Online qualifier wins largest ever EPT

Two millionaires and two Platinum Passes were awarded heads-up at the biggest European Poker Tour in history.

Once again claims of poker's demise have been greatly exaggerated as EPT Barcelona crushed its own attendance record. 1,474 unique players created a field of 1,931 after 457 re-entries to create the biggest European Poker Tour event ever staged. 

Former EPT Barcelona champion John Juanda narrowly missed the final table and EPT Deauville champion Ognyan Dimov came third, so we are still waiting on the 2nd ever double-EPT champion. 

Which left online qualifier Piotr Nurzynski of Poland and recreational player Haoxiang Wang of China to duel heads-up for the title. They had already agreed a four-way deal which saw them fighting for a remaining €180,000. 

It would be Nurzynski who triumphed, but both men walked away with just over €1 million and a Platinum Pass. Nurzynski got his pass for being the longest lasting online qualifier and because he couldn't win two, his pass for winning the Main Event went to runner-up Wang.  

"I can't believe it," Nurzynski said. "It's shocked me, but wow, I did it. I ran really, really well. I was thinking I can't win it, but it's amazing. It's hard to say something now. I have been watching EPT series for so many years and it was my dream to enter the final table. And it's shocking."

Next up for the European Poker Tour is the EPT Sochi Open which begins on September 21.

This is the life changing #winningmoment when Piotr Nurzynski turned €250 into €1,037,109 at #EPTBarcelona. 🍾 pic.twitter.com/9L1kixnjbm

— PokerStars LIVE (@PokerStarsLIVE) September 2, 2018

*Denotes a four way deal.