Hi Fero, please try to introduce yourself to those who don't know you. Who are you, what position do you have in the casino and how long have you been here?

"Hi, my name is Frantisek Koval and I come from Bardejov. I've been in poker bisnis since 2011 and for over 10 years now, I've been in charge of poker tournaments in Košice and also in our partner establishments in Poprad and Humenne. This work includes setting up the tournaments from "A to Z", but what gives the most work is their subsequent promotion on a daily basis, because I also take care of the marketing part. Simply put, to let the players know what will be played, when, and for how much."

Banco Košice has been indelibly on the map of Slovak poker for many years, where we believe everyone knows it well. However, as we also operate abroad, we would like to introduce the casino and its offer to those who have never been to Košice before.

"Banco Casino Košice is one of the largest poker casinos in Slovakia, located in the very heart of historic Košice on Hlavna Street No. 1, specifically located in the Hilton Hotel. We offer a wide range of different poker tournaments every weekend, from large ONE DAY EVENTS to multi-day tournaments. Last but not least, of course, we also offer CASH GAME NLHE/PLO action ranging from €1/€2 limits to €20/€40 high stakes. We meet the highest standards to meet the expectations of even the most demanding clientele from all over the world."

We're talking just after the second edition of the Grand Poker Cup series, which by the way went very well. Did it exceed the expectations of you and the entire staff?

"Bringing the €100,000 guarantee to Košice on a regular basis was a long term goal that we all worked towards, and I'm very happy that we managed to organise it last September. But as they say, it's not important to do a tournament for the first time, but to repeat it successfully.

Before the GPC event started I had high expectations and wanted to beat the great result we managed in September, but the opening days didn't really show that, even though in the long run it's on these days on flights 1/A and 1/B that the advancing players pack the most chips. Friday was a bit stronger, after all people are already off work and don't have to get up in the morning. Saturday's atmosphere was electrifying, the Banco in Kosice was bursting at the seams and we played everywhere. In total, the players produced 468 entries. On Sunday we broke the record of 744 entries and we beat the guaranteed prizepool by one third, which is great news for our team in the future because we know that we can set the guarantee even higher over time."

744 entries, the guarantee collected and a Slovakian champion at the end - could it have gone any better?

"Those who know me well know that I am never satisfied, I still see room for improvement and I firmly believe that the third edition of the GPC will surpass the 800 entries mark. Of course, my sincere congratulations to Matej, I have been registering him as a player for over 15 years and he certainly deserves such a hit."

Poker festivals like the GPC are not only a bastion of tournament players, but often a place for a great cash game. What did it look like over the past few days? Are foreign players active on the CG tables as well?

"Of course, foreign players come to our tables on a regular basis, they play different limits on the cash game tables. They make the cash games more lively, which is definitely an added value for the players. We play into the wee hours of the morning, and the fun at the table is taken care of. During the GPC event we played three days, also BIG GAME 10€/10€ PLO, these games are under the supervision of Dusan Sninsky and whoever has heard how the big game is played in Košice knows that experiencing it once is much better than hearing it 100 times."

Speaking of CG, tell us what limits are usually played and what bonuses await your players.

"We play NLHE/PLO limits from €1/€2 up to €20/€40. For cash players we offer from highhand -bonuses up to 10k CASHBACK every month. We also reimburse players for accommodation in partner hotels. Service and professional staff and the biggest BADBEAT in Slovakia is just the icing that completes the overall experience for players."

Speaking of that massive Bad Beat Jackpot, do you remember past moments when that pot has fallen?

"I remember all the Badbeats that have fallen on the cash table. That feeling of 'losing' takes on a whole different dimension in a second. The outburst of emotions and the players' reactions are unreal. At the moment BBJ has been resisting for more than 5 years."

Tournament regulars are used to the fact that the offerings each month still include offers headlined by the Kosice Weekend? What's your take on the oldest tournament series in the country?

"Yes these tournaments are very popular and players will continue to enjoy the true poker atmosphere during these tournaments. Košice Weekend is a chapter in itself. I joined the then Monte Carlo Poker Club in April 2011 and that's when a chapter of the tournament that players here and abroad are familiar with began to be written. Sometimes this tournament was played every week, hence the name Košice Weekend. But it didn't last long and this tournament series has gradually changed and evolved, Košice Weekend originally started as a 50€ Double Chance, it went through changes to 50€ Triple Chance, 30€ Freezout, 30€ Double Chance or 60€ Freezout. It was not only the buy-ins that underwent changes, but also the starting days. The multi-day alternated with the single day and the latter finally prevailed. This tournament is the longest running series in Košice, having been played more than 100 times.

I remember when we decided to make this tournament a one-day tournament at a time when players traveled to €20,000 tournaments outside of Košice and to play a €10,000 for a €60 buy-in was something unimaginable at the time. The onslaught of players took us by surprise then, we had 15 tables in the club at the time which were fully loaded, we had 50 players on the waiting list and we were setting up more tables as we went along... This tournament confirmed me that you shouldn't be afraid to take risks and if you prepare well, the atmosphere of a full casino will get everyone.

The whole year 2024 is practically still ahead of us, can you give us a hint what specialties the casino will prepare for the players during this year? What will be the highlight of 2024 for you?

"I don't like to reveal plans, but players can definitely look forward to the third edition of the GPC event. But if you need some whispers, we are preparing a tournament format that has never been played in Slovakia before and after the first MYSTERY BOUNTY tournament organized in our country, we will be the first in this one as well."

As many of us know, you've worked in the casino industry for many years alongside your wife. How do you manage to be together practically 24/7 hours?

"I take it quite normally, we've been together for over 15 years and we came into the casino business together...But I won't say more because she makes my paychecks :D"

Any message to the readers at the end?

"I will be very happy if players from all over Slovakia will take the time to come and visit us at Banco Casino Košice for any tournament. We have some great tournaments coming up for them in 2024, so there really will be plenty to choose from."

Thank you Feri and we look forward to working with you again!