PokerStars teams up with One Drop - and announces biggest EPT buy-in yet

An electronic banner above the tv stage at ept monte carlo. credit manuel kovsca rational
Mo Afdhal
Posted on: March 31, 2026 10:17 PDT

From April 30 to May 10, the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) will touch down in Monte Carlo for one of the most highly-anticipated tournament series of the year. 

Alongside the regular slate of events, EPT Monte Carlo will play host to the largest-ever buy-in in the tour's history: the €250,000 EPT Super High Roller

The nosebleed stakes tournament will kick off on May 4, with unlimited re-entry open until the start of Day 2. In the entirety of its storied history, PokerStars has only held one other tournament at a similar price point – and the upcoming event in Monte Carlo trumps that based on a slight technicality thanks to currency conversion rates. 

In 2023, a $250,000 Super High Roller took place at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. If you were to convert that sum into euros, it would only be about €230,000 – clearing the path for EPT Monte Carlo to carve out its own niche of PokerStars history. Canada's own Sam Greenwood rose above the 39-entrant field that day, defeating France's Jean-Noel Thorel during heads-up play to claim the $3,276,760 first-place prize. 

PokerStars x One Drop

Additionally, PokerStars and the One Drop Foundation have announced a new partnership ahead of the EPT Monte Carlo series. 

The One Drop Foundation, created by Cirque du Soleil founder and poker enthusiast Guy Laliberté, focuses on establishing partnerships to provide clean water and sanitation to the 2.2 billion people across the globe who struggle with access to safe water. Since 2012, the ongoing partnership between the One Drop Foundation and the poker community has raised upwards of $26 million for the charitable outfit. 

At EPT Monte Carlo, the 100K High Roller for One Drop – which takes place May 1-3 – will see 3% of each buy-in donated to the One Drop Foundation's global safe water projects. PokerStars Ambassador and high stakes crusher Jason Koon has committed to participating in the tournament and the award-winning PokerStars broadcast will cover the event. 

Guy Laliberté hasn't had the time to play much poker in recent years but still follows the game. Guy Laliberté, a long-time poker enthusiast, created the One Drop Foundation to improve access to clean water across the globe.

Laliberté said: "One Drop Foundation is thrilled to partner with EPT and PokerStars to bring the cause of safe water to the poker table at the iconic Sporting Monte Carlo. Witnessing the poker community compete at the highest level for such a vital cause — access to clean water for all — is truly inspiring. We hope to see you there."

Cédric Billot, Associate Director of PokerStars Live Events, said: “Poker has always had a strong culture of community, and partnering with One Drop allows us to channel that spirit into supporting an incredibly important cause. The €100,000 High Roller at EPT Monte Carlo attracts some of the best players in the world, and we’re excited that this year it will also contribute to supporting global water access and help drive a meaningful impact.”