Patrick Leonard is a successful professional poker player, WSOP bracelet winner and ambassador for CoinPoker. He has picked up major wins both live and online, where he has 10 WCOOP and 8 SCOOP titles, among many other accolades. This week, Pads reflects on an enjoyable return to the EPT, and looks ahead to a tricky decision...
EPT Cyprus was a great trip. Last time out, I was saying how I was going to my first EPT in many, many years. My memories of the WSOP have always been long lines, frustrating wait times, and pretty reggy. This trip couldn't have been more opposite. The Stars app works amazingly; you can see who's on your table, you can buy in through it, and when you're on the toilet, you can see how long is left in your break. In my day, people used to use a stopwatch! My grandkids won't believe that!
I didn't queue up for more than three minutes the entire trip, and I was seated within 30 seconds every time. The games. Mama mia! The best I've ever seen. I managed to run hot with multiple deep runs in massive field tournaments. I played well, I think, and I put that down to enjoying the experience. Sometimes you just want to escape the table, and you make plays that are boom or bust. Here I loved every day and wanted to remain in the tournament.
The best thing was catching up with everybody and meeting people that I play with online but haven't met in real life. People were so nice to me too; whenever I'm walking down a corridor, somebody is shouting ‘POWERJAM’ or ‘Mamacitatatatatata!’. I love it and always bring a smile.
The resort in general I didn't love, to be honest. It's five stars, but it’s not really, in my opinion. The food is okay, the rooms are okay, and the area is okay, but it’s not somewhere I'd rush to come back to.
Choices, choices...
Next plans are kind of up in the air for me; as poker players, we have so many choices. Previously it was always EPT Prague in December, now they give us three ridiculous options.
WSOP in the Bahamas
PROS: Huge value, massive prize pools, the WSOP brand, bracelets, Paradise.
CONS: Supporting an event that is designed to kill one of poker’s best events.
WPT World Championship in Las Vegas
PROS: Beautiful casino, Vegas is cooler in December, lots of high stakes crushers going to the Bahamas, an amazing tournament. Last year I said, ‘I'll definitely be back next year,’ even though I close to bubbled on the feature table.
CONS: No guarantee for the Main Event and a weaker side schedule due to so many people going to the Bahamas.
EPT Prague
PROS: Christmas in Prague is beautiful, a nice side schedule, last year they had record number fields, closer to home for Christmas. Sausages.
CONS: Very, very cold. Seeing Instagram updates of people swimming with pigs in 30 degrees while you put on your fourth layer ain’t too good.
I would say I'm 70% WPT, 25% Bahamas, and 5% Prague, but let's see if any more pros and cons come along in the next month.
You can follow Pads on X and Instagram, or find him on the tables at CoinPoker.
Images courtesy of Rational Intellectual Holdings, Ltd.
