2023 PokerStars EPT Barcelona

€1,100 Estrellas Poker Tour Main Event
Event Info

2023 PokerStars EPT Barcelona

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k8
Prize
€676,230
Event Info
Buy-in
€1,100
Prize Pool
€7,102,080
Entries
7,398
Level Info
Level
42
Blinds
1,000,000 / 2,000,000
Ante
2,000,000
Players Info - Day 5
Entries
6
Players Left
1

€1,100 Estrellas Poker Tour Main Event

Day 5 Completed

Lucien Cohen Conquers Largest Live Field in PokerStars History

Level 42 : Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante
Lucien Cohen
Lucien Cohen

It seems appropriate that Lucien Cohen was holding a coffee in his hand as the final card of the €1,100 Estrellas Poker Tour Main Event was dealt. The man affectionately known as "Ratman" wore the same shirt every day of the tournament after another player spilled coffee on him during the early stages of the tournament at Casino Barcelona. He said it felt like the incident was good luck and it appears he was right.

The ESPT main event needed an extra day at the 2023 PokerStars European Poker Tour Barcelona, as the largest live tournament field in PokerStars history saw Cohen dominate from start to finish and celebrate with his rail after defeating Ferdinando D'Alessio in heads-up play.

The field of 7,398 entries represented a new record field, which generated a massive €7,102,080 prize pool. In the end, the Frenchman claimed the €676,230 top prize along with the coveted PokerStars trophy.

Lucien Cohen
Lucien Cohen

Cohen, called the "Ratman" due to his pest control business, earns the honor of adding an ESPT series title to the EPT trophy he claimed in Deauville in 2011. That score of €880,000 is the only tournament cash of his career larger than today’s victory. The 59-year-old considers himself a recreational player, but told the PokerStars team after his victory that he has found excitement in the game once again.

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1Lucien CohenFrance€676,230
2Ferdinando D'AlessioBelgium€415,320
3Petros KaradimosGreece€294,620
4Danilo VelasevicSerbia€232,090
5Ankit AhujaIndia€177,810
6Avihai SmadgaIsrael€136,850
7Parker TalbotCanada€105,590
8Igor KaufmanIsrael€81,230

Tournament Recap

The top 1,109 players standing after eight opening flights earned a payday of at least €1,750, including notable names such as Conor Beresford (453rd - €3,500), Julien Mariani (960th - €1,880), Dinesh Alt (945th - €1,880) along with PokerStars Ambassadors Fintan Hand (969th - €1,880) and Benjamin Spragg (774th - €2,290).

Perhaps the cruelest elimination came on Day 2, when Ali Alnuaimi called off his stack with aces full , losing to the quad queens of Aristidis Theodoridis.

Parker Talbot
Parker Talbot

The final elimination of Day 4 was PokerStars Ambassador Parker Talbot, who saw his pocket pair come up short against D'Alessio to finish seventh, seeing the final six players bag one last time.

Day 5 Action

The remaining six returned to the felt in search of ESPT glory, with Cohen bringing a sizeable chip advantage into the added Day 5. It only took three hands to see the first elimination, as D’Alessio took the final 11 big blinds from Day 1e chip leader Avihai Smadga, who entered the day as the short stack.

From there, Cohen took over the rest of the final table eliminations. His first victim was India’s Ankit Ahuja, who couldn’t catch up to the Frenchman’s pocket pair to hit the rail in fifth spot.

Cohen found another pair to take out Danilo Velasevic in fourth place before making a straight on the river and seeing Petros Karadimos call off with top pair to finish in third.

Lucien Cohen - Ferdinando D'Alessio Heads Up
Lucien Cohen - Ferdinando D'Alessio Heads Up

Heads-up play began with Cohen holding a better than four-to-one chip advantage over Day 3 leader D’Alessio. The action could have been over in just a single hand, but the Belgian dodged Cohen’s flush draw to pull closer.

There would be no second double for D'Alessio, who earned €415,320 after check-raising his top pair only to see Cohen holding a better kicker. Cohen shouted “Ratman” before spilling some of his coffee on the table as he celebrated the victory with family and friends. Perhaps a serendipitous end to a magical run for the double-series champion.

Lucien Cohen
Lucien Cohen

That concludes PokerNews coverage of the ESPT Main Event, but don’t miss any of the action from the rest of the series here in Barcelona.

Tags: Ali AlnuaimiAnkit AhujaAvihai SmadgaBenjamin SpraggConor BeresfordDanilo VelasevicDinesh AltFerdinando D'AlessioFintan HandIgor KaufmanJulien MarianiLucien CohenParker TalbotPetros Karadimos

Ferdinando D'Alessio Eliminated in 2nd Place (€415,320)

Level 42 : Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante
Ferdinando D'Alessio
Ferdinando D'Alessio

Lucien Cohen raised to 5,000,000 on the button and Ferdinando D'Alessio defended his big blind.

The KJ10 flop saw D'Alessio check, with Cohen firing 10,000,000. D'Alessio responded by moving all in for 77,500,000.

Cohen took some time before announcing the call and the cards were turned up.

Ferdinando D'Alessio: K4
Lucien Cohen: K8

Cohen was already ahead and locked up at least a chop on the 8 turn.

D'Alessio could not connect on the 7 river, ending his run in the runner-up position for €415,320.

Player Chips Progress
Lucien Cohen fr
Lucien Cohen
221,900,000
84,500,000
84,500,000
Day 4 Chip Leader
EPT 1X Winner
Ferdinando D'Alessio be
Ferdinando D'Alessio
Busted
Day 3 Chip Leader

Tags: Ferdinando D'AlessioLucien Cohen

D'Alessio's Pocket Pair Holds

Level 42 : Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante

Ferdinando D'Alessio opened to 5,000,000 with 88, with Lucien Cohen calling on the button holding A8.

Cohen checked the 6910 flop before calling a continuation-bet of 4,000,000 from D'Alessio.

The 10 turn saw the action slow down with both players checking to the 6 river. Another round of checks saw D'Alessio table his pocket pair, good enough to take down the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Lucien Cohen fr
Lucien Cohen
137,400,000
-10,500,000
-10,500,000
Day 4 Chip Leader
EPT 1X Winner
Ferdinando D'Alessio be
Ferdinando D'Alessio
84,500,000
10,500,000
10,500,000
Day 3 Chip Leader

Tags: Ferdinando D'AlessioLucien Cohen

Cohen Catches The River

Level 42 : Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante

Ferdinando D'Alessio opened to 4,500,000 on the button with 66, with Lucien Cohen calling in the big blind holding 85.

Both players checked the Q5J flop and Cohen tapped the table again on the 10 turn. D'Alessio followed with another check to see the 9 river.

Cohen checked his rivered straight, but failed to earn any additional chips when D'Alessio checked his pocket pair.

Player Chips Progress
Lucien Cohen fr
Lucien Cohen
147,900,000
3,500,000
3,500,000
Day 4 Chip Leader
EPT 1X Winner
Ferdinando D'Alessio be
Ferdinando D'Alessio
74,000,000
-3,500,000
-3,500,000
Day 3 Chip Leader

Tags: Ferdinando D'AlessioLucien Cohen

Cohen Counts Another Pot

Level 42 : Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante

Ferdinando D'Alessio limped on the button with 65 and Lucien Cohen checked his big blind option holding A7.

Cohen led out for 6,000,000 on the JQ4 flop, earning another pot after a quick fold from D'Alessio.

Player Chips Progress
Lucien Cohen fr
Lucien Cohen
144,400,000
6,000,000
6,000,000
Day 4 Chip Leader
EPT 1X Winner
Ferdinando D'Alessio be
Ferdinando D'Alessio
77,500,000
-6,000,000
-6,000,000
Day 3 Chip Leader

Tags: Ferdinando D'AlessioLucien Cohen

No Free River for D'Alessio

Level 42 : Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante

Lucien Cohen opened to 4,500,000 with KJ on the button before Ferdinando D'Alessio defended his big blind with Q3.

The flop of 7910 saw both players check to the K turn. D'Alessio checked, while Cohen counted out a bet of 6,000,000 chips.

D'Alessio elected to fold his straight draw, as Cohen raked in the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Lucien Cohen fr
Lucien Cohen
138,400,000
-8,500,000
-8,500,000
Day 4 Chip Leader
EPT 1X Winner
Ferdinando D'Alessio be
Ferdinando D'Alessio
83,500,000
8,500,000
8,500,000
Day 3 Chip Leader

Tags: Ferdinando D'AlessioLucien Cohen

Cohen Bounces Back

Level 42 : Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante

Ferdinando D'Alessio raised to 4,500,000 with 93 and Lucien Cohen called in the big blind with 76.

The A84 flop saw Cohen check and call once D'Alessio continued for 4,000,000. Both players then checked the Q turn.

Cohen led out on the 2 river for 10,000,000, earning the pot when D'Alessio folded his hand.

Player Chips Progress
Lucien Cohen fr
Lucien Cohen
146,900,000
5,500,000
5,500,000
Day 4 Chip Leader
EPT 1X Winner
Ferdinando D'Alessio be
Ferdinando D'Alessio
75,000,000
-5,500,000
-5,500,000
Day 3 Chip Leader

Tags: Ferdinando D'AlessioLucien Cohen

Level: 42

Blinds: 1,000,000/2,000,000

Ante: 2,000,000