After hitting the beaches of the Costa Brava back in May of this year and the Austrian slopes in February, our popular 888Live series is set to return to beautiful Tallinn for a weekend of poker and cultural delights. From August 25-28, we will host a €440 buy-in, $30,000 guaranteed Main Event, which will be hosted by Kara Scott.
The two-day Main Event will be held in the Olympic Casino at the Hilton Hotel and offer players a single re-entry. As a consolation prize, there will also be a $5,000 freeroll for online qualifiers who are eliminated from the Main Event.
888Live's Last Stop in Tallinn
888Live last visited the Estonian capital back in September of last year. The €440 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event drew 116 entrants, which created a total prize pool of €52,000. In the end, local player Ranno Sootla defeated Finland's Kalle Aberg in heads-up play to capture a €12,000 first-place prize.
Interestingly, Sootla followed it up by winning another tournament in Prague three months later, which brought his live tournament earnings up to $253,234. That currently puts him eighth on Estonia's all-time money list!
"I really liked the event, and it was great to see that a lot of Estonia's top poker players reacted positively to 888poker's call and joined the event," Sootla told PokerNews after the win. "The Main Event was full of recreational players and beginners, and I have enjoyed that. Also, I got the chance to play against a lot of friends and Estonian players that I don't see every day."
How to Win Your 888Live Tallinn Ticket
Players looking to follow in Sootla's footsteps can qualify for the 888Live Tallinn now. "Back in Time" step-structured satellites are already running and start as little as 1¢, or players can jump in direct to $160 qualifiers running every Sunday, now through August 14. Simply look under the tournaments tab > Live events tab.
It's there that players can win a $1,250 prize package to 888Live Tallinn that includes three nights at the four-star Nordic Hotel Forum, the $440 Main Event buy-in, $250 in travel money, an 888Live kit. You even get the opportunity to travel back in time and explore the Old Town of Tallinn.
Things to Do in Tallinn
While we hope those in attendance are busy at the poker tables, we do encourage you to get out and see all that Tallinn has to offer.
Here are five things we at 888poker recommend you check out, in no particular order:
5.) Walk the Streets of Old Town
Without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Tallinn is exploring the medieval Old Town, which is chock full of street markets, performers in costumes, and more. Old Town Tallinn is on the smaller side of things, meaning you can take it all in simply by going for a walk. In fact, there is a free walking tour at Noon every day. Just meet in front of the main Tourist Info (Niguliste 2) with a pair of comfortable shoes.
4.) Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Like many European cities, there are sightseeing double-decker red buses traversing the streets of Tallinn. Such tours are great for those looking to take in large expanses of the city. They're affordable and allow you to get on and off the bus as often as you'd like. This is definitely for tourists looking to take the city in at their own leisure.
3.) Take a Day Trip to Lahemaa National Park
Located outside of the city, Lahemaa National Park is filled with dense forest with a picturesque coastline. It’s there you can find a hidden captains’ village and abandoned Soviet military remains. The day trip will take about nine hours, which is a steal beginning at around €55.
2.) Take in the View from Toompea Hill
Toompea Hill is located in the central part of the city and offers a view second to none. It is part of the Tallinn Old Town UNESCO World Heritage Site and the centre of the Government of Estonia and the Riigikogu (parliament). There's a lot of history to be had at Toompea and is a must for those looking to take in the culture.
1.) Grab a Drink at Hell Hunt
Since 1993, Hell Hunt has offered friendly service and an extensive beer selection to thirsty patrons. It's unofficially the "first Estonian pub," and is among Tallinn's most popular places to grab a drink. Of course, there are plenty of other nightlife options including Club Studio, Venus Club, and Vabank, just to name a few.
