The win was the biggest for Eychenne and the third-largest for the EPT
Thomas Eychenne is the newest champion of the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona Main Event, claiming a career-best score of $1,424,095 after topping a massive field of 2,045 players. The €5,300 buy-in event generated an $11.5 million prize pool, making it the third-largest main event in EPT history and once again cementing Barcelona as one of poker’s premier destinations.
For Eychenne, a 35-year-old from France, the win represents his first live tournament title after years of close calls. He previously notched a seventh-place finish at the 2023 PokerStars Players Championship, but this breakthrough marked both his first seven-figure payday and a defining moment in his career.
“It feels just amazing. It’s my first tournament win. I obviously didn’t expect to win when entering a 2,000-player field. It’s tough to put words on such emotions. It’s incredible,” he told reporters after lifting the trophy.
The road to victory spanned eight days, beginning with two starting flights before narrowing down to just six players for the final day of play. Notable names such as Adam Hendrix and Ramon Colillas made deep runs but fell short of the final table.
Once there, Eychenne stayed patient and found pivotal moments to swing momentum. He gained chips with a rivered hand against Anton Suarez, then held strong in a crucial all-in against Umberto Zaffagnini, hitting a straight on the river to take control of the table.
When play reached three-handed, Zaffagnini exited in third place for $750,204, leaving Eychenne heads-up against Stefan-Sebastian Ionita. The two players agreed to a deal, each locking up over $1.3 million, with $117,000 and the trophy left to contest. Eychenne’s steady aggression eventually flipped the chip stacks in his favor, and his ace-king prevailed over Ionita’s ace-six to close it out.
The victory lifts Eychenne’s career earnings to nearly $4.2 million and signals a new high point in his professional journey. For the EPT, Barcelona once again delivered on its reputation for massive fields, dramatic moments, and champions with stories that resonate well beyond the felt.
