We are only three weeks into 2026, and 888poker has already managed to help write an inspiring story that confirms that the poker dream is still alive and well.
Gorka Akerreta qualified online for the 888poker LIVE Madrid Main Event for just €55, and he managed to turn that seat into a victory worth €50,000. On his way to the top, the Spaniard outlasted the field of 360 entries for the biggest success of his poker career.
It was an apt finish for the very first live event of the year, organized by 888poker, sending a clear message that everyone’s welcome and anyone can win, as long as you dare to dream.
Big Action in Madrid
Poker events in Spain never fail to attract crowds, and Madrid’s festival did not disappoint. With players from all over Europe (and beyond) flocking to join the action, the Main Event saw a final field of 360 entries, creating a very respectable prize pool of €273,600.
A total of 47 players made money, picking up at least €1,700 for their efforts. As is usual, quite a few of 888poker’s ambassadors were in the mix, but none of them made it to the ITM stage. Lucia Navarro made the best effort, but her run eventually ended in 69th place.
Ian Simpson, who started 2025 by winning this very tournament, could not replicate that success this year. He made it to Day 2, but he was the first of the remaining ambassadors to hit the rail, and Aaron Barone followed him shortly after.
By the time the tournament got down to the nine-handed final table, everyone had locked up at least €5,900, but with €50,000 for the winner, no one was in any rush to leave their seat.
In terms of national representation, the final table was a proper international mix. For Europe, there were four players from Spain, one from the UK, one from France, and one from Ireland. Then, there was one player from Argentina and one from China.
A Dream Spot for the Spaniard
There is no doubt that all who made the final table were motivated to finish the job, but for Gorka Akerreta, this was a truly special moment. Having qualified for the tournament via a €55 online satellite, he had already locked up thousands, and he started the final table with a solid stack to boot.
It must have felt like it was his time, and, as it turned out, it was.
Akerreta started the final table second in chips, and he safely navigated his stack down to the three-handed stage, carefully picking his spots. Then, he finally managed to double up through the chip leader to take control of the game, courtesy of an ace on the flop.
The Spaniard entered the heads-up with a three-to-one lead over his compatriot Raul Gordo, and it only took two hands to find the winner. Akerreta’s A-3 stood up against Gordo’s K-Q, and, just like that, his story was complete. He successfully turned €55 into €50,000!
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gorka Akerreta | Spain | €50,000 |
| 2 | Raul Gordo | Spain | €36,000 |
| 3 | Daniel Wu | China | €25,000 |
| 4 | Martin Pardo | Argentina | €19,300 |
| 5 | Julien Loire | France | €15,800 |
| 6 | Turlough McHugh | Ireland | €13,000 |
| 7 | Jake Collins | United Kingdom | €10,300 |
| 8 | Jorge Diego | Spain | €7,900 |
| 9 | Nima Jenabi | Spain | €5,900 |
This was just the first of many live festivals on 888poker’s 2026 calendar. Between the main tour, Noche de Poker, and the UKPT, there is plenty more action to come, and plenty more satellites open to everyone who dares chase their poker dreams. There are no guarantees in poker, but every now and again, all things line up perfectly, which is why you shouldn’t be afraid to take your shots.
And the worst-case scenario? Even if you don’t win, you’ll get an experience to last you a while and potentially meet some new friends to last you a lifetime!
