Online Poker Players Return from Europe with New Understanding of Aggressive European Tournament Play

The Living the Dream team – the online satellite tournament winners from Intertops Poker and Juicy Stakes Poker that I went to Austria with -- had a great week in Europea but, all too soon, CAPT Seefeld 2016 was history and it was time to say auf wiedersehen. The guys headed home with heads filled with all they’d learned about European tournament play (still shocked at how aggressive the Europeans in Austria played compared to their casinos back home) and with visions of schnitzel burgers that will haunt then forever.

Video: Living the Dream: CAPT Seefeld, Episode 4 – Auf Wiedersehen Seefeld

Three online satellite winners from Intertops Poker and Juicy Stakes Poker head home from CAPT Seefeld in Austria.

Peter Roche from Ireland won the CAPT Seefeld Main Event that Daniel, Chris and Tim competed in.  He took home € 78,000 after agreeing to a deal that quickly wrapped up the three day grind.  Two German players took second and third place.

The Living the Dream players weren’t the only ones that didn’t last until Day 3. There were over 300 players in Seefeld, from 20 different countries, including poker greats like Ronny Kaiser, Leon Tsoukernik, Josip Simunic, Niki Jedlicka, Jan-Peter Jachtmann, Mihai Manole, Rino Mathis, Dermot Blain, Jonas Kronwitter and Quirin Zech. But only 18 made it to the final fight for the title and the € 96,000 prize.

It was a bad day from the start for chip leader Stefano Bertoldi . He lost almost every hand even when he had stronger hands and eventually settled for 14th place.

The only woman at the final table, the very classy Danielle Rollinger from Luxemburg, hung in for ages but was eventually caught short when Mambamenni went all-in. The board brought a Straight for the colourful Mambamenni and put elegant Danielle in 6th place (€ 16,200).

After starting in last place with only 20 big blinds, Jan-Peter Jachtmann was the chip leader going into the final hands. Then Austrian Markus Dürnegger quickly took a clear lead -- until a Queen on board sent him to 4th place (€19,800). The last three then agreed to a deal. It had been a long three-day grind.  Although he was as colourful and animated as he’d been through the whole tournament, tattooed Mambamenni had been at the table long enough.  He and Jan-Peter Jachtmann had almost the same number of chips and each settled for €55,800. Roche, who was apparently paying a price for spending three days hunched over a poker table, subsisting on casino junk food, said his stomach was bothering him and was only to happy to wrap things up.

CAPT Seefeld 2016: Final Results

Peter Roche from Ireland won CAPT Seefeld 2016, settling for 78,000

CAPT Seefeld 2016 second place, Mambamenni, was a colourful character throughout the three-day tournament at the Austrian ski resort

rank first given name name nation purse deal

1st Peter Roche, Ireland, Purse: € 96,000 Deal: € 78,000
2nd Mambamenni, Germany, € 57,600, € 55,800
3rd Jan-Peter Jachtmann, Germany, € 36,000, € 55,800
4th Markus Dürnegger, Austria, € 25,900
5th Yigit Aktulga, € 19,800,
6th Danielle Rollinger, Luxembourg, € 16,200
7th Jonah Kronwitter, € 13,900
8th Daniel Peche, Germany, € 11,500
9th Tobias Stefan, Germany, € 9,900
10th Christopher Sandy, Germany, € 8,460
11th Giuseppe Caradonna, Italy, € 7,200
12th Hannes Speiser, Austria, € 7,200
13th Cristinel Dumitru, ROU, € 6,100
14th Stefano Bertoldi, Italy, € 6,100
15th Mario Eder, Austria, € 6,100

There’s already talk about Living the Dream returning to Austria this summer with winners of upcoming online satellite tournaments.

Chris has already won his way to the next Living the Dream poker adventure, so I look forward to see inghim at TKPT St Maarten.  Tim will be playing in the TKPT online satellite tournament final at Intertops Poker on Sunday so with any luck he’ll be back in our next series of videos as well!

Until next time… keep living the dream!

Three Strikes and They're Out

There was no joy in Seefeld after Day 1, the mighty Living the Dream team had struck out. Sadly, all three of the players from Intertops and Juicy Stakes bust during the first day of CAPT Seefeld.

Daniel Montagnolli, who was playing pretty aggressively for the early hours of Day 1 was the first to go. He bust at the first level. Chris Perkins was playing pretty tight but was prepared to get aggressive if and when the situation was right. At level 5, just before the dinner break, he went all in when he later realized he probably should have folded. And he was out. That left Tim O'Keefe as the only member of our team still at the table after the dinner break. Then, 11 hours after they first sat down, he was out too.

Video: Living the Dream: CAPT Seefeld, Episode 4 – Three Strikes and the Living the Dream Team is Out

Somewhat overwhelmed by aggressive German players, all three team members are out after Day 1.

Living the Dream Team Warms Up for the Main Event at CAPT Seefeld

Living the Dream team members Daniel, Tim and Chris, were a little shaken after busting out pretty early in the 550 Euro tournament they played on their first day in Seefeld, Austria. They'd all won their way to Austria in online satellite tournaments at Intertops Poker and Juicy Stakes Poker. Good players. But that first day in Austria? Bad cards… weird moves by other players… What can you do?! Then after a good night’s rest – and a better understanding of how their competition plays -- they were optimistic about their prospects heading into the 2000 Euro Main Event that began Friday afternoon.

Tim was up to 42K at the second level and if that had held up he could’ve been sitting pretty. “Hey, I’m saving it all for the Main Event!” he laughed as his team mates consoled him in the casino bar afterward.

Chris was getting good cards early in the 500 Euro tournament he played as a warm up. He was up to 40K quite quickly. Then he made a squeeze play that didn’t quite work out. He shoved it Ace 5 suited in the small blind and was called by Ace-ten. He was out.

“I got my stack in with monster draw,” said Daniel after he too was out. “I opened with a straight on the flash draw. Unfortunately he flopped a straight.”

Daniel had committed himself to a check race and there was no way to fold. He was free to join the team in the bar to re-group and prepare themselves for the 2000 Euros Main Event the next day.

Video: Living the Dream: CAPT Seefeld, Episode 2 -- What are Ya Gonna Do?!

Daily video reports from CAPT Seefeld will continue through this weekend

The Gamblogger Joins Three Online Players Living the Dream in Austria this Weekend

This week I'm with three online satellite winners from Intertops Poker and Juicy Stakes Poker who are in Austria for the 800,000€ CAPT Seefeld poker tournament. In the days prior to the Main Event Chris, Daniel and Tim played as many smaller tournaments and cash games as they could, taking the opportunity to check out their competition. They all agreed that the field is fairly soft and so were a bit disappointed not to have picked up some cash before the big tournament that brought them to the picturesque Tyrolian ski resort.

Video: Living the Dream: CAPT Seefeld, Episode 1 -- Checking Out the Competition

Daily video reports from CAPT Seefeld follow three online satellite winners from Intertops Poker and Juicy Stakes Poker at the 800,000 Euro tournament in Austria.

“It’s taken me awhile to get used to these European players’ style,” said Chris who came to Austria from Pittsburgh. “They all seem to be extremely cautious or extremely aggressive, not too many that fall somewhere in the middle like I do.”

“The structure of these smaller tournaments sucks,” said Tim O’Keefe from Texas. “They’re too fast. No time to get a read on the other players. I’m looking forward to the Main Event where we have more time and more chips to play with.”

“The way the Main Even is structured, you can easily grind because you get 50,000 chips and sixty minute levels. You don’t have so many showdowns like in the turbo tournaments,“ agreed Daniel, a local poker pro who lives in nearby Innsbruck.

“It’s so deep and the blinds increase so slowly so you can really play your hands and you’re not all in all that often. You’re always deep. That’s very nice!”

"Living the Dream -- no better way to describe this trip!” said Tim. “I've only been in Austria two days and would already say this is an experience of a lifetime! The amazing architecture, history and beautiful scenery have kept me so busy and excited, that I almost forgot we are here to play poker!! Haha It might be too amazing here to play as both Daniel and I have come up short, getting pretty unlucky in a couple of the smaller buy in events so far. No worries though, I'm convinced we are just saving all for the main event!”

“The people at Intertops have done an incredible job here,” he added. “They’ve gone above and beyond for us players. I cannot thank them enough!”

Intertops and Juicy Stakes Poker, the main online poker rooms on the Horizon Poker Network, have become well known for running online satellite tournaments sending winners to live tournaments in Europe and the Caribbean. Last fall, five online winners went to CPT Punta Cana together and right now there’s an online satellite tournament series in progress that will send five players to the TKPT tournament in St Maarten in April. The series continues until March 6th with Step 1 tournaments in the three-tier series (buy in $2 + $.20) every day at 11am, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm and 10pm EST. From there, you can win your way to Finals held Sundays at 9 pm EST, where $3000 prize packages are awarded to the winners, or buy-in to those events for $100 + $10.

My Living the Dream: CAPT Seefeld video series will continue with video reports from the Main Event.

Living the Dream Team is on its Way to Austria for CAPT Seefeld

Members of the Living the Dream team, all online satellite winners from Intertops Poker and Juicy Stakes Poker, are on their way to Austria to compete in the CAPT Seefeld poker tournament next week. Daily video reports from the world class ski resort near Innsbruck begin on Wednesday on the Living the Dream poker blog.

Meanwhile, online satellite tournaments where five online players will win their way to the Caribbean for the TKPT tournament in St Maarten in April, continue until March 6th. Step 1 tournaments in the three-tier series (buy in $2 + $.20) are held every day at 11am, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm and 10pm EST. From there, players can win their way to Finals held every Sunday at 9 pm EST, where $3000 prize packages are awarded to the winners, or buy-in to those events for $100 + $10.

Video: Satellite tournament winners will compete at CAPT Seefeld in Austria

Daily video reports following 4 players at their first live tournament in Europe begin February 25th at Live-Dream-Poker.com

“I can't stop thinking about the tournament in Austria!” said Chris Perkins, one of the online winners joining the team in Seefeld. “For the past few days I have been feeling like I am going to do really well,” Chris said on the Living the Dream poker blog today.

“The structure of this event is by far the best live tournament structure I have played with 50,000 starting stack and 60 minute blind levels. This structure favors my style so much. I really think this is going to be the tournament that is going to allow me more freedom with poker. I don't know why I am getting that feeling, but this just seems like my time.”

“I’m really looking forward to welcoming the team to my home turf!” said Daniel Montagnolli, an Austrian poker pro who was with the team in Punta Cana last fall and who will also be with them in Seefeld. “I love this area and I know they will too! CAPT Seefeld is one of the best stops on the Casinos Austria poker tour. There will be players from all over -- lots of professionals but lots of recreational players as well.”

Intertops Poker and Juicy Stakes Poker are the leading online poker rooms on the Horizon Poker Network.

CAPT Seefeld Online Satellite Tournaments Begin Tomorrow

Intertops Poker and Juicy Stakes Poker are hosting another series of online satellite tournaments beginning tomorrow. This time the champion will be going to Austria for the CAPT tournament in Seefeld.  They'll be joining  two other online satellite winners that have already won their way to the €800K Austrian poker tournament.

The winner of the satellite tournament series will receive a $3200 prize package to play in the CAPT Seefeld Main Event February 23 – 29. The prize package includes buy-in to the Main Event (€2,160), four nights at a premium hotel, and $500 toward travel expenses.

You can win your way to Austria with just an initial $2.20 buy-in or buy-in at any stage of the three-tier series. Step 1 ($2+$0.20) are held daily until February 6 at 6 am, 10 am, 1 pm and 4 pm EST (11 am, 3 pm, 6 pm, 9 pm GMT). The prize is a Step 2 ticket.  Step 2 ($10+$1) tournaments are held daily January 27 - February 6 at , 4 pm EST (9 pm GMT).  The Final ($100+$10) will be on Super Bowl Sunday,  February 7, 4 pm EST (9 pm GMT).

Video: Win your way to CAPT Seefeld in online satellite tournaments

Intertops Poker and Juicy Stakes Poker online tournament winners will win trip to Austria.

CAPT Seefeld, with its estimated €800,000 in prize money, is one of the CAPT Big Four. Last year, an Intertops online satellite champion won his way to CAPT Velden and made it to the Final Table. Last fall, more online tournament winners competed in a live tournament in the Caribbean.

“I’ve been to some great places, playing poker,” said Daniel Montagnolli, an Innsbruck local who won his way to CPT Punta Cana at Intertops and will be joining other winners in Seefeld. “This time it’s cool to have the poker world come to ME!”

Online players like Daniel share their live tournament experiences on the Living the Dream blog  which will have daily video reports from Seefeld February 23-28.

Satellite Tournaments will Send Online Poker Champion to CAPT Seefeld in Austria

Intertops Poker and Juicy Stakes Poker are sending another online poker player to a high stakes live tournament.  Recent winners went to the Caribbean but this time the destination is an Austrian ski resort.  The winner of a three-tier satellite tournament series that begins this week will receive a $3200 prize package to play in the CAPT Seefeld Main Event in February.

Several daily Step 1 tournaments, with a buy-in of only $2 + $.20, begin Wednesday and continue until December 19th. The prize package awarded to the winner of the Final on December 20th includes buy-in (€2,160) to the CAPT Seefeld Main Event (February 25th – 29th), four nights at a premium hotel, and $500 to help with travel expenses.

Video: CAPT Seefeld online satellite tournaments

Top Revolution Poker Network sites will send online champions to Austrian poker tournament

“It would be great to see another player go all the way,” said Intertops’ Poker manager.  “Just last week, one of our players won the TKPT event in St Maartens – over $30,000 in prize money and he got there by winning a $2 Step 1 tourney and then winning his way all the way to the main event!”

The TKPT winner’s story is on the Living the Dream blog (http://www.live-dream-poker.com) where online players share their live tournament experiences.

Players can win their way to Austria or buy-in at any stage of the CAPT Seefeld tournaments.

CAPT Seefeld Satellite Tournament Schedule 

Step 1 ($2+$0.20)
Winners receive a Step 2 ticket
Daily December 9th to 18th, 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm, 10 pm EST (4 pm, 7 pm, 10 pm, 4 am CET)
Dec 19th, 10 am & 1 pm EST (4 pm & 7 pm CET)

Step 2 ($10+$1)
Winners receive ticket to Final
Daily December 9th to 19th, 4 pm EST (10 pm CET)

Final ($100+$10)
$3200 CAPT Seefeld prize package awarded
Sunday, Dec 20th, 4 pm EST (10 pm CET)

CAPT Seefeld, where there will be an estimated €800,000 in prize money, is part of the CAPT Big Four.  Last year, an Intertops online satellite champion won his way to CAPT Velden, and even made it to the Final Table at that €500 buy-in event.

“I like CAPT tournaments because all kinds of people come to play: pros as well as people on holiday,” Christoph said after nearly winning.  “There’s a good mix of people and playing skills. For me it’s also fun to meet a lot of players that I know but don’t see very often.”

Intertops Poker and Juicy Stakes Poker are the two most popular online poker rooms on the Revolution Poker Network.  In addition to busy poker tables with players at every skill level, and frequent online satellite tournaments for major events around the world, they also offer dozens of online casino games from Cake Gaming.