EPT Barcelona Main Event Surpasses 2,000 Entries Once Again

The official figures are in for the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona Main Event, and they paint a very impressive picture.

Last year’s Main Event brought in a field of 1,975 entries, but in 2025 the turnout edged upward, reaching 2,045 entries and generating a prize pool worth €9,918,250. Out of this enormous sum, the eventual champion will be awarded €1.4 million, with 303 finishing positions set to be paid.

This marks the third occasion that the Main Event, which carries a buy-in of €5,300, has managed to draw more than 2,000 entries. In fact, it stands as the third-largest EPT Main Event in the tour’s history, though it still came up around 250 entries short of surpassing the all-time record. That record belongs to the 2022 edition, which drew a staggering 2,294 entries.

Nevertheless, this year’s event holds a particular significance as it represents the 20th edition of EPT Barcelona. The highly regarded poker festival first arrived in the Spanish city in 2004, just one year after Chris Moneymaker’s historic World Series of Poker triumph triggered the global poker boom. That debut edition attracted only 229 participants, meaning that in two decades the Main Event field has increased nearly tenfold.

2025 EPT Barcelona Main Event Numbers:

• Entries: 2,045
• Prize Pool: €9,918,250
• Places Paid: 303
• First-Place Prize: €1,436,000

The 2025 EPT Barcelona Main Event officially began on August 24. Much like in previous years, the tournament included two opening flights. Day 1A registered 715 entries, slightly higher than the 696 recorded in 2024, while Day 1B contributed 1,213 entries, also up compared to last year’s 1,194. Both Day 1 flights permitted a single re-entry option. In addition, late registration remained available through the early levels of Day 2, during which another 117 players entered, ultimately pushing the total number of entries to 2,045.

As a result, the tournament finished just short of the €10 million prize pool milestone, leaving the winner still guaranteed a hefty €1.4 million payday. A total of 303 players will be paid, with the minimum cash set at €8,550.

The field also showcased a remarkable level of international diversity, with players hailing from 82 different countries. France accounted for the largest share of participants, fielding 191 players. They were followed by Italy with 135, Spain with 129, the United Kingdom with 92, and the United States with 90.

At the time of writing, more than 400 players remain in contention. Some of the high-profile names still competing include Steve O’Dwyer, online legend Niklas “Lena900” Astedt, and a collection of former EPT Barcelona Main Event champions. Among them are Simon Wiciak, winner of the 2023 edition, Simon Brandstrom, the 2019 champion, Sebastian Malec, who triumphed in 2016, and the defending titleholder, Stephen Song. PokerStars ambassadors Kenny Hallaert, fresh off a fourth-place finish in the WSOP Main Event, along with the couple Ben and Marle Spragg, are also still in the field.

Strong Fields Across the Festival

The 2025 EPT Barcelona has now reached the latter stages of the festival, though several highly anticipated events are still on the schedule. These include the EPT Mystery Bounty, which comes with a €3,250 buy-in and runs from August 27 to 29, and the prestigious EPT High Roller, featuring a €10,300 buy-in and set to take place between August 29 and 31.

So far, the festival has consistently produced outstanding numbers across a variety of events. The PokerStars Open, which ran from August 18 to 24 with a buy-in of €1,650, attracted a record-setting 5,035 entries and built an enormous €7.2 million prize pool. France’s Alexis Nicolai captured the title and a winner’s payout worth €772,000.

Other events also delivered big turnouts. Event #6, the €10,200 NLH Mystery Bounty, drew 77 entries for a total prize pool of €746,900. The €3,250 NLH Senior’s High Roller brought in 56 entries to generate €162,960 in prize money. The always-popular PokerStars Cup, which this year featured a reduced buy-in of €825, drew 1,894 entries, creating a prize pool of €1.3 million. Sweden’s Alexander Ivarsson emerged victorious, earning €211,680.

The PokerStars Open High Roller, which had a €2,700 buy-in, produced one of the largest fields outside the Main Event, attracting 1,728 entries. That created a prize pool exceeding €4 million. The title went to Finland’s Eero Abbey, who secured just over €500,000 for his victory.

The Spin & Go Championship Live is also set to return this weekend, taking place from August 30 to 31 with a guaranteed prize pool of €275,000.

The EPT Barcelona Main Event is currently moving through Day 2 and the field is approaching the money bubble. The tournament will play down to its conclusion on August 31, at which point the winner will walk away with the coveted trophy and a life-changing €1.4 million top prize.

EPT Barcelona Main Event History