French poker professional Alexis Nicolai has captured the spotlight at the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona Open Main Event, securing the biggest win of his career. Known for always wearing his signature fisherman’s hat, Nicolai jokingly promised to bring home both the hat and the trophy this time—and he delivered.
Emerging as the last player standing from an enormous field of 5,036 entrants, Nicolai earned the prestigious title along with a career-best payout of €772,000.
Alexis Nicolai, A Third Straight French Champion in Barcelona
In a tense heads-up battle, Nicolai faced Hong Kong’s Mengshi Tian, who had dominated much of the final table. The tournament concluded in dramatic fashion when Nicolai completed a river straight, sealing the victory. With this win, he follows in the footsteps of Lucien Cohen and Sylvain Berthelot, making it three consecutive years that a French player has claimed the EPT Barcelona Main Event crown.
Speaking through a translator after the match, Nicolai admitted:
“It still doesn’t feel real. Maybe tomorrow, when I’m driving to work, it will finally sink in.”
Away from the felt, Nicolai operates an ambulance taxi company. Staying grounded, he added with a smile,
“As my father always said—work is work, and it has to be done.”
From Short Stack to Champion
Nicolai entered the final table with the smallest stack, facing long odds. At one point, Tian’s aggressive play pushed him into dangerous territory. However, Nicolai fought back with fearless all-in moves, turning the tide in his favor.
One of the key moments came early at the final table when his Ace-Queen held up, doubling his stack and sparking his comeback. Reflecting on the battle, he explained:
“At the start, I was in a really tough spot. But I managed to build quickly, then used bold all-ins to put pressure on my opponents.”
During heads-up play, Nicolai even added psychological tactics to his arsenal, deliberately chatting with Tian to disrupt his rhythm. He repeatedly teased with the phrase:
“My friend, all-in.”
The strategy worked—and the momentum shifted his way for good.
Key Highlights from the EPT Barcelona Main Event
| Place | Player | Country | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexis Nicolai | France | €772,000 |
| 2 | Mengshi Tian | Hong Kong | €482,290 |
| 3 | Ben Zech | Germany | €344,560 |
| 4 | Chin Wei Lim | Malaysia | €265,200 |
| 5 | Daniele Cuomo | Italy | €203,910 |
| 6 | Jakub Sterba | Czechia | €156,830 |
| 7 | Kazuhiko Yotsushika | Japan | €120,610 |
| 8 | David Taieb | France | €92,770 |
- Final Day with 13 Survivors: Players including Yakiv Syzganov, Artur Emich, Efrim Erdinç, and Adis Zukanovic fell short, setting the stage for the official nine-handed final table.
- The Fall of the Chip Leader: Japan’s Kazuhiko Yotsushika began with a commanding chip lead, but lost momentum to Tian and eventually exited in 7th place.
- Tian’s Dominance: With pocket tens, Tian hit quads mid-final, amassing over half the chips in play. Despite his commanding position, Nicolai’s relentless aggression wore him down in the closing stages.
- The Decisive Hands: Nicolai cracked Tian’s pocket sevens with pocket nines before sealing victory with his unforgettable river straight.
A Trophy, a Hat, and a Legacy
At the award ceremony, Nicolai set his fisherman’s hat down beside the trophy, grinning proudly.
“My son always joked that I looked like a fisherman,” he said. “But now, this hat has become a symbol of my victory.”
This triumph is more than just a financial milestone. By more than doubling his lifetime tournament earnings, Nicolai has etched his name into EPT history while inspiring poker fans with his resilience and fighting spirit.
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