European Poker Tour Barcelona: Ketzer, Orpaz, Yan, and Mokri Win High Rollers

The European Poker Tour Barcelona is hosting several high roller tournaments in 2023. The festival spans from Aug. 21 to Sep.3 this year, with 63 total events scheduled. Four high-stakes events have already wrapped up during the first week of action. Below is a look at the results from those tournaments.

2023 EPT Barcelona €25,000 NLH I

The first of six €25,000 buy-in events on the agenda kicked off Wednesday, Aug. 23. The single-day event drew 28 entries during the registration period, building a prize pool of $726,062 that was ultimately split amongst the top five finishers.

The largest share of that money was secured by Felipe Ketzer, who emerged victorious with the title and $275,918 in prize money. He now has nearly $1.5 million in lifetime earnings.

This was the Brazilian player’s fourth final-table finish of the year in a €25,000 buy-in tournament. He also finished third in a £10,400 buy-in at the World Series of Poker International Super Circuit London. Those five scores have seen Ketzer accumulate 1,551 Card Player Player of the Year points and $1,072,041 in to-date POY earnings. As a result, he now sits just outside the top 200 in the 2023 POY race standings presented by Global Poker.

Ketzer defeated Eduard Barsegian heads-up for the title, sending the Russian player to the rail with $177,876.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded in this event:

2023 EPT Barcelona €25,000 NLH II

The very next day saw the second €25,000 buy-in on the schedule take place. Once again, 28 entries built a prize pool of $726,062.

This time around it was Tom Orpaz that came out on top. The Israeli player earned a career-high $275,918 payday as the champion, along with 252 POY points. This was his seventh final-table finish of the year.

This victory saw Orpaz increase his career earnings to $588,000.

Orpaz overcame a stack final table that included the likes of top POY contender Jose ‘Nacho’ Barbero (4th – $85,320) and recent Triton Poker London main event winner Timothy Adams (3rd – $117,936). Barbero remains in second place in the 2023 rankings with 14 final-table finishes so far this year totaling more than $7.6 million in POY earnings.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded in this event:

2023 EPT Barcelona €25,000 NLH III

Another day, another €25k in Barcelona.

The third such event was the largest yet, with 34 entries building a $881,647 prize pool. The bump in turnout also resulted in an additional spot being paid, with the top six cashing this time around.

New Zealander David Yan came away with the title, earning $281,771 for his third tournament victory of the year. He also secured 336 POY points. With seven final tables and more than $6 million in to-date POY earnings, Yan now sits in 41st place in the POY standings heading into the final third of the year.

Ketzer backed up his recent win with a third-place showing in this event for $136,620.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded in this event:

2023 EPT Barcelona €100,000 NLH

The highest buy-in event of the festival cost €100,000 to enter. That sum was plonked down 18 times by the end of registration, building a prize pool equivalent to $1,888,077.

It took two days to narrow the field to a champion, with Norway’s Kayhan Mokri capturing the title and the top prize of $811,900. This was his third high roller final table of the series, having finished fourth in the first €25,000 event and second in the second.

With seven final tables and more than $1.6 million in POY earnings accrued so far in 2023, Mokri is now ranked 72nd in the overall standings. His recorded career earnings now sit at more than $2.6 million.

Only the top four finishers cashed in this tournament. 2022 Coin Rivet Invitational champion Sam Grafton placed fourth for $226,609 while Steve O’Dwyer earned $339,805 as the third-place finisher. O’Dwyer now occupies the 31st-place spot in the POY rankings with 10 final tables and more than $4.7 million in to-date POY earnings.

Jean-Noel Thorel took home $509,762 as the runner-up. Yjos came just a few weeks after a second-place showing in the $125,000 main event at Triton London for a career-best $2.8 million payday. The Frenchman has climbed into 41st place on the POY leaderboard as a result of his success so far in 2023.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded in this event:

Photo credits: Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd. / Danny Maxwell, Eloy Cabacas.

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