RbPkr Field Reports
Stephen Song Wins Historic EPT Barcelona 20th Anniversary Main Event
August 2024 marked a massive milestone for live poker in Europe: the 20th anniversary of the European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona. Returning to the Casino Barcelona where the very first EPT took place in 2004, the festival drew an incredibly diverse crowd of professionals, qualifiers, and recreational players.
An American Conquers Europe
The €5,300 EPT Barcelona Main Event saw a massive turnout of 1,975 entries, generating a prize pool of over €9.5 million. Ultimately, it was American pro Stephen Song who lifted the prestigious Golden Shard trophy, taking home €1,290,386 after striking a heads-up deal with the UK's Andrew Hulme.
As reported extensively on Poker.org, Song navigated an incredibly tough final table that included notable pros like Rania Nasreddine and Boris Kuzmanovic. The victory was a massive addition to Song's already impressive resume, further establishing him as one of the best tournament players of his generation.
The Discussion on Reddit
The EPT broadcast once again set the gold standard for live poker streaming, and the r/poker community was highly active throughout the final table. A major point of discussion was Song's relentless aggression and unique bet-sizing in critical ICM (Independent Chip Model) spots, applying maximum pressure to the mid-stacks as the pay jumps became severe.
Bringing the EPT Vibe Home
The EPT is famous for its impeccable structure and incredibly smooth logistics. Replicating that environment in a home game can be tough when you're stuck acting as both a player and the dealer.
While playing with premium Bicycle Cards brings a great tactile feel to your game night, physically dealing the cards often slows down the action. To get the hands-per-hour of a professionally dealt European Poker Tour event without needing to hire an actual dealer, give RbPkr a try. Let the software handle the shuffle and the dealing, so you can focus on making those EPT-level bluffs against your friends.