Few people get a second chance in life, and Álvaro Murciano made the most of his. The Spanish player won the €888 Main Event at 888 Live Barcelona after overcoming a field of 350 entries. With the victory, he pocketed €50,000, the biggest prize of his live poker career.
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Murciano’s redemption came right after a frustrating result in the same series, but in Madrid. In January 2025, the Spaniard reached the heads-up of the tournament against 888poker ambassador Ian Simpson, but ended up as runner-up after a long battle.
In an interview with “PokerNews,” the champion highlighted the importance of the achievement. “It means a lot. Last year, I finished second. It means a lot to win and get this personal revenge”, Murciano said. Right after the conclusion of the final, he also received a hug from Ian Simpson in a very symbolic moment.
However, this time the Spaniard completely dominated the final table and walked calmly towards the title. Murciano reached the 4-handed stage with about 80% of the chips in play and started eliminating opponents in succession. In the heads-up against compatriot German Zafra, the advantage was even greater and the title was confirmed shortly after.
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Check out the final table results:
| Position | Name | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Alvaro Murciano | Spain | € 50,000 |
| 2nd | German Zafra | Spain | € 30,000 |
| 3rd | Jesus Ramos | Spain | € 20,000 |
| 4th | Pol Silva | Spain | € 14,500 |
| 5th | Michael Falcon | Denmark | € 11,600 |
| 6th | Florens Feenstra | Netherlands | € 9,880 |
| 7th | Ryan Dansie | United Kingdom | € 8,400 |
| 8th | Mateo Flament | Spain | € 7,100 |
| 9th | Jordi Conejos | Spain | € 6,100 |
Murciano’s career results
About his dominant performance at the final table, the champion told “PokerNews” that everything seemed to happen perfectly. “It all seemed rehearsed. Every time I tried to bluff, the others folded. When I had good hands, they called. It was incredible. It felt like a script”, Murciano said.
According to “The Hendon Mob,” Álvaro Murciano had about US$70,000 in live circuit earnings before this win in Barcelona. All of the Spaniard’s prizes started to appear from 2024 onwards. Until then, the biggest cash of his career had been the runner-up finish in the 888Live Madrid Main Event, a result that earned €42,000.
Finally, Murciano’s live resume also includes prizes in tournaments held in Portugal and participations in festivals played in the United Kingdom. Additionally, the champion revealed that he plays poker professionally online and uses live events as a way to relax. “I play professionally online. Live events are a hobby and a way to disconnect from online poker”, the Spaniard concluded.
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