1. A Modern-Day Dream Team
Thirty years ago, the Dream Team put on the most dominating performance in sports history right here in Barcelona, outscoring opponents by 44 points on their way to the Olympic Gold Medal. Fernando Santa Maria may not be Michael Jordan, but he just had his own sensational run through the field in the EAPT Barcelona €560 Main Event.
2. An Unlikely Hero Emerges
Santa Maria ended Day 1a as the chip leader. He was leading again after Day 2. And he finished the tournament with every chip in play, putting together an incredible performance on his way to claiming the €26,625 top prize and EAPT trophy. Quite the achievement for a player who had no recorded live cashes before this event.
3. The Fun-Loving Runner-Up – Ariel “Galactico” Faskowicz
The man he beat heads-up had his own incredible journey, and he had a ton of fun doing it. His full name is Ariel Faskowicz, but here at Casino Barcelona, he’s known simply as “Galactico,” with all of his cashes going back more than a decade coming in this building.
4. Final Table Standings
- Place 1: Fernando Santa Maria (Dominican Republic) – €26,625
- Place 2: Ariel Galactico (Argentina) – €24,675
- Place 3: Carlos Esquerdo (Spain) – €27,400
- Place 4: Jose Rodriguez (Honduras) – €19,275
- Place 5: Cedric Jaby (France) – €9,400
- Place 6: Christopher Arpal (Spain) – €7,280
- Place 7: Jordi Mataix (Spain) – €5,730
- Place 8: Hector De Gea (Spain) – €4,510
- Place 9: Teddy Kamel (Lebanon) – €3,735
5. Day 3 Action
The final day of the EAPT Barcelona Main Event began with 18 players assembled around the last two tables. Jaskirat Singh Bindra had a short day, being left on fumes the first hand when he ran a set of threes into the set of fives of Jose Rodriguez. He was eliminated the next hand as Antonio Perez picked up aces to double off Andre Carvalho.
6. The Rise of Fernando Santa Maria
Santa Maria began the nine-handed final table in second place with 2,200,000, trailing only Carlos Esquerdo’s 2,800,000. But he lost a big chunk of his chips early when Christopher Arpal completed a straight on the river.
7. Galactico’s Memorable Moments
Galactico entertained his tablemates with his conniving blend of table talk and jokes. He could burst into song at any moment, shout out his trademark “Show me the money” after winning a pot, and constantly show his opponents his cards. And he did it with a smile on his face the entire tournament as the fun-loving player seemed to be having the time of his life on his way to his runner-up finish.
8. The Deal and a Turn of Fortune
The four remaining players then agreed to a deal, Esquerdo taking €27,400, Galactico €20,880, Santa Maria €20,625, and Rodriguez €19,275, leaving an additional €6,000 for first place and €3,795 for second.
9. Santa Maria’s Climactic Victory
The hand that began Santa Maria’s rise from short stack to eventual champion began on an eight-high flop, where Esquerdo bet 250,000. Santa Maria then raised to 700,000, Esquerdo moved all in, and Santa Maria called for 3,200,000 with two jacks and held against Esquerdo’s tens to double up and take the chip lead.
10. A Dominating Victory
Santa Maria led Galactico 9,800,000 to 4,500,000 at the start of heads-up. Santa Maria took down most pots to extend his lead until the final hand when Galactico moved all in for 2,200,000 on the flop with a pair of eights. Santa Maria called with his own pair of eights but a better kicker and dodged a flush draw on the river to win the title.
11. A Legacy in the Making
Santa Maria joined a list of EAPT Main Event champions that extends back more than a decade to German star Marvin Rettenmaier. The next EAPT festival is in Bucharest in November, followed by stops in Madrid, Malta, and the United Kingdom next year before heading to Cyprus for the Grand Final.
12. An Unforgettable Victory
New champions will emerge with their own stories in those events, but few will have as dominating a run as Santa Maria put on the past four days.