Updated on 22 Feb 26 by
Barry Carter
Poker Expert

Sebastian Malec wins largest ever EPT Main Event

€27 qualifier wins the top prize of over €1 million, elsewhere pleno1 makes the High Roller finale.

Sebastian Malec winning EPT Barcelona
Sebastian Malec

It was a landmark week for the European Poker Tour in Barcelona. Not only did the tour announce a rebranding to the PokerStars Championship but the €5,300 Main Event broke their own attendance record.  

The final table of which was a very International affair with players from the UK, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Turkey, Greece and Moldova in attendance.

However it would be young Sebastian Malec from Poland who would take top honours in the final ever EPT Barcelona, besting a field of 1,785 for the €1,122,800 first prize.

The 21-year-old qualified online for €27 and was understandably very emotional when he turned over his winning flush against the straight of heads-up opponent Uri Reichenstein of Germany. The new champion was jumping up and down crying tears of joy, before being carried on the shoulders of his friends as the ticker tape rained down on him, 

Sebastian Malec wins EPT Barcelona
Living the dream.

Elsewhere the €10,300 High Roller event had a record turn out of 591 players. Connor Drinan won it for €849,200 and our very own Patrick 'pleno1' Leonard came 7th for €169,700.

EPT Barcelona €5,300 Main Event
Position Player Prize
1st Sebastian Malec €1,122,800
2nd Uri Reichenstein €807,100
3rd Adam Owen €646,250
4th Thomas De Rooij €535,100
5th Zorlu Er €431,550
6th Andreas Chalkiadakis €330,290
7th Harcharan Dogra Dogra €230,950
8th Pavel Plesuv €165,950
Players 1 (1,785)

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Poker Expert

Barry Carter is the editor of PokerStrategy.com and the co-author of The Mental Game of Poker 1 & 2, Poker Satellite Strategy, PKO Poker Strategy, Endgame Poker Strategy, GTO Poker Simplified, Mystery Bounty Poker Strategy and Beyond GTO. In 2025, he won the Global Poker Awards for Best Book and Twitter Personality of the Year.