Manuel Ferrari Claims EPT Barcelona Main Event in Three-Way Deal

Manuel Ferrari captured the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona Main Event title on Saturday, banking €1,002,488 after a three-way deal at the final table. Ferrari, who started the day as chip leader, closed out the trophy win ahead of Lukas van Eeden and Spain’s Jose Criado at Casino Barcelona. The result is Ferrari’s most significant career win, following prior PokerStars successes in both January and June.

EPT Barcelona Main Event: Ferrari’s Path to Victory

Ferrari entered the livestreamed final table holding the chip lead for a second consecutive day. Facing Spain’s Jose Criado—seeking to become the first Spanish EPT Main Event winner on home soil—China’s Xiaosheng Zheng, the Netherlands’ Lukas van Eeden, Ireland’s Michael Dwyer, and Lebanon’s Nicolas Chouity, Ferrari controlled the early pace. Chouity exited in sixth, followed by Dwyer and Zheng, trimming the field to three.

Van Eeden, short-stacked for much of the endgame, doubled through Criado with pocket sevens, regaining momentum and drawing level with the leaders. The final three saw their stacks converge, stalling action; a brief negotiation produced an ICM deal, locking up each player’s best career score ahead of the concluding hands.

Three-Way Deal Defines EPT Barcelona Final Table

After the deal, Criado was the first to depart, surrendering his remaining chips to Ferrari for a third-place finish. Ferrari converted the heads-up advantage, dispatching Van Eeden to close out the title. The official EPT Barcelona Main Event final table payouts reflected the deal reached among the last three:

• Manuel Ferrari – €1,002,488*
• Lukas van Eeden – €927,420*
• Jose Criado – €910,642*
• Xiaosheng Zheng – €471,250
• Michael Dwyer – €362,500
• Nicolas Chouity – €278,950

*Asterisks indicate payouts adjusted by the three-way deal.

Ferrari’s Rising PokerStars Tour Success

Ferrari’s career earnings have now eclipsed previous highs by a significant margin. He had recorded $579,000 in lifetime cashes before Barcelona, with earlier victories on the PokerStars tour this January and June marking his only other six-figure scores. The Main Event title in Barcelona cements his profile as one of Italy’s top tournament competitors.

EPT Schedule: Prague Awaits After Barcelona

Following the Barcelona stop, the PokerStars European Poker Tour will travel to Prague for the final leg of the 2026 season. The EPT Prague event will run from December 2-13, maintaining its established position on the winter tournament calendar. The Barcelona series once again drew top professionals and local hopefuls, underlining its enduring appeal on the European circuit.

"Jose Criado was the local favorite," wrote Poker.org reporter Manuel Kovsca.

Reviewing the EPT Barcelona Main Event Finalists

• Manuel Ferrari (Italy): Champion, €1,002,488
• Lukas van Eeden (Netherlands): Runner-up, €927,420
• Jose Criado (Spain): Third, €910,642
• Xiaosheng Zheng (China): Fourth, €471,250
• Michael Dwyer (Ireland): Fifth, €362,500
• Nicolas Chouity (Lebanon): Sixth, €278,950

The three-way deal between Ferrari, Van Eeden, and Criado secured each a career-best prize, setting a high bar for the EPT Prague finale and highlighting PokerStars' capacity to attract global contenders to its premier events.