Elias Suonen won a six-figure sum at EPT Barcelona 2026

Finnish pro Elias Suonen claimed the title in the highest buy-in event at EPT Barcelona 2026, boosting his bankroll with a major win. Here’s a recap of the first events of the series.

The prestigious PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) 2026 festival has kicked off in Barcelona, and five new champions have already been crowned in the opening days. Among them is Finnish pro Elias Suhonen, who claimed victory in the most expensive tournament of the series’ early stage and added a six-figure sum to his bankroll. In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at the results of the first tournaments, break down the final table lineups, and discuss what these outcomes mean for PPPoker club players. EPT Barcelona 2026: Festival Kickoff and First Champions The EPT Barcelona 2026 festival has just begun, but it has already delighted poker fans with exciting events and big wins. In the first few days, five titles were awarded across various disciplines and formats, with prize pools reaching hundreds of thousands of euros. The main star of the opening was Finn Elias Suhonen, who won the €10,200 No-Limit Hold'em and took home the largest prize so far. Detailed Tournament Results and Final Table Breakdowns €10,200 No-Limit Hold'em: Suhonen’s Triumph and a Six-Figure Win The €10,200 buy-in tournament attracted 31 entries, creating a prize pool of €310,000. In this prestigious event, Elias Suhonen emerged victorious, earning €114,200—his fourth six-figure cash in live poker. On his way to the title, Suhonen overcame tough competition, defeating Nicholas Seward heads-up, who took €73,700 for second place. The first player to make the money was Brandon Wilson, finishing fifth for €28,600. Next out was Mehdi Chaoui from Morocco, who finished fourth for €35,300. French veteran Jean-Noel Thorel took third place, earning €48,900. Final table results for €10,200 No-Limit Hold'em: 1st — Elias Suhonen — €114,200 2nd — Nicholas Seward — €73,700 3rd — Jean-Noel Thorel — €48,900 4th — Mehdi Chaoui — €35,300 5th — Brandon Wilson — €28,600 €5,200 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Max: Erik Lindqwist’s Victory The six-max tournament with a €5,200 buy-in saw 37 entries (including re-entries), generating a prize pool of €185,000. Swedish player Erik Lindqwist claimed the title and the top prize of €68,200—his biggest live cash to date. In heads-up play, he defeated Luka Sorainen, who received €43,950 for second place. Other players who made the money were Cherish Andrews (€17,050), Kyosuke Nagami (€21,100), and Toni Kaukua (€29,150). Final table results for €5,200 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Max: 1st — Erik Lindqwist — €68,200 2nd — Luka Sorainen — €43,950 3rd — Toni Kaukua — €29,150 4th — Kyosuke Nagami — €21,100 5th — Cherish Andrews — €17,050 €1,100 No-Limit Hold'em Single Re-Entry: Francisco Iwan Molina’s First Major Success Before EPT Barcelona 2026, Spaniard Francisco Iwan Molina had only one live poker result—a sixth-place finish in a €250 Mystery Bounty at PartyPoker Tour Madrid. In Barcelona, he managed to win the €1,100 buy-in tournament with a single re-entry option, which drew 251 participants. For his victory, Molina received €42,635, overcoming experienced opponents at the final table. The top five included Jessica Vierling (5th — €13,450), Jamie Dwan (4th — €17,480), Mathias Siljander (3rd — €22,720), and Simone Demasi, who lost to Molina heads-up and took €31,810. Final table results for €1,100 No-Limit Hold'em Single Re-Entry: 1st — Francisco Iwan Molina — €42,635 2nd — Simone Demasi — €31,810 3rd — Mathias Siljander — €22,720 4th — Jamie Dwan — €17,480 5th — Jessica Vierling — €13,450 €1,100 No-Limit Hold'em Seniors: WSOP Bracelet Winner Antoine Vranken Takes the Title The €1,100 No-Limit Hold'em Seniors event, for players above a certain age, attracted an impressive 280 entries and a €280,000 prize pool. The champion was Dutchman Antoine Vranken, a WSOP bracelet holder, who took home €55,650 for first place. Renowned Irish pro Dara O'Kearney made the final table and finished fourth for €19,220. Estonian veteran Igor Pihela, with over $1 million in live tournament winnings, finished third for €24,480. In heads-up play, Vranken defeated Timur Sattarov, who took second place and €34,680. Final table results for €1,100 No-Limit Hold'em Seniors: 1st — Antoine Vranken — €55,650 2nd — Timur Sattarov — €34,680 3rd — Igor Pihela — €24,480 4th — Dara O'Kearney — €19,220 €2,100 No-Limit Hold'em Hyper Turbo Freezeout: Youness Barakat Nears $3.5 Million in Winnings The €2,100 No-Limit Hold'em Hyper Turbo Freezeout, featuring a fast-paced structure, drew 42 players. The top prize and title went to Italian Youness Barakat, who brought his total live earnings close to $3.5 million. In the final duel, he defeated Japan’s Sho Homma, who previously won the €2,700 PokerStars Open High Roller at EPT Prague 2025 (prize — €454,385). Beating such a renowned opponent heads-up was a fitting end to the tournament for Barakat. Final table results for €2,100 No-Limit Hold'em Hyper Turbo Freezeout: 1st — Youness Barakat 2nd — Sho Homma Brief Overview of Tournament Formats and Their Significance Each of the tournaments discussed had its own unique format and structure. For example, in 6-Max, six players are seated at the table, increasing the pace and requiring a more aggressive strategy. Re-entry tournaments allow eliminated players to rejoin, while the Hyper Turbo format features rapidly increasing blinds, forcing participants to make quick decisions and take more risks. Seniors tournaments traditionally attract experienced players, and their prize pools often rival those of regular events. Overall, EPT Barcelona is one of the most anticipated and prestigious series of the year, bringing together both global poker stars and ambitious newcomers. What’s Ahead: Key Events on the EPT Barcelona 2026 Schedule The EPT Barcelona 2026 festival runs until August 29. Ahead are many major tournaments with a wide range of buy-ins and formats. Here are the key events on the schedule: €1,650 PokerStars Open — ongoing €3,250 Senior's High Roller — ongoing €30,000 Super High Roller Warm Up — starts August 20 €2,700 PokerStars Open High Roller — August 21-23 €100,000 EPT Super High Roller — August 21-23 €5,300 EPT Main Event — August 22-29 €25,000 PLO High Roller — August 22-23 €50,000 Super High Roller Second Chance — August 23 €2,700 EPT Second Chance — August 24-25 €3,250 EPT Mystery Bounty — August 25-27 €1,650 EPT Mystery Bounty — August 27-28 €2,200 NLHE – In the Money at 180,000 — August 27-28 €10,300 EPT High Roller — August 27-29 The festival continues to attract top players and poker enthusiasts from around the world. The action is being closely followed by leading poker media, including the PokerNews team, who are providing exclusive coverage from Casino Barcelona. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players The results from the opening days of EPT Barcelona 2026 show that not only established stars can succeed, but also players with minimal live tournament experience—like Francisco Iwan Molina, who won a title and a substantial prize at his very first major live event. This is a great example for PPPoker club members: don’t be afraid of big series and tough opponents, as every tournament is a chance to prove yourself and reach a new level. The variety of formats featured at the EPT (6-Max, Hyper Turbo, Seniors, Single Re-Entry) highlights the importance of being a versatile player. Regular training in PPPoker clubs, participating in different types of tournaments, and studying strategies for fast-paced and short-handed formats will help you prepare for any live event if you decide to try your hand at major series. Additionally, by following the successes of both pros and newcomers at the EPT, club players can analyze hands, observe finalists’ tactics, and apply the knowledge gained to their own online games. This will not only raise your skill level but also open up new horizons for your poker career—both in PPPoker and beyond the online club scene.