888poker LIVE Crushes Numbers in First-Ever Stop in Madrid, Spain!

On the 23^rd of January 2020, we headed to Madrid, Spain for our first 888poker LIVE festival of the year and our first-ever trip to Spain’s glorious capital city. We weren’t disappointed!

The event was set in the beautiful Casino Gran Via, located in one of the most bustling parts of Madrid and situated in a historic, listed building.

The tournament series boasted an overall €1,000,000 guarantee and an €800,000 GTD Main Event – promising to bring out the Spaniards and visiting players in droves.

And, not only was there a lot of money on the line, but the winner of the Main Event would also receive a 2020 WSOP Main Event2020 WSOP Main Event package worth $12,500, courtesy of 888poker!

Opening Event and Main Event Day 1A

The Opening Event of the series was a significant indication of what was to come when the €100,000 GTD was demolished with 554 entries in the €220 buy-in event.

The first flight of the 888poker LIVE Main Event didn’t disappoint, attracting 180 entries in the first of four starting days and 93 players bagged up their chips in the early morning hours at the stunning Casino Gran Via in Madrid.

While most of the participants hailed from Spain or the neighbouring countries, many players made the trek from European countries further afield. Flight 1A chip leader, despite the Spanish-sounding name, Jose Carlos Garcia, hails from Poland. However, local lad and ex-888poker ambassador, Fernando Pons also bagged and tagged in this first of four Day 1 flights.

Among our ambassadors, Martin Jacobson made the most of it after his late entry and bagged up 194,000, narrowly ahead of Vivian Saliba (190,700), Chris Moorman (170,400), and Ana Marquez (167,800). Dominik Nitsche also joined the party and advanced to Day 2 with 78,800.

Main Event Day 1B

The second of four starting days of the 2020 888poker LIVE Madrid €888 Main Event at the Casino Gran Via attracted a field of 286 entries. On top of the cash prize, the winner can also look forward to a 2020 World Series Of Poker Main Event package worth $12,500, courtesy of 888poker.

A few notables threw their hats into the ring in this flight including Ebony Kenney who ended the day on 267,700 chips. 888poker ambassador, Sofia Lovgren, also made a run of it but, unfortunately, didn’t make the cut, in that round.

888poker LIVE Madrid – High Roller

While the second starting day of the €888 Main Event was underway, the €2,200 buy-in High Roller played down to a winner. Nine players out of the original 103 entries made it to Day 2, including 888poker ambassador, Sofia Lovgren.

Unfortunately, it just wasn’t her night, and she finished a respectable sixth for a none-too-shabby €12,000 payday. After an up and down heads-up battle between Italy’s Leonardo Mancuso and Spain’s Ignacio Molina, Mancuso made off with €52,000 top money and the trophy!

Main Event Day 1C/1D

From the off, Day 1C of the 888poker LIVE Main Event looked ready to outdo both previous flights. And we were right! A total of 420 entries boosted the total to 886 with Day 1D and late registration on Day 2 to come!

China's Lin Ruida, fresh off a deep run in Prague, topped Day 1C with a massive 588,200 chipstack. Two 888poker ambassadors took part along with a huge following of online qualifiers.

Although Sofia Lovgren was eliminated during the final hands of the night, teammate Daria Feshchenko was a little luckier and advanced to Day 2 with a stack of 130,000. A total of 229 players bagged and tagged for Day 2, as another 93 entered the Turbo Day 1D, of which only 67 made Day 2.

Main Event Day 1 Roundup

As we headed to Day 2, Team 888poker had a full line-up with Martin Jacobson (194,000), Vivian Saliba (190,700), Chris Moorman (170,400), Ana Marquez (167,800), and Dominik Nitsche (78,800) all making the cut.

Daria Feshchenko joined them via the third flight with a stack of 130,000. Sofia Lovgren and Kara Scott planned to take advantage of the late registration in the first two levels of Day 2.

All four starting days at a glance

Day 2 also saw the Payout Information published with the top 125 spots earning at least €1,840 for their efforts and the winner walking away €150,000 richer and snagging a 2020 WSOP Main Event package.

Main Event Day 2 Action

A total of 1,067 entries ballooned the 888poker LIVE Madrid Main Event numbers, packing the Casino Gran Via to the limit and crushing the €800,000 guarantee. With the top 125 spots getting paid, the action on Day 2 was fast and furious as over 500 runners clamoured for the money.

However, it took until the completion of level 24 to whittle that number down to just 66 hopefuls. Although Team888 made a brave showing, none of the ambassadors made it to Day 3 – despite late registrations from Kara Scott and Sofia Lovgren on Day 2.

The remaining 66 players have locked up €2,400 thus far, but all eyes are focused on the top prize of €150,000, the trophy and the $12,500 package to the 2020 WSOP Main Event!

Main Event Day 3 Final Table Action and Winner

The final day kicked off at 2pm local time and 15 hours later; we had a winner! For runner-up Aubakirov, who dominated the final action as the most aggressive player, it was the second-biggest result of his poker career.

However, the ultimate winner, Italy's Marco Biavaschi, took the biggest risks which resulted in the biggest poker win of his life. He turned a €100 (satellite) into a €150,000 victory and bagged a 2020 WSOP Main Event package worth $12,500, courtesy of 888poker. Well played!

Final Result 2020 888poker LIVE Madrid Main Event