March 26 2012, Chris Hall

The PokerStars European Poker Tour has moved on to Campione, Italy, a tiny town actually in Switzerland on the edge of Lake Lugano. Casinò di Campione, the largest casino in Europe, played host to Day 1a of EPT Campione, where 178 players began the day. When play ended Monday night, Davide Andreoni held the chip lead, finishing the day with 175,100.

Andreoni had several tussles throughout the day against Dario Nittolo, whom he sat next to, but Andreoni came out ahead by the end of the day with the overall chip lead.

Given the high number of Italians playing on Day 1a, an often-used strategy would be to play fairly straightforward to reduce the potential volatility, but Nick Yunis had other plans. The Chilean was seen playing almost every hand, his stack jumping around from 30,000 up to 100,000 and back down again. Winning significant pots against both Simon Persson and Rasmus Nielsen, Yunis finished on a high with 169,200, second only to Andreoni.

There were only four Team PokerStars Pros playing on Day 1a and they suffered mixed results. Alex Kravchenko (23,600) and the home hope, Luca Pagano (16,200) managed to make it through the action, but both will be back on Wednesday with fairly short stacks and in need of an early double-up.

Theo Jorgensen entered after the first couple of levels but didn’t last long. First, his jacks were cracked by Anton Ionel’s ace-three, which hit trip threes on the flop. Ionel then finished Jorgensen off soon after with kings against king-jack. Pierre Neuville also suffered a surprisingly early exit, as did Mads Wissing and Cristian Dragomir.

Other players who didn’t make it through the day included former EPT Prague runner-up Emiliano Bono, James Dempsey, former Irish Open champion James Mitchell, McLean Karr, Yordan Dimitrov and Casey Kastle. They’ll have to enjoy the relaxing views and sights that Campione and nearby Lugano have, as well as the multitude of side events that the casino will be putting on over the next few days.

Per Linde (67,200), former EPT champion Roberto Romanello (50,800), Marion Nedellec (51,200) and Rasmus Nielsen (41,000) are just a few players who have moved on to Day 2.

End of Day 1a Chip Counts

Although Day 1a was relatively quiet, the field on Tuesday should be bigger. Plenty of players are expected to play on Day 1b, including Team PokerStars Pros Arnaud Mattern, Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier, Eugene Katchalov, Liv Boeree, Lex Veldhuis, Victor Ramdin, Vanessa Selbst, Marcin Horecki and Dario Minieri.

Day 1b action kicks off on Tuesday at 1400 CEST (0500 PDT) and the PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be on the floor bringing you all the action live from the felt.

Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

March 26 2012, Brett Collson

On Saturday, PokerStars released the preliminary schedule for the 2012 Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP), which is set to get under way in May.

The annual poker series will feature 38 events, each with three different buy-in ranges (low, medium and high), creating 114 tournaments for players to participate in. Among the variants on the schedule are no-limit hold’em tournaments, limit hold’em, pot-limit Omaha, no-limit Omaha, 8-Game mix, and Badugi.

The first event is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, May 6, and the series will likely culminate with a Main Event on Sunday, May 20. The Main Event features buy-ins of $82 (low), $700 (medium) and $7,500 (high). Last year, Sami “Lrslzk” Kelopuro took down the SCOOP Main Event (high) for $505,000 after a five-way deal at the final table. In 2009, Team PokerStars Pro Jude “j.thaddeus” Ainsworth won the high-level tournament for $963,338.

You’ll notice that there aren’t any guarantees tagged to this year’s events. That’s because the schedule isn’t set in stone just yet. PokerStars is looking for feedback from players before the schedule is finalized, so be sure to send your questions and requests to scoop@pokerstars.com.

In the meantime, here’s a look at the preliminary schedule for the 2012 PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker:

Sunday, May 6
11:00 EDT – Event 1-L: $27 NL Hold’em (6-Max)
11:00 EDT – Event 1-M: $215 NL Hold’em (6-Max)
11:00 EDT – Event 1-H: $2,100 NL Hold’em (6-Max)

14:30 EDT – Event 2-L: $27 NL Hold’em
14:30 EDT – Event 2-M: $215 NL Hold’em
14:30 EDT – Event 2-H: $2,100 NL Hold’em

Monday, May 7
11:00 EDT – Event 3-L: $5.50 NL Hold’em (6-Max w/ Rebuys)
11:00 EDT – Event 3-M: $55 NL Hold’em (6-Max w/ Rebuys)
11:00 EDT – Event 3-H: $530 NL Hold’em (6-Max w/ Rebuys)

14:00 EDT – Event 4-L: $7.50 FL Badugi
14:00 EDT – Event 4-M: $82 FL Badugi
14:00 EDT – Event 4-H: $700 FL Badugi

17:00 EDT – Event 05-L: $11 NL Hold’em (2x-Turbo w/ Rebuys)
17:00 EDT – Event 5-M: $109 NL Hold’em (2x-Turbo w/ Rebuys)
17:00 EDT – Event 5-H: $1,050 NL Hold’em (2x-Turbo w/ Rebuys)

Tuesday, May 8
11:00 EDT – Event 6-L: $11 NL Draw
11:00 EDT – Event 6-M: $109 NL Draw
11:00 EDT – Event 6-H: $1,050 NL Draw

14:00 EDT – Event 7-L: $7.50 NL Hold’em (Heads-Up)
14:00 EDT – Event 7-M: $82 NL Hold’em (Heads-Up)
14:00 EDT – Event 7-H: $700 NL Hold’em (Heads-Up)

17:00 EDT – Event 8-L: $27 NL Hold’em (SuperKnockout Turbo)
17:00 EDT – Event 8-M: $215 NL Hold’em (SuperKnockout Turbo)
17:00 EDT – Event 8-H: $2,100 NL Hold’em (SuperKnockout Turbo)

Wednesday, May 9
11:00 EDT – Event 9-L: $27 Mixed Hold’em (6-Max)
11:00 EDT – Event 9-M: $215 Mixed Hold’em (6-Max)
11:00 EDT – Event 9-H: $2,100 Mixed Hold’em (6-Max)

14:00 EDT – Event 10-L: $27 Stud
14:00 EDT – Event 10-M: $215 Stud
14:00 EDT – Event 10-H: $2,100 Stud

Thursday, May 10
11:00 EDT – Event 11-L: $27 PL Omaha (Heads-Up)
11:00 EDT – Event 11-M: $215 PL Omaha (Heads-Up)
11:00 EDT – Event 11-H: $2,100 PL Omaha (Heads-Up)

14:00 EDT – Event 12-L: $27 NL Hold’em (Knockout)
14:00 EDT – Event 12-M: $265 NL Hold’em (Knockout)
14:00 EDT – Event 12-H: $2,600 NL Hold’em (Knockout)

Friday, May 11
11:00 EDT – Event 13-L: $7.50 NL Hold’em (Ante Up)
11:00 EDT – Event 13-M: $82 NL Hold’em (Ante Up)
11:00 EDT – Event 13-H: $700 NL Hold’em (Ante Up)

14:00 EDT – Event 14-L: $55 FL Omaha Hi/Lo
14:00 EDT – Event 14-M: $530 FL Omaha Hi/Lo
14:00 EDT – Event 14-H: $5,200 FL Omaha Hi/Lo

17:00 EDT – Event 15-L: $27 NL Hold’em (2x Chance Turbo)
17:00 EDT – Event 15-M: $215 NL Hold’em (2x Chance Turbo)
17:00 EDT – Event 15-H: $2,100 NL Hold’em (2x Chance Turbo)

Saturday, May 12
11:00 EDT – Event 16-L: $27 NL Hold’em (10-Max Shootout)
11:00 EDT – Event 16-M: $215 NL Hold’em (10-Max Shootout)
11:00 EDT – Event 16-H: $2,100 NL Hold’em (10-Max Shootout)

14:00 EDT – Event 17-L: $11 PL Omaha (6-Max w/ Rebuys)
14:00 EDT – Event 17-M: $109 PL Omaha (6-Max w/ Rebuys)
14:00 EDT – Event 17-H: $1,050 PL Omaha (6-Max w/ Rebuys)

17:00 EDT – Event 18-L: $27 Triple Stud
17:00 EDT – Event 18-M: $215 Triple Stud
17:00 EDT – Event 18-H: $2,100 Triple Stud

Sunday, May 13
11:00 EDT – Event 19-L: $27 NL Hold’em
11:00 EDT – Event 19-M: $215 NL Hold’em
11:00 EDT – Event 19-H: $2,100 NL Hold’em

14:30 EDT – Event 20-L: $27 NL Hold’em
14:30 EDT – Event 20-M: $215 NL Hold’em
14:30 EDT – Event 20-H: $2,100 NL Hold’em

Monday, May 14
11:00 EDT – Event 21-L: $11 Mixed NLHE/PLO
11:00 EDT – Event 21-M: $109 Mixed NLHE/PLO
11:00 EDT – Event 21-H: $1,050 Mixed NLHE/PLO

14:00 EDT – Event 22-L: $55 NL Hold’em (4-Max)
14:00 EDT – Event 22-M: $530 NL Hold’em (4-Max)
14:00 EDT – Event 22-H: $5,200 NL Hold’em (4-Max)

17:00 EDT – Event 23-L: $11 PL Omaha (1R1A Turbo)
17:00 EDT – Event 23-M: $109 PL Omaha (1R1A Turbo)
17:00 EDT – Event 23-H: $1,050 PL Omaha (1R1A Turbo)

Tuesday, May 15
11:00 EDT – Event 24-L: $11 Triple Draw 2-7
11:00 EDT – Event 24-M: $109 Triple Draw 2-7
11:00 EDT – Event 24-H: $1,050 Triple Draw 2-7

14:00 EDT – Event 25-L: $27 Stud Hi/Lo
14:00 EDT – Event 25-M: $215 Stud Hi/Lo
14:00 EDT – Event 25-H: $2,100 Stud Hi/Lo

17:00 EDT – Event 26-L: $27 NL Hold’em (6-Max SuperKnockout Turbo)
17:00 EDT – Event 26-M: $215 NL Hold’em (6-Max SuperKnockout Turbo)
17:00 EDT – Event 26-H: $2,100 NL Hold’em (6-Max SuperKnockout Turbo)

Wednesday, May 16
11:00 EDT – Event 27-L: $27 Razz
11:00 EDT – Event 27-M: $215 Razz
11:00 EDT – Event 27-H: $2,100 Razz

14:00 EDT – Event 28-L: $11 NL Hold’em (Big Antes w/ Rebuys)
14:00 EDT – Event 28-M: $109 NL Hold’em (Big Antes w/ Rebuys)
14:00 EDT – Event 28-H: $1,050 NL Hold’em (Big Antes w/ Rebuys)

Thursday, May 17
11:00 EDT – Event 29-L: $27 8-Game
11:00 EDT – Event 29-M: $215 8-Game
11:00 EDT – Event 29-H: $2,100 8-Game

14:00 EDT – Event 30-L: $7.50 PL Omaha Hi/Lo
14:00 EDT – Event 30-M: $82 PL Omaha Hi/Lo
14:00 EDT – Event 30-H: $700 PL Omaha Hi/Lo

Friday, May 18
11:00 EDT – Event 31-L: $27 NL Hold’em (1R1A)
11:00 EDT – Event 31-M: $215 NL Hold’em (1R1A)
11:00 EDT – Event 31-H: $2,100 NL Hold’em (1R1A)

14:00 EDT – Event 32-L: $55 FL Hold’em (6-Max)
14:00 EDT – Event 32-M: $530 FL Hold’em (6-Max)
14:00 EDT – Event 32-H: $5,200 FL Hold’em (6-Max)

17:00 EDT – Event 33-L: $27 NL Omaha Hi/Lo (10-Minute Levels)
17:00 EDT – Event 33-M: $215 NL Omaha Hi/Lo (10-Minute Levels)
17:00 EDT – Event 33-H: $2,100 NL Omaha Hi/Lo (10-Minute Levels)

Saturday, May 19
11:00 EDT – Event 34-L: $55 PL Omaha (6-Max)
11:00 EDT – Event 34-M: $530 PL Omaha (6-Max)
11:00 EDT – Event 34-H: $5,200 PL Omaha (6-Max)

14:00 EDT – Event 35-L: $27 H.O.R.S.E.
14:00 EDT – Event 35-M: $215 H.O.R.S.E.
14:00 EDT – Event 35-H: $2,100 H.O.R.S.E.

Sunday, May 20
11:00 EDT – Event 36-L: $27 NL Hold’em (6-Max)
11:00 EDT – Event 36-M: $215 NL Hold’em (6-Max)
11:00 EDT – Event 36-H: $2,100 NL Hold’em (6-Max)

12:30 EDT – Event 37-L: $215 NL Hold’em (Heads-Up)
12:30 EDT – Event 37-M: $2,100 NL Hold’em (Heads-Up)
12:30 EDT – Event 37-H: $21,000 NL Hold’em (Heads-Up)

14:30 EDT – Event 38-L: $82 Main Event
14:30 EDT – Event 38-M: $700 Main Event
14:30 EDT – Event 38-H: $7,500 Main Event

Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

Follow Brett Collson on

Comments