Stephen Song Wins European Poker Tour Barcelona Main Event

At simply 29 years of age, Stephen Song has already amassed a large match poker {hardware} assortment. The skilled participant from Greenwich, Connecticut must make room subsequent to his World Series of Poker bracelet and WPT Prime Championship trophy for a brand new marquee addition: the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Barcelona fundamental occasion golden spade. This was his thirteenth recorded title.

Song overcame a area of 1,975 whole entries within the €5,300 buy-in no-limit maintain’em match that ran from Sept. 1-8 inside Casino Barcelona, incomes a career-best payday of $1,432,328 for the win. He now has greater than $8.1 million in lifetime earnings to his identify.

This victory additionally awarded 2,160 Card Player Player of the Year factors to Song. This was his first title and fourth final-table end of the yr. With 2,650 factors and practically $1.6 million in to-date POY earnings, he’s now ranked 73rd within the 2024 POY standings offered by Global Poker.

The high 287 finishers earned a share of the prize pool on this occasion, which ended up being price greater than $10.6 million when reckoned in US {dollars}. After two beginning flights and 5 extra days of combined-field motion, simply six gamers remained heading into the ultimate day of play.

Song held the chip result in begin. Andrew Hulme was capable of earn an early double up with pocket aces on his solution to overtaking the highest spot within the chip counts. Rania Nasreddine, who completed third within the EPT Monte Carlo fundamental occasion earlier this yr, scored the primary knockout of the day. Her A-Okay held towards the Q-J suited of Boris Kuzmanovic (sixth – $340,659) to slender the sector to 5.

David Coleman was the subsequent to fall. The American poker professional defended his massive blind with J9 going through a small-blind elevate of 1,100,000 from chip chief Hulme, who held QQ. The flop got here down J33 and Hulme made a 750,000 continuation wager. Coleman referred to as and the two rolled off on the flip. Hulme wager 1,450,000 and Coleman referred to as once more along with his jacks and threes. The A on the river prompted a shove from Hulme, regardless of the late look of an overcard to his pocket queens. Coleman made the decision and was proven a profitable overpair by his opponent.

Coleman earned $442,835 because the fifth-place finisher, his fourth-largest rating but. This was his twenty first final-table end of the yr, with 5 POY-qualified titles and greater than $3.6 million in POY earnings gathered alongside the way in which. His 8,300 whole factors are good for second place on the POY leaderboard.

A battle of the blinds noticed Nasreddine left on fumes. Marius-Catalin Pertea shoved from the small blind with 9-8 and Nasreddine referred to as with A-Okay. The flop and switch had been secure for Nasreddine, however a 9 on the river gave Pertea the double-up and left Nasreddine with fewer than three massive blinds. She was quickly all-in with A3 trailing the A8 of Hume, which made two pair on the flop. Nasreddine was drawing lifeless by the flip and was eradicated in fourth place ($575,646). She now has greater than $1.7 million in lifetime earnings, with nearly all of that coming from her back-to-back EPT fundamental occasion ultimate desk showings this yr.

Song was the clear chip chief heading into three-handed play. That hole was closed significantly, although, when Hulme’s A6 outraced Pertea’s 55. A six on the river despatched Pertea, who certified for this match on-line for simply $55, packing in third place ($748,307). This was far and away the biggest rating but for the Romanian.

Heads-up play started with Song holding 33,550,000 to Hulme’s 25,980,000. The two struck a deal to redistribute the remaining prize cash, locking up $1,293,832 for Hulme and $1,369,281 for Song whereas leaving the title and $63,048 to play for.

Song was capable of get a giant bluff via to increase his lead. In the ultimate hand, Song shoved from the button with A7 and Hulme referred to as off his final 9 or so massive blinds with 88. The board got here down 565349 and Song turned a seven-high straight to win the pot and the title. Hulme walked away with the payout he negotiated for within the deal. This was the biggest rating but for the participant from the UK, topping the $350,000 he earned because the 18th-place finisher within the 2023 WSOP fundamental occasion.

Here is a have a look at the payouts and POY factors awarded on the ultimate desk:

Photo credit: Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd. / Danny Maxwell.