PokerStars EPT Barcelona Makes EPT History

Main Event and National tournaments also set new records

 The European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona has set a new PokerStars record as the biggest stop in the EPT’s 16-year history.

EPT Barcelona drew more than 23,600 registrations over 12 days of live poker action at Casino Barcelona between August 20 and September 1, and awarded more than €52.9 million to players from 95 different countries.

The €5,300 buy-in Main Event field also became the biggest in EPT history when it attracted 1,988 entries. It broke the previous record of 1,931, set at last year’s EPT Barcelona. Swedish player Simon Brandstrom conquered the field to take home €1,290,166 of the €9,641,800 prize pool.

The €1,100 buy-in National event made it into the record books after drawing in 4,882 entries, the biggest turn-out since the event’s introduction in 2012. The previous record was set in 2017, when the National drew 4,557 entries. Markku Komplimaa, from Estonia, emerged victorious to claim the €585,500 top prize.

Just shy of a new record were the Super High Roller and High Roller events, which drew 64 and 540 entries, respectively. Together they awarded €11,447,280 in prize money.

“We are immensely proud that EPT Barcelona has been such a success and that players enjoyed the extensive 51-tournament schedule,” said Severin Rasset, Managing Director & Commercial Officer, Poker. “Barcelona has always been a well-loved stop and this year’s has showcased its increased popularity. We look forward to the rest of the year with EPT Open Sochi and EPT Prague scheduled, and of course next year’s Barcelona event where the PSPC will be a huge new addition!”

PokerStars recently announced the return of the PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC), which will take place at Casino Barcelona from August 20 to 24 2020. The inaugural PSPC broke records as the biggest $25,000 buy-in live poker tournament in history and Spanish gym owner Ramon Colillas topped a field of more than 1,000 players to take home over $5 million. Colillas was one of 320 players who won entry to the event for free via PokerStars’ PSPC ‘Platinum Pass’ campaign.

About PokerStars:

PokerStars operates the world’s most popular online poker sites, serving the global poker community. Since it launched in 2001, PokerStars has become the first choice of players all over the world, with more daily tournaments than anywhere else and with the best online security. More than 200 billion hands have been dealt on PokerStars, which is more than any other site.

The Stars Group owns or licenses gaming and related consumer businesses and brands, including PokerStars, PokerStars Casino, BetStars, Full Tilt, FOX Bet, Sky Bet, Sky Vegas, Sky Casino, Sky Bingo, Sky Poker and BetEasy as well as live poker tour and event brands, including the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship, European Poker Tour, PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, Latin American Poker Tour, Asia Pacific Poker Tour, PokerStars Festival and PokerStars MEGASTACK. The Stars Group is one of the world’s most licensed online gaming operators with its subsidiaries collectively holding licenses or approvals in 21 jurisdictions throughout the world, including in Europe, Australia, and the Americas.

SOURCE PokerStars