Big news out of Bulgaria for the grassroots and recreational poker communities. After nearly a decade away from the live scene, Bwin has made a thunderous return with the launch of Bwin Legends, its first branded live poker festival in nine years and its inaugural stop on Bulgarian soil. Running from November 24 until December 1, at the Palms Merkur Royale Casino in Sofia, this new chapter signals a renewed commitment by the iconic operator to reestablish its presence in the European live poker arena.
The festival boasts three multi-day events with buy-ins ranging from €100 to €300, with satellites starting at just €35. Players can qualify even cheaper online via satellites and feeder tournaments at Bwin, with many players already qualifying for free.
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The festival instantly caught the attention of players across the region, combining Bwin’s legendary online reputation with the prestige of a well-produced live event, with one of Bulgaria’s most successful and popular players, Stoyan Obreshkov, and Konstantin Zerdev, co-owner of BBZ Poker Academy and coach/staker for hundreds of players at any given time enthusiastically confirming their attendance.
Hosting duties have been handed to the state-of-the-art Palms Merkur Royale, one of Sofia’s most vibrant poker destinations, known for its premium atmosphere and growing tournament pedigree. In fact, it is Bulgaria’s largest poker room with 30 tables, with Bwin ready for large crowds.
With a packed schedule of headline events and cash game action running throughout the week, Bwin Legends is set to offer an experience that evokes the golden era of live poker while showcasing Bulgaria’s rapidly emerging poker market. In addition, players should expect giveaways, merch, a world-class buffet for all players during the three big events, added bounties on big names in the Bulgarian poker community, and plenty of onsite engagement to create a true recreational poker experience for new players and veterans alike.
For Bwin, this isn’t just another stop on the circuit; it’s a statement that they are back on the live felts. After years of focusing on its online footprint, the brand is stepping back into the live arena with a festival designed to bridge its budding online community with a new generation of live recreational players. If early buzz is any indication, Bwin Legends could be the start of something much larger, the rebirth of a trusted poker name ready to make history once again.
“They say that in Sofia this autumn, you can hear the cards whisper: “It’s your turn to become a legend,'” shared Director of Poker of Entain NCE Maksims Gorbacs. “With such an experienced team and a strong brand like bwin, we couldn’t stay away – so we decided to create something amazing for the Bulgarian community! We’ll keep building our own local legends and strengthening the community – something we’ve already been doing successfully in other markets.”
Three Multi-Day Events
The Bwin Legends boasts three multi-day events starting with the two-day €100 Mystery Bounty on Nov. 24-25 with a 30,000 starting stack and 30-minute blind levels throughout the event.
Shortly after, the crown jewel of the festival in the €150 Main Event begins with five opening flights on Nov. 27-30 before players battle for two more days on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 until a winner is crowned. The first three opening flights feature a 30-minute clock with a faster clock during the final two flights. Players advancing to Day 2 and beyond will enjoy a longer 40-minute clock until one player becomes the first Bwin-branded champion in nearly a decade.
The two-day €300 High Roller begins its opening day on Nov. 30 as the Main Event begins to narrow down its field. This event will crown a champion side-by-side with the Main Event on Dec. 1, with players starting with 50,000 in chips and a 30-minute clock.
This is not all, as there is a €35 Main Event satellite on Nov. 26, followed by a €55 High Roller satellite on Nov. 30. Players will also have a chance to earn a trophy in the €150 Online Closer, played online at Bwin, on Dec. 1.
For those of you watching from home, there will be an entertaining Streamer’s Invitational on Nov. 26, and you will also be able to follow the live reporting in Bulgarian at Sportal.bg.
Bwin Legends Schedule
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 24 | 5 p.m. | €100 Mystery Bounty Day 1 |
| Nov. 25 | 5 p.m. | €100 Mystery Bounty Day 2 |
| Nov. 26 | 6 p.m. | €35 Main Event Satellite to Day 1a |
| 8 p.m. | Steamer’s Invitational | |
| Nov. 27 | 5 p.m. | €150 Main Event Day 1a |
| Nov. 28 | 5 p.m. | €150 Main Event Day 1b |
| Nov. 29 | 1 p.m. | €150 Main Event Day 1c |
| 7 p.m. | €150 Main Event Day 1d | |
| Nov. 30 | 11 a.m. | €150 Main Event Day 1e |
| 2 p.m. | €55 High Roller Satellite | |
| 4 p.m. | €150 Main Event Day 2 | |
| 6 p.m. | €300 High Roller Day 1 | |
| Dec. 1 | 4 p.m. | €150 Main Event Day 3 |
| 6 p.m. | €300 High Roller Day 2 | |
| 8 p.m. | €150 Online Closer |
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