The 2024 Campeonato Espana de Poker Barcelona: A Thrilling Prelude to EPT

The Casino Barcelona recently set the stage for the 2024 edition of the Campeonato Espana de Poker (CEP) Barcelona festival, a spectacular event that served as the perfect warm-up for the eagerly awaited PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona. With an entry pool that made it the second-largest in the tour's history, the CEP Barcelona Main Event was nothing short of a poker enthusiast's dream.

Key Takeaways:

• The CEP Barcelona Main Event saw 1,737 players, making it the tour's second-largest event.
• Madrid's Jose Jaraiz clinched the title, along with a €72,285 prize, following a three-way deal.
• The event underscored the growing popularity and competitive spirit of poker in Spain and beyond.

The €500 buy-in CEP Barcelona Main Event attracted a staggering 1,737 entrants, only surpassed by the 2023 edition's 1,960 participants. This turnout not only highlighted the event's growing stature but also ensured a prize pool hefty enough to award all but one of the nine finalists with a five-figure sum. The tournament concluded with a three-way deal that saw Jose Jaraiz from Madrid emerge as the champion, taking home €72,285.

Adria Colomina, who had previously finished second in the 2021 edition of this event, ended up in ninth place this time, pocketing €9,364. Since his near win in 2021, Colomina has maintained a consistent presence at the final tables of several Spanish tournaments, proving his skill and tenacity in the competitive poker scene.

Among the notable finishes, Romanian player Adrian Coman celebrated a career-best €12,000 for his eighth-place finish, while France's Henri Lansade secured €15,200 for coming in seventh. The tournament's middle ranks saw Marc Colom and Mohamed Lakhal walk away with €19,100 and €24,000, respectively, marking significant achievements in their poker careers.

As the final table action intensified, Belarusian Ivan Karatayeu claimed fourth place, earning €30,800. This win marked a significant milestone for Karatayeu, being his second five-figure haul following a successful run at the PokerStars Eureka Poker Tour Rozvadov earlier in the year.

The concluding deal among the last three players ensured career-high prizes for each. Guillem Nuez and David Xarau, the runner-up, secured €57,735 and €67,480, respectively. For Xarau, this was a triumphant return to live poker since May 2018, highlighting the unpredictable and often rewarding nature of the game.

Jose Jaraiz's victory at the 2024 CEP Barcelona Main Event not only adds a prestigious title to his resume but also positions him as a formidable contender in the upcoming PokerStars EPT Barcelona festival. With a track record that includes notable finishes at the Irish Open and the World Series of Poker, Jaraiz's performance in Barcelona is a testament to his skill, determination, and the ever-increasing competitiveness of poker on the global stage.

As the poker world turns its attention to the upcoming EPT Barcelona, players and fans alike will undoubtedly be watching to see if Jaraiz can continue his winning streak. The CEP Barcelona has once again proven to be a thrilling precursor to one of poker's most anticipated events, setting the stage for an unforgettable festival.