The seaside resort of Blankenberge is gearing up to accommodate several hundred poker players from August 31 when the fifth Unibet Poker Belgian Championship heads to town. Approximately 500 players will jump into the €550 buy-on Main Event at the Unibet Casino Blankenberge, the first Unibet Poker Belgian Championship since 2019.
Fabrice Lestrade won the inaugural Unibet Poker Belgian Championship in 2016. Lestrade outlasted 406 opponents on his way to securing a €35,443 top prize. A larger 457-strong crowd turned out for the 2017 edition, and Heinrich Pauker came out on top to capture a €33,960 top prize.
Former Team PokerStars Pro Christophe De Meulder won in 2018, banking €38,290, before Glenn Laureys won in 2019 and took home €34,614.
Both the 2020 and 2021 editions of the Unibet Poker Belgian Championship fell victim to the various COVID-19 pandemic-related closures and restrictions, but the popular event is back on the calendar for 2022, and Unibet Poker is pulling out all the stops to make this one extra special.
| Year | Entrants | Prize pool | Champion | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 407 | €203,500 | Fabrice Lestrade | €35,443 |
| 2017 | 457 | €305,500 | Heinrich Pauker | €33,960 |
| 2018 | 438 | €219,000 | Christophe De Meulder | €38,290 |
| 2019 | 419 | €209,500 | Glenn Laureys | €34,614 |
Nataly Sopacuaperu, Unibet Open’s Head of Events, said: “We’re really excited to be heading back to Blankenberge again after a two-year hiatus. This event always has a really special atmosphere, not least because it brings together the very best players in Belgium as well as around Europe. This year promises to be a great reunion and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Unibet Poker players have the chance to win their way into the €550 buy-in Unibet Poker Belgian Championship Main Event from the comfort of their own homes. Weekly seat-only finals run online every Sunday at 8:00 p.m. CET until the end of August; they cost €50 to enter and guarantee two €550 tickets.
What To Expect From the 2022 Unibet Poker Belgian Championship
Live poker has been booming since the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions around the world, which makes it highly likely the 2022 edition of the Unibet Poker Belgian Championship will be the largest and richest ever.
Charlotte van Brabander has already confirmed her attendance, while the likes of Mateusz Moolhuizen, Dehlia de Jong, Christophe and Matthias De Meulder are hopeful of mixing it up with the locals and those hopefuls traveling from farther afield.
Day 1a of the tournament shuffles up and deals at 1:00 p.m. on August 31, with Day 1b scheduled for the same time on September 1. There is a turbo-structured Day 1c that kicks off at 8:00 p.m. also on September 1. Players who dust off their 50,000 starting stack on Day 1a or Day 1b can re-enter on Day 1c if they wish.
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| 5 | €588 | €140 | 25% |
