The 2024 European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona recently wrapped up with poker pro Stephen Song topping a field of 1,975 entries (the fourth-largest Main Event field in EPT history) to claim the championship title and €1,290,386 in prize money.
This Main Event attracted players from 82 different countries. From Albania to Vietnam and the United States to South Africa, it seems no corners of the world are untouched or unaffected by the EPT's influence. The top five nations were France (205 players), Italy (144), Spain (124), Brazil (89), and the United Kingdom (76).
And that was all from just the Main Event! You see, the EPT Barcelona was comprised of a bunch of side events. Below are some of the biggest and most interesting hands captured by thePokerNewsLive Reporting Team during the EPT Barcelona festival.
Click here to see the biggest winners from the EPT Barcelona!
On Day 1a of the €5,300 Main Event, reporter Matt Warburton captured a big one in Level 3 (100/300/300). It began when Denis Rosina raised to 600 from middle position, Roman Criado called, Wouter Beltz called on the button and Nino Andres Jara Parra called in the big blind.
The flop came 5♥A♠Q♠and action checked to Criado, who bet 900. Beltz raised to 3,900, Parra called and the other players folded. Both players checked on the 10♠turn.
The river was the 7♣and Parra bet 10,000. Beltz folded and Parra scooped the pot. He turned over K♠J♠for a turned Royal Flush.
On Day 5 of the Main Event, it was Level 23 (10,000/25,000/25,000) when reporter Connor Richards witnessed defending champion Simon Wiciak was all in and at risk for around 900,000 against Andrew Hulme.
Simon Wiciak: A♥K♣
Andrew Hulme: Q♣Q♥
Wiciak took a big lead on the flop of 8♦2♦A♣and the 4♣turn didn't change anything. But the dealer then put down the Q♠river and those at the table groaned as Hulme improved to put a tough beat on the Frenchman. Wiciak was eliminated in 36th place for €26,900.
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On Day 1b of the €2,200 Estrellas High Roller, it was Level 13 (1,000/2,500/2,500) when veteran reporter Mike Patrick came upon the action with about 55,000 was in the middle on a turn board of 8♦6♣2♠A♠and Marte Sandberg had checked her big blind to Will Kassouf on the button.
Kassouf moved all in for his last 39,000, sending Sandberg into the tank. After over a minute of thought, she made the call, only to hear the words Kassouf made famous.
"Nine high like a boss," he proudly declared as he revealed that he indeed had his trademark hand and would need help.
Will Kassouf: 9♠5♠
Marte Sandberg: K♥K♦
Kassouf's nine-high (like a boss) needed another spade or a seven to come on the river to avoid elimination, but the 10♦fell instead, sending the pot to Sandberg and ending Kassouf's day in the tournament.
After the hand, Kassouf joked with the PokerNewslive reporting team, "I need to quit doing that. It's getting me in trouble."
Speaking of Kassouf, he was also involved in a big hand on Day 1b of the €5,300 Main Event in Level 6 (300/600/600). That is when reporter Matt Warburton witnessed Badr Douch raise from under the gun and Cameron Couch three-bet to 9,500 from the small blind. Kassouf called in the big blind and Douch called.
The flop came 9♠10♠Q♦and Couch checked. Kassouf fired out a large bet of 21,000, around half of his stack, and Badr Douch moved all in for 45,000. Couch moved all in over the top for 61,500.
"There's no f***ing way I'm folding this," said Kassouf as he pushed the rest of his chips in the middle and players flipped their cards.
Badr Douch: 10♦9♦
Will Kassouf: Q♠Q♥
Cameron Couch: K♠J♠
Douch had two pair, Kassouf a set, but Couch had flopped the world with the nut straight and flush redraw. Kassouf shouted out for a queen or ten, his outs for a full house, but the turn was the J♣and river the 3♦.
"So sick, wow!", said Kassouf.
Couch held with his straight to win the pot, nearly tripling his stack and eliminating both Douch and Kassouf from the tournament.
In the €100,000 Super High Roller, reporter Will Shillibier watched a big hand play out in Level 19 (30,000/60,000/60,000). It started when Seth Davies opened to 105,000 and Jesse Lonis called in the small blind with the Q♣10♣. Sean Winter three-bet to 600,000 from the big blind.
Davies used a time bank before four-betting all in for 2,405,000 and Lonis folded. Winter snap-called and put Davies at risk.
Seth Davies: 7♦7♣
Sean Winter: K♠K♣
It wasn't looking good for Davies who was well and truly up against it, However, there was a seven in the window of a Q♦7♥4♦flop, giving Davies a set, with the 6♣turn and 3♠river securing a massive double for Davies.
Click here to see who won the €100,000 Super High Roller!