2024 PokerStars EPT Barcelona

Day: 1b
Event Info

2024 PokerStars EPT Barcelona

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k4
Prize
€625,000
Event Info
Buy-in
€1,100
Prize Pool
€6,852,480
Entries
7,138
Level Info
Level
42
Blinds
1,000,000 / 2,000,000
Ante
2,000,000
Players Info - Day 1b
Entries
199
Players Left
30

Michel Molenaar Bags a Top Three Stack in Day 1b of Estrellas Poker Tour Main Event

Level 18 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Michel Molenaar
Michel Molenaar

The 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Barcelona kicked off today with two of the eight opening flights in the PokerStars Estrellas Poker Tour (ESPT) Main Event playing out at the Casino Barcelona. Day 1b drew 199 entries and came to its conclusion at the last second of Level 18 with 30 players advancing to Day 2 and into the money.

France's Sebastien Compte bagged up the biggest stack after he amassed 474,000 chips at the end of play, and was also responsible for bursting the bubble after his pocket kings were too good for the ace-ten of Gerard Rubiralta.

Day 1b Top Ten Chip Counts

PlacePlayerCountryChip Count
1Sebastien CompteFrance474,000
2Domenico ZappiaItaly420,000
3Michel MolenaarNetherlands333,000
4Mathias BayerAustria331,000
5Jose CriadoSpain323,000
6Lluis Jo BalagueSpain312,000
7Fabrizio OrtolomoItaly292,000
8Piero AliotoItaly291,000
9Jean-Claude ThomasFrance275,000
10Laurence SteinUnited States258,000

Michel Molenaar managed to bag the third-biggest stack of the flight with 333,000, which puts the Dutchman in a great position once Day 2 gets underway. Molenaar has over $1,200,000 in live tournament earnings according to The Hendon Mob which includes cashes in three European Poker Tour (EPT) final tables.

Spain's Jose Criado was active throughout the day and raked in a healthy pot when his ace-king was too good against the ace-jack of Italy's Mario Laterza. As the day's play ended, Criado bagged up 323,000 chips which was good for sixth on the leaderboard.

Japan's Shiina Okamoto also managed to make it through to Day 2 and finished just outside the top ten with a stack of 249,000, which puts her eleventh in the counts. Okamoto's best finish in an EPT event came two years ago right here in Barcelona where she final table bubbled a �2,100 event.

There are six more starting flights in the Main Event with two taking place on each of the 27th, 28th, and 29th of August. The survivors from all eight flights will combine for the first time on Friday, August 30 to play out Day 2.

Keep it with PokerNews as we continue to bring you all the action as the PokerStars Estrellas Poker Tour Main Event is just getting started.

Tags: Domenico ZappiaFabrizio OrtolomoGerard RubiraltaJean-Claude ThomasJose CriadoLaurence SteinLluis Jo BalagueMario LaterzaMichel MolenaarPiero AliotoSebastien CompteShiina Okamoto