€5,300 EPT Main Event
Day 1a Started
€5,300 EPT Main Event
Day 1a Started
Welcome back to the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) here at Casino Barcelona, where players are gathering to take their shot at poker glory in the €5,300 Main Event.
Last year, Italy's own Giuliano Bendinelli came back from a single big blind to best the 2,294-player field and take home the €1,491,133 first-place prize.
This year, the field is expected to be even larger, as has been the general trend throughout the history of the EPT. Here's a look at previous champions, field sizes, and prize pools over the years:
YEAR | ENTRIES | PRIZE POOL | CHAMPION | COUNTRY | 1ST PRIZE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 1,082 | €5,247,700 | Mikalai Pobal | Belarus | €1,007,550 |
2013 | 1,234 | €5,984,900 | Tom Middleton | United Kingdom | €942,000 |
2014 | 1,496 | €7,255,600 | Andre Lettau | Germany | €794,058 |
2015 | 1,694 | €8,215,900 | John Juanda | Indonesia | €1,022,593 |
2016 | 1,785 | €8,657,250 | Sebastian Malec | Poland | €1,122,800 |
2017 | 1,682 | €8,157,700 | Sebastian Sorensson | Sweden | €987,043 |
2018 | 1,931 | €9,365,350 | Piotr Nurzynski | Poland | €1,037,109 |
2019 | 1,988 | €9,641,800 | Simon Brandstrom | Sweden | €1,290,166 |
2022 | 2,294 | €11,125,900 | Giuliano Bendinelli | Italy | €1,491,133 |
Play is set to kick off at 12 p.m. local time. Players will begin with 30,000 in chips with blinds starting at 100/100 with a 100 big blind ante. Levels will last 60 minutes, and players will be sent on 20-minute breaks after every two levels. An extended 75-minute dinner break will be held after Level 6.
Each player will be allowed a single reentry across both Day 1a and Day 1b. Play will end for the day after Level 10, and all remaining entrants from both flights will reconvene on Tuesday, August 29 at noon for Day 2.
Be sure to stick with PokerNews as we continue to bring you all the action from the tournament floor leading to the next EPT Main Event champion!
With 251 players to start things off, cards are now in the air for the EPT €5,300 Main Event!
Level: 1
Blinds: 100/100
Ante: 100
Herbert Gottsbacher opened to 300 on the button and was called by Kitty Kuo in the big blind.
Kuo check-called a 400 bet from Gottsbacher on the 4♣A♥9♠ flop, but then led out for 1,500 when the 2♥ fell on the turn. Gottsbacher called.
The 2♠ completed the board, and Kuo tossed out a single 5,000-denomination chip. Gottsbacher folded after a bit of thought, and Kuo collected the pot.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Kitty Kuo |
33,000
33,000
|
33,000 |
Herbert Gottsbacher
|
27,000
27,000
|
27,000 |
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Samantha Abernathy |
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
Piero Alioto |
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
Daniel Rezaei |
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
Kevin Rabichow |
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
Jen Shahade |
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
Anton Wigg |
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
||
Erik Seidel |
30,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
||
Masato Yokosawa | 30,000 |
https://twitter.com/PokerStarsLIVE/status/1695738141565432027?s=20
Antonio Fernandez opened to 300 first-to-act and was three-bet to 1,100 by Luciano Macchiarelli on the button. Action folded back around to Fernandez, who called.
Both players checked on the J♣9♠10♣ flop and then Fernandez check-called a 1,300 bet from Macchiarelli on the A♣ turn.
The K♠ completed the board and Fernandez checked once more — prompting a 2,100 bet from Macchiarelli. This time Fernandez folded and Macchiarelli picked up the pot without a showdown.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Luciano Macchiarelli | 31,000 | |
Antonio Fernandez
|
29,000 |
Erik Seidel and Peter Jorgne were heads-up on a 5♦Q♦J♠ flop. Both players checked and then Jorgne bet 800 from the hijack on the Q♣ turn. Seidel called on the button.
Jorgne fired 1,400 into the middle on the 8♣ turn and Seidel again called. Jorgne tabled J♦10♠ for jacks-up and Seidel mucked — conceding the pot to Jorgne.
Despite the hit, Seidel appears to off to a good start with around 38,000 in chips.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Erik Seidel |
38,000
8,000
|
8,000 |
|
||
Peter Jorgne |
21,000
21,000
|
21,000 |
Cesar Montanes opened to 300 from the cutoff and found one caller in Vladas Tamasauskas from the big blind.
Tamasauskas check-called a 300 bet from Montanes on the 3♠7♦Q♠ flop and an 800 bet from Montanes on the 4♣ turn.
The 4♥ completed the board and Tamasauskas again checked. Not slowing down, Montanes sized up for a 3,600 bet and Tamasauskas laid his hand down after a bit of thought.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Cesar Montanes | 31,000 | |
Vladas Tamasauskas |
28,500
28,500
|
28,500 |