SPS Main Event

The much-anticipated official calendar for the Solverde Poker Season 2023 is finally here. This season will feature 7 events, kicking off on February 9th in Espinho.

A significant change for this season is the reduction in the buy-in for both the regular stages and the Main Event. In 2022, the regular stages had a buy-in of €400, which will now be lowered to €300. The Main Event’s buy-in has also been reduced from last year’s €700 to €500 this year.

The season opener will take place in Espinho, a casino known as the home and birthplace of national poker. This venue will also host the 4th stage and the Main Event. The Hotel Casino de Chaves will host two stages, the second one in early March and the fifth one in October. Heading south, the Casino de Vilamoura will host the third stage in April, and the Hotel Algarve Casino will be the venue for the sixth stage in November.

**For the Regular Stages:**
– Buy-in: €300 (Xtrastack of €20)
– Initial Stack: 30,000 chips (Xtrastack of 10,000)
– Level Duration: 30 minutes on Day 1 and 45 minutes on subsequent days

**For the Main Event:**
– Buy-in: €500 (Xtrastack of €20)
– Initial Stack: 40,000 chips (Xtrastack of 10,000)
– Level Duration: 45 minutes on Day 1 and 60 minutes on subsequent days

Continuing a practice from previous seasons, the money collected from Xtrastacks will be used to reward leaders at the end of each Day 1, providing them with an entry to the next stage of the Solverde Poker Season circuit. This offer also extends to the player who ends up as the bubble of the tournament. The remaining Xtrastack funds will be added to the prize pool.

The reduction in buy-ins is likely an attempt to make the tournament more accessible and to attract a broader player base. The diverse locations for the stages also offer a geographical spread that could appeal to different communities within Portugal. Overall, this season seems geared towards inclusivity, variety, and competitive excitement.