Manuel Ferrari Wins Epic EPT Barcelona Main Event

With a massive field of 1,823 total entries, Manuel Ferrari won one of European poker’s most prestigious titles this weekend, taking home $1.16 million and the EPT Barcelona Main Event trophy. After seeing off the challenges of former EPT champion Nicolas Chouity and Irish poker sensation Michael Dwyer, a three-way deal ended up seeing Ferrari claim the largest of three seven-figure top prizes in the event.

*result after three-way deal

Wilson Among Those to Cash in Spain

There were 271 places that got paid and within them, so very big names banked profit. Poker professional and author Maria Konnikova came 244^th for $9,975, while she was followed in the leaderboard by Gilles Simon (241^st for $9,975), Dietrich Fast (229^th for $9,975), Ben Spragg (214^th for $11,485) and the former 2019 WSOP Main Event runner-up Dario Sammartino (208^th for $11,485).

A little closer to the final table, Barny Boatman (182^nd for $13,225), Parket ‘Tonkaaaa’ Talbot (128^th for $15,200), Alexandre Reard (99^th for $17,460), Nacho Barbero (69^th for $23,085), Simon Wiciak (45^th for $26,570), Brock Wilson (41^st for $26,570), Sebastian Malec (21^st for $46,460), John Juanda (15^th for $78,670), and Matas Cimbolas, who came 11^th for $113,350, all fell short.

Just outside the final table, Barbara Akemi fell in 10^th place for the same amount before the Dutchman Joris Ruijs fell on the final table bubble, earning $147,275 for coming ninth but missing out on the final table of eight. Once the final table was reached, it was announced that two more eliminations would be required by the end of the night. South Korea’s Edward Pak ran into Jose Criado’s pocket aces, missing out for a score of $191,310.

Spain had two players inside the final seven, but only one of that pair made the final day. On a ten-high flop, Gerard Carbo moved all-in with queen-ten, but he was quickly called by Xiaosheng Zheng with pocket aces. A four on the turn and five on the river were no help at all for Carbo, who exited in eighth for $248,740.

The Last Former Champion Leaves

With six players left, the final player who could have won multiple EPT titles with the win bowed out. Lebanese professional Nicolas Chouity won the EPT Monte Carlo Main Event 16 years ago but narrowly missed out on adding a second, record-equalling title. Crashing out in sixth place for $323,330, Chouity’s exit was unfortunate as he shoved pre-flop with ac-ten but lost to Jose Criado’s king-jack when a king landed on the turn.

Irishman Michael Dwyer may have learned poker in an era before solvers and GTO but his latter-day experience comes from the coaching methods of the poker pioneer Faraz Jaka among others. Dwyer’s EPT Barcelona Main Event came to an end in very standard fashion, his ace-ten running into the dominating Zheng’s ace-queen, which held to send the Irish player home with $420,170 in fifth place.

Zheng himself was the next player to leave the party, running out of luck in fourth place for a score of $546,225. Calling off his stack of just under nine big blinds pre-flop with ace-seven of diamonds, the Chinese player fell short of the podium places when Criado’s pocket tens rode out a nine-high flop to survive at the expense of his opponent.

Ferrari Finds a Way

Down to three players, it was time for the tournament director to visit the table, as, with less than 2 million chips between short stack Ferrari (17.35m) and leader Lukas van Eeden (19.3m), a deal was discussed. ICM numbers suited everyone and Eeden was guaranteed €927,420, with Criado ( €910,642) and Ferrari (€902,243) both happy to accept lower numbers, with €100,245 and the Golden Shard trophy still up for grabs.

As often happens with deals at final tables, the action changed and the momentum shifted. Jose Criado was lowest in chips when he shoved for 22 bigs with pocket sevens. Losing a flip to Manuel Ferrari’s ace-ten, an ace on the flop did the damage, giving Criado his exit and $1,055,520.

Ferrari went into the heads-up with around 60% of the chip and improved that lead to holding 43.6m against van Eeden’s 11m when the final hand played out. The Dutchman van Eeden shoved for 22 big blinds with king-six and Ferrari called with ace-queen. A flop of A-6-4 could hardly have been much better for the champion-in-waiting, and when a seven fell on the river, it was one pip away from the two-outer van Eeden needed, pronouncing Ferrari the winner for $1,161,980, as van Eeden was left with $1,074,970 as runner-up.

“My first thought was to negotiate [a better deal], because I think I had an edge on both players,” Ferrari said after victory. “But I was [lower] in chips, and I was just tired, so I just accepted so we can move on with the thing and just win it!”