The 2024 Estrellas Poker Tour Main Event saw an amateur player, Sylvain Berthelot, emerge victorious in one of the most prestigious poker tournaments in Europe. The Frenchman, who entered the €1,100 buy-in event with just $7,443 in prior live poker earnings, outlasted a field of 7,138 entries to claim the title and a life-changing €499,224.
The Estrellas Poker Main Event, held as part of the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) in Barcelona, is known for attracting some of the biggest names in the game. This year’s event was no exception, with professional players like Martin Zamani and PokerStars Team Pro Parker Talbot making deep runs. Yet, it was Berthelot, a recreational player who had taken a break from poker to focus on his family, who defied the odds to capture his first major title.
“I can’t believe it,” Berthelot reacted, “I need my friends to pinch me because it’s such a dream. I don’t have the words. I’m really happy, it’s an unbelievable sentiment. I can’t explain my feelings.”
Moneymaker effect
Berthelot’s victory is reminiscent of the famous “Moneymaker Effect” that revolutionised poker over two decades ago. In 2003, Chris Moneymaker, an amateur accountant from Tennessee, won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event after qualifying through an $86 online satellite.
Moneymaker’s improbable victory against a field of seasoned professionals sparked a global poker boom, inspiring millions of everyday people to believe that they, too, could achieve poker greatness. Like Moneymaker, Berthelot’s triumph is a reminder that in poker, anything is possible, and amateurs can still rise to the top.
Rakeback’s opportunities
Berthelot’s win is already resonating similarly with amateur poker players worldwide. However, the poker landscape has changed considerably since Moneymaker’s era, with online platforms now providing tools like rakeback that improve profitability for even casual players. “Rakeback is a percentage of the rake that is returned to the player who paid it, and it is the most advantageous bonus a poker player can find,” explained RakebackPoker.it.
Rakeback has become an essential aspect of the modern poker economy, as it allows players to recoup some of their costs and can be a crucial factor in turning a marginal win rate into a substantial profit.
As poker continues to grow in popularity, especially with the rise of online play, the possibility of amateurs making deep runs in major events remains a powerful motivator. Stories like Berthelot’s and Moneymaker’s inspire a new generation of players to take their shot at glory, armed not only with determination but also with the financial tools to maximise their chances of success.
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