In just a fortnight’s time, poker will once again descend on Barcelona, as the European Poker Tour returns to the cultural home of Catalan Spain. It isn’t just the latest and potentially greatest EPT Barcelona festival yet, however. It’s 20 years since the first ever EPT Barcelona saw Alexander Stevic become the original winner on the European Poker Tour.
The First Winner
The European Poker Tour was always likely to be a success, but no-one could have predicted how phenomenally popular the iconic poker series would become from its inaugural event. Back in 2004, just months after Chris Moneymaker had won the WSOP Main Event for the first time, the top prize in Barcelona at the first-ever EPT Main Event was just €80,000, the equivalent of around $87,400.
The line-up at the final table speaks for itself in that it is clearly from another era. British grinders John Kabbaj and Garry Bush were joined by the eventual winner Alexander Stevic from Sweden, Greek player Andreas Pournaras, Austria’s Stefan Rapp, Italian Luca Pagano, Irish runner-up David O’Callaghan and Polish hopeful Adam Robak. Only Pagano is well-known to be active in poker to this day.
The coverage was dark, gloomy and felt like it was being secretly filmed on the backstairs of an illegal gambling den instead of the neon lightshow that exits today. Commentators Colin Murray – now a talkshow host in the UK – and EPT founder John Duthie were joined by the late Caroline Flack, whose death by suicide shocked the poker world in 2020 even years after her leaving it for pastures new.
Here’s how EPT Barcelona looked back where it all began in 2004:
What Can Fans and Players Expect in 2024?
The past two decades have seen the EPT change markedly. With the traditional tour stops often including Monte Carlo and Prague, other stops in France, England, Germany and other destinations have added to what is one of one of the most recognized and respected poker tours ever created.
There is a prestige to the European Poker Tour even after all these years and Barcelona has long been one of its most popular destinations. In the landmark 20th year of action in the Catalan capital, an EPT Barcelona schedule full of fun takes place from August 26 to September 8. The Estrellas Poker Tour runs into the EPT Barcelona events, overlapping at the start of September, with the following schedule of major events taking place:
ESPT Main Event: August 26-September 1 (€1,100 entry)
ESPT Cup: August 30-31 (€550 entry)
ESPT High Roller: August 31-September 2 (€2,200 entry)
EPT Super High Roller: August 31-September 2 (€100,000 entry)
EPT Main Event: September 1-8 (€5,300 entry)
EPT Mystery Bounty: September 4-6 (€3,000 entry)
EPT High Roller: September 6-8 (€10,300 entry)
Since the birth of the EPT in 2004, over 100,000 players have taken part in 143 EPT Main Events, with past champions coming from 30 countries. With beautiful beaches, a neon nightlife that compares to anywhere and Catalan cuisine that is on another level, players can also enjoy some extra-special extra-curricular activities this summer into fall.
From welcome drinks at the Blue Terrace Sofitel Hotel, an offsite activity day, the famous PokerStars players party at the Go Beach Club Barcelona featuring DJs Cristoph, Kiko Rivera and Willy William, there is something for everyone. Players can also sample Catamaran brunch trips on August 28 or 30 and September 5, while September 4 will see a padel tournament, August 30 will showcase French comedian Bengous’s talents. There’s an ‘EPT20’ quiz hosted by James Hartigan and comedian and co-commentator Joe ‘Stapes’ Stapleton will perform a comedy stand-up night.
Who is Selling Action to EPT Barcelona Already?
With plenty of PokerStake players sure to be heading to Barcelona, three superstars of the felt are selling action already and you’ll need to be quick to grab some of their action. Former GPI Player of the Year and WSOP bracelet winner Stephen Song is selling only to the €10,300-entry EPT Event #52, the EPT High Roller so get to his package right away.
Game of Gold superstar Olga Iermolcheva is selling action to a raft of events on the Estrellas and EPT schedules and with markup ranging from 1.20 to 1.30 is supremely confident of her chances. Also selling to both event festivals is the reigning GPT Female Player of the Year, Cherish Andrews. Selling at ‘spot’ i.e. no mark up to the Estrellas Cup, you’ll want to get in on the Andrews action early, while further package pieces to the EPT High Roller and EPT Main Event in Barcelona shouldn’t be missed.
With one of the most exciting events of the year – certainly in Europe – about to take place in Barcelona, you can monitor which of your favorite players sell action to the festival via our official staking page right here.
