In its inaugural edition back in April, The Big Wrap confirmed itself as the largest European Omaha poker tournament.
So, the news that the event would be returning to the Czech Republic was met with plenty of excitement from those intending to enter.
And why not: organizers have confirmed that there will be more than €1.5 million in guaranteed prize money – roughly $1.65 million!
That’s an increase from the $1.3 million offered back in April, so there are plenty of reasons to get excited about this second edition at the King’s Resort in Rozvadov, from September 9 to 16.
What’s to come this time around
That eight-day schedule ensures a wide variety of tournaments and cash games will be played. Proceedings will be getting underway with The Big Wrap Warm-Up PLO, a $600 buy-in tournament with 30,000 chip stacks and 31-minute blind increases. There are also satellite qualifiers where the buy-in is $82.
During the early days of the festival, the emphasis will be on bankroll building, with a number of different games in which unlimited re-entries are allowed across the first ten levels of each.
As that Warm-Up PLO enters its business-end, blind levels will go up to 45 minutes as the remaining players in the field do battle for their slice of the $220,000 guaranteed payout.
The maiden Warm-Up PLO was won by Alessio Pillon, who trousered a payout of a cool $48,000. The Italian has enjoyed plenty of success in his home continent, winning a pair of events in the Italian Series of Poker as well as cashing more than $25,000 at a WSOP satellite in Venice.
For those players who don’t enter the Warm-Up, there’s plenty of other events to get involved in. The $600 buy-in Big Wrap Hi/Lo takes place on September 12, while two days later there’s the 5-Card PLO which, for a $1,200 buy-in, serves up a guaranteed prize pot of $55,000.
The main event
While there will be plenty of intrigue in the early going, of course, all eyes will be on the main event, which is set for September 13th to 16th.
The Big Wrap PLO will draw some of the finest Omaha players from across the continent, with a guaranteed prize fund in excess of $1 million on offer to those who stump up the $2,500 buy-in – satellite qualifiers are available at a more affordable $400.
The two opening rounds see each player handed 100,000 chips, with blinds raised at 40-minute intervals. Those who go all-in and hit the dirt can enjoy unlimited re-entries until the end of Level 14, with blind increases extended to one hour each until the late registration period closes.
The tournament will culminate on September 16, with the action live-streamed around the globe.
Eventually, the identity of the winner will be known, and they will be looking to emulate the achievements of Lautaro Guerra, who took the spoils in April.
The Spaniard, who has twice cashed at the tables of WSOP 2018 and ’19, outmaneuvered a 516-strong field – which included the likes of Lauri Sakari, Tomasz Kozub, and Peter Muelbeck – to take home roughly $225,000 in prize money and confirm himself as a major player in Omaha poker.
