When discussing poker history, it’s hard not to mention PokerStars. They quickly became the most popular online poker site in the early 2000s, and even though GGPoker may have had slightly more traffic since 2022, PokerStars is still a giant on the poker scene.
Of course, PokerStars isn’t only relevant when it comes to online poker. They founded the EPT in 2004, a tour that is still going strong and that is widely considered as one of the most popular one of all time. They’ve also expanded their live poker event engagement; for example, they partnered with the Irish Poker Open back in 2023, a move that’s been very beneficial for both parties (and for thousands of players).
One relatively recent move by PokerStars is its sponsorship of the Circus Poker Series. The event had its first-ever edition in 2023, and soon, it’s time for the third consecutive edition. The festival is headlined by a €2,200 Main Event with a mouth-watering €750,000 guarantee.
€2,200 Main Event Takes the Cake
Circus Poker is one of the most well-known poker brands in Belgium, with 30 years of experience in the business. 2023, they founded the Circus Poker Series. The inaugural event was held in Namur, Belgium, at the Circus Casino Resort Namur. Dutchman Max Wind won the first €2,200 Main Event for €129,083. 2024, Rayana “Moktavarium” Mokhtar joined Wind in the winner’s circle, when he won the second Main Event for €185,000.
Now, it’s soon time for the third edition. The 2025 Circus Poker Series will be played November 18-30, again at the Circus Casino Resort Namur. It’ll be thirteen days of poker paradise, and Namur is a very fitting location for an event of this magnitude. Located in the heart of Belgium, just 65-70 kilometers (aka, 40-44 miles) away from Brussels. This offers relatively easy logistics for players worldwide, who are eager to participate in what has become a staple on the European live poker scene.
The schedule does not disappoint; the vision of the Circus Poker Series has been to offer attractive tournaments both to recreational and professional players. Buy-ins start from as low as €150, ranging all the way up to the €4,000 High Roller. The undisputed star of the show, though, is the aforementioned €2,200 Main Event. Holding a €750,000 guarantee, one can understand that this tournament has been very popular in the past two years; in fact, the guarantee was surpassed with roughly €300,000 both in 2023 and 2024, and there’s no reason to believe that won’t be the case this year. The Main Event is a four-day affair that offers four starting-day flights (registration will be open during the first two levels of Day 2).
Another golden gem on the schedule is the €1,100 Mystery Bounty. It’s been said before, but it’s worth saying again: nothing beats the excitement of a live poker mystery bounty tournament, and chances are very high this will be one of the most appreciated side events. Then there’s the €550 Circus Poker Series Cup. This three-day event with six starting-day flights is the first major tournament of the whole festival. Another tournament that definitely deserves a shoutout is the €1,100 Second Chance, a two-day event with two starting-day flights. Both initial flights play down to 15 %, and the players will then be in the money, returning to Day 2.
2025 Circus Poker Series – Tournament Schedule
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| November 18 | 4:00 p.m. | €70 Satellie to €400 Super Tuesday (Two Seats Guaranteed) |
| 7:00 p.m. | €400 Super Tuesday Deep Special CPS | |
| 9:30 p.m. | €90 Satellie to €550 Circus Cup (One Seat Guaranteed) | |
| November 19 | 3:00 p.m. | €550 Circus Cup Day 1a |
| 5:00 p.m. | €90 Satellite to €550 Circus Cup (Three Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 7:30 p.m. | €250 Satellite to €2,200 Main Event (Two Seats Guaranteed) | |
| November 20 | 3:00 p.m. | €550 Circus Cup Day 1b |
| 5:00 p.m. | €90 Satellite to €550 Circus Cup or PLO (Two Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 6:00 p.m. | €330 NLH Freezeout Day 1 | |
| 7:30 p.m. | €250 Satellite to €2,200 Main Event (Two Seats Guaranteed) | |
| November 21 | 2:00 p.m. | NLH Freezeout Day 2 (Final Day) |
| 3:00 p.m. | €550 Circus Cup Day 1c | |
| 3:00 p.m. | €125 Satellite to €550 PLO (Three Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 6:00 p.m. | €550 Pot Limit Omaha Day 1 | |
| 7:30 p.m. | €180 Satellite to €2,200 Main Event (Two Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 9:00 p.m. | €550 Circus Cup Day 1d | |
| November 22 | 1:00 p.m. | Pot Limit Omaha Day 2 (Final Day) |
| 2:00 p.m. | €550 Circus Cup Day 1e | |
| 3:00 p.m. | €250 Satellite to €2,200 Main Event (Two Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 8:00 p.m. | €180 Satellite to €1,100 Mystery Bounty (Three Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 9:00 p.m. | €550 Circus Cup Day 1f | |
| November 23 | 1:00 p.m. | Circus Cup Day 2 |
| 2:00 p.m. | €180 Satellite to €1,100 Mystery Bounty (Three Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 3:00 p.m. | €1,100 Mystery Bounty Day 1a | |
| 4:00 p.m. | €250 Satellite to €2,200 Main Event (Two Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 6:00 p.m. | €200 Sunday Deep | |
| 9:00 p.m. | €180 Satellite to €1,100 Mystery Bounty (Three Seats Guaranteed) | |
| November 24 | 1:00 p.m. | Circus Cup Day 3 (Final Day) |
| 1:00 p.m. | €250 Satellite to €1,100 Mystery Bounty (Two Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 2:00 p.m. | €1,100 Mystery Bounty Day 1b | |
| 6:00 p.m. | €200 PLO Double Board Bomb Pot | |
| 7:00 p.m. | €440 Satellite to €4.000 High Roller (Two Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 9:00 p.m. | €1,100 Mystery Bounty Day 1c | |
| 9:00 p.m. | €250 Satellite to €2,200 Main Event (One Seat Guaranteed) | |
| November 25 | 12:00 p.m. | €1,100 Mystery Bounty Day 2 |
| 1:00 p.m. | €2,200 CPS Main Event Day 1a | |
| 1:00 p.m. | €550 Satellite to €4.000 High Roller (Two Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 4:00 p.m. | €4.000 High Roller Day 1 | |
| 7:00 p.m. | €400 Big Tuesday Special | |
| 10:00 p.m. | €250 Satellite to €2,200 Main Event (One Seat Guaranteed) | |
| November 26 | 12:00 p.m. | Mystery Bounty Day 3 (Final Day) |
| 12:00 p.m. | €2,200 CPS Main Event Day 1b | |
| 1:00 p.m. | €4.000 High Roller Day 2 | |
| 2:00 p.m. | €250 NLH KO Single Re-entry | |
| 7:00 p.m. | €360 Satellite to €2,200 Main Event (Five Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 10:00 p.m. | €250 Satellite to €2,200 Main Event (One Seat Guaranteed) | |
| November 27 | 11:00 a.m. | €250 Satellite to €2,200 Main Event (Two Seats Guaranteed) |
| 12:00 p.m. | €2,200 CPS Main Event Day 1c | |
| 3:00 p.m. | €250 Satellite to €2,200 Main Event (Three Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 7:00 p.m. | €170 Mix Game NLH/PLO | |
| 8:00 p.m. | €2,200 CPS Main Event Day 1d | |
| 8:30 p.m. | €250 Satellite to €2,200 Main Event (Three Seats Guaranteed) | |
| November 28 | 12:00 p.m. | €2,200 CPS Main Event Day 2 |
| 1:00 p.m. | €250 Satellite to €1,100 Main Event (Three Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 2:00 p.m. | €1,100 CPS Second Chance Day 1a | |
| 8:00 p.m. | €1,100 CPS Second Chance Day 1b | |
| 9:00 p.m. | €330 NLH Turbo Freezeout | |
| November 29 | 12:00 p.m. | €2,200 CPS Main Event Day 3 |
| 1:00 p.m. | CPS Second Chance Day 2 | |
| 1:30 p.m. | €130 Satellite to €800 6-Handed (Three Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 1:30 p.m. | €250 Womens Event | |
| 4:00 p.m. | €800 6-Handed Day 1 | |
| 8:00 p.m. | €550 Satellite to €5.300 EPT Main Event | |
| 9:00 p.m. | €330 NLH Turbo Single Re-entry | |
| November 30 | 12:00 p.m. | €2,200 CPS Main Event Day4 (Final Day) |
| 1:00 p.m. | €800 6-Handed Day 2 (Final Day) | |
| 2:00 p.m. | €200 Sunday Closer | |
| 7:00 p.m. | €150 Last Chance Hyper Turbo |
The Perfect Venue
A sublime tournament schedule aside, the Circus Casino Resort Namur is a stellar venue, making it the perfect host for the 2025 Circus Poker Series. Located by the Meuse River, the venue was built in 1914 but underwent major renovations after a nearby fire in 1980. The casino then expanded to include an adjacent hotel and restaurant, making this a sublime venue for live poker events.
Throughout the years of organizing the EPT, PokerStars have learned a thing or two when it comes to organizing poker tournaments. With their knowledge, ambitions, and determination, there’s no doubt the Circus Poker Series will grow bigger and better in the years to come, and presumably, it’s the climax of Belgian live poker.
