoff, reprint free of charge