PokerStars Open Main Event in Barcelona Draws 4,333 and €6.2M Prize Pool
The €1,650 PokerStars Open Main Event at EPT Barcelona tallied 4,333 entries and a €6,239,520 prize pool, with Maor Zaharagi leading into Day 2 and several notable professionals in contention.
Key Takeaways
- The PokerStars Open Main Event at EPT Barcelona drew 4,333 entries and a €6,239,520 prize pool.
- Maor Zaharagi leads the Day 2 field with 864,000 chips.
- Jamie Dwan and Thomas Eychenne are among the major names advancing to Day 2.
- Pick 3 fantasy participants track these results closely ahead of the EPT Barcelona Main Event.
- Brock Wilson and Han Feng, both with strong recent performances, continue deep runs in Barcelona.
The PokerStars Open Main Event at EPT Barcelona completed its Day 1 flights with 4,333 entries and a €6,239,520 prize pool. Israel's Maor Zaharagi leads the 648 players advancing to Day 2, with a stack of 864,000 chips, while several major names, including past champions and recent headline-makers, remain in contention.
EPT Barcelona's PokerStars Open: Prize Pool and Attendance
The €1,650 PokerStars Open Main Event once again demonstrated its appeal, even as numbers slipped compared to last year. The 2026 edition drew 4,333 total entries, producing a prize pool of €6,239,520. This is down from the 2025 event, which set a higher mark with 5,036 entries and a €7,251,840 pool. The field shows continued strong demand at this buy-in tier, despite the slight year-on-year drop.
Chips Leaders Headed Into Day 2
Of the 4,333 hopefuls, 648 players made it through to Day 2. Maor Zaharagi of Israel leads all players with an 864,000 stack. French professional Thomas Eychenne, the defending EPT Barcelona Main Event champion, advances with 504,000. Jamie Dwan brings 682,000, maintaining his strong run of results this summer. In total, the advancing cohort includes several players with significant recent achievements:
- Han Feng (501,000) – recent WSOP Main Event finalist, fifth place for $2,250,000
- Vladas Tamasauskas (440,000)
- Felix Schneiders (400,000)
- Dominik Panka (340,000)
- Congya Zhang (301,000) – last woman standing at 2026 WSOP Main Event
- Niklas Astedt (248,000)
- Brock Wilson (203,000) – winner of this week’s €20K NLH in Barcelona and 16th in 2026 WSOP Main Event
- Martin Zamani (176,000) – seventh-highest scoring fantasy player this summer
- Cherish Andrews (149,000)
- Maria Konnikova (57,000)
Other notable names in the advancing field include Youness Barakat (575,000), Thomas Eychenne (504,000), Congya Zhang (301,000), and Victoria Livschitz (147,000).
Pick 3 Fantasy Implications in the Main Event Field
The PokerStars Open Main Event acts as a barometer for form ahead of the EPT Barcelona Main Event, which starts Saturday. Many players advancing to Day 2, including Eychenne, Wilson, and Dwan, are available picks for the Pick 3 fantasy contest. Drafters finalizing their squads for this week will find this Main Event a valuable resource, as recent momentum often informs performance in high-stakes series. Pick 3 squads may want to consider Jamie Dwan, who, after a series of strong finishes, now sits among the top ten stacks on Day 2.
Jamie Dwan’s Strong Summer and Draft Value
Jamie Dwan arrives in Barcelona in excellent form:
- 5th in Event #17: €20,000 NLH, winning €58,400
- 4th in Event #3: €1,100 NLH, collecting €17,480
- Winner at Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) Coventry Super High Roller, £47,200
- Six cashes in 2026 WSOP bracelet events, including a $2,276,961 victory in the $50,000 NLH High Roller
Dwan was added to PokerOrg's Pick 3 fantasy draft following a reader's request, underscoring his popularity and hot streak. As this week’s action continues, Dwan’s run places him at the forefront of fantasy selections.
Defending Champion Eychenne Eyes Another Barcelona Final Table
Thomas Eychenne, one of the most recognisable names in the EPT Barcelona field, proceeds to Day 2 with 504,000 chips. Eychenne secured the 2025 EPT Barcelona Main Event title, taking home €1,217,175 after a heads-up deal with Sebastian Ionita. His ongoing deep run in the PokerStars Open further cements his status among the elite contenders for fantasy and real-world honours alike.
Notable Achievements Among Day 2 Field
Several other advancing players have noteworthy records:
- Han Feng finished 5th at the 2026 WSOP Main Event for $2,250,000
- Brock Wilson won the €20K NLH in Barcelona this Tuesday, earning €233,556, and finished 16th in the 2026 WSOP Main Event
- Congya Zhang was the last female standing at the recent WSOP Main
- Martin Zamani was the seventh-highest scoring fantasy player this summer
The Main Event at EPT Barcelona routinely draws professionals seeking form ahead of bigger buy-ins, and this year’s field remains stacked with big names.
Next Steps: Eye on the PokerStars Open Main Event and EPT Barcelona
The PokerStars Open Main Event will play down to a champion on Saturday. That same day, the EPT Barcelona Main Event begins, offering an immediate continuation for players with momentum from the current event. With so many fantasy draftable players still in contention, the final days of the PokerStars Open will help inform final Pick 3 selections. For full coverage of major events and continuous updates on player progress, follow the ongoing action from Barcelona.
"One deep run begets another. And few players on our Pick 3 list have more momentum right now than Jamie Dwan." — Poker.org
When the champion is crowned, all eyes will turn to how these performances might translate into EPT Main Event success.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many entries did the PokerStars Open Main Event have in Barcelona?
The 2026 PokerStars Open Main Event attracted 4,333 total entries, creating a €6,239,520 prize pool and confirming its place as one of EPT Barcelona's biggest events.
Who is leading the PokerStars Open Main Event after Day 1?
Maor Zaharagi of Israel leads the field into Day 2 with a stack of 864,000 chips, topping all 648 survivors from the opening flights.
Which notable players advanced to Day 2 in the PokerStars Open Main Event?
Jamie Dwan, Thomas Eychenne, Han Feng, Brock Wilson, and Congya Zhang are among the well-known players advancing, each bringing recent strong results or champion credentials.
How does the PokerStars Open Main Event affect Pick 3 fantasy draft selections?
The tournament's results serve as a live form guide for Pick 3 fantasy, offering insight into in-form players like Jamie Dwan and Thomas Eychenne for the upcoming EPT Barcelona Main Event.
When will the PokerStars Open Main Event crown its champion?
The PokerStars Open Main Event will conclude and crown a champion on Saturday, the same day the EPT Barcelona Main Event begins.
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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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