Kings of Poker Descend on The King’s Casino

(Photo: Worldpokertour.com)

When I moved to Prague last year I had no idea I was going to be so close to the biggest poker room in Europe, and now the King’s Casino in Rozvadov is set to stage the latest WSOP Europe circuit event – which I will attending - and have struck a multi-year deal to use the Czech Casino as their home for the foreseeable future!

Starting tomorrow, the King’s will see 14 championship rings being handed out in just 19 days as the elite of Europe’s poker mix it with the world’s best – all descending on the ‘poker island’ a stone’s throw from the German border.

Speaking exclusively to PokerTube, the casino’s enigmatic owner Leon Tsoukernik told me on the eve of what will be the biggest event ever held in the town:

"If you want fashion you go to Milan, if you want poker you come to Rozvadov.”

"I have really bought into Leon’s vision for creating a poker-first destination in Central Europe,” said WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart, adding that, “The existing setup already reminds me of the Amazon Room at the Rio and it’s only going to get bigger. Considering the way Leon and staff cater to poker players, this is going to be a very comfortable environment for a large festival such as ours. With King’s backing large guarantees and media coverage, we believe we have found a long term home for WSOPE to replicate the scale we enjoy in Las Vegas.”

The multi-event schedule includes the showpiece Main Event, a €1,000,000 guaranteed, €1,650 buy-in re-entry tournament running from Friday November 11th until Monday November 14th, with two starting days. With 715 entries last year it was the largest WSOP Circuit Main Event to ever take place outside of the United States.

With 156 poker tables, an adjoining casino floor and more than 400 staff on hand to ensure his guests comfort and enjoyment, Tsoukernik has also unveiled a €20million expansion plan which will see “1,800 square meters of Las Vegas-style casino space with 40 more poker tables,” and “an amazing new hotel with 218 additional rooms."

He explained earlier this month:

"The first three floors of the new building will be a four-star hotel while the fourth floor will be a five-star one with 18 luxury suites to accommodate even the most demanding of guests."

Tsoukernik said in recent press release:

"Last year alone, we brought over 250,000 poker players to Rozvadov. Although this is already a great result for a town of 500, I believe we will be able to double that number as soon as our plans for expansion are completed and people will get the opportunity to come here for a proper poker holiday.”

(Photo: Zeitenspeigel.de)

The King’s Casino deal will see the WSOP Europe take place there in the autumn of both 2017 and 2019, with a guaranteed €5,000,000 prizefund and a minimum of 10 bracelet events, followed in the even years by spring and autumn WSOP Circuit events, as well as Circuit events in the spring of the next three odd-numbered years, 2017,2019 and 2021.

Ambitious plans are the bread-and-butter of Tsoukernik’s business-oriented mind, but he is quick to point out that his love of poker often takes precedence in his decisions.

"I love the game of poker. I love every aspect of it and I love everybody that plays it, that's why I want King's to be the best possible place for poker players."

When I visit it for the Main Event in a week or two time, I’ll be sure to let you all know just how well he’s doing in his quest!