After a year of forced hiatus, the European Poker Tour has returned to the City of Light. EPT Paris is the first stop of 2026, marking the return to the French capital after the cancellation of the 2025 edition due to regulatory changes that had put the event on hold.
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And as often happens when live poker returns after an absence, the entrance brings surprises like the Spin & Go Championship Live, for the first time in the French capital, a way for fans of the fast variant so popular in online poker to play it live as well (at least a few chosen ones will have this opportunity).
We are on the eve of the fascinating Spin & Go Championship Live Paris: let’s discover together the rules and the most curious aspects of the special event that will start on Monday, February 23.
Spin & Go Championship Live Paris
The Spin & Go Championship Live is not a traditional tournament; it is a live transposition of the fastest and most adrenaline-pumping format of PokerStars Poker: short games, turbo structure, and the “wheel” mechanic that can change the payout at any time. In Paris, we will witness another exciting edition, with a novelty: the Spin Off, the tournament to qualify the last 9 players.
A new edition of this exciting live game, the Spin & Go Championship Live, brings its high-voltage format to the tables of Paris.
The tournament is scheduled for February 23 and 24, and the guaranteed prize pool is €315,000, with €150,000 up for grabs at the final table.
The Spin & Go Championship Live will see 81 qualified players participate in live three-player multi-table Spin & Gos to compete for the GTD.
It’s not just a special tournament. It’s a true high-speed poker spectacle.
But in the transalpine capital, there will be a novelty.
The Spin-Off: The Last Call to Qualify
On February 22, the live Spin-Off will be played to qualify for the traditional event, with 9 spots still up for grabs.
Here is how it is structured:
- field of 81 players
- 3-handed tables
- ultra-fast levels
You don’t need to win. You need to finish in the top 9.
Those who succeed:
✔️ get a seat for the Spin & Go Championship Live
✔️ receive 4 nights’ stay in Paris
✔️ + €500 for expenses
The main event starts the next day.
How the Spin & Go Championship Live Works
The tournament unfolds in four progressive rounds, all based on a simple concept:
Round 1: Starting with 81 (Monday, February 23)
The first day opens with three flights. Each player starts with 400 chips and must win 4 games. Those who succeed move on to Round 2. The structure is designed to replicate the online pace:
- blinds every 3 minutes
- 10-second shot clock
- translated: ultra-fast levels
There is no room to wait. Immediate decision-making is required.
The live Spin structure:
- 10/20
- 15/30
- 20/40
- 30/60
- 50/100
- 75/150
- 100/200
- 150/300
- 200/400
In Round 1, there is only one Spin per table.
The 27 qualified players who advance to Round 2:
✔️ are already ITM
✔️ have at least €1,500 guaranteed
Practical Tips for Participating Players
- The first round of the Championship includes three flights starting at 10:00, 13:20, and 16:40.
- Players can check their seat assignment via the PokerStars Live app. It is not possible to choose or change your flight.
- The action will take place in the main tournament room, specially prepared for the tournament.
- Participants must arrive at least 20 minutes before the start time; however.
The “Spin” Mechanic (The Heart of the Format)
As in online Spins, the prize wheel also comes into play live.
At every table, the luck factor will also play its part; remember that:
- there are 3 cards
- only one is “Spin
Whoever finds the Spin card spins the wheel and can also win immediate cash prizes.
We’ll explain how it works: there will be 3 cards (two “No Spin” and one “Spin”). The player who wins the first game will draw a card; then the winner of the second will do the same, until the “Spin” card is drawn. The player who draws the “Spin” card will be able to spin the wheel and win a cash prize. There will be ONLY one Spin card per table in Round 1
This introduces an interesting variable: you can already be in the money.
Round 2: The Selection (February 23)
The start of Round 2 is scheduled for 20:25: the 27 remaining players will be distributed across 9 tables. You must win 4 games to win the table and advance to Round 3.
The prize wheel returns to play in the exact same way as Round 1. There will be one Spin card per table in Round 2 as well. Everyone must be seated by 20:15 (10 minutes before the start). If someone is not present at 20:25, the game will start anyway, but their stack will remain in play. At the end of the round, 9 players will advance to Round 3.
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In summary:
- The remaining 27 are distributed across 9 tables.
- Identical format: 4 wins are needed to pass. The wheel remains active.
- At the end: 9 remain.
Round 3: The Semifinal (February 24)
The semifinals will start at 13:00. The 9 players will follow the same format as Round 2: it will be necessary to win 4 games to advance to the final, and only 3 players will move on to Round 4. The wheel will still be in play and, as before, there will be only three Spin cards (one per table).
- The 9 players are divided into 3 tables.
- Once again: 4 wins are needed to reach the final.
- Only 3 qualify for the grand final.
Final: Only One Will Remain!
The final of the Spin & Go Championship Live will start at 16:40. The last 3 players will compete for a guaranteed prize pool of €150,039.
- There will be 5 Spin cards in the final: each winner of the first 5 games will be able to spin the wheel. The winner will be the first to win 5 games;
- among the other two finalists, the player with the most wins will finish second. In case of a tie, the players will split the 2nd and 3rd prizes, receiving the same amount.
In the last round, everything changes; you have to shift gears, you play to win.
The games conclude with the first to reach 5 wins, winning the Spin & Go Championship Live Paris.
The wheel is even more central and random:
- 5 Spin cards in the final
- variable prizes
- dynamic payout
The minimum guaranteed prize pool is €150,039 for the final table.
Spin & Go Championship Paris: The Payout
Prize structure, here is how they are distributed:
From 1st to 3rd place: variable payout based on the result and the draw of the 5 final Spin cards, but with a guaranteed minimum of €25,039 for the winner (excluding any amounts won through the Spins).
- 4th-9th place: €4,500
- 10th-27th place: €1,500
- Spin the wheel: €212,000 (100K in the final, 40K in Round 3, 36K in Round 2, and 12K for each of the three Round 1s).
The amounts for each player (being a promotion) will be credited to the participants’ online accounts on February 25.
What Qualified Players Need to Know
Those who won
