888Live Barcelona Crushes Guarantees, Ready for Main Event
It's hot in Barcelona, and that's not only due to the sunny weather and the most recent Formula One race.
The 2017 888Live Poker Festival Barcelona, with �700,000 in guaranteed prizes, kicked off a few days ago at the Casino Barcelona and all numbers of the festival thus far are promising. Not only were the guaranteed prize pools for the early side events reached, some of them were crushed as players from more than 30 different countries took part.
The �220 Opening Event attracted a total field of 720 entries and 81 players shared a portion of the �138,240 prize pool. Alejandro Vazquez Gomez took home most of it in a nine-way deal. Vazquez Gomez claimed �11,775 for his efforts and also received the 888Live winner's trophy.
Munir Iqbal Sanchez was the first player to lift a trophy for the winner's picture in the �88 Thunder and received �2,718. He was followed by Antonio Perez Vico Barba (�4,870) who won the �110 Breeze a day later. Both events needed an extra day to crown a champion, as fields of over 200 entries each exceeded expectations.
The �50 High Noon Turbo saw Hector Germinal Cabus Maseda atop the leaderboard after a heads-up deal for �1,202. Abel Martinez Gil took down the �110 Hurricane outright for a sweet payday of �4,400.
Last but not least, Dariusz Jedrzejczyk broke the streak of local champions and lifted the trophy in the �55 Swordfish. The tournament initially had a guaranteed prize pool of �5,555, but an amazing 350 entries more than tripled that number. Jedrzejczyk and 11 opponents returned to the tables at Casino Barcelona earlier today and the Pole claimed the title and �3,530 for his efforts.
Side Event Winners So Far
| Event | Buy-In | Entries | Prize Pool (EUR) | Winner | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Event | �200+20 | 720 | 138,240 | Alejandro Vazquez Gomez | Spain | �11,775 |
| The Thunder | �80+8 | 235 | 18,838 | Munir Iqbal Sanchez | Spain | �2,718 |
| The Breeze | �100+10 | 210 | 20,160 | Antonio Perez Vico Barba | Spain | �4,870 |
| High Noon Turbo | �45+5 | 121 | 5,228 | Hector Germinal Cabus Maseda | Spain | �1,202 |
| The Hurricane | �100+10 | 190 | 18,240 | Abel Martinez Gil | Spain | �4,400 |
| The Swordfish | �50+5 | 350 | 16,800 | Dariusz Jedrzejczyk | Poland | �3,530 |
With all those promising numbers so far, the best is yet to come. Big names are heading to Barcelona in the upcoming days. On May 17, the �2,200 High Roller kicks off and Michael ��The Grinder�� Mizrachi is among those expected to join the action.
PokerNews will be providing all the action from the floor as of 8 p.m. local time.
The next day, the flagship tournament of the festival starts with Day 1a of the �1,100 Main Event. Some 200 players qualified through 888poker and all of them will be taking a shot at the �500,000 guaranteed prize pool. The winner will be crowned on Sunday.
888poker Ambassadors Bruno "Foster" Politano, Kara Scott, Dominik Nitsche, Bruno Kawauti, Nicolau Villa Lobos, Sofia L?vgren and Natalie Hof are heading to Barcelona. William Kassouf is also among those confirmed to attend.
Barcelona is not just worth a trip for poker, though, as the Catalan metropolis has plenty to offer. Just a few minutes walk from Casino Barcelona is the Barceloneta Beach to work on your tan, have some ice cream and coffee, and enjoy the sunny weather.
Many parks and touristic attractions are right in the city center such as La Rambla, Placa Catalunya, Arc de Triomf or the Parque de Ciutadella. All of them are easy to reach via public transport at affordable prices.
For all those interested in history and art, the Catalan city is the place to be. Iconic buildings and creations of Antoni Gaudi, one of the best known architects of the modern time, are situated in Barcelona.
A plethora of museums and cathedrals can be found, too. Since 1882, the world-famous basilica Sagrada Familia has been under construction; the masterpiece is expected to be finished in 30 to 80 years.
Barcelona is a hotbed in Europe that combines several different cultures into one amazing experience. Just walking around the city and small side streets will reveal many unexpected views and small restaurants that offer authentic Catalan and international kitchens.
Fresh fruits and other products can be found on almost every corner in the city, and there are also several big markets to dive through and soak in all the different spices and flavors. After partying late, many corner shops are still open to grab something to eat and drink in a city that really never sleeps.
Remaining Schedule
| Date | Time (GMT) | Event | Buy-in | Chips | Re-entry | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16 | 8 p.m. | The Turbo Deepstack | �77 | 10,000 | 2x re-entry | 20 |
| May 17 | 6 p.m. | The Lightning 8-Max | �66 | 20,000 | yes | 20 |
| May 17 | 7 p.m. | Super Satellite to Main Event Day 1A | �110 | 8,000 | Unlimited | 20 |
| May 17 | 8 p.m. | High Roller Day 1 | �2,200 | 100,000 | Unlimited | 45 |
| May 18 | 5 p.m. | High Roller Final Day | �2,200 | 100,000 | 45 | |
| May 18 | 6 p.m. | 888Live Barcelona Festival ME Day 1A | �1,100 | 30,000 | yes | 45 |
| May 19 | 3 p.m. | Super Satellite to Main Event Day 1B | �110 | 10,000 | yes | 15 |
| May 19 | 6 p.m. | 888Live Barcelona Festival ME Day 1B | �1,100 | 30,000 | yes | 45 |
| May 19 | 9 p.m. | The Mega Knockout [�50 Bounty] | �165 | 25,000 | 2x re-entry | 25 |
| May 20 | 12 p.m. | Turbo Super Satellite to Main Event Day 1C | �110 | 5,000 | yes | 20 |
| May 20 | 3 p.m. | 888Live Barcelona Festival ME Day 1C | �1,100 | 30,000 | yes | 45 |
| May 20 | 8 p.m. | Omaha Pot Limit | �150 | 50,000 | 2x re-entry | 25 |
| May 21 | 2 p.m. | 888Live Barcelona Festival ME Day 2 | �1,100 | 30,000 | yes | 60 |
| May 21 | 4 p.m. | The Whale | �333 | 20,000 | 2x re-entry | 30 |
| May 21 | 7 p.m. | Ladies Event | �220 | Unlimited | 25 | |
| May 22 | 2 p.m. | 888Live Barcelona Festival ME FINAL Day |
