205 Players Advance in EPT Barcelona Main Event as €1.3M Top Prize Awaits

The European Poker Tour (EPT) Main Event in Barcelona has narrowed its field to 205 contenders after a turbulent Day 2. Grzegorz Kozieja of Poland leads, the only player to surpass one million chips, as remaining participants chase the €1.3 million first prize from an €8,841,550 pool.

EPT Barcelona Day 2: Chip Leaders and Notable Survivors

Day 2 at Casino Barcelona saw the return of 535 qualifiers from Days 1A and 1B, joined by 139 entries who late-registered for the €5,300 buy-in event. This brought the total field to 1,823, eclipsing prior events and creating a €8,841,550 prize pool. Michael Dwyer (Ireland) began with the largest stack, followed closely by Mark Teltscher (UK), the 2005 EPT London winner, and Bharath Janardhan (India), who rounded out the lead group.

After hours of play, the field was reduced to 205 players. The bubble phase arrived quickly, and Mohamed Zazri exited as the last player without a payout after his pocket pair fell to an opponent on the river. Once the minimum-cash threshold was crossed, eliminations accelerated, condensing the players closer to EPT Barcelona victory.

EPT Barcelona Main Event Chip Counts: Top 10 After Day 2

The top chip stacks heading into Day 3 are:

• Grzegorz Kozieja (Poland): 1,040,000
• Sarah Jarry (France): 926,000
• Gabin Yves Henrion (France): 805,000
• Josep Ruiz Mercade (Spain): 673,000
• Miroslav Rizov (Bulgaria): 645,000
• Pasi Laihinen (Finland): 641,000
• Jonas Cate (Netherlands): 637,000
• Raffael Pereira (Brazil): 627,000
• Vinicius Goncalves (Brazil): 602,000
• Duncan Cameron (Australia): 599,000

Grzegorz Kozieja holds the only seven-figure stack. French players Sarah Jarry and Gabin Yves Henrion round out the leading trio, with notable representation across Europe and South America in the remaining line-up.

Pick 3 Contest and Player Updates

PokerOrg’s Pick 3 fantasy contest remains active, though only a fraction of drafted players survive. Mark Teltscher continues to perform strongly, starting Day 2 near the top and holding 502,000 chips for 26th place. Brock Wilson, off recent deep runs in the PokerStars Open and WSOP Main Events, is also still in contention with 415,000 chips (ranked 46th). Argentina's Jose Ignacio 'Nacho' Barbero, a consistent fantasy pick, remains close with 404,000, sitting at 47th.

Michael Dwyer, after starting Day 2 as chip leader, dropped back but advances to Day 3 with 273,000 chips in 82nd. 2024 EPT Paris winner and ex-PokerStars Ambassador Barny Boatman, with 206,000, and Scotland's Dean Hutchison at 175,000 both remain in the field. Short-stack hopefuls include Nick Palma (48,000), Mathew Frankland, and Congya Zhang, all seeking a turnaround in the next session.

"If any of your squad members are still in the running, you're doing better than most."

Road to the EPT Barcelona Title: What’s Next?

Day 3 will continue at Casino Barcelona, with 205 participants vying for the €1.3 million first prize. The tournament structure ensures high volatility as short stacks aim for survival and chip leaders press their advantages. The latest news and updates can be followed live, with PokerStars’ YouTube providing broadcast coverage throughout the event. Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd and PokerStars remain central to organising and streaming the series.

EPT Barcelona Prize Pool and Format Highlights

• Buy-in: €5,300
• Total entrants: 1,823
• Prize pool: €8,841,550
• Winner’s prize: €1.3 million
• Minimum cash: Awarded post-bubble on Day 2

This year’s Main Event demonstrates sustained global interest in premier live poker. The diverse list of surviving countries—Poland, France, Spain, Finland, Netherlands, Brazil, and Australia—underscores the international standard of the EPT circuit.

Fantasy Engagement and Ongoing Coverage

Day 3 action promises high drama, as the field continues its march toward the final table and the €1.3 million top prize. Fantasy sweat continues with Pick 3, offering railbirds an added layer of engagement. Those following the tournament can catch real-time action on PokerStars’ platforms and monitor player progress across social and broadcast channels.