EPT Barcelona Adds a New €2,200 “In the Money at 180,000” Event
The format lets players lock up a Day 2 seat and a payout the moment they hit 180,000 chips, alongside the usual Main Event and high rollers.
PokerStars is adding a new €2,200 “In the Money at 180,000” tournament to EPT Barcelona, and the gimmick is exactly what the name suggests. Once a player reaches 180,000 chips, the stack is bagged for Day 2 and a cash is locked up, which removes the usual money bubble pressure from the event.
A separate preview placed the new tournament on Aug. 17-27 at Casino Barcelona. The wider festival itself is listed for Aug. 16-29 at the same venue, and the card still revolves around the €5,300 EPT Main Event, the €1,650 PokerStars Open Main Event, the €100,000 Super High Roller and the €10,300 EPT High Roller.
The stop also has some recent history behind it. Last year’s EPT Barcelona Main Event drew 2,045 entries, and Frenchman Thomas Eychenne won it for €1,426,900 after a deal with Romanian Sebastian Ionita. EPT Tournament Director Toby Stone said the new format was built for qualifiers, adding, “If you love our qualifiers, you’ll love In the Money at 180,000,” and, “Hit 180,000 chips, instantly bag your stack and lock up a Day 2 cash. No bubble sweat. Just pure poker and action.”
Barcelona also matters for PokerStars Live League. PokerNews says the 2026 race reaches its halfway point here, with Danilo Donnini leading the Low board, Andrew Hulme on top of Medium, and Juan Pardo leading High. The top three in each tier will split €157,500 in PokerStars LIVE credit, and the top 30 in each tier qualify for a €100,000 freeroll at the first EPT stop of 2027.
Away from the tables, the festival will add karaoke, quiz and games nights, welcome drinks, a sports matchup and a Guess the Hand contest, with prizes and Mini Spades also on offer. EPT Wellness Community will run daily yoga and Pilates from Aug. 18-27, and seven days of live streaming begin Aug. 23 on PokerStars’ Twitch and Facebook channels in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese and German, with Portuguese commentary making its festival debut.
