Five Key Hands from EPT Barcelona Main Event Heads-Up Battle

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Sep 06, 2022 4 min read

2022 has seen an epic comeback from the PokerStars European Poker Tour, with stops at Prague, Monte Carlo and most recently Barcelona, all being a glittering success.

The EPT Barcelona €5,300 Main Event became the biggest in EPT Main Event in history, thanks to its 2,294 entries and €11,125,900 prize pool.

After several long days of action, Jimmy Guerrero and Giuliano Bendinelli were the final two players. They took part in an incredible heads-up battle that was filled with big bluffs, cruel rivers and heart-breaking coolers. PokerNews has gone back through its archives and pulled out five crucial hands that took place during Guerrero's and Bendinelli's entertaining war.

Guerrero Correctly Folds Aces

Folding aces during heads-up play is a tough ask, but that's exactly what Guerrero did and he did so correctly. In the first notable hand between Guerrero and Bendinelli, the former limped in with pocket rockets from the small blind before Bendinelli checked his option with queen-four.

Bendinelli paired his four on the flop but action checked through to the turn where another four appeared, giving the Italian trips. Bendinelli bet 1.2 million and Guerrero called to see a three hit the river. Bendinelli fired for 6 million and sent his opponent deep into the tank. Eventually, Guerrero realised he was behind and folded his aces.

If Guerrero had called, Bendinelli would've raced into an early 3:1 chip lead.

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Always Coming Seven at the EPT

After several more hands, Guerrero had the bigger stack and essentially had one hand on the trophy and title.

In a single raised pot, Guerrero had queen-ten and paired his lower card on the ten-high flop. Bendinelli had pocket nines, but had also flopped a gut-shot straight draw. The pair then got their chips into the middle with Bendinelli on the verge of defeat.

A deuce on the turn meant Bendinelli needed a nine or a seven to stay in the competition. As ever in the EPT Main Events, whenever an at risk player needs a seven, one appears. And that's exactly what happened in Barcelona as a seven hit the river to give Bendinelli a straight to stay alive.

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Jack-Four Works for Guerrero

2022 World Series of Poker Main Event runner-up Adrian Attenborough found himself in a world of hurt playing jack-four in Vegas this summer. The Australian poker player found himself in the tank for 19-minutes with the hand at one point during his heads-up duel with the eventual winner, Espen Jorstad. Attenborough then picked up jack-four again and ended up calling off his stack incorrectly to give Jorstad the victory.

Fast forward several weeks later, Guerrero found himself with jack-four in heads-up play and had different ideas on how to play the hand.

In another limped pot, Guerrero missed the flop with his hand while Bendinelli flopped second pair and a flush draw with his queen-nine. Guerrero check-raised to 4.7 million after Bendinelli bet 1.5 million. Bendinelli put in calling chips to see a ten peel off on the turn. The board was now paired and Guerrero fired for 6 million and again Bendinelli called.

A queen hit the river and Bendinelli improved his hand to two pair, queens and tens, but missed his flush draw. Guerrero emptied the clip and committed his last 13.05 million chips. Bendinelli couldn't find the call for the win and Guerrero chipped up to bring the match level.

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Guerrero Doubles into Slim Lead

The heads up encounter looked like it was about to come to an end as Bendinelli had a 3:1 chip lead over Guerrero.

The pair were then all-in in a classic coin flip. Guerrero had the best hand with pocket fives, while Bendinelli had ace-jack. Guerrero remained ahead on the king high flop, but a second king on the turn brought in some counterfeit outs for Bendinelli. Guerrero ended up making a full house on the river as a five was placed onto the felt.

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Quads Seals Victory for Bendinelli

At this stage in the day, it was apparent that something special would be needed to bring the EPT Barcelona Main Event to an end.

Giuliano Bendinelli raised to 3 million with pocket eights and Jimmy Guerrero defended the big blind with J♠7♠. The dealer spread the J♥9♣8♠ flop and Guerrero check-called for 2.5 million. The J♣ landed on the turn and Guerrero check-called for 5.5 million.

The 8♦ completed the board, Guerrero led for 3.8 million before Bendinelli jammed. Guerrero called off his remaining 16 million. Bendinelli jumped out of his seat to celebrate with his rail before rushing back and flipping over his quad eights, while Guerrero's boat was no good.

Guerrero's runner-up finish secured him a €1,250,337 payday following a heads-up deal, while Bendinelli won the trophy, the title, and €1,491,133 up top.

Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

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