EPT Barcelona: Nordics Ottomar Ladva and Samuli Sipila Dominate High Rollers

Ladva Claims Title on Third Attempt

The exclusive one-day €50K Super High Roller Second Chance attracted the elite of the poker world, generating 28 entries. The total prize pool of this prestigious tournament climbed to €1,372,140, with cash prizes prepared for only four top finishers of the day.

The tournament reached its climax in the final heads-up. Estonian pro Ottomar Ladva faced Swedish online legend Niklas Astedt. The two players eventually reached an agreement and struck a heads-up deal. Based on the deal, Astedt secured a higher payout of €522,840, but the champion and trophy holder was Ottomar Ladva, taking home €437,600.

Ladva finally managed to win the heads-up at EPT Barcelona 2026 on his third attempt, having finished second in both the €20K and €25K High Rollers previously. Overall, he notched his fifth EPT title, with four achieved right in Barcelona.

Final Results of Event #37: €50,000 Super High Roller Second Chance:

*Heads-up deal

Incredible Comeback by Samuli Sipila

The two-day €25K PLO High Roller also crowned a winner, registering a total of 34 entries. The tournament's prize pool reached €816,340, with five top players taking home a cut, while Marcus Dieleman was left as the unfortunate bubble boy in sixth place.

Finnish specialist Samuli Sipila snatched the winning trophy, showcasing a phenomenal ride. In the heads-up battle, he faced a massive 1:5 chip disadvantage against Spain's Lautaro Guerra. However, he turned the tide and claimed the first prize of €309,340 along with his first-ever EPT trophy.

Finnish players dominated the tournament, not only with Sipila's win but also with third-place Ryynanen and fifth-place Saaskilahti, who carried his excellent form from the WSOP 2026 Main Event, where he finished second.

Final Results of Event #34: €25,000 PLO High Roller:

Dwyer Maintains Lead in Main Event

The prestigious €5,300 EPT Main Event has completed two successful opening flights. The registration count currently stands at 1,684 entries (635 in Day 1a and 1,049 in Day 1b). This number is not final, as late registration is open until the start of Day 2. The current prize pool has already reached a staggering €8,217,750.

A total of 535 players advanced from the flights to Day 2, and the tables will see the return of last year's champion, Thomas Eychenne, who joined just after his triumph in the PS Open High Roller. However, he bagged only a modest short stack of 14,500 chips.

Leading the pack is Ireland's Michael Dwyer, who topped Day 1a with a stack of 363,500 chips. Day 1b saw India's Bharath Janardhan perform best, bagging 321,000 chips and placing fourth in the overall standings.

Top 10 Standings Before Day 2 of Event #31: €5,300 EPT Main Event

Fabian Bartuschk Celebrates First EPT Trophy

The two-day €2,200 PLO tournament attracted a solid turnout of 346 entries, bringing the prize pool to €664,320. 

The final day delivered unexpected twists. The initial massive chipleader, Youness Barakat, couldn't maintain his lead and had to settle for 9th place, earning €14,860.

After Finnish veteran Juha Helppi was eliminated in 3rd place, Dutchman Mart Gerritsen went head-to-head with the surging Bartuschk, who didn't waver in the final duel and took home his first Spade trophy, along with €131,420.

Final Results of the Final Table of Event #32: €2,200 PLO:

Federico Donnini Triumphs After Heads-Up Deal

Fans of fast-paced action enjoyed the dynamic Event #40: €2,100 Hyper Turbo Freezeout. The tournament attracted a solid field of 166 players competing for shares of the €318,720 prize pool. The final table was packed with international talent, with renowned Belgian pro Kenny Hallaert finishing in sixth place.

The tournament concluded with a heads-up where Italian player Federico Donnini and Slovak representative Lukáš Pažma reached an agreement. They agreed on an ICM deal, which guaranteed each of them €60,550. However, only one could claim the title, and the trophy was ultimately taken by Italian Donnini.

Final Results of the Final Table of Event #40: €2,100 Hyper Turbo Freezeout

*Heads-up deal

Jorge Pereira Lopes Wins Title after 3-Way Deal

For fans of intricate technical play, Event #38: €1,650 PLO Hi-Lo was on offer. The tournament recorded a total of 117 entries, resulting in a prize pool of €168,480.

The trophy was claimed by Portuguese player Jorge Pereira Lopes, who secured €29,840 after a 3-way deal. In the final duel, he overcame Norway's Tobias Leknes.

Spanish player Juan Maceiras Lapido experienced an exceptionally interesting final table. He finished in third place, yet due to the chip count dynamics in the late stages, he took away the highest payout from the deal, amounting to €33,770. 

Final Results of the Final Table of Event #38: €1,650 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo

*3-way deal

Sources: PS Live, Flickr