Raising the Stakes in Award Design At EPT Monte Carlo

Stakes were high in PokerStars European Poker Tour in Monte Carlo, one of the biggest and most prestigious live poker festivals in Europe. It’s been over two decades since the European Poker Tour (EPT) first graced the iconic surroundings of Monte-Carlo. The partnership has certainly stood the test of time, because 2026 was EPT Monte-Carlo’s 21st anniversary. This year they were celebrating one of the most prestigious stops on the poker circuit.

In the luxury Riviera setting with elite international player fields, this event is about greatness, with a strong mix of recreational and professional players. Attracting players from across Europe, North America, South America and Asia. The magic of Monte-Carlo welcomed poker stars and their families at the stunning Salle des Etoiles, a venue that was certainly fit to host a stop of this magnitude.

Photography by Danny Maxwell

For those wanting to join the ranks of the EPT greats and write their name in the history books, the 10 day event included headline tournaments like EPT Main Event, €100,000 Buy in High Roller for One Drop & €250,000 Buy in Super High Roller. Resulting in multi million pound prizes for the winners. With the final culminating on Sunday the 10th May.

Top Money Prizes

Alex Kulev etched his name into PokerStars history in Monte Carlo on Tuesday night when he took down the biggest buy-in event ever hosted at the PokerStars-branded event. With a €250K Buy-In, the Bulgarian pro Alex Kulev rose to the occasion, denying poker’s No 1 Bryn Kenney of the win and walking away with a 2.8m win.

Photography by Danny Maxwell

Kulev said “All the best players in the world come to play these EPTs, especially at this lovely stop. We all gather and try to perform as best as we can. But I’m very grateful that this tournament was organised and that I was able to have the fortune to win it.”

Jason Koon USA came out on top of the deck as the winner of the High Roller €100,000 Buy-In Invitational & took away a win of €1mil. Koon had to beat Aleksejs Ponakovs, Stephen Chidwick, Ben Tollerene, Patrik Antonius, Artur Martirosian, Kayhan Mokri, Mikita Badziakouski, and Daniel Dvoress. An absolute murderers’ row of poker talent with a combined $429,609,824 in career earnings between them.

Photography by Danny Maxwell & Eloy Cabacas

Roman Stoica topped 1011 entries & took the 2026 Main Event, winning the EPT Monte Carlo, with a grand prize win of €825K.

Bold Award Design

At EFX this isn’t the first time we have worked with PokerStars on their bold designs, where top-tier design meets championship execution. This year’s range feature the recognisable Spade shape with pierced star that you see in PokerStars logo. The larger award style features that same Spade design but fixed onto a layered shard style in a mix of finishes for each exciting win, anodised, nickel plated & gold plated. A winning hand of luxury, precision and finish, with no bluffing on quality.

Roberta Naselli, PokerStars Live Events Operations Manager:

“EFX has been a trusted PokerStars supplier for many years. Our players really value the trophies, both for what the brand represents and the quality of the awards themselves. Working with EFX has always been easy: they’re responsive, reliable, and keep us well updated throughout, so everything runs smoothly and efficiently.”

Top Image Photography by Danny Maxwell & Manuel Kovsca