Sebastian Malec Wins 2016 European Poker Tour Barcelona Main Event

The 2016 European Poker Tour Barcelona €5,300 no-limit hold’em main event drew a record turnout of 1,785 entries to build a €8,657,250 prize pool. Attracting the largest main event field in EPT history seemed a fitting way to celebrate the final Barcelona stop of the tour, which will be undergo rebranding in 2017.

Polish online qualifier Sebastian Malec emerged victorious in the end, capturing his first EPT title and the €1,122,800 ($1,258,210 USD) first-place prize. He won his way into this event starting with a €27 satellite.

The 21-year-old former competitive chess player is one of the youngest EPT champions ever and only the third player from his home country to win a main event on the tour behind 2014 EPT PokerStars Caribbean Adventure champion Dominik Panka and this year’s EPT Dublin winner Dmitry Urbanovic.

In addition to the championship trophy and the money Malec was also awarded 2,160 Card Player Player of the Year points. This is his first POY-qualified score of the year, but it alone is enough to catapult him into 51st place in the overall standings.

Malec came into the final day of this event in third chip position with seven players remaining. The chip leader heading into the final table was German resident Uri Reichenstein. Malec eliminated the United Kingdom’s Adam Owen in third place (€646,250) to set up a heads-up showdown with the 28-year-old Reichenstein, who began with roughly a 3-to-2 chip advantage.

The two played for over five hours before the final hand arose. With blinds of 300,000 – 600,000 with an ante of 100,000 Malec limped with the A3 and Reichenstein checked his option with the 109. The flop brought the QJ6 to give both players draws. Reichenstein bet 800,000 and Malec raised to 3 million. Reichenstein called and the turn brought the 8, giving Reichenstein the straight but Malex the ace-high flush. Malec bet 5 million and Reichenstein called. The 8 on the river prompted Malec to move all-in and after plenty of thought Reichenstein made the call. His hand was second best and he was eliminated in second place, earning €807,100 ($904,436 USD)for his deep run.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded to the final table:

Winner photo courtesy of PokerStars / Neil Stoddart.

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