Manuel Ferrari Wins EPT Barcelona Main Event After Three-Way Deal
Italy’s Manuel Ferrari captured the EPT Barcelona Main Event title and €1,002,488 prize after a final table deal, outlasting Lukas van Eeden and Jose Criado.
Key Takeaways
- Manuel Ferrari won the EPT Barcelona Main Event 2026 after a three-way deal at the final table.
- Ferrari earned €1,002,488, the largest prize of his career, defeating Lukas van Eeden heads-up.
- Jose Criado finished third, missing out on Spain's first EPT Main Event title.
- A three-way deal created near-equal payouts for Ferrari, van Eeden, and Criado.
- The EPT’s next major stop is Prague, 2-13 December 2026.
Manuel Ferrari secured victory at the 2026 European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona Main Event, clinching the title on Saturday after a three-way deal with Lukas van Eeden and Jose Criado. Ferrari converted his overnight chip lead at the final table into the biggest win of his live poker career, pocketing €1,002,488. This final table, broadcast live, featured six players and ended with Ferrari defeating van Eeden heads-up in a brief battle.
EPT Barcelona Main Event 2026: The Decisive Final Table
EPT Barcelona’s 2026 Main Event saw Manuel Ferrari arrive at the final table as chip leader for the second day running. Spanish contender Jose Criado and China’s Xiaosheng Zheng rounded out the top three stacks, with the home crowd rooting for Criado to bring Spain its first EPT Main Event title. The rest of the final six included Netherlands’ Lukas van Eeden, Michael Dwyer of Ireland, and Lebanon’s Nicolas Chouity.
Elimination came quickly for Chouity, who exited in sixth for €278,950. Dwyer bowed out next in fifth for €362,500, followed by Zheng’s fourth-place finish netting €471,250. This left Ferrari, Criado, and van Eeden to battle for the win, all holding similar chip stacks after van Eeden doubled through Criado with pocket sevens, shaking up the balance at the top.
The Critical Three-Way Deal and Its Impact
With the final three players—Ferrari, Criado, and van Eeden—closely matched, deal discussions began. In a brief negotiation, they agreed to split the remaining prize money based on chip counts, leaving €70,000 and the trophy to play for. The official payouts after the deal:
- 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
*Indicates deal-adjusted prizes. After the agreement, Criado’s stack slipped, leading to a third-place finish as Ferrari collected his chips. The heads-up match between Ferrari and van Eeden was short-lived, with Ferrari’s momentum carrying him to victory.
Manuel Ferrari’s Career-Defining EPT Triumph
Ferrari’s win in Barcelona marks a major progression in his professional record. Prior to this event, he had just $579,000 in total live earnings since 2018. Recent PokerStars festivals had already seen Ferrari emerge, with two significant six-figure victories earlier in January of this year and June 2025. Still, this EPT Main Event title and seven-figure payday stands as a breakthrough.
Home Favourite Criado and Van Eeden’s Comeback
Jose Criado delivered Spain’s strongest run at a Main Event to date, finishing third to widespread applause in Barcelona. Meanwhile, Lukas van Eeden’s resurgent play—most notably his double-up with pocket sevens—brought him within reach of the title. The three-way deal underscoreed how even the contest became once the deepest stacks levelled out, a common dynamic at major EPT stops covered in recent news.
EPT Season Update and What’s Next
The EPT now moves to Prague for its final 2026 event, scheduled for 2-13 December in its traditional winter slot. The Barcelona Main Event is again confirmed as a top draw on the PokerStars live calendar.
The three-way deal at the EPT Barcelona final table created near-equal payouts for all remaining players and set up Ferrari's triumph. — Daniel Reyes
All figures and results are official as released by tournament organisers and PokerStars.
Photo credit: PokerStars/Manuel Kovsca
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the EPT Barcelona Main Event 2026?
Manuel Ferrari claimed the EPT Barcelona Main Event 2026 title, earning €1,002,488 after a three-way deal at the final table.
How much did the top three players win after the deal?
After the deal, Manuel Ferrari received €1,002,488, Lukas van Eeden got €927,420, and Jose Criado took €910,642, with the remaining payouts based on chip counts.
Who were the other finalists at the EPT Barcelona 2026?
The six-player final table featured Manuel Ferrari, Lukas van Eeden, Jose Criado, Xiaosheng Zheng, Michael Dwyer, and Nicolas Chouity, representing Italy, Netherlands, Spain, China, Ireland, and Lebanon.
What impact did the three-way deal have on the results?
The three-way deal evened out the remaining payouts and left a smaller sum and the trophy to play for, reducing variance among the top finishers.
When and where is the next EPT Main Event scheduled?
The EPT Prague Main Event will be held 2-13 December 2026, concluding the season in its traditional winter calendar slot.
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About the author
Daniel Reyes
Poker Correspondent
Daniel Reyes covers live and online poker — tournament series from the WSOP and EPT down to the daily online grind, room news, promotions, and the industry moves behind them. The reports keep every score, prize pool, and player name exactly as the record shows, and follow the story past the final hand: who qualified, what the payout structure rewarded, and how the field is shifting. For roster changes, software updates, and regulatory knocks on the poker economy, Daniel Reyes is the desk's first read.
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