Poker Writer
PokerStars introduced a €550 “Milestone to the Money” tournament at European Poker Tour Barcelona as a new, innovative way to run a multi-flight event. The format mimics a milestone-style satellite tournament but uses traditional payouts.
The new event offered a different way to reach Day 2, rather than the typical way of just surviving through Day 1. Players must turn their 30,000 starting stack into at least 180,000 in order to advance to Day 2. The stack is picked up and bagged right there and moved to Day 2.
This unique format is a different way to play a large multi-flight event. The innovation is to be admired as new tournament formats are always worth exploring. The format has several positives but also some drawbacks.
Keep Reading
No More Bubble Play
The biggest difference this format makes is the elimination of bubble play. That is also what EPT Tournament Director Toby Stone promoted as the appeal of the event.
The bubble is often the least enjoyable part of any tournament. It is slow, with players getting nervous about being eliminated as the money looms. That leads to tanking and stalling. Players fold at a much higher frequency. It is also the most stressful part for tournament directors, as they have to keep tabs on every player to ensure the count is correct.
The only players who enjoy the bubble are typically big stacks leveraging their edge over shorter stacks. They can accumulate free chips and increase their expected value in the tournament.
Eliminating the bubble also makes for less grueling days. In theory, a player could 6x their stack in the span of a few hours and make Day 2 after a brisk few hours rather than having to slug through a typical 12-hour Day 1.
Smaller Stacks
So, the elimination of the bubble cuts out the most painstaking part of the tournament. But it also eliminates a big part of tournament strategy. The dynamics of asymmetrical stacks and money bubbles/jumps arguably create some of the most interesting situations in tournament poker.
The milestone format eliminates that strategic component entirely. Stacks advancing to Day 2 will be much smaller than what you would typically see in a multi-flight event. That means the chips are spread much more evenly heading into Day 2, creating a more level playing field.
One of the comments replying to David Lappin on X bemoaned that forced change in strategy:
This is the worst format I have EVER heard of. Dominate the game, take risks, accumulate a stack, and just as you’re about to dominate the bubble, you get whisked away, and everyone gets to catch up with your stack for Day 2.
More Aggressive Play?
From a strategy perspective, the format encourages aggressive play. A player must accumulate chips to advance rather than just coast along and survive. This could negatively affect more recreational players, as they are often more comfortable sitting back and playing tighter to make Day 2.
On the other hand, players who enjoy mixing it up and playing a more active style will find the format more accommodating, at least on Day 1.
