PartyPoker Tour Castellón: Jonathan Rees Wins Main Event

Add as preferred on Google

Copy link Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Last updated: Oct 14, 2026 Published: Oct 13, 2026 5 min read

The PartyPoker Tour continued its pan-European voyage with a stop at Orenes Gran Casino Castellón in Spain, and once again a series representing online poker site PartyPoker has went above and beyond expectations. Players flocked from all over to visit the Costa del Azahar, with each and every guarantee blown out of the water.

From October 5 - October 11, there was a huge 1,895 entries into the 12 events that took place, which generated €385,400 in total prize pool money. Looking at the headline event of the week, there were 368 entries into the €500 Main Event, each contributing to the mammoth €163,760 prize pool. It was Wales' Jonathan Rees who came out on top after three days of competition, earning himself a whopping €30,000 for the victory.

The PartyPoker Tour €500 Main Event Final Table Results

It was by no means Rees' first rodeo on the PartyPoker Tour, as he already had multiple silver trophies in his collection from previous side events. As fulfilling as they may be, this time he was going for gold, and there's nothing quite like adding a Main Event win to the résumé. The victory, incidentally, handed Rees his first taste of true PartyPoker gold, with the shiny diamond trophy undoubtedly being placed front and centre of the collection on his return home.

According to Poker.pro, who live reported the event, Rees described himself as a "passionate amateur," however that amateur showed his grit to overcome the 368-strong field, which included such names as 888Poker Team Pro Ian Simpson, who was the first elimination at the final table. Although it may not have always been smooth sailing for the Swansea local, who came into the final day fifth in chips, he never stopped rallying, and returned from the tour with the most prestigious piece of silverware that was up for grabs.

There were just 18 that returned for Day 3, and those players were shortly whittled down to just nine, who made up the official final table. Following Simpson's exit, two of the tour's most recognisable names followed shortly after. PartyPoker Ambassador Matt Staples claimed seventh place for €4,800, before PartyPoker Team Pro Barry Carter departed shortly after, and was awarded with €6,500 for his sixth-place finish.

The first podium place was taken by Valencia native José María Pérez. Despite primarily playing cash games, he showed his tournament prowess and locked up a score of €14,500. The loser of the heads-up battle, Pau Veciana, turned his satellite entry into a €20,000 pay day, and really made the most of his trip to Castellón, stating that he doesn't often get the chance to play live.

The €30,000 won by Rees is his career-best live cash according to The Hendon Mob, surpassing the £ 8,500 he won for a runner-up finish in the 2025 APAT World Amateur Poker Championship.

Twelve Champions Crowned

Across seven days of Poker on the Iberian Peninsula, a total of 12 players added their name to the list of PartyPoker victors, with trophies making their way to multiple nations across Europe.

The event that had the best chance of taking attention away from the headline Main was the €150 Mini Main Event, which was the busiest tournament of the week, seeing a total of 727 entries across four Day 1 flights. Of the €90,875 prize pool that was generated by those entrants, the lion's share of €16,000 went to Marius-Laurentiu Dinu. The Romanian came out on top of the field, in an event that saw the third-largest Mini Main Event opening flight in PartyPoker Tour history, with 279 players signing up to play in Day 1a.

Ian Simpson, despite being unable to make the most of his final table appearance in the Main Event, didn't let the near-miss deter him, as he carried on his incredibly hot streak of recent with a triumph in the €1,000 High Roller 7-Max. The 46 entries generated a prize pool of €41,400, with Simpson securing a huge €14,500 of it, as well as yet another piece of silverware. Unbelievably, that wasn't the event's biggest story, as PartyPoker Team Member Natalie Bromley managed to turn a £5 Step 3 satellite into a huge score of €4,000 for her fourth-place finish.

The Mystery Bounty format, ever-increasing in popularity, also made an appearance, as 207 hopefuls signed up to the €250 Mystery Bounty. In the tour's first ever multi-day Mystery Bounty event, a total of €44,205 across the three starting flights, and Spain's Javier Llobregat Ruiz made history as he became the first person to win in this new format, securing €5,400 alongside any bounties he pulled along the way.

There was also a lot on offer for those wanting a break from the standard Hold'em tournaments on offer, including the €60 Party Madness Win the Button NLH Bounty, €60 Poker.PRO Party Madness Red River NLH Bounty, as well as the €60 Poker.PRO Party Madness Crazy Pineapple Bounty, which is a variation on Open-faced Chinese poker. The three generated over €10,000 in prize money collectively.

The Party Poker Tour Castellon - Results

The only player to take down two events was PartyPoker Tour Team Member Sam Acheampong, who took down the staff tournament to go alongside his victory at the death in the €100 Last Chance NLH Double Board for €2,000.

The PartyPoker Tour now looks to its next stop, as it heads overseas for yet another series outside its native UK. Action is heading to Cork, Ireland, where another full week of action will take place, this time from November 9-15, with Macau Casino playing host.

• Tags Ian Simpson Jonathan Rees Natalie Bromley Oliver Hutchins PartyPoker Paul Romain Sam Acheampong