Hospitality and Highlights From The Festival Bratislava
There is always more to The Festival Series than poker, and the previous Festival Bratislava was no different. Between the packed schedule of poker tournaments, Hospitality Events offered online package winners a chance to get involved with fun activities off the felt. Players who qualified through the online campaign across the iPoker network had access to activities such as bowling, visiting an ice hockey game, and lunches at one of Europe's biggest restaurants, The Flagship, to name a few. Here is a look back at the activities that this lucky group of players got to enjoy with members of The Festival team, where friends for life were bound to be made.
Welcome Drinks & Hospitality Flips
The Festival Bratislava kicked off proceedings in typical style, hosting Welcome Drinks and Flips so the package winners could get to know each other, and meet, or get reacquainted with The Festival team. The bubbles were flowing, and the players were excited for the week ahead, and a big crowd assembled in good spirits.
Chicago School and Lunch
The event, which drew one of the biggest turnouts of the week, was the Chicago School and Lunch. Held in the Ashoka room of Banco Bratislava, this gave players in attendance a chance to learn Chicago, a favorite family game in Swedish households for decades. Players in attendance ranged in ability and nationality, from the UK, Estonia, and everywhere in between, and from veterans of the game to total beginners.
One of the more experienced players in attendance was a friend of The Festival, Ingela Charlez, and she had this to say about the Chicago School: "I haven't been attending that many hospitality events as usual this time in Bratislava, but the one which stood out was the Chicago-School lunch. A game that we Swedes have been playing from a young age, it was amazing to see over 40 people enjoying the game, 40 people from all different nationalities."
Alari Renas of Estonia said, "Although I had read the rules, getting to play the game made it make sense. Missed day 2 only by 1 point."
The lunch no doubt contributed to the success of the first-ever Chicago European Championship, as a whopping 114 players took the tables across 8 total starting flights. A total of 24 took to the felt at 11 p.m. the same day in what was the second-largest starting flight.
Flagship Lunch & Brewery Tour
The lunch and Brewery tour at one of Europe's largest restaurants, The Flagship, proved a hit with the players who attended. A big field came together to talk, drink local beers as well as some from neighbouring Czechia, and eat Schnitzels amongst other local delicacies and dishes. Renas again left us a simple yet informative review, saying: "Very good food and even better beer."
It is also a highlight for Geza Nagy, who said, "I haven't drunk alcohol since then, and since then, restaurant programs have been my favorite. Visiting one of the largest restaurants in Europe was great in Bratislava."
If you want to get involved with the next round of Hospitality Events in Bratislava, or at any of the other stops, click here to start your journey to the next Festival Series stop on the online felts.
Treasure Hunt in Old Town
The Treasure Hunt through the Bratislavan Old Town proved popular with players, as multiple groups came together to search for clues and riddles to complete a series of tasks and find the treasure. It also gave players the chance to do some sightseeing, which is often neglected when abroad for poker rather than a traditional holiday.
The event was won by a team consisting of Halvor Dahlberg Norge of Norway, Norwegian-South African Francois Mouton, Martin Svartz of Sweden, and Dennis Kristl of Czechia. Mouton said of his experience in Bratislava: "The hospitality package transformed The Festival in Bratislava into more than a poker event. It turned the week into an actual holiday, with poker as only one part of a fantastic overall experience."
We are happy you had a good time, Francois, and we hope to see you at the next one.
Bowling Bonanza
Bowling and Bratislava go hand in hand when it comes to The Festival Series, and the bowling bonanza saw a big chunk of the package winners take to the lines in pursuit of bowling glory. It was a striking success! The event is a favorite amongst the participants, with Riitta Sahala of Finland saying: "It was very well organised, and great communication about the schedule. I enjoyed bowling the most as it was really a group activity, and I made new friends. It was fun to see that people were competitive but still cheered for everyone."
One player who enjoyed the event particularly was Alari Renas, who said: "I had an amazing time competing with fellow players and managed to win it, which made it even better." Renas topped the rankings at the end of play, with his teammate and member of The Festival team, Mairo Toom, a bowling-based hustler in a previous life, based on his output at the alleys.
Ice Hockey Experience HC Slovan Bratislava
Hospitality package winners were treated to a game at the capital's ice hockey rink, where they enjoyed Slovakia's national sport. Players were treated to a showdown between HC Slovan Bratislava and HK Dukla Michalovce in the nation's capital. Bratislava took down the game 3-0, and the capital side beat their opposition for the first time at home since 2023. The event garnered widespread praise from players in attendance, including 2023 €550 Malta Main Event winner Victor Gil den Houting.
den Houting said: "I usually don’t join the activities during the festivals because I’m always focused on playing — either deep in tournaments or grinding cash games, since live poker is something I only get to do a few times a year. But the hockey event was honestly amazing. The hospitality team took care of everything: drinks before the match, taxis both ways, and during the game, they were extremely attentive with food, drinks, even popcorn and a hot dog for me. The whole experience was super fun, and the treatment was incredible, as always. That’s exactly why these are the only live events I play all year — the organization is just top-level."
Renas was kind enough to leave even more feedback, saying: "There are not many opportunities for me to watch real Ice hockey, so I jumped at the opportunity. I had lots of fun watching the game with everybody who joined in.
Guided Tour & Goodbye Toast
The Hospitality schedule rounded off with a Guided Tour & Goodbye Toast, so players had a chance to say a warm goodbye in the Bratislavan cold over a glass of mulled wine, capping off a brilliant week for The Festival Series and the players who made their way to Slovakia to get involved in the action.
Win or lose, we hope everyone who came to Bratislava enjoyed their visit, and we look forward to welcoming you all back next February to Bratislava for more of the same.
A Few Words From Our Rockstar Videographer
One of our resident rockstars, and the man behind the video camera, Nekit, offered his perspective on the Hospitality experience. It seemed fitting as he is at every event without fail, filming the action for our highlights videos. He said:
"It's well known that what really makes The Festival Series special is not only the poker itself. The very significant feature of its concept has always been the 'Hospitality' aspect. The founder, our very own Franke, wanted people to experience something more than just the game - to enjoy local culture, food, drinks, and fun activities together. And I am honored to cover these very special occasions: dinners in local restaurants, brewery and winery tours, cart racing, bowling, and much more. When I record these moments, I feel that I’m capturing the true essence - something that holds its special place in TF Series DNA. I see the hospitality participants smiling, laughing, discovering new places and new tastes, and simply enjoying their time.
These moments showcase the true atmosphere of the event. And the best part is that I also take part in these activities, get to know these people personally while trying the same food, tasting local drinks, joining the group during activities, and listening to the same stories from local hosts. I’m not just a camera guy standing aside - I’m inside the experience itself as well. This helps me better understand the emotions and show them more clearly through my work. It feels good to know that I document the most unique and important part of The Festival. Every trip, every activity, and every group of people brings something different, which makes my job very versatile and inspiring. Overall, capturing people having a blast on and off the felt is what makes my work really enjoyable, and every The Festival Series stop is so memorable!"
What's Next?
Win or lose, we hope everyone who came to Bratislava enjoyed their visit, and we look forward to welcoming you all back next February to Bratislava for more of the same. There is plenty of time to earn your package through online qualifiers on the iPoker network, so get online and get involved; you can qualify for as little as 25 cents!
That's all for now, folks. Until next time.
