The EPT100 Barcelona school of breaking records as Matias Ruzzi takes the title in the record breaking €1,100 Estrellas Main Event, and the EPT100 €5,300 Main Event becomes the largest in the tour’s history.
They set the bar.
They break it.
It’s a pretty simple formula for success and one that PokerStars have absolutely nailed.
Argentina’s Matias Ruzzi has defeated 2,560 players, to win the €1,100 Estrellas Main Event, in what was the largest live freeze out in PokerStars history.
Ruzzi may have the title, and €198,550 first prize, but the bulk of the cash is heading towards the bank account of the Bulgarian Vladislav Donchev, who took €278,500 after the final four cut a deal with Donchev’s neck out in front.
The Argentinian disposed of Donchev in heads-up action, in what turned out to be his first Estrellas event. The 28-year-old takes his live tournament earnings over the $500,000 mark, after a fantastic year that has seen him finish 16th in the €10,000 EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo, for €55,850, and fourth in the French Series of Poker (FPS) €2,200 High Roller in the same event for €46,700.
“I am very happy. This is the best tournament I’ve won and it’s even better as PokerStars is saying it’s the biggest live freeze-out in its history. This was my first Estrellas Poker Tour event but I’m sure it will not be the last. Today I’m going to celebrate but tomorrow I will be back to play Day 1B of the EPT,” Ruzzi told the PokerStars blog.
Final Table Standings
1. Matias Ruzzi, €198,550
2. Vladislav Donchev, €278,500
3. Nir Levi, Israel, €188,511
4. Hakim Guitoun, €178,550
5. Corinne Baucher, €91,580
6. Andrew Chen, €73,826
7. Daniel Barriocanal, €56,369
8. Bela Toth, €40,849
Record Breaking EPT Barcelona Main Event
With the Estrellas Main Event a monumental success, the field for the EPT Barcelona Main Event was always going to be huge.
But really?
1,496 players, with 1,010 turning up for Day 1B alone?
DJ Roger Sanchez can spin, but I never thought he was that popular.
The prize pool stands at €7,255,600, 239 players will get paid, and the winner will take home €1,262,000.
Players from 71 different countries have hit the Catalan capital and amazingly the Spaniards lag behind the Germans (170), the French (118), the Russians (106) and the Brits (95) in terms of numbers, with 92 participating in the big one.
It is the largest-ever field in EPT Main Event history and what a time for it to arrive. The debut event of Season 11 in the 100th EPT event, was even bigger than EPT6 San Remo when Liv Boeree made her mark on the live tournament scene with a record breaking win over 1,240 entrants.
EPT100 Side Event News
One of the reasons that people love the EPT is the sumptuous side events and here is a quick round up of the early stages of the 44-event series.
The Swedish player, and regular guest on CalvinAyre, Anton Wigg defeated 157 players in the €2,150 NLH/PLO Turbo event. Wigg won €70,800 after topping a final table that included Kyle Julius (3rd), Fedor Holz (4th) and Frederik Jensen (7th).
It’s been a great series for young Holz, who rebounded from that fourth place finish to defeat 82 players in the €2,150 8-Handed Turbo event, taking €43,750, after smashing a final table that included Lukas Berglund (5th) and Stephen Chidwick (9th).
The Portuguese player, Joao Barbosa, defeated 73 players to win €38,900 in the €2,150 NL Turbo event – Martin Finger (5th) and Kimmo Kurko (6th) making the final table in that one.
Luza Faggioli turned a €330 investment into €101,000 after defeating 2,095 players in the Barcelona Cup, and the Seniors were also having a good time with Hossein Ensan winning €4,385, after wading through 85 players in the €220 event and Plamen Stavrev beating Fernando Brito, in heads up action, to take the €20,800 first prize in the €1,100 event.
