€362,500. A final table. And an incredible seven-day run. JAKA Coaching member Michael Dwyer finished 5th in the 2026 PokerStars EPT Barcelona Main Event. He battled through 1,823 entries in the €5,300 tournament to secure the biggest live cash of his career and another major result on the live poker circuit.
What Happened During His Win
Michael Dwyer’s EPT Barcelona run was a seven-day battle through a field of 1,823 entries. After Day 1, he returned for Day 2 as the chip leader and continued to build his stack as the field got smaller.
He made several key moves along the way. On Day 4, he moved all in against Espen Sandvik and forced a fold. On Day 5, he made a huge river call with a full house against Fabricio Nociolini’s top two pair. The pot gave Dwyer a major double-up at a key stage of the tournament.
Dwyer then reached the final table with only six players left. He was joined by Nicolas Chouity, Xiaosheng Zheng, Lukas van Eeden, Jose Criado, and eventual champion Manuel Ferrari.
His run ended in 5th place. Moreover, Dwyer committed his remaining chips with ace-ten against Zheng’s ace-queen. Zheng held the stronger hand and ended Dwyer’s incredible run.
The result earned Dwyer €362,500, the biggest live tournament cash of his career.
His Previous Wins and Major Results
The EPT Barcelona result adds another huge score to Dwyer’s poker resume. He has already enjoyed several impressive results in major tournaments.
One of his biggest scores came at the 2024 WSOP, where Dwyer turned a $100 satellite into a massive $1.3 million score in the GG Millions. He also made a deep run in the 2024 WSOP Main Event, finishing 447th for $37,500.
His 2026 WSOP campaign also included several notable results. Dwyer finished 778th in the $10,000 WSOP Main Event for $22,500. He also finished 57th in the $3,500 Super Turbo Bounty.
A New Career-Best Live Cash
The €362,500 score in Barcelona was a major milestone for Michael Dwyer.
It was the biggest live tournament cash of his career. The result came on one of the biggest stages in European poker. His deep run also caught attention back home in Ireland. The Irish Times featured Dwyer after his impressive EPT Barcelona performance.
The score adds to an already impressive poker career. Dwyer has a $1.3 million score from the 2024 GG Millions. He also has several deep runs at the WSOP.
For Dwyer, Barcelona was more than another deep run. He reached a major European Poker Tour final table and earned a career-best payday. It was another big milestone in his poker journey.
How JAKA Coaching Helped
Dwyer’s success also highlights the value of preparation. As a JAKA Coaching member, he has access to poker training focused on tournament strategy, decision-making, and improving his overall game.
JAKA Coaching gives players access to lessons, strategy videos, live coaching, and a community of other poker players. These resources can help players prepare for the toughest spots they face at the tables.
Dwyer has also worked with Faraz Jaka. Their connection was highlighted in coverage of the poker documentary No Limit, where Dwyer spoke about Faraz and his impact as a coach and member of the poker community.
For tournament players, improvement does not happen overnight. It comes from studying hands, reviewing decisions, learning new strategies, and applying them at the table. JAKA Coaching provides a place for players to do that work.
Turning Preparation Into Results
Dwyer’s EPT Barcelona run is a great example of that process.
He entered a field of 1,823 players and finished Day 2 as the chip leader. He then survived seven days of competition, reached the final table, and secured a €362,500 payday. That result shows what can happen when preparation meets opportunity.
Michael Dwyer’s EPT Barcelona run was an incredible achievement. He battled through one of the biggest fields on the European Poker Tour and stayed in contention for seven days.
For Dwyer, this was more than another deep run. It was the biggest live cash of his career and another major milestone in his poker journey.
Improve Your Poker Game With JAKA Coaching
JAKA Coaching gives players access to poker lessons, tournament strategy, live coaching, and training resources designed to help them make better decisions at the tables.
Whether you play low stakes, mid stakes, or major live tournaments, you can find content built to help you improve your game.
Visit JAKA Coaching today and explore the lessons, coaching, and resources available to members.
