More than 130 players in the EPT Barcelona Main Event field this week won their ticket playing online at Staruniv. Some do this kind of thing often. Some are now playing their first ever live tournament thanks to their qualification on the cheap.

Many of these satellite whizzes took the time to answer a pre-tournament questionnaire about their experience at the poker tables, and to reveal their hopes for the event.

Here’s where we can introduce some of these players, who are hoping to turn peanuts into a huge payday.

Chris Haugen, Canada

• Staruniv Power Path Gold Pass winner

I’ve never played in a European Poker Tour event before. In fact, I have never played in any main event before. Nor have I even been to Europe! My family and I are beyond excited for this trip, and getting to experience my first EPT event in Barcelona is pretty incredible.

First and foremost, I’m really looking forward to exploring Barcelona with my family. The history, culture, food, and incredible architecture are all things we’re excited to experience together. And then, of course, there’s the poker! Getting the opportunity to play in such an incredible live event is absolutely a bucket-list experience for me. I’m excited to take it all in and hopefully make a deep run while I’m there.

I’d describe myself as a player with many faces. I’m constantly changing gears and adapting to what’s happening at the table. I really enjoy observing the players around me, picking up on their tendencies, and molding my game accordingly. I don’t like being predictable, so I’m always looking for ways to adjust and keep my opponents guessing.

I’m a small-business owner, and COVID had a pretty significant impact on my business. I’ve been working hard ever since to rebuild and keep things on track, and thankfully, I’m finally getting close. So if I made any money at EPT Barcelona, first and foremost, I’d make sure my family was in a really good place financially. After that, I’d definitely want to celebrate by treating my closest friends and family to one seriously fun party!

Earning my Gold Pass was actually a pretty funny story. Over the Christmas holidays in 2024, I got pretty sick and was stuck in bed. Bored and disappointed about not being able to see my parents and participate in all the awesome Christmas festivities, I decided to play an $11 entry into one of the Step 3 Staruniv tournaments for a little entertainment. I ended up winning a Step 4 ticket. There were a lot of entries, but I played the Step 4 tournament and, incredibly, ended up winning a Gold Package! Thank you, Staruniv!

We waited until the timing was right for our family to take advantage of the package, and we were absolutely thrilled to turn it into a family vacation to Barcelona. I’ve traveled with my wife and our seven-year-old son, and we’re all incredibly excited to explore Spain and experience Europe for the first time.

I’m hoping to make a deep run in the tournament, which may mean I miss out on some of the fun activities my wife and son have planned. But if I happen to win the whole thing… we may just have to extend the vacation or come back as soon as possible!

Alexandre Guibon, France

• Staruniv Power Path Gold Pass winner

Technically, this will be my third EPT. I played a €300 event in Monaco in 2024, which was my first EPT experience and one I really enjoyed. I then set aside €10,000 from playing live cash games to go to Prague in December 2024. Unfortunately, that experience was much more frustrating: I played seven buy-ins without even managing to make a Day 2.

This year, I wasn’t planning to play EPT Barcelona, as my daughter is due to be born in a few weeks. In the end, I decided to try my luck in a €50 Step to win my way into the €250 Step, and I managed to qualify after being down to just 3BB at one point. Since I won my qualification only seven days before the Main Event, everything had to be organized quite quickly: flight, hotel…

What I’m hoping for most from this tournament is simply to do better than I did in Prague. Making Day 2 would already be a first step, but obviously, I’d really like to make the money and finally get a result in an EPT event. From there, if the opportunity comes, I’ll try to go as deep as possible.

I’m primarily a live cash game player. I’d describe myself as quite instinctive, and I put a lot of importance on observing my opponents and understanding the dynamics at the table. I like trying to understand who I’m playing against rather than simply applying a strategy automatically.

I play far fewer tournaments than cash games, so it’s also a format where I still have a lot to learn.

If I won the tournament, my children would definitely be the first to benefit from it. I’d put a portion of the money aside for them, particularly for when they turn 18 and for their education. And probably get them a poker coach from the age of 12… although I’m not sure my wife would agree with that last part!

Beyond that, my wife and I would mainly like to gain more freedom. I think I’d dedicate myself much more seriously to poker, primarily focusing on cash games, with the goal of playing higher stakes and travelling more around poker.

Manuel Rossi, Italy

• Staruniv Power Path Gold Pass winner

This is my first EPT Main Event. I have previously played only the Open and Cup so I’m very happy. I think Barcelona is one of the best stops for this.

I am a very conservative player and I try to adapt to the table. If I made the money, obviously I would continue to play, focused on my real goal of winning an EPT and having my say on circuits of this caliber. I’d obviously give some to my two children Beatrice and Thiago and allow them live a life full of experiences.

I won my Gold Pass after twice being a runner-up, so I think it is no coincidence. I have also won two Silver Passes and this is the cherry on the cake. I’m very proud to have succeeded. The only thing missing is getting to the final table and taking home the trophy!

Jesus Artigas Exposito, Spain

• Staruniv Power Path Gold Pass winner

I have never played an EPT, this is a dream for me. I’m excited to meet and play with the best and hopefully I can do something interesting and be able to play more tournaments.

I have been playing and studying for a year, what my work allows me, I would love to dedicate myself to this, but it is an odyssey, I am a player with a lot to learn, neither too aggro nor too tight.

If I won, I would make some investments and if I could I would change my job to play poker, travel and so on. I am a trailer driver and I work long hours.

My Gold Pass was something incredible – it started with a free ticket worth 50 cents. It’s a dream come true from nothing.

Frederic Ronsse, France

• Qualified via €250 satellite

It will be my first EPT main event! The atmosphere of Barcelona combined to the one of EPT is incredible. I had the chance to play some side events some years ago. So I’m looking forward to play the Main Event here against the best European players.

I’m a passionate MTT player defined as tight aggro, trying to evolve my game for efficiency but habits are difficult to change! I love Omaha but the tournament offer is very poor in France. If I win good money, I will travel, play poker, travel, play poker…

Enrico Gashi, France

• Qualified via €250 satellite

Playing the EPT Main Event was one of my dreams and this will be my first EPT Main Event ever.

I’m looking forward to enjoying the full experience. I love the city, I’ve been there a few times. I’m also “freerolling” the PS Open Main Event, which is actually the reason I decided to try the big satellite for the Main. I basically created a Gold Pass for myself!

Just getting ITM in the Main would already be amazing. Anything more than that would be a real blessing. I’m far from a professional, and I never really tried to become one, mostly because of my lack of discipline in bankroll management.

I’ve played mainly online throughout my life. I used to work in casinos, so on my days off or holidays, going back into a casino wasn’t really appealing. Still, I’ve always kept the passion for the game. I’ve known it forever, following the big tournaments on TV, playing a bit with friends and online, and dealing it professionally. I’ll probably be a bit of a “loose cannon” at the table!

I’m 32, about to start a family with my future wife, so the kind of money the winner gets would help in a lot of ways. Whatever happens, I’d use a small part of it for a few live events, and try to invest the rest for my future in the best way possible. Even if I became the next EPT Champion, I don’t think I’d try to go pro. But you’ll definitely be seeing a lot more of me, that’s for sure!

Francisco Díaz, Spain

• Qualified via €50 satellite into a €250 satellite

I haven’t played on the EPT before at all. Really looking forward to enjoying the experience. I’ve been watching the EPT ever since I got interested in poker in a deeper fashion, and particularly have had the aim of playing it myself for the last two years. However, I had never thought of trying to win a seat through an online satellite.

I play poker for a living, mainly cash live in Madrid, occasionally some biggish tournaments that come to Madrid, but I barely travel at all for poker. I would describe myself as a tight aggressive player, basing my game on live tells.

If I won, I would just invest in real estate, finance or poker bankroll. I wouldn’t like to change much my life much.

Maurizio Maiorano, Italy

• Qualified via €250 satellite

I’ve played two EPT Main Events before. This will be my first one as an online qualifier, and if I hadn’t won the ticket, I probably wouldn’t have played it, as I had other tournaments planned.

The atmosphere in Barcelona is really good. As soon as I step off the plane, I already feel like I’m sitting at the poker table!

I’m a very patient player, and I really enjoy the psychological side of the game—watching how people behave and react at the table. If I made the final table and/or won the tournament, I’d fly my coach over from Italy at my expense. I’ve also promised some friends that I’d join them in Ibiza for a bit of partying!

As for the rest, I’d probably add a few more poker trips to my schedule during the year.

François Rognon, France

• Qualified via €250 satellite

I’ve never played an EPT. This is my first time. I was lucky to win a ticket, so I hope to be lucky again to win the tournament. I’m a poker amateur and poker enthusiast for close to 20 years. If I won money, I need to have money for next year’s WSOP. Apart from that, I’d travel and see family.

Lorenzo Rinaldi, Italy

• Staruniv Power Path Gold Pass winner

The Gold Pass was a crazy climb. I started by winning a €50 ticket via an All-in Shootout. The same evening, I went for the decisive tournament and, overcoming a field of 600 people, I won the Gold Pass. When the confirmation arrived I exploded with joy.

This will be my first EPT ever. A real debut that I await with enormous enthusiasm. I’m excited about the 360-degree experience, the unique atmosphere of the big live events, the level of organisation and the opportunity to experience a tournament of this caliber up close in a fantastic city.

I define myself as an amateur player. My job doesn’t leave me a lot of time to play as much as I’d like, but I more than make up for it with a huge love and passion for this game.

If I won, I would use the winnings to start a passive income business, so as to create the financial freedom to travel and explore the world.

Rafael Ponce Campos, Spain

• Staruniv Power Path Gold Pass winner

I earned my Gold Pass through an online qualifier. I kept playing and working towards the goal of getting the package, and eventually I managed to win it. When I realised that I had actually qualified for the EPT Barcelona Main Event, I was incredibly happy. It was a moment I will never forget.

This will be my first EPT Main Event. It’s a very special moment for me because I have always wanted to play an EPT live, and Barcelona will be my first one. I’m most looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere of a big live EPT, playing against some of the best players in the world and, of course, seeing how far I can go.

I’ve played a lot of Universitas Stars Poker Online, but playing such an important tournament live is something completely different. I’m really excited to live the whole experience.

I would describe myself as a competitive and instinctive player. I try to stay calm at the table, pay close attention to my opponents and adapt my game depending on the situation. I enjoy making decisions based on the information I get from the table and fighting for every pot.

If I made the final table, it would already be an incredible achievement for me. If I were lucky enough to win the tournament, I would definitely use the money to improve my life and secure a better future for myself and my family. It would be a life-changing moment.

Ovidiu Lungu, Romania

• Staruniv Power Path Gold Pass winner

I won my Gold pass via the steps – from €11 to €55 to Gold Pass! I have never played an EPT Main Event. It’s my first time. I am a true lover of the game. If I win, I can’t spend that kind of money, I need to invest it.

Claus Pedersen, Denmark

• Qualified via €55 satellite into €530 satellite

I have never played an EPT Main Event before. I am looking forward to experiencing an EPT festival for the first time in my life – the people, the whole scene, the atmosphere. Hopefully, I’ll get to play with some of the top tier poker players in the world. I hope to get some good experiences and learnings to take home with me.

I am a casual/recreational player who has been playing poker for a bit more than 20 years. My start came in online tournaments and small home games, arranged by the staff association at my work, before trying real live tournaments at which I was always trembling with nervousness and adrenaline during the first couple of hands I involved myself in. I started with No Limit Hold’Em tournaments. I liked the fact that I could not lose more than my buy-in in a tournament. Over the years, I have taken up cash games and PLO4 and PLO5 as well, but I still consider NLHE tournaments as my primary game.

I have studied the game extensively. Not like a professional, but I have bought and read a shelf of poker books, and done my fair share of online tutorials, blogs, vlogs, and videos. I like all aspects of poker. The game, the math, the psychology, and the fun and social part. I am not equally good at all of them, but I try to learn and improve whenever I can. I have an enormous respect for money, and I often say that money is not everything but enough money liberates you from many concerns. So, even though we are talking potentially life-changing amounts, I am a bit on the conservative side.

If I got far, I would consider buying a real estate property of some sort. I would most certainly invest a substantial part, and, besides that, I would treat myself with a piece of quiet luxury or two, an extra nice skiing trip, and throw celebration parties for family, friends, and of course my local poker club. Lastly, I would set some of the money aside for another EPT.

Gabin Henrion, France

• Qualified via €250 satellite

This will be my very first EPT Main Event. I am 18 years old and three months, so playing my first EPT in Barcelona means a lot to me.

First of all, it is a childhood dream becoming a reality. I have been playing poker since I was 6 years old. My father has been a professional poker player for 30 years. I grew up around poker, so finally getting the chance to play my first EPT is something very special to me.

I am especially looking forward to experiencing the highest level of poker and competing against some of the best players in the world. But I am also really excited to discover the atmosphere around the EPT — the huge number of players, all the different personalities, the energy around the tables, and everything that makes an event like this so unique.

I would describe myself as an aggressive player — sometimes maybe a little too aggressive! I can be quite annoying to have at your table because I put a lot of pressure on my opponents, and I have absolutely no fear of bluffing. At the same time, I know how to be patient. If the situation requires it, I can go three or four hours without playing many hands and wait for the right opportunity.

I think one of my biggest strengths is that I am not afraid of making difficult decisions. I have been playing poker since I was a kid, so I am very comfortable under pressure. And I don’t really feel nervous when I am at the table.

If I won the tournament, my first priority would be my family. I would want my mother to be able to stop working and make sure my family is financially secure. After that, I would obviously continue playing poker. My goal is not just to win one big tournament. I want to keep improving, play the biggest events in the world, and one day become one of the best poker players I can possibly be.

Thank you again for this opportunity. I am really looking forward to being there and experiencing my very first EPT in Barcelona.

Pau Vela, Spain

• Qualified via €50 satellite into €250 satellite

This will be my first Main Event and in Barcelona that’s where I’m from. To be honest, being able to play an EPT is just a dream. I want to enjoy every minute of it and I will keep a positive attitude. I consider myself a solid player and hard worker and an online grinder. If I won big money, I will have a great dinner with friends and have some fun. Maybe travel. But there is a big chance I will be opening the lobby a few days after. I’ll get back to grinding online.

Elerson Kirsten, Brazil

• Qualified via €530 satellite

I have played one previous EPT. It was in the past year. I expect to perform well with my decisions. I feel ready for challenges, with good experience and knowledge. If I won money, I don’t really know what I would do, but I would continue to invest in things that bring me a return in all parts of my life with more quality, obviously. Maybe to celebrate a nice family trip would be nice.

Read more

• EPT Barcelona coverage hub
• Official EPT site
• Barcelona photographs

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