It's time for the €5,300 Main Event here at the PokerStars European Poker Tour Barcelona, running at the Casino Barcelona on the stunning Mediterranean coast.
Last year, Simon Wiciak topped a field of 2,120 entries for a career-best score of €1,134,375 after cutting a three-way deal with João Sydenstricker and Carl Shaw to become the most recent EPT Barcelona Main Event champion.
Previous EPT Barcelona Main Event Champions
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
2023
2,120
€ 10,282,000
Simon Wiciak
France
€1,134,375*
This year, players can take a maximum of two combined entries across both starting flights, up until late registration closes at the start of Day 2.
Players will start with 30,000 stacks with blinds beginning at 100/100 with a 100 big blind ante. Levels increase every 60-minutes, with a 20-minute break every two levels and a 75-minute dinner break at the end of Level 6.
Day 1a is the first of two chances for hopefuls to find a bag for Day 2 and starts at midday local time.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for regular updates straight from the tournament floor as reporters follow the event from start to finish until a new champion has been crowned.
Early notables to take their seat at the start of Day 1a include EPT founder John Duthie, EPT Paris champion Barny Boatman, EPT Monte Carlo champion Derk van Luijk, 2019 EPT Barcelona champion Simon Brandstrom, 2015 champion John Juanda, and last year's runner-up Joao Sydenstricker.
Inaugural champion Alexander Stevic is also back to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his victory.
Heads-up on a flop of 8♥K♥4♣, Eduard Simonyan bet 300 from under the gun and Brian Battistone called on the button.
The turn was the A♣ and Simonyan bet another 1,600. Battistone again called to see the 10♦ river as Simonyan slowed down and checked. Battistone then bet 4,000 and Simonyan quickly folded.
Boris Angelov opened to 300 from the hijack. Betanzos Guerrero called on the button and Cheng Zhao defended the big blind.
The 2♦A♣2♣ flop was checked around, as was the 10♦ turn. Zhao and Angelov checked to Guerrero on the Q♠ river, who fired a bet of 300. Zhao and Angelov quickly folded.
Jack Oliver raised to 300 from late position, Zaur Zulfiyev called on the button and Giovanni Bellini called in the big blind.
All three players checked on the 5♠5♣2♣ flop. The turn was the 3♠ and Bellini bet 1,100, which both Oliver and Zulfiyev called.
The river came the 9♠ and Bellini bet 3,300. Oliver folded and Zulfiyev raised to 6,600. Bellini called and Zulfiyev showed A♠Q♠ for the ace-high flush.
