A cult was created
For the vast majority of European players, poker means No-Limit Texas Hold’em. The Cadillac of Poker, they possibly discovered it on late-night terrestrial television in the UK or Ireland. Perhaps it was the razzle-dazzle of the World Poker Tour broadcasts or the grungier, neo-sports docu-dramas covering the World Series of Poker that caught their eye. Whatever it was, it drew them into a version of the game that was played with two hole cards, a flop, a turn, and a river.
when Stud was the poker de jour and 5-card draw was romanticized
A visit to their local casino or cardroom would confirm that bias. Save a couple of Pot-Limit Omaha tables, the cash game area is a sea of No-Limit Hold’em games. A chat with an older player might induce reminiscences of a time when that wasn’t so, when Stud was the poker de jour and 5-card draw was romanticized. A bit of research would unearth the existence of a whole host of game types, some Fixed-Limit, some Pot-Limit, a veritable smörgåsbord of poker variants.
Further research and some networking would uncover the possibility of companionship for those interested in the more exotic forms of poker, games in which they snow, scoop, stand pat, play seventh street, and make the worst hand on purpose. Cutesy acronyms were contrived from the letters that corresponded to each game in a particular mix. Friendships formed and a cult was created.
The EMPC: the brainchild of Tobias Leknes
Cults, even benign ones, need cult leaders, and Tobias Jelsa Leknes, known online by the nickname “senkel92,” is one such benevolent boss. Born and based in Oslo, he is one of the world’s foremost mixed-game specialists, his poker resume boasting umpteen COOP titles and Norwegian Poker Championship wins. He is renowned for his adaptability and deep understanding of game theory.
Beyond playing, Leknes has also been active in the administrative side of the game, serving for many years on the board of the Norsk Pokerforbund (Norwegian Poker Federation), becoming its head in the Autumn of 2022. He is now expanding his sphere of influence by bringing his new brainchild, the European Mixed Poker Championship (EMPC), to Dublin.
From November 4 to November 9 in the Village Green Card Club in Tallaght, the EMPC will host nine tournaments with buy-ins ranging from €300 ($346) to €2,000 ($2,303), including the €800 ($921) 8-Game Main Event. There will also be cash games in all different variants running throughout the week.
Build it and they will come
Leknes is excited about what he is calling “the greatest mixed game poker schedule that Europe has ever seen.” Speaking exclusively to VSO News, he said that he is hoping for “100 entries in the Main Event, with strong attendances across the board, including the new SORBET (Stud, Omaha, Razz, Badugi, Stud8, and Triple Draw) mix.”
He continued: “The love for mixed is spreading in Ireland, and I know plenty of Norwegians who are ready to go back our beloved poker capital!”
For the best part of a decade, Dublin’s Citywest Hotel played host to the humongous Norwegian Poker Championship, a festival which found a new home in Bratislava for the past few years, a move which has received mixed reviews from the players.
the popularity of mixed games is clearly spreading all across Europe”
It takes a lot of ambition and confidence to run an event like this, but clearly Leknes has a build it and they will come mentality. “In one sense, it takes guts to put up a stand alone mixed festival,” he said, adding: “On the other hand, the popularity of mixed games is clearly spreading all across Europe.”
In Leknes, poker’s all-rounders have not just an advocate but someone who is willing to put skin in the game to bring mixed games to the people.
