On March 6, 2010, the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Berlin, host of the European Poker Tour (EPT), became the scene of a shocking heist. Four armed men stormed the tournament venue and stole over €242,000 in a daring and chaotic robbery that sent shockwaves through the poker world.
The Heist
The attack was fast and aggressive. The robbers wore masks and entered the venue armed with firearms and machetes, triggering mass panic. Some attendees attempted to flee, while others dropped to the ground in fear.
The thieves targeted the cash registers before making their escape in a black Mercedes.
Initially, reports varied on the amount stolen. The Toronto Star estimated €250,000, while other sources claimed €800,000. Official reports later confirmed the stolen sum as €242,000
Investigation and Arrests
German authorities launched an immediate investigation, gathering all available security footage and mobile recordings. At first, there were no strong leads, despite expert opinions that the heist was amateurish and inspired by the movie Ocean’s Eleven.
Some speculated that the robbers had inside help from someone at the Hyatt Hotel, coordinating the timing of the attack. However, German police dismissed this theory, as all necessary details—such as registration deadlines and cash storage—were publicly available in the tournament’s official brochures.
Months after the attack, police arrested six suspects:
- Ahmad el-Awayti (20 years old)
- Vedat S. (21 years old)
- Jihad Chetwie (19 years old)
- Mustafa Ucarkus (20 years old)
- Ibrahim al Moussa (30 years old)
- Mohammed Abou-C (32 years old) – a tournament player who provided the tip for the robbery.
Interrogations revealed that the stolen money was to be divided in advance: each robber was to receive €45,000, while €5,000 was allocated to the informant, Mohammed Abou-C.
Ibrahim al Moussa played a key role in organizing the getaway. In August 2010, he stood trial and received 6 years and 4 months in prison for armed robbery. His lawyer claimed that al Moussa deeply regretted his actions and had returned €22,000 of the stolen money. However, the full amount was never recovered.
By late 2011, court proceedings concluded, sentencing the perpetrators to 3 to 6 years in prison. The fate of the missing money remains unknown to this day.
Security Failures and Criticism
Following the heist, German police chief Rainer Wendt criticized the event’s security measures, stating that the tournament was poorly secured and that the on-site security guards were unarmed.
One security officer, Roman, who managed to recover several bags of stolen money, recalled the chaos:
"It was terrifying. My job was to protect the money, and I thought it would be an uneventful day. Then I heard gunshots, followed by screams, and saw masked men running toward the registration area. They were brutal, all of them armed… I focused on my duty, and we managed to recover some money… At that moment, it never crossed my mind that they might shoot me—I just wanted to stop them… I regret not being able to hold one of them down; his accomplices came back, and there was nothing I could do.”
Reactions from the Poker World
The heist made headlines across the poker community. Kevin “ImaLuckSac” MacPhee, who went on to win the tournament, described the harrowing experience:
"At first, I didn’t know what was happening. I just saw people panicking and rushing toward the back exit. I realized that only a weapon could cause this kind of chaos, so I instinctively dropped to the ground. The gunmen never entered the playing area; they stayed near the registration desk… It was surreal to return to the tables and resume playing after that."
Poker legend Doyle Brunson, who passed away in 2023, also commented on the incident:
"I’ve lived through five armed robberies in my life, and believe me, it’s no fun at all… I’d bet that anyone who was there will never forget how it felt."
15 Years Later
Today, the EPT Berlin heist remains one of poker’s most infamous crimes. Though the financial loss was relatively small compared to other high-profile robberies, the incident highlighted the security risks associated with large live poker events. As a result, security protocols have been significantly strengthened, making a similar attack far more difficult to carry out today.
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