EPT Barcelona 2026 Advances with Nociolini Leading Main Event Pack

The PokerStars European Poker Tour Barcelona continues at Casino Barcelona through August 29 2026, and the €5,300 Main Event reached Day 3 with Fabricio Nociolini holding the chip lead at 2,510,000 while 67 players remained from the original 1,823 entries. Multiple former EPT champions also moved forward in the field, and the €2,700 EPT Second Chance wrapped up with Scott Margereson claiming the €361,060 first-place prize.

Main Event Field Narrows on Day 3

Action at the €5,300 Main Event focused on survival and accumulation as the field trimmed from the starting field of 1,823 entries down to 67 players, and Nociolini built the biggest stack at 2,510,000 chips through consistent play across earlier stages. Former EPT champions continued to advance, which kept the remaining field competitive and drew attention from observers tracking past winners still in contention.

The tournament structure at Casino Barcelona allowed for extended play on Day 3, and reports from the venue noted steady progress toward the money bubble and subsequent pay jumps. Players who survived the day secured a chance to build deeper stacks ahead of later stages scheduled through the remainder of the festival.

Second Chance Event Delivers Winner

The €2,700 EPT Second Chance concluded during the same festival window, and Scott Margereson captured the title along with the €361,060 top prize after navigating a field that drew separate entries from the Main Event. His victory marked a strong performance in a side event that ran alongside the flagship tournament and attracted players seeking additional opportunities during the August dates.

Additional Side Events Maintain Momentum

The €3,250 Mystery Bounty remained active as part of the ongoing schedule, and participants continued to pursue bounty prizes while the Main Event progressed. Organizers at Casino Barcelona maintained multiple simultaneous tournaments throughout the August 16-29 period, which created a busy environment across the property and allowed players to choose formats that matched their preferences.

Industry sources such as the European Gaming and Betting Association have noted the scale of events like EPT Barcelona in drawing international participants, while figures from the Responsible Gambling Council highlight continued interest in structured tournament series across Europe. Those details align with the current festival's reported entry numbers and prize outcomes.

Venue and Schedule Context

Casino Barcelona hosted the full EPT schedule without interruption during the two-week span, and the combination of the Main Event alongside side tournaments like the Second Chance and Mystery Bounty created layered activity each day. Players who advanced from Day 3 of the Main Event prepared for further stages that would determine final table participants and the eventual champion.

Reports indicated that the 1,823 entries generated a substantial prize pool distributed according to standard payout structures, and the presence of multiple former EPT title holders added historical context to the current field without altering the focus on present-day chip counts and eliminations.

Conclusion

The 2026 EPT Barcelona festival reached its midpoint with Nociolini atop the Main Event leaderboard, Margereson secured as Second Chance champion, and additional events such as the Mystery Bounty still running. The schedule at Casino Barcelona continues through August 29, providing remaining players opportunities to extend their runs in the primary tournament or explore other formats offered during the event.