Mason Pye wins an $8K EPT Prague package thanks to a successful Pick 3 bet
Mason Pye secured the top prize in the EPT Barcelona Pick 3 competition after correctly selecting Michael Dwyer, Mark Teltscher, and Kalidou Sow, surpassing his nearest competitor by just €1,150.
Key Takeaways
- Mason Pye won the $8,000 package for EPT Prague after accurately picking his selections in the Pick 3 in Barcelona.
- His decision to include Kalidou Sow instead of following the stack ranking was crucial.
- The margin between the first and second place was only €1,150, determined by the final placements of the selected players.
- Pye has already won an EPT trophy and continues to succeed in both online and live series.
- The Pick 3 format rewards differentiated strategies and analysis after Day 1.
Mason Pye won an $8,000 package for the EPT Prague Main Event 2026 after strategically selecting Michael Dwyer, Mark Teltscher, and Kalidou Sow in the EPT Barcelona Pick 3 competition. His team surpassed 'ifeellucky' by just €1,150 due to the exact combination of payouts from his selected players.
Pick 3 Strategy: How Mason Pye Chose His Winning Team
Pye's key decision was to select the two top chip leaders from Day 1A (Michael Dwyer and Mark Teltscher) and the largest Pick 3 stack from Day 1B (Kalidou Sow), rejecting the next largest, Eros Calderone. This difference proved decisive: had he simply opted for the three largest stacks, he would not have claimed the top spot. Pye himself noted that the opportunity to analyze the stacks after Days 1A and 1B, thanks to the registration deadline until the beginning of Day 2, was crucial: “I was able to take the opportunity to see who the chip leaders were before the second day, and that’s what I did.”
“I didn’t want to rely on a tiebreaker. I chose Kalidou Sow because he had a big stack and few had selected him, plus his previous results in EPT,” explained Mason Pye about his choice.
This bet not only gave him an advantage over other managers but also demonstrated that diversification in Pick 3, instead of strictly following the stack rankings, can define the tournament.
Final Results and Minimal Differences Between Teams
Michael Dwyer led in chips at the start of Day 2 and was the only Pick 3 player to officially reach the final table. Joris Ruijs briefly surpassed him but was eliminated in ninth place, determining the fate of the first position.
Among Pye's selections, Mark Teltscher finished 34th with a prize of €26,350, while Kalidou Sow reached 113th place with €15,050. This combination was enough to edge out 'ifeellucky', whose team included Antoine Labat and Michael Molenaar, who also reached payouts but not enough to surpass Pye.
The margin was slim: just €1,150 separated the two teams; the difference came from the final positions of Teltscher and Sow, underscoring how tight this type of competition can be during an EPT series.
Mason Pye: Background and Upcoming Challenges
Mason Pye is no stranger to success. He won his first EPT trophy at the €550 Limit H.O.R.S.E. event in Monte Carlo in 2024 and has cashed in EPT Prague. He highlighted his preference for mixed games, considering himself less prepared in No-Limit Hold’em for the standard of the Main Event. Pye has also been a champion in SCOOP and maintains a presence in online series, though he is currently on hiatus from streaming. His immediate focus is on the upcoming WCOOP series, although he acknowledges the need to strengthen his NLH ahead of December.
“I’ve been fortunate to go to Prague to play an EPT and I’m grateful to be returning this year. It’s an incredible setting,” pointed out Pye about EPT Prague.
Importance of Managing Pick 3 in Major Tournaments
The Pick 3 model in EPT events tests the analytical capability of managers beyond mere statistical obviousness. In this edition:
- The deadline after the Day 1 allowed better choices based on confirmed stacks.
- Choosing a player with low popularity but proven potential can separate the first position from the rest in significant prizes.
- The final difference was defined by small margins: just €1,150 between the champion and the second place.
The format incentivizes strategic thinking and considers variables such as the remaining field, the historical ability of each player, and the value of a wildcard versus popular selections.
Prospects for EPT Prague and What Lies Ahead for Mason Pye
In December, Pye will compete in the EPT Prague Main Event thanks to his victory in Pick 3. His track record in mixed games and prior experience in EPT suggests he will be one of the participants to watch. In the meantime, he will continue preparing at online events while evaluating the possibility of resuming his streaming. Interest in the Pick 3 model is growing during EPT series due to its ability to reward informed and differential decisions at each stage of the tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Mason Pye win the Pick 3 in EPT Barcelona?
Mason Pye won the Pick 3 of EPT Barcelona by selecting Michael Dwyer, Mark Teltscher, and Kalidou Sow based on their chip accumulations after Day 1. The decision to leave out the largest eligible stack and bet on Sow allowed him to surpass his competitors and secure the package for EPT Prague.
What was the difference between first and second place in the Pick 3?
Only €1,150 separated Mason Pye from 'ifeellucky', thanks to the payouts of Teltscher and Sow. This minimal margin demonstrated the importance of each final position within the Pick 3 contest.
Who were the players selected by the winning Pick 3 team?
Mason Pye's team consisted of Michael Dwyer, Mark Teltscher, and Kalidou Sow, all of whom had solid stacks going into Day 2 and strong track records on the EPT circuit.
What prior experience does Mason Pye have in EPT tournaments?
Mason Pye already holds an EPT title, won at the €550 Limit H.O.R.S.E. event in Monte Carlo in 2024, and has cashed in other stages, including EPT Prague.
Is the Pick 3 strategy based solely on the largest stacks?
Not necessarily. Pye opted for diversification, choosing Sow with a high stack but not the biggest, which allowed him to differentiate himself and avoid ties in the final outcome.
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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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