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The European Poker Tour heads back to Casino Barcelona from August 16-29 for one of the season’s most anticipated stops, drawing thousands of players for two weeks of action. The festival is once again headlined by the €5,300 EPT Main Event, alongside a deep lineup of accompanying tournaments.
Among the standout additions this year is PokerStars’ new €2,200 “In the Money at 180,000” event, which reshapes the usual cash bubble dynamic. Instead of a traditional bubble, players who reach 180,000 chips instantly lock up a cash finish and secure their seat for Day 2.
EPT Tournament Director Toby Stone said the format removes bubble anxiety entirely, letting players focus purely on strategy once they approach the chip threshold. The change introduces a new decision point, as players must weigh building a bigger stack against banking their guaranteed cash and advancing.
The schedule also features the €1,650 PokerStars Open Main Event, a €100,000 Super High Roller, and the €10,300 EPT High Roller. Last year’s Barcelona Main Event drew the third-largest field in EPT history, with Thomas Eychenne taking home over €1.2 million for the win.
Beyond the tables, PokerStars has organized numerous off-felt activities, including karaoke nights, quizzes, a sports matchup, and daily yoga sessions through the EPT Wellness Community from August 18-27. Live streaming will run for seven days starting August 23, now including a Portuguese-language broadcast for the first time.
The stop also contributes to the PokerStars Live League standings, with Juan Pardo and Danilo Donnini currently leading their respective tiers ahead of the season reaching its midpoint at EPT Prague in December.
