The Lithuanian National Match Poker League continued its exhilarating journey on Saturday, 27th April, with the highly anticipated second match day taking place in Alytus. Eight teams from different cities came together to compete in an intense battle of wits and strategy. The event showcased the talents of both seasoned players and promising newcomers, making for a captivating day of Match Poker action.

The first match day had set the stage for an exciting competition, with Team Po Kerais from Vilnius emerging as the victors. Now, as the second match day unfolded, the stakes were higher and the anticipation palpable.

With another 300 hands of Match Poker to be played, the league welcomed a group of new players ready to make their mark. Arūnas Mankevičius, Lukas Gordejevas, Dominykas Chrypa, Kristijomas Radvila, Emilis Marcinkevičius, and Edgaras Grazevičius joined the league, adding fresh energy and talent to the mix.

The day kicked off with Session 1, and it was Poker Garden from Kaunas who took an early lead with an impressive 544.6 points. The competition was fierce, and every decision carried weight as the players vied for dominance.

In Session 2, the battle for the top spot intensified as Po Kerais and Du Karaliai, both Vilnius-based teams, fought for supremacy. Ultimately, it was Po Kerais who finished on top with 565.1 points, showcasing their consistent performance.

The excitement continued to build in Session 3 as the two Vilnius-based teams faced off once again. This time, Du Karaliai took the lead with 495.6 points, demonstrating their resilience and determination.

However, it was not just the individual session results that determined the overall winner. Du Karaliai’s exceptional performance throughout all three sessions, particularly in accumulating chips, propelled them to a final score of 1499.4 points, securing them the victory for the second match day. SPRO from Alytus claimed the second position with 1492.7 points, while Po Kerais from Vilnius finished third with 1482.2 points.

A special recognition was awarded to Arūnas Mankevičius, a debutant for Du Karaliai, who was hailed as the Best Player of the day. His outstanding performance contributed significantly to his team’s success and showcased his skill and strategic prowess.

The Lithuanian National Match Poker League is shaping up to be an enthralling competition, highlighting the passion and talent within the country’s growing Match Poker community. As the league progresses, fans eagerly anticipate more thrilling match days and unforgettable moments of strategic brilliance.

The next match day promises to bring more intense showdowns and exciting battles as the teams continue their quest for victory in this rapidly growing sport.

List of participants:

PO KERAIS (VILNIUS) – Elvinas Vitkevičius ©, Karolis Šlekaitis, Gabrielė Šalčiūtė, Mykolas Pratusevičius, Rapolas Bielskis, Dominykas Matijošaitis

DU KARALIAI (VILNIUS) – Skirmantas Tomkevičius ©, Andrius Pelenokas, Marius Balachovičius, Saulius Podvaiskas, Geraldas Pukelis, Diana Dvelienė, Mindaugas Dvelys, Mantas Urbonas, Arūnas Mankevičius

KOZIRIAI (KAUNAS) – Eglė Geniene ©, Giedrius Genys, Viktorija Grigaitė, Šarūnas Jurelė, Darius Misevicius, Karolina Miseviciene, Marius Vaičiulis, Deimantas Urnikas

POKER GARDEN (KAUNAS) – Lukas Kviecinskas ©, Viktorija Ignatavičienė, Rimantas Ignatavičius, Martynas Gasparaitis, Laurynas Visockis, Erikas Žukas, Jonas Krivickas, Liudvika Sejonaitė, Ignas Akelis, Lukas Gordejevas

VILNIUS JACK HIGH (VILNIUS) – Tadas Šerepėka ©, Žydrūnas Eisinas, Marius Girnis, Tomas Puodžiukaitis, Maksim Jakšanov, Evelina Matelytė, Ervinas Nemero, Dominykas Chrypa, Kristijomas Radvila

SPRO (ALYTUS) – Mantas Remeika ©, Andrius Kiauličius, Povilas Maziukas, Viktorija Balynaitė, Marius Zalieckas, Rimantas Kuzulis, Karolis Plauskas, Vaidas Valiūnas

TILT FOREVER (VILNIUS) – Evaldas Saulis, Artūras Žilanus, Valdas Ulkė, Simas Balėnas, Mantas Marozas, Dainius Ulkė ©, Edita Ulkienė, Šarūnas Stirbis

PPL (ALYTUS) – Linas Jautakis, Raimondas Gurskas, Edvinas Lynge, Deividas Mencevicius, Mindaugas Kazlauskas, Rytis Zilinskas, Tomas Ivanauskas, Algirdas Navickas, Jaunius Mockevicius, Emilis Marcinkevičius, Edgaras Grazevičius

Event Recap: 2024 Harvard Match Poker Championships

CAMBRIDGE, MA – April 20, 2024 – The Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University witnessed a thrilling display of skill, strategy, and camaraderie as the first-ever Harvard Match Poker Championships unfolded. Hosted in collaboration with the Harvard Poker Club, this groundbreaking event celebrated the intellectual prowess and competitive spirit of Harvard’s finest minds.

Match Poker, recognised globally as a game of skill and a digital mind sport, took center stage, showcasing its unique blend of strategy and mental agility. Unlike traditional poker, Match Poker levels the playing field by ensuring that all players are dealt identical hands, placing the emphasis squarely on strategic decision-making.

The championships brought together a diverse array of talent, with teams composed exclusively of students from Harvard College and University. Emphasising inclusivity, the competition welcomed participants of all genders and backgrounds, reflecting the university’s commitment to diversity and equality.

Throughout the day, the Berkman Klein Center buzzed with excitement as teams battled it out in the digital arena. A specially designed fan zone provided spectators with a front-row seat to the action, as gameplay was broadcast in real-time, with all card information revealed. This innovative approach allowed for unparalleled review and analysis, fostering an atmosphere of suspense and excitement.

As tables completed their sessions players eagerly rushed to the fan zone to cheer on their teammates and monitor the live leaderboard closely. The sense of camaraderie and teamwork was palpable, as competitors supported each other in their quest for victory.

The event culminated in a dazzling awards ceremony, where the top-performing teams were honored for their exceptional skill and sportsmanship. Medals and trophies were awarded to the three best-performing teams, recognising their outstanding achievements on the virtual felt, and to the top individual player.

Beyond the thrill of competition, the Harvard Match Poker Championships underscored the myriad benefits of playing poker. From honing strategic thinking and decision-making skills to fostering teamwork and resilience, poker offers valuable life lessons that extend far beyond the confines of the game.

“We are thrilled to introduce the sport of Match Poker to the highly skilled students at Harvard,” remarked Patrick Nally, President of the International Federation of Match Poker. “The success of today’s event is a testament to the talent and dedication of the Harvard community, and we look forward to collaborating with the Harvard Poker Club on future events that will continue to showcase the brilliance of our sport.”

As the curtains closed on the 2024 Harvard Match Poker Championships, participants left inspired and invigorated, eager to continue their journey in the world of competitive poker. With its emphasis on skill, strategy, and inclusivity, Match Poker has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of the Harvard gaming community, paving the way for future generations of poker enthusiasts to follow.

The prestigious Harvard University is set to host the highly anticipated 2024 Harvard Match Poker Championships on April 20th, 2024. This skill-based competition in the digital sport of Match Poker, a recognised game of skill and mind sport, will bring together students from Harvard in a thrilling display of strategic prowess and teamwork. The event is proudly organised by the esteemed Harvard Poker Club in collaboration with the International Federation of Match Poker.

Match Poker, a digital team-based card game, has gained recognition worldwide for its ability to foster critical thinking, decision-making, and communication skills. The tournament will take place at the Berkman Klein Center, located on Harvard’s campus in Cambridge, MA, providing the perfect setting for this exciting showdown.

Teams of 6-10 players each will compete, with 6 members playing at a time, showcasing their abilities in an atmosphere of friendly camaraderie. Match Poker is a sport that promotes inclusivity, with no restrictions based on age, gender, or physical ability. Each team captain will introduce their players before the gameplay begins, creating a welcoming and social environment.

The event will feature a state-of-the-art fan zone, where the gameplay arena will be broadcasted in real-time. Spectators will have the unique opportunity to follow the action with all card information face up, allowing for unparalleled review and analysis. Substitutes and analysts in the fan zone will closely observe the matches, taking notes to share with their teammates during strategy breaks between sessions of play.

“The Harvard Match Poker Championships not only highlights the exceptional skills of Harvard’s students but also provides an immersive experience in a sport that promotes strategic thinking, teamwork, and adaptability,” said Patrick Nally, President of the International Federation of Match Poker. “We are thrilled to introduce the sport of Match Poker to the talented students at Harvard and work closely with the Harvard Poker Club to create more of these exciting events in the future.”

The tournament will culminate with an awards ceremony, where the top-performing teams will be honoured with trophies and medals for their exceptional achievements. This celebration of skill and dedication promises to be a memorable experience for all participants and spectators alike.

From September 14th to September 17th, 2023, the Herzdamen Festival took place at the Grand Casino Aš in the Czech Republic and 4 members of the German national Match Poker team were there to put their skills to the test. The guaranteed prize pool for the event was €70,000, but it was significantly exceeded, reaching nearly €108,000.

The German National Match Poker players were highly successful over the course of the series, proving their exceptional individual skills once again.

 

Julie Schumacher (co-organizer of the Herzdamen Festival)

  • Royal Class (€250 Buy-In): 5th place for €1,883
  • Queens Cup (€150 Buy-in): 8th place for €1,211

 

Kai Rieche (key national team player and a regular at the Grand Casino Aš)

  • Queens Turbo (€50 Buy-In): 1st place for €1,107
  • Dealer’s Choice NLH/PLO (€60 Buy-In): 1st place for €1,491

 

Daniel Eylenfeldt (Team Captain)

  • Royal Class (€250 Buy-In): 1st place for €6,727
  • Queens Cup (€150 Buy-In): 14th place for €615

 

Rene Schlemon (new addition to the national team)

  • Queens PKO (€90 Buy-In): 6th place for €840 including bounties.

 

In summary, that’s 3 tournament victories, 6 final tables, and a total prize money of nearly €14,000 for the 4 players. A fantastic result from the World Champions!

 

“A Chip and a Chair”

During the Royal Class tournament, with blinds at 8k/16k, Daniel Eylenfeldt went all-in preflop with KJs vs. AQo for about 20 big blinds and was left with only 7k chips afterward. However, with less than half a big blind, he started his comeback and managed to secure the tournament victory after around 13 hours of play, at 7 o’clock in the morning!

https://www.hochgepokert.com/2023/09/16/herzdamen-club-uebernimmt-gca-pokerroom-daniel- eylenfeldt-siegt/

After the success of the inaugural season of the national Match Poker league in 2022, the Polish national federation (Związek Pokera Sportowego) decided to create a new position in the structure of the association – Sport Director for the National Team.

This honour was bestowed upon Adam Pawlikiewicz, who has been an active member of the Souther Match Poker Conference.

Adam is an IT and internet marketing specialist with a deep passion for the digital sport of Match Poker and loves to play & compete on a level playing field while putting his skills on display.

Adam Pawlikiewicz

The main responsibilities of the Sports Director are primarily organisational management of the Polish national team, ensuring good & regular communication between the squad and the coach, planning activities related to the development of the team such as training & strategy discussions, and taking care of the image of the team.

Adam, thank you for your contribution to the sport and we wish you many successes with the Polish National Match Poker team!