The attention of the poker community is on the 2022 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, and rightly so, but there is an epic poker and gaming festival that is on European players' doorstep that simply cannot not be missed: The Festival Tallinn at the Olympic Park Casino.
Martin "Franke" von Zweigbergk is an intelligent man that loves poker and everything gambling related. Franke looked at other poker festivals and saw something was missing from them all. He realized that not only do many poker players enjoy the odd sports wager or a few spins of the roulette wheel, but the opposite is true; casino players and sports bettors like the occasional hand of poker. Franke decided to pull them all together under one roof, and The Festival was born.
After a hugely successful debut in Bratislava, The Festival heads to Tallinn, Estonia, from June 27 through July 3 and brings with it almost 40 events. While players will find several No-Limit Hold'em tournaments, they will also be able to try their luck in Pot-Limit Omaha, Win the Button, 8-Game Mix, Open Face Chinese Poker, H.O.R.S.E. and the crazy game that is Sviten Special. If you have never played Sviten Special it is a cross between five-card PLO and five-card draw; it is a crazy game that generates a lot of action.
The flagship tournament of The Festival in Tallinn is the Main Event, which comes with a €550 buy-in unless you win your way in via one of the many live or online satellites; more on those soon.
The Main Event at The Festival in Bratislava last September drew in a 621-strong crowd who created a €304,245 prize pool. It ended in a three-way chop between three Austrian grinders. Vedral David finished third for €38,270, Adi Rajkovic was the runner-up and won €45,130, with Martin Mauthner receiving €47,600 and the title of champion. With how live poker is booming right now, it would not be surprising to see an even bigger attendance for the Tallinn Main Event.
As mentioned earlier, Franke created The Festival as a way to bring all forms of gambling and poker under one roof, whch is why anyone heading to Tallinn is spoiled for choice when it comes to events to play.
Cash game players are well-catered for with the Cash Game Festival Challenge, which features televised tables if you fancy some time under the spotlight. Then there are casino game tournaments for blackjack and roulette, which are not only a great way to try and make some money, but the perfect setting for people wanting to try these games for the first time because you can only lose a specific sum of money; although, hopefully, you will win.
There is even a sports betting tournament if you fancy showcasing your wagering skills and sports knowledge.
The Festival In Tallinn Schedule
| Date | Time | Event No. | Tournament | Buy-in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27-Jun | 16:00 | 1 | Sviten Special Day 1 | € 250 |
| 27-Jun | 18:00 | 2 | Blackjack Championships Day 1A | € 250 |
| 27-Jun | 19:00 | 3 | Supersat to Main Event (5 tickets gtd) | € 35 |
| 27-Jun | 20:00 | 4 | Cash Game Festival Challenge €2/2 Texas | € 250 |
| 27-Jun | 21:00 | 5 | Texas Knockout | € 65 |
| 27-Jun | 21:00 | 6 | Roulette Championships Day 1A | € 250 |
| 27-Jun | 22:30 | 7 | Cash Game Festival Challenge €2/2 PLO4 | € 250 |
| 28-Jun | 12:00 | 8 | MAIN EVENT DAY 1A - 10 Levels | € 550 |
| 28-Jun | 13:00 | 9 | 8-Game | € 115 |
| 28-Jun | 17:00 | 10 | PLO Masters | € 250 |
| 28-Jun | 18:00 | 2 | Blackjack Championships Day 1B | |
| 28-Jun | 19:00 | 1 | Sviten Special Day 2/FT | |
| 28-Jun | 21:00 | 11 | Supersat to Main Event (5 tickets gtd) | € 35 |
| 28-Jun | 22:00 | 12 | Win the Button | |
| 28-Jun | 21:00 | 6 | Roulette Championships Day 1B | € 250 |
| 29-Jun | 12:00 | 8 | MAIN EVENT DAY 1B - 10 Levels | € 550 |
| 29-Jun | 15:00 | 13 | Supersat to Main Event (5 tickets gtd) | € 35 |
| 29-Jun | 17:00 | 14 | Texas Progressive Knockout | € 220 |
| 29-Jun | 17:00 | 15 | PLO High Roller Day 1 | € 1,050 |
| 29-Jun | 18:00 | 2 | Blackjack Championships Day 1C | € 250 |
| 29-Jun | 19:00 | 16 | Acroud Charity Tournaments, Invites only | € 1 |
| 29-Jun | 21:00 | 6 | Roulette Championships 1C | € 250 |
| 29-Jun | 21:00 | 17 | Cash Game Festival Challenge €2/2 Texas | € 250 |
| 29-Jun | 21:00 | 18 | Stand ´n Go, Texas ”Frankes Flips Flops" | |
| 29-Jun | 23:30 | 19 | Cash Game Festival Challenge €2/2 PLO4 | € 250 |
| 30-Jun | 12:00 | 8 | MAIN EVENT DAY 1C - 10 Levels | € 550 |
| 30-Jun | 13:00 | 2 | Blackjack Championships Day 2 | |
| 30-Jun | 13:00 | 20 | H.O.R.S.E. | € 250 |
| 30-Jun | 13:00 | 15 | PLO High Roller Final Day - reserve slot | |
| 30-Jun | 17:00 | 21 | Half ´n Half (Texas & PLO, 1 level each) | € 110 |
| 30-Jun | 19:00 | 6 | Roulette Championships Day 2 | |
| 30-Jun | 20:00 | 8 | MAIN EVENT DAY 1D Turbo - 10 Levels | € 550 |
| 01-Jul | 12:00 | 8 | MAIN EVENT DAY 2 | € 550 |
| 01-Jul | 17:00 | 22 | Pokerlistings Deepstack Day 1 | € 250 |
| 01-Jul | 17:00 | 23 | Open Face Chinese | € 330 |
| 01-Jul | 18:00 | 24 | NLH High Roller Day 1 | € 1,050 |
| 01-Jul | 20:00 | 25 | Cash Game Festival Challenge €2/5 Texas | € 250 |
| 01-Jul | 20:00 | 26 | Matching Visions Slots Tournament | € 250 |
| 01-Jul | 22:30 | 27 | Cash Game Festival Challenge €2/2 PLO4 | € 250 |
| 02-Jul | 12:00 | 8 | MAIN EVENT DAY 3 | |
| 02-Jul | 13:00 | 28 | Gambling Cabin Sportsbook Tournament | € 250 |
| 02-Jul | 13:00 | 22 | Pokerlistings Deepstack Day 2/Final | |
| 02-Jul | 14:00 | 24 | NLH High Roller Final Day | |
| 02-Jul | 16:00 | 29 | Heads Up Texas, CAP 32, Day 1 | € 330 |
| 02-Jul | 14:00 | 30 | Team Poker Challenge, Texas | € 600 |
| 02-Jul | 18:00 | 2 | Blackjack Championships Final | |
| 02-Jul | 20:00 | 31 | Cash Game Festival Challenge €5/5 Texas | € 250 |
| 02-Jul | 20:00 | 32 | PLO Turbo | € 110 |
| 02-Jul | 21:00 | 6 | Roulette Championships Final | |
| 02-Jul | 22:30 | 33 | Cash Game Festival Challenge €5/5 PLO4 | € 250 |
| 03-Jul | 12:00 | 8 | MAIN EVENT FINAL TABLE | |
| 03-Jul | 12:00 | 34 | Texas Lowroller | € 55 |
| 03-Jul | 12:00 | 22 | Pokerlistings Deepstack FT/ | |
| 03-Jul | 12:00 | 35 | OFC HR | € 1,050 |
| 03-Jul | 12:00 | 29 | Heads Up Texas, CAP 32, Final | |
| 03-Jul | 13:00 | 36 | Texas Shortdeck/ 6+ Hold´em | € 110 |
Stay Up To Date With The Festival App
The brains and boffins behind the scenes at The Festival have created a superb mobile app that everyone heading to The Festival Tallinn is encouraged to download for free. The Festival App is your guiding light throughout the festival, giving you information about each poker and casino tournament, notifications from the organizers, partner information, an interactive image gallery, an activity feed, and much more.
Buy Your Package or Book Your Hotel Direct From The Festival
The Festival has a trio of Tallinn packages available to purchase direct from The Festival. In addition, you can book a hotel room at a discounted rate, but PokerNews has been told these rooms are selling like hot cakes so act fast.
The Festival Package costs €2,535 and comes with the €550 buy-in for the Main Event, two buy-ins for casino events, two hospitality packages, and seven nights at the Hilton Tallinn Park, including breakfast and access to the spa.
€1,325 buys you a Poker Experience Package that comes with five nights at the Hilton Tallinn Park, including breakfast and spa access, plus the buy-in for the €550 Main Event.
Finally, there is the €875 Casino Experience Package that awards you five nights at the Radisson Blue Hotel Olympia, including breakfast, plus the buy-in for one of the casino-based tournaments.
Stay tuned to PokerNews during The Festival in Tallinn as we bring you more news, interviews, and updates from this amazing series.
