Travel Report: EPT11 Grand Final, Day 6 -- Side Dishes

I’m mostly on side events here at the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo®Casino EPT Grand Final festival -- and there are a ton of them.

The schedule has 78 events total packed into less than two weeks, although some of those numbered events are satellites and thus not ones I’m necessarily reporting on, except occasionally perhaps to note who is winning seats in the big ones to the two Super High Rollers and the High Roller.

As far as “trophy” events go, there are 56 altogether (I believe), with most being one- or two-day tournaments. It’s kind of like the WSOP, with nearly as many events -- and a decent variety of games and stakes -- but packed more tightly into a couple weeks rather than stretched out over nearly two months.

I find myself constantly distracted as I’m darting around from tournament to tournament, or when at the laptop gathering what I need to compile reports. There’s always something interesting happening, and the fact that so many “name” players are here and are jumping into practically any tournament, helps give add interest even to the smallest buy-in events.

While Monaco is obviously an expensive place, having all of these very affordable tournaments firing off all of the time has to be a lot of fun for many who commit to being here for most or all of the festival. The tourney booklet listing all of the events and satellites really is like one long menu, with something for practically any appetite.

Back at it today. Head to the PokerStars blog for reports on everything, and check the “Side event reports” page to taste from those side dishes in particular.