Poker player Ian Simpson claims victory in the initial 888poker LIVE Main Event organised in Madrid during 2025.
In the ballsy kickoff of 2025, 888poker set its sights on Casino Gran Via in Madrid, unleashing a thrilling live season with a festival packed to the brim with excitement. The star-studded schedule was brimming with entertaining and budget-friendly tournaments, culminating in the jaw-dropping €888 Main Event.
The Main Event was an unqualified success, raking in an jaw-dropping 403 contestants. This impressive turnout guaranteed a mouth-watering prize pool of €306,280 – and as always, the lion's share – a whopping €62,000 – was reserved for the victor.
After an intense whirlwind of play, the bottle opener to 2025 was corked by none other than 888poker ambassador, Ian Simpson, who not only represented the site with flair but also bagged his inaugural 888poker LIVE championship.
Simpson, A History-Maker
Simpson's Main Event conquest wasn't merely a personal triumph; it was also a groundbreaking moment for the operator, as this was the very first time one of the ambassadors made off with a Main Event title.
With over 400 hopefuls knocked down, Simpson stood on the precipice of victory. But it wasn't time to open the champagne just yet. Alvaro Murciano, a daring Spaniard, still stood in the way, with no intentions of making victory a walk in the park for Simpson.
The head-to-head showdown between the two was a fiery, grueling feast that saw chips zigzagging back and forth. But in the end, Ian managed to seal the deal, making Murciano settle for the runner-up finish, pocketing a still- respectable €42,000.
Emotions ran high for an overjoyed Simpson, who had this to blurt out during his post-win interview:
"I don't have the words. This is freaking amazing. I've always wanted to run deep in a Main Event, and then when it's like final 20, you're like okay, maybe I'll make the final table. Then it's like final 13 or 14 and you're like, I'm really hoping I don't get like ninth, 11th. Then you get to the final table, and you've got the chip lead. It's a lot of emotions, and they're all good ones."
888poker LIVE, A Rocket Ship to Poker Success
This energetic start sets the stage for an electrifying year ahead on the 888poker LIVE tour. In Madrid, a whopping 48 players earned themselves a payday, with the minimum reward being a cool €1,765[A1].
The top seven players brought home five figures – an impressive feat for a tournament with a three-figure buy-in[A1]. Naturally, this generosity has become the norm for 888poker LIVE events, which aim to provide affordable tournaments for everyone, ensuring a diverse pool of players and fans get a taste of live competition and the chance to battle it out for big prizes without draining their savings accounts[A1].
The series will take a short breather before galloping into Glasgow in March. Once again, the European poker community will gather, ready to indulge in ten days of non-stop action[A1].
Ready to join the adventure? Head over to the 888poker online platform now, where you'll find a plethora of satellites operating around the clock – including monthly freerolls that grant coveted LIVE Passports, allowing you to join any event of your choosing[A1]!
- Ian Simpson, the 888poker ambassador, achieved a historical victory in the Main Event, marking the first time an ambassador won the title.
- The head-to-head showdown between Simpson and Alvaro Murciano was a grueling test of skills, with chips zigzagging back and forth, but Simpson managed to secure the win, earning the lion's share of the prize pool worth €62,000.
- The 888poker LIVE tour aims to provide affordable tournaments for everyone, ensuring a diverse pool of players and fans get a taste of live competition and the chance to battle it out for big prizes without draining their savings accounts.
