FC Barcelona's Arturo Vidal Joins Teammate Gerard Piqué in EPT Barcelona High Roller, Final Tables
On Sunday, FC Barcelona stars Gerard Piqué and Arturo Vidal played a soccer match and Vidal scored one of the team’s goals in a 5-2 victory over Real Betis at their famed soccer stadium, Camp Nou in Barcelona.
On Monday, the two teammates took advantage of an off-day to compete with some of the best poker players in the world in the PokerStars European Poker Tour Barcelona €25,000 high roller event, taking place at Casino Barcelona just down the street.
In a 70-entry field, both players made the final table and were among the top nine to collect a share of the €1,680,700 prize pool.
Gerard Piqué Eyeing a Poker Title
The sight of Spanish soccer sensation Piqué taking his seat at the poker table among an elite field of players on Monday wasn’t out of the ordinary. The husband of Columbian pop star Shakira has been a staple of the EPT Barcelona stop for nearly a decade, booking his first cash in 2011 when he finished third in a €5,200 Six-Max Turbo.
Since that time, Piqué has added four more EPT cashes to his poker resume, including three top-five finishes. His runner-up finish on Monday marked his largest cash to date, earning him €352,950 or approximately $392,515.
At last year’s EPT Barcelona event, Piqué told PokerStars’ Jack Stanton, “When I sit down at the table, and I know I'm against some of the best players at the poker table, I really enjoy the challenge."
With countless soccer trophies and accolades to his credit, Piqué also mentioned in that interview his hope to one day win a poker title, and he got brutally close to it this week. You can read all about his deep run here.
As for his buddy Vidal — his history with poker is only just beginning.
Arturo Vidal, “The Warrior”
“Primera vez.”
That was Vidal’s answer when asked how many poker tournaments he played prior to hopping into the EPT Barcelona €25,000 single-day high roller – and it means “first time.” 4
The Chilean FC Barcelona midfielder had never entered a poker tournament before this high roller, which he decided to play upon invitation from friend and teammate Piqué. Still, he made it into the money in one of the toughest fields around — a most unbelievable feat by any standard.
PokerNews talked with Vidal after he was eliminated in fifth place, taking home €134,460 for his EPT and poker debut.
He called the whole experience “a beautiful feeling.” Being the competitive player that he is, Vidal wanted to make it further than fifth, but he admitted it was “pretty good for being his first time playing.”
So how is it that Vidal got through such a tough field in his first time playing, we wondered. “I don’t know,” he laughed. “A little luck.”
He showed plenty of heart throughout the tournament, and in his final hand, he made an aggressive move that didn't work out. After calling a raise from eventual winner Juan Pardo preflop, Vidal shoved his remaining six big blinds over Pardo's continuation bet on a jack-deuce-deuce flop.
Vidal held ace-nine suited and when Pardo called, he knew he was in bad shape, letting out a "Madre mia." He was behind Pardo's ace-king and a king on the turn spelled the end of the game for Vidal.
Natural Competitor
Athletes of all sports are drawn to poker; the thrill of competition an obvious parallel. Vidal agreed that the two games offer some similarities. “It’s a very similar feeling with soccer,” said Vidal. “When you go all in and you put all the chips in – it’s like a penalty.”
“When you go all in and you put all the chips in – it’s like a penalty.”
Asked if he did any preparation for the tournament, Vidal responded: “No, nothing. Yesterday Gerard told me there was this tournament and I told him I was happy to come.”
Knowing about the event just hours before, there was no time for Piqué to prepare his teammate for the depth of skills and knowledge that would help him along the way. As Vidal explained, his friend gave him just one caution – “Only that there were a lot of good players, so to be careful with those guys.”
A fierce competitor through and through, Vidal’s tenacity on the soccer field has earned him nicknames including “the warrior” and “the piranha” and it appears his resolve served him well at the felt. We asked Vidal if we can expect to see him at more PokerStars events after his small taste of victory, and he obliged.
“Yes. If they invite me, I am happy to come,” Vidal said with a laugh, as he sipped champagne with friends and watched on as his colleague continued to battle for a trophy.
Keep following all the exciting action continuing throughout the week here at the PokerStars European Poker Tour stop at Casino Barcelona.
You can watch PokerNews' video recap of the €25K high roller and the rest of the action that played out on Monday here.
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