€1,650 PokerStars Open Day 3 | 2025 PokerStars EPT Barcelona

08-23-2025 22:00 UTC+2

Zech Never Bluffs

David Salituro

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Tor Skardi raised to 750,000 in the small blind and Ben Zech called in the big blind.

Both players checked the A♥K♥3♥ flop. Skardi also checked the 2♣ turn, then called when Zech bet 675,000.

Zech bet another 1,600,000 on the 6♣ river, and this time Skardi folded. "I never bluff," Zech said as he showed K♠2♠ while taking in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ben Zech	18,500,000 1,000,000	1,000,000

Tor Skardi	9,800,000 1,200,000	1,200,000

Tags: Ben Zech Tor Skardi

08-23-2025 21:56 UTC+2

Sterba Folds Out Two

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Connor Richards

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Jakub Sterba opened to 500,000 on the button and got action from Daniele Cuomo in the small blind and Yakiv Syzghanov in the big blind.

Cuomo and Syzghanov checked on the flop of 3♥8♠5♣ and Sterba continued for 750,000. Both opponents folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniele Cuomo	10,000,000 475,000	475,000
Jakub Sterba	8,500,000 150,000	150,000
Yakiv Syzghanov	5,000,000 1,000,000	1,000,000

Tags: Daniele Cuomo Jakub Sterba Yakiv Syzghanov

08-23-2025 21:49 UTC+2

Zukanovic Doubles Off Erdinc; Zech Hero-Calls Skardi

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David Salituro

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Adis Zukanovic moved all in for 2,150,000 in the cutoff, and Efrim Erdinc called in the small blind. David Taieb shot Erdinc a look and tanked for a minute in the big blind before leaving them heads up.

Adis Zukanovic: 10♦10♥ All in
Effrim Erdinc: 8♠8♣

Zukanovic was ahead with his tens and held on through the K♣5♥9♠K♠K♥ board as he improved to a full house to secure the double-up.

At another table, Tor Skardi had led out for 300,000 in a blind versus blind battle on a flop of J♥J♣8♠ and Ben Zech called.

Both players checked the A♣ turn. Skardi then bet 850,000 on the Q♦ river, and Zech took a minute before calling.

Skardi instantly mucked, and Zech showed him 4♥4♦ as he took the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ben Zech	17,500,000 800,000	800,000

Tor Skardi	11,000,000 2,800,000	2,800,000
Efrim Erdinc	5,000,000 2,775,000	2,775,000
Adis Zukanovic	4,200,000 1,425,000	1,425,000

Tags: Adis Zukanovic Ben Zech Efrim Erdinc Tor Skardi

08-23-2025 21:45 UTC+2

Wiciak Shows Big Slick

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Connor Richards

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

There have been few flops since players returned from dinner and this hand was no exception. Yakiv Syzghanov opened to 600,000 in the cutoff and Simon Wiciak three-bet jammed in the small blind.

Syzghanov folded, leading the 2023 EPT Barcelona Main Event champion to table A♣K♠.

Player	Chips	Progress
Yakiv Syzghanov	6,000,000 50,000	50,000
Simon Wiciak	5,000,000 825,000	825,000

Tags: Simon Wiciak Yakiv Syzghanov

Level: 33

Blinds: 125,000/250,000

Ante: 250,000

08-23-2025 20:31 UTC+2

Life Outside Poker: Joe Stapleton Reveals 'Worst Mistake I Ever Made in My Entire Life'

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Kaelaine Minton

Level 32 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Life Outside Poker is a podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 33rd episode, Connor talks with comedian and poker commentator Joe Stapleton about growing up in Albany, New York, first seeing Rounders while visiting a college campus, working at MADtv, getting his start in the poker industry and his favorite memories from PokerStars The Big Game.

Stapleton also talked about his friendship with late comedian Norm Macdonald, the European Poker Tour (EPT), doing commentary at the 2025 WSOP and making the "worst mistake I ever made in my entire life" by attempting to make a documentary about a stand-up comedy tour.

Watch the Latest Life Outside Poker!

08-23-2025 20:14 UTC+2

Dinner Break

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Connor Richards

Level 32 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

The remaining 18 players have been sent on a 75-minute dinner break. Action will pick back up at approximately 9:30 p.m. local time.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kazuhiko Yotsushika	18,450,000 4,450,000	4,450,000

Ben Zech	16,700,000 4,100,000	4,100,000

Tor Skardi	13,800,000 700,000	700,000
Thibaud Martin	12,725,000 1,225,000	1,225,000
Daniele Cuomo	10,475,000 1,475,000	1,475,000
Alexis Nicolai	9,150,000 150,000	150,000
Jakub Sterba	8,350,000 1,850,000	1,850,000
Efrim Erdinc	7,775,000 2,275,000	2,275,000
Mengshi Tian	7,725,000 575,000	575,000
Bernardo Neves	7,275,000 525,000	525,000
[Removed:526]	7,000,000 500,000	500,000
Yakiv Syzghanov	6,050,000 50,000	50,000
Chin Wei Lim	5,725,000 3,275,000	3,275,000
David Taieb	5,525,000 325,000	325,000
Peter Schmidt	4,300,000 700,000	700,000
Simon Wiciak	4,175,000 1,325,000	1,325,000

David Foldy	3,050,000 450,000	450,000
Adis Zukanovic	2,775,000 1,025,000	1,025,000

08-23-2025 20:09 UTC+2

Joseph Bardakji Eliminated in 19th Place (€31,260)

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David Salituro

Level 32 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Tor Skardi raised to 400,000 in the cutoff before Joseph Bardakji moved all in for 3,725,000 on the button. Alexis Nicolai reshoved in the big blind, and Skardi got out of the way.

Joseph Bardakji: 10♣10♥ All in
Alexis Nicolai: A♣K♣

"Always ace-king. I had an ace. Ace of hearts," Skardi told Nicolai, but it didn't matter as another popped off on the A♦8♥5♦ flop to give Nicolai the lead. The rest of the board came 3♣J♥ and Bardakji was sent to the rail.

While this hand was taking place, Jakub Sterba and Bernardo Neves had gone to the river on another table with the board showing 7♠10♥K♠K♥6♦. Sterba then led out for 600,000 from the small blind and Neves took a few minutes before coming back with a raise to 1,600,000.

Sterba called with 9♥8♥ for a straight, while Neves could only show Q♦9♣ for another bluff as he handed over the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tor Skardi	14,500,000 500,000	500,000
Jakub Sterba	10,200,000 4,700,000	4,700,000
Alexis Nicolai	9,000,000 4,300,000	4,300,000
Bernardo Neves	7,800,000 4,200,000	4,200,000
Joseph Bardakji	Busted

Tags: Alexis Nicolai Bernardo Neves Jakub Sterba Joseph Bardakji Tor Skardi

08-23-2025 20:04 UTC+2

Skardi Gets Revenge Against Zech

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Connor Richards

Level 32 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Ben Zech opened to 400,000 in the hijack and Tor Skardi defended in the big blind.

Skardi checked on the flop of 6♣8♥K♠ and Zech continued for 350,000. Skardi called. Skardi checked again on the 3♠ turn and Zech sized up to 1,500,000. Skardi check-raised and Zech quickly folded.

Skardi turned over 7♦6♠ for just a pair of sixes, getting revenge for a bluff Zech pulled on him earlier in the level.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tor Skardi	14,000,000 2,000,000	2,000,000
Ben Zech	12,600,000 6,400,000	6,400,000

Tags: Ben Zech Tor Skardi

08-23-2025 19:58 UTC+2

[Removed:526] Picks Up Kings; Skardi Gets Value From Bardakji (full)

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David Salituro

Level 32 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

David Taieb raised to 450,000 under the gun, [Removed:526] moved all in for 3,275,000 in early position, and Taieb snap-called once action got back to him.

[Removed:526]: K♦K♥ All in
David Taieb: J♥J♠

[Removed:526] had kings, had Taieb's jacks crushed, and was poised for the double-up. The board ran out 9♥6♦3♦5♠8♦ and Taieb handed over the pot.

At another table, Tor Skardi and Joseph Bardakji were involved in a pot from the blinds with nearly 1,500,000 in the middle. Bardakji bet 1,700,000 on the A♠7♦2♠ flop and Skardi called.

Both players checked the 2♣ turn, and Skardi led out for 500,000 on the K♣ river. Bardakji called and Skardi showed A♦8♣ for top pair to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tor Skardi	12,000,000 3,000,000	3,000,000
[Removed:526]	6,500,000 3,500,000	3,500,000
David Taieb	5,200,000 1,600,000	1,600,000
Joseph Bardakji	4,500,000 3,300,000	3,300,000

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Tags: David Taieb Joseph Bardakji Tor Skardi