EPT Barcelona became the first ever EPT event in September 2004, and has been a pillar of the tour ever since. This year’s edition confirmed the success of this stop.
Main Event record field
In Barcelona, a record EPT Main Event field of 1,785 has assembled to battle it out for the 1,122,800 Euro (USD$1,267,338) 1st prize, in what will be one of the last opportunities for players to be crowned as an EPT champion. Live tournament poker endorsed by PokerStars will of course revisit the city next year, but the action will unfold under a different banner.
More: PokerStars announces a complete makeover of its live tournament offerings
Main Event: Mercier up with leaders
As the Main Event field heads into day 4, just 98 runners remain. Belgium’s Anthony Chimkovitch currently leads the standings with 1.825 million, but he is followed by the familiar face of Jason Mercier, who came into this event buoyed by a fantastic WSOP during the summer. The PokerStars pro has 1,006,000 chips and will be a real threat going forward. Further down the list, Bryn Kenney is also going strong with 728,000 while Eugene Katchalov is treading water further down with 215,000.
Day 4 of EPT Barcelona Main event has begun and already off to a hot start. 2nd hand sb pushes 19 bb A6o I call 44. Board runs K96 q 4 😂
— Jason Mercier (@JasonMercier) August 26, 2016
New payout structure in place
While the future holds serious change for the EPT, the present has seen the implementation of changes too. The most talked about alteration came in the form of payouts, which now reward 20% of the field. Season 6 saw an initial 10% payout structure switch to 15%, and that figure has now risen again. It would stand to reason that this change will remain for the new re-branded PokerStars tours next year, although that hasn’t yet been officially confirmed. Some players have spoken out against this change, but are in favour of its ultimate goal, which is to bring more recreational players into the tour by making it easier to cash.
Moorman takes 3rd in Estrellas Main Event
UK pro Chris Moorman has added to his $4 million in live cashes this week, as he took 3rd place in the Estrellas Main Event. He won USD$271,187 for his deep run in the regional event which attracted 3,447 runners. Fellow UK pro Louis Salter took 24th place in the same tournament.
High Roller headlines
Pratyush Buddiga banked a career best score of $780,095 in the 25,000 Euro ($28,231) High Roller event. The US based pro sent his lifetime career earnings soaring to almost $5 million with this substantial score.
Meanwhile in the Super High Roller, the irrepressible and seemingly invincible Fedor Holz took victory once again. The German superstar was supposedly enjoying his recently announced retirement when the urge to play this event took hold. He duly did what he has been doing consistently for over a year now, and won the event. This increases his live career cashes to over $20 million, with that cash having been won in just three and a half years.
Read more: Unstoppable “Retiree” Fedor Holz wins EPT Barcelona Super High Roller
Article by Craig B.
Louis Hartwell
Graduated in Media Communication at the University of Lausanne, Louis Hartman is a co-founder of somuchpoker.com. He began his career in Cambodia as freelance journalist. In same time he was making his living by playing poker every night at that time. Intense learner, he read dozens of poker strategy books to improve his skills during many years. With a strong interest about poker "behind the scene" in Asia and his communication skills, Louis launched Somuchpoker in 2014.
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