The Unibet Open is back this year with a giant festival planned for Bucharest. The event – which is taking place at the stunning JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel from November 30 to December 4 – is aiming to break records in the Romanian capital with the largest Unibet Open ever held there.
The five-day festival will be the Unibet Open’s fourth visit to the Romanian capital and will feature numerous different tournaments including the tour’s flagship €1,100 Main Event. It is being run in conjunction with PokerFest Romania and a record turnout is expected. The number to beat is 603 entries – and Unibet is going all out with online satellites to make sure as many players as possible have a chance to compete.
How to qualify
Prize packages worth €2,000 will be up for grabs during the qualification period for Unibet Open Bucharest. The packages will include the €1,100 Main Event buy-in, four nights’ accommodation at the Marriot Hotel for qualifier and guest plus €250 towards travel expenses. Feeder satellites will start on Unibet Poker from as little as one cent with five packages guaranteed in the weekly €250 qualifier to be held every Sunday. The first qualifier is on Sunday, May 28, and the last is set to take place on Sunday, November 19, just 11 days before the tournament start. There will also be live satellites held at the Marriott Hotel in the run-up to the festival.
All Unibet qualifiers will get a free dinner each night of the event, as well as must-have Unibet merchandise, the chance to mingle with Unibet Ambassadors and full access to the Welcome Drinks and Players Party.
Unibet Open Bucharest history
Anton Vinokurov took down the last Unibet Open Bucharest Main Event which was held in 2018. Vinokurov won a record first prize of €103,060 after beating a tough field of 592 entries. A total of 87 players got a share of the €592,000 prize pool.
Vinokurov, who was chip leader throughout the final day, said: “I believed when I started play today as the chip leader that I must make it to the final table and finish in the top three. Then when there were five players left, I knew I would win. I felt no other players could beat me.”
The first ever Unibet Open Bucharest was held in 2016. Local hero Traian Bostan beat the huge field of 603 players to take home a €100,000 top prize. In 2017, Romanian player Marius Pertea won the Main Event for €90,925.
Parties
Off the felt, there will be plenty of opportunities for players to have fun at Unibet Open Bucharest. Unibet will be hosting a Welcome drinks party at the Marriott at the start of the festival followed by the unmissable Unibet Players Party on the Saturday night.
Nataly Sopacuaperu, Unibet Open’s Head of Events, said: “We’re extremely excited to be heading back to Bucharest again after a five-year hiatus. This event always has a really special atmosphere and this year promises to be a great reunion.
“Bucharest is an amazing city and a great place to party as well as play poker. We’re really looking forward to it.”
Laura Olteanu, Head of Events for Pokerfest Romania, said: “We couldn’t be more delighted to be partnering with Unibet once again for another tournament in Bucharest. We are thrilled to continue our collaboration and look forward to celebrating the end of 2023 with an incredible Unibet Open Event.”
The spectacular Marriott Hotel is located next door to the Palace of the Parliament and just a few minutes from Bucharest’s legendary Old Town. Full schedule details for Unibet Open Bucharest are set to be released in June.
