Introduction to the European Poker Tour
The Casino de Barcelona and PokerStars, a leading online poker operator and subsidiary of Flutter Entertainment, have highlighted the success of the latest edition of the European Poker Tour (EPT) in Barcelona. This event has become a summons and a popularity consolidation between the international poker community.
The Barcelona Stage
The Barcelona stage of the Circuit featured a total of 69 tournaments over 14 days of competition, with a large participation that surpassed 20,000 registrations from 85 nationalities. This influx of players from around the world has had a direct impact on the impetus of tourism and economic activity in Barcelona, mainly in the hotel, catering, transport, and local trade sectors.
Economic Impact
Many players are accompanied by families and/or friends, which multiplies consumption and responds to the international projection of the city for most weeks. Thanks to its climate and cultural attractions, Barcelona is consolidated as “one of the great capitals of international poker.” The Barcelona casino’s facilities, experience, organizational capacity, diversity of entertainment offers, and commitment to responsible gaming have made the EPT Barcelona the “largest stage in the history of the circuit and the unique presentation in all its editions.”
Notable Players and Personalities
During the two weeks of competition, notable poker players such as Steve O’Dwyer, Jakub Sterba, and Jerry Odeen participated in the event. The tournament also featured distinct personalities, including former FC Barcelona footballer Piqué and the Argentinian Freestyler Papo Mc, among others.
Main Event
The main event of the EPT gathered 2,045 registered players, with 1,490 unique players, making it the most multitudinous in the history of the EPT Barcelona, with a prize pool of €9,918,250. The champion was the French player Thomas Eychenne, who won the trophy against the winner of the Heads-Up, Sebastian Ionita. With this victory, France won its 13th title in an EPT event, consolidating itself as the most successful fourth national nation in the history of the circuit.
New Features
One of the new features of the tournament was the constitution of the PokerStars Open, which replaced the Estrellas Poker Tour (PTST), converted into a present tournament in 2023. The new Open brought together a field of 5,036 registered players, with 2,286 players from 85 nationalities, and generated a record prize pool of €7,251,840, the largest in an average Vivo tournament in PokerStars. The winner was the French player Alexis Nicolai, who won the title by defeating Mengshi Tian in the Heads-Up.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the European Poker Tour in Barcelona has become a major event in the international poker community, attracting players from around the world and generating significant economic activity in the city. The tournament’s success is a testament to the city’s appeal and the organizers’ ability to create a unique and exciting experience for participants. With its commitment to responsible gaming and its diverse entertainment offers, the EPT Barcelona is set to remain one of the premier poker events in the world.
