Christopher Kruk, Paul Newey and Steve O'Dwyer started off with three-handed play at their respective table. O'Dwyer opened from the button to 3,000, getting calls from Kruk in the small blind and Newey in the big blind. All players checked the flop. Kruk led out 6,500 on the turn, Newey folded, O'Dwyer raised to 20,000, and Kruk called.
Kruk checked the river to O'Dwyer, who pondered for a while before checking behind. Kruk showed for kings and tens, and O'Dwyer slid his hand in the muck.
Andreas Goeller, who finished fifth in EPT 10 San Remo, has taken his seat in the field of superstars in the €50,000 Super High Roller. One such superstar is Mike McDonald. The Canadian raised to 2,500 and Goeller called in the big blind. The flop came and Goeller bet 3,500. McDonald called and the turn was the . Goeller bet 7,500 and again McDonald called.
The river was the and Goeller bet for a third time, this time his sizing was slightly bigger, betting 21,000. McDonald gave him his famous stare but eventually called. Goeller turned over for a full house, fives full of sevens, and McDonald mucked his cards.
A familiar face on the High Roller circuit is Paul Newey and he just got involved into an early pot with Christopher Kruk. On the heads-up flop of , both players checked and Newey then bet the turn for 5,000 out of the small blind. Kruk called on the button and the river completed the board.
Newey bet 14,000 and that was enough to win the pot without showdown, as Kruk folded.
Season 13 of the PokerStars European Poker Tour has seen its kickoff in Barcelona with a hugely popular Estrellas Main Event and a €10,000 event. One of the big changes this season was the announced new payout structure that pays 20 percent of the field, compared to the 15 percent it paid in recent years.
After collating data and feedback from players on the recent expansion of payouts, PokerStars has decided that for events of this nature (this event and event #33, the €25K) last season's payout structure of 15% will be used.
PokerStars Blog spoke to Neil Johnson for more information on this latest update:
"We want to thank all of the players who have given feedback over the last two days in Barcelona about the change in EPT payout structure. We've received a lot of valuable feedback from players, and this, alongside data collected on the expansion, has backed up the decision to increase payouts to 20%. While the change has been really well received overall, it's clear that our highest buy-in events have unique characteristics. For that reason, PokerStars has decided to use the previous season's payout structure of 15% for Event #16, the €50K and event #33, the €25K at EPT13 Barcelona.
We're always looking to make the live poker experience as positive and enjoyable as possible for as many players as possible, while making sure our event champions are well rewarded for their efforts. We want to get more feedback from our €25K+ players so we'll be running a survey with the players in both of these events to gain even more insight into the type of payouts that would best suit special events of this nature in future."
The 2016 PokerStars.es EPT Season 13 Barcelona is in full swing, with a massive €10,000 High Roller already in the books and the massive Estrellas Main Event three starting days done for already as well. Today the Super High Roller starts, with players ponying up €50,000 to enter.
Dan Smith took down the first ever EPT Barcelona €50,000 Super High Roller back in 2012, banking €962,925 after striking a deal with JC Alvarado who took home €788,675. Vitaly Lunkin (€771,300), Olivier Busquet (€896,434) and Sylvain Loosli (€1,224,000) followed him as champion in Barcelona's biggest buy-in event.
Players will begin with a starting stack of 250,000 and blinds at 500/1,000 with a 100 ante. This is a 3-day event with the final played on Monday. Play starts at 12:30 local time, and we'll be covering the event from the first flop till the last river.
PokerStars EPT Barcelona High Roller Champions
Ever since 2010, the EPT Barcelona has had numerous High Rollers. Here's a look at who won:
flop. Kruk led out 6,500 on the 
turn, Newey folded, O'Dwyer raised to 20,000, and Kruk called.
river to O'Dwyer, who pondered for a while before checking behind. Kruk showed 
for kings and tens, and O'Dwyer slid his hand in the muck.
and Goeller bet 3,500. McDonald called and the turn was the 
. Goeller bet 7,500 and again McDonald called. 
turn for 5,000 out of the small blind. Kruk called on the button and the 
river completed the board.
