205 players remain in the EPT Barcelona after the bubble burst
The Main Event of the European Poker Tour in Barcelona has reduced its field from 1,823 participants to 205, with Grzegorz Kozieja leading before Day 3 and a prize pool of €1.3 million still at stake.
Key Takeaways
- The EPT Barcelona Main Event started with 1,823 players, and only 205 advanced to Day 3.
- Grzegorz Kozieja leads the chip count with over a million at the close of Day 2.
- The prize pool of the tournament reached €8,841,550 with a first prize of €1.3 million.
- Figures like Mark Teltscher and José Ignacio Barbero remain in contention with above-average stacks.
Day 2 of the Main Event of the European Poker Tour (EPT) by PokerStars in Barcelona has left 205 players in competition, after a day that cut the field from 1,823 entrants and ignited the race for the top prize of €1.3 million. The €5,300 buy-in generated a total prize pool of €8,841,550, solidifying the event as one of the largest of the year in Europe.
Grzegorz Kozieja leads the EPT Barcelona after a Day of Eliminations
The action kicked off at Casino Barcelona with 535 survivors from flights 1A and 1B, alongside 139 players who took advantage of the late registration on Day 2. Irishman Michael Dwyer started the day as chip leader, followed by Mark Teltscher from the UK and Bharath Janardhan from India.
The money stage was reached quickly, triggering a wave of eliminations after Mohamed Zazri became the unfortunate "bubble boy." By the end, Polish player Grzegorz Kozieja amassed 1,040,000 chips, clearly surpassing the million mark and taking the lead. He is trailed by two French representatives: Sarah Jarry (926,000) and Gabin Yves Henrion (805,000).
Top 10 chip counts heading into Day 3 of EPT Barcelona
Here are the ten leaders after Day 2:
- 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
Spain managed to position Josep Ruiz Mercade among the leaders, while Brazil has two notable names in the Top 10. In this context, short stacks will also define the pace of Day 3.
Performance of the Favorites: Barbero, Teltscher, and Other Pick 3 Still in the Race
The PokerOrg Pick 3 Fantasy contest remains active during EPT Barcelona, and some favorites continue in the competition. Mark Teltscher, who had a solid start, will begin Day 3 in 26th place with 502,000 chips. Brock Wilson, after recent notable performances in the PokerStars Open and the WSOP Main Event, sits in 46th place with 415,000. Argentine José Ignacio 'Nacho' Barbero finished in 47th place with 404,000 chips, positioning himself close to Wilson.
Michael Dwyer, who started as the leader at the beginning of Day 2, concluded with 273,000 chips (82nd position). Barny Boatman, EPT Paris 2024 champion and former PokerStars Ambassador, advanced with 206,000 chips. Dean Hutchison remains in the race with 175,000 chips.
At the lower end of the counts, Nick Palma remains with only 48,000 chips; Mathew Frankland and Congya Zhang will also seek to climb from short stacks in the next session.
The Bubble and Progress Towards Million-Euro Prizes
The payouts area was reached when just over 220 players remained, which triggered numerous rapid eliminations after the fall of Mohamed Zazri at the bubble. The pace of the tournament accelerated, and several favorites succumbed before the end of the day.
The top prize of the tournament amounts to €1.3 million, adding extra pressure in the decisive stage. The dynamics of Day 2 reflected in the prize structure and the exponential growth of the total prize pool, aspects that reinforce the appeal of major PokerStars events in Europe.
Day 3: What to Expect and Live Coverage
Day 3 will feature 205 contenders vying for the title of European Poker Tour Barcelona. The pace of play will adjust according to the average stacks and the solidity of the leaders, with representatives from nine countries in the top ten spots. All the details and updates of the event will be available in the live coverage from PokerStars, including images from Danny Maxwell and Jules Pochy for Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd 2026.
For more information on the development of tournaments and sector news, readers can check our section on events and updates in news.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players remain in the Main Event of the EPT Barcelona after Day 2?
205 players advanced after Day 2. The cut-off occurred after the bubble burst, where Mohamed Zazri was eliminated and the payout zone was activated for the qualified players.
Who leads the chip count on Day 3 of EPT Barcelona?
Polish player Grzegorz Kozieja is in the lead with 1,040,000 chips. He is the only player who surpassed the million mark at the close of Day 2.
What is the top prize in the Main Event at EPT Barcelona?
The top prize amounts to €1.3 million. The total prize pool exceeds €8.8 million thanks to the 1,823 participants registered.
Which notable players are still in contention after Day 2?
Mark Teltscher, José Ignacio 'Nacho' Barbero, and Brock Wilson remain in the race with solid stacks. Michael Dwyer and Barny Boatman also advanced, although with fewer chips.
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About the author
Sofía Carrasco
Poker Correspondent
Sofía Carrasco covers live and online poker — tournament series from the WSOP and EPT to the daily room grind, promotions, and the industry moves behind them. The reports keep every score, pot, and player name exactly as the record shows, and follow the story past the final hand: who qualified, what the structure rewarded, and how the field is shifting. For player moves, software, and regulation across the poker economy, Sofía Carrasco is the first read.
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