photo source: PokerFest
The 2017 Romanian season in the live poker tournament arena ended on December 3rd in the capital with a Romanian triumph in the last big tournament of the year: Unibet Open Main Event.
The Romanian triumph in the Main Event was provided not by a professional but by an amateur player (but very passionate about poker): Marius Pertea who managed to keep in Romania the Unibet Open trophy for the second consecutive year, after 2016, when Traian Bostan managed to win the same tournament, performance for which our magazine gave him the title of “Poker Player of the Year” at the Casino Life & Business Magazine 2016 Gala.
Pertea’s joy was to measure, he was barely able to answer questions in the end-of-game interview, for the life of this construction contractor was invaded by poker in 2017. A passion that he has sporadically cultivated in the past has brought this year a series of incredible results for an amateur. At the beginning of 2017, he had a score of only 1,275 euros in 2015, but this year he managed to make some five-figure results, including four final tables in major tournaments and two 1st places. The win in December (90,925 euros) raised his annually total to over $ 240,000, and once again confirmed that something he applied at the gaming table is working very well.
The Romanian circuit of live tournaments has no rest. Immediately after the Unibet Open, PokerFest announced the date and venue of the next local festival and we are dealing with a premiere: The first stage of PokerFest in 2018 will take place between January 28th and February 4th in the most popular Romanian tourist resort, Poiana Brasov, at the Piatra Mare Hotel – a perfect setting for this: a huge room of over 1,000 square meters and accommodation for 50 euros per day for a double room.
In addition, the ski slopes are within walking distance of the hotel, the mountain scenery visible from the building’s balconies is magnificent, and besides poker, players will be invited to a play area where they will have darts, billiards, fussbol, tennis table, but also a comfortable area where they can combine online game with socializing.
“It was a very animated year for PokerFest,” says Sorin Constantinescu, Circuit CEO. “We have had two major international circuits in the country again, the PokerStars Festival and the Unibet Open, which for us is more important than the debut events of 2016. It is not impossible to convince such an operator to step over the threshold for the first time. But is very difficult to convince him to return and I’m happy we’ve been able to win its trust. “
As for the collaboration plans for 2018, PokerFest plans to expand its collaborations: “We will have talks with other big operators in 2018. We already have a prestigious portfolio with which we can settle for negotiation with any entity in global live poker, irrespective of the caliber. We have proven what we have to prove: Romania is a perfect terrain to appear in the calendar of any great operator. “
In conclusion, Romanian poker players will have serious reasons to abandon their computers on the occasion of some important festivals hosted by Romania in 2018.
