The tournament took place at Casino Valencia from 3-7 April creating a Main Event prize pool of €463,680. If you fancy your Spanish comprehension then click through to our Spanish language report here.

Final table payouts
1 Daniel Boender, Netherlands, €104,550
2 Marciano Rodriguez Cortes, Spain, PokerStars Qualifier, €69,550
3 Javier De Vicente Miquel, Spain, PokerStars Qualifier, €42,890
4 Jose Javier Patiño Gonzalez, Spain, PokerStars Qualifier, €33,040
5 Renato Antonio da Silva Almeida, Portugal , €24,920
6 Ivan Carmona Oteiza, Spain, PokerStars Qualifier, €17,390
7 Jorge Andres Jimenez, Spain, €12,750
8 Enrique Lanzuela Fornas, Spain, €9,260

Rick Dacey is staff writer for the PokerStars Blog.

Are we envious of the great structure, big field and top quality tournament direction? Well, yes, but no. It's currently forecast to be 21°C in Valencia today, which is a whole lot warmer than the glowering grey clouds surrounding PokerStars Blog HQ. Nothing can bring on the green-eyed monster like bad weather. And food. And, well, pretty much anything.

If you're wanting to follow the event you can, just so long as you have the ability to read Spanish or skim for names and numbers, by checking our Spanish coverage here.

If you've missed out this time around then we suggest that you take a look at the next event coming up, the ESPT/UKIPT crossover in Marbella. It's going to be a summer spectacular.

Rick Dacey staff writer for the PokerStars Blog.

The twelve-event ESPT Valencia festival begins on 1 April with Day 1A of the Main Event kicking off on 3 April (see the full ESPT Valencia schedule by clicking here). Direct online qualifiers are priced at €55, €82 and €215 with satellites into those events costing just a couple of euros. Surely it's worth a shot at getting some sunshine?

Where can I find the ESPT Valencia satellites?
Qualifiers and satellites can be found in the PokerStars lobby by clicking 'Events' >> 'More' >> 'Estrellas'.

Rick Dacey staff writer for the PokerStars Blog.

This week Estrellas announced its players can go racing before hitting the table on April 4. If you're headed that way and looking to race against your fellow players, RSVP with info@estrellaspokertourhotels.com and then plan to catch the shuttle to Cheta for that afternoon for a day on the track.

And, no matter whether you win or lose, the Estrellas chefs are cooking up a ton of paella to fill your belly before you head back to the casino.

The following Saturday, Estrellas will host a party at the posh club Moon, and because Estrellas players party like rock stars, this shindig doesn't even start until midnight. Tthe open bar will run for 90 minutes to kick off the party.

Don't have your seat yet? Check out the Estrellas schedule this weekend on PokerStars for your chance to win a satellite and full package to Valencia.

For more information on the tour, see the Estrella Valencia home page.

Brad Willis is the PokerStars Head of Blogging

Season of 4 of the Estrellas Poker Tour got underway in Madrid just a few weeks ago, but now the tour has eyes eyes on Valencia.

Running April 1-7, the festival will feature a €1,100 main event with a €350,000 guarantee. Tournament organizers say the field could grow to more than 500 players making it one of the biggest tournaments ever in that region.

More than 100 people have already qualified for the main event, a number that foretells of a massive main event finale.

Last year Miguel Angel Rodriguez won the € 76,000 first prize after besting a field of 387 players. This year promises to be much bigger.

For more information, visit the ESPT Valencia home page.

Brad Willis is the PokerStars Head of Blogging

ESPT Madrid
Date: 23-27 January 2013
Buy-in: €1,100
Game: NLHE Main Event
Players: 632
Prize pool: €606,720

Final table results
1. Adrian Mateos, €103,000
2. Jose Álvarez, €88,512
3. Richard Milne, €81,000
4. Pedro Oliva, €40.960
5. Angel Botana, €30.340
6. Francisco Arce, €21.240
7. Vicente Delgado, €15.170
8. Javier Sánchez Miguel, €11.375

Mateos had come into the final table as the second shortest stack but didn't let that stop him from tearing the table apart, nor did it stop the shortest stack, Pedro Oliva, from finishing fourth: performances impressive both. At the other end of the scale, Jose Alvarez converted his final table chip lead into a heads-up finish for €88,512.

If you want to find out more about the Estrellas Poker Tour click through to the official tour website where you'll find schedules, results and satellite information. You can also check the PokerStars lobby by clicking the Events > More > Estrellas tabs.

Rick Dacey is a staff writer for the PokerStars Blog.

Prior to this week, the biggest field the ESPT had ever seen in Madrid was 498 players. When registration closed after Day 1B, the Estrellas organizers announced it had broken all previous records with a field of 632 players.

When Day 2 started today, only 151 remained with Muhamet Perati leading the pack.

Day 2 is already underway and headed toward the money in Madrid.

You can follow all the action live on the Spanish PokerStars Blog.

Brad Willis is the PokerStars Head of Blogging

Domestic players and jet-setting poker pros will sit down by their hundreds to contest the main event in what's fast become of the most successful tours in Europe. ESPT Barcelona pulled in a staggering field of 1037, the largest tournament ever assembled in Spain. While the collective Day 1 fields may not gather in quite that large a headcount, early indications are that the €400,000 guarantee will be smashed.

If you want to follow the action click on through to the Spanish PokerStars Blog (be warned, it's all in Spanish).

There's also a solid showing of side events over the next few days with a €2,000 High Roller starting this Saturday, 27 January. Check out the full list of events, from the €70 'Sunday Battle' all the way up, by clicking here.

Rick Dacey is a staff writer for the PokerStars Blog.

The PokerStars Estrellas Poker Tour is one of our babies that has developed at a rapid rate. It's hard to believe that Season 4 is about to start, but there's no doubting its popularity will be bigger than ever. Last season's fields were spectacular, and there is every sign that entries (and therefore prize pools) will continue to grow.

The first festival of the new season is in Madrid, running from January 21-27, where the €1,000 + €100 main event (January 23-27) will have a €400,000 guarantee.

To make sure everything goes with a bang, our friends in the events team have been busy planning lots of goodies to give players added value and keep them happy and entertained.

First up, there is the Season 4 player leaderboard, which has some great prizes:

1st: Season 5 sponsorship package plus entry to a 2014 European Poker Tour event
2nd: 2 x Season 5 main event entries
3rd - 5th: 1 x Season 5 main event entry

Meanwhile, for those heading to Madrid, there are also some cool things to do away from the tables:

Tuesday 22, 22.30-00.30: PokerStars Spain Awards 2012 with cocktail at Moma 56
Wednesday 23 23.30 - late: Free entry and drink at Oh Cabaret
Friday 25, 23.30 - late: Free entry and drink at Shoko Madrid
Saturday 26, 00.30 until late: Estrellas Poker Tour Official Party at Moma 56

Wristbands are required for all entries, and there is an open bar for the first two hours of the party.

You can view all the information you need at the official Estrellas poker Tour site. It's our baby, and we're proud of it.

The first stop of Spain's largest national poker tour is at Casino Gran Madrid (21-27 January) with the schedule boasting 14 tournaments, including the €1,100 Main Event, a €330 Mini Event and the popular €2,000 High Roller. PokerStars.es is committing to fabulous value by introducing a €400,000 guarantee to the main event for the first time.

ESPT Season 4 continues to build on the success of the first three seasons which have seen thousands of players compete for a combined prize pool of more than €4,700,000. Each festival stop will be a fully-fledged fiesta of poker with schedules packed full of side events starting from as little as €80 to buy in.

ESPT 4 festival dates
ESPT Madrid: 21-27 January
ESPT Valencia: 1-7 April
ESPT Marbella: 10-16 June
ESPT Barcelona: 28 August - 1 September

Satellites are running on PokerStars, offering full packages including Main Event buy-in, accommodation and expenses. For further information, visit the main Estrellas Poker Tour website

Just a little while ago, the Estrellas Poker Tour announced the first event of its fourth season. The Spain-based tour will begin Season four in the historic city of Madrid. Running January 21-27, the festival will offer something for just about every bankroll.

Satellites for the main event are kicking off on PokerStars.es tomorrow and on PokerStars.com next week. If you win one of those you'll be on your way to Madrid.

Last season, Juan Miguel Tome tok down the first event of the season in Madrid. Now, you'll have the chance to follow in his footsteps in the €1,000+100 main event in January.

To keep up with the tour and all its satellites, visit the Estrellas Poker Tour website.

Brad Willis is the PokerStars Head of Blogging

And if a bit of a democratic voting isn't your thing and your more a prove-it-to-me kind of player then you can take a look at the ESPT Season 3 leader board winners below.

Estrellas 3 Leaderboard
1. Jaume Niell Alomar, 241.25 points
2. Daniel Rauta, 229.55
3. Maxim Seregin, 203.2
4. Jose Luis Rujas Gil, 192.65
5. Raul Molano Gil, 181.45

Estrellas 3 Best Online Qualifier
1. David Kolmberger, 83.55 points
2. Juan Miguel Tome Perez, 73.55
3. Ruben Gonzalez Porcel, 69.45
4. Mauricio Pazos, 62.2
5. Vicente Delgado Zamorano, 59.6

Rick Dacey is a staff writer for the PokerStars Blog.

And if a bit of a democratic voting isn't your thing and your more a prove-it-to-me kind of player then you can take a look at the ESPT Season 3 leader board winners below.

Estrellas 3 Leaderboard
1. Jaume Niell Alomar, 241.25 points
2. Daniel Rauta, 229.55
3. Maxim Seregin, 203.2
4. Jose Luis Rujas Gil, 192.65
5. Raul Molano Gil, 181.45

Estrellas 3 Best Online Qualifier
1. David Kolmberger, 83.55 points
2. Juan Miguel Tome Perez, 73.55
3. Ruben Gonzalez Porcel, 69.45
4. Mauricio Pazos, 62.2
5. Vicente Delgado Zamorano, 59.6

Rick Dacey is a staff writer for the PokerStars Blog.

Perhaps more significant than even the glittering new timepiece, however, is a shake up to the way the EPT interacts with the various tours that snake through smaller regions, all carrying the PokerStars logo too. In Spain, this regional charabanc is known as the Estrellas Poker Tour ("Estrellas" means "Stars") and the festival previously known only as EPT Barcelona is now also Estrellas Barcelona, which happens to be the Estrellas Grand Final too.

The main event of the Estrellas Grand Final began last week and wrapped late yesterday after five days. The Italian player Lorenzo "bovediroma" Sabato took it down, earning €200,000, and dashing hopes of a home champion on Spanish soil. (The top-placed Spanish player was Miguel Mora. He was fourth.)

The good news for Sabato - and anyone winning, for instance, the UKIPT main event (ending at EPT London), the Eureka Poker Tour main event (ending at EPT Prague) - is that they can jump straight from the winner's enclosure into another tournament, namely the main event of the EPT.

Momentum can be a wonderful thing in poker, and Sabato will know this better than most.

The last hand Sabato won on Sunday earned him that €200,000. It was [qc][qd] versus the [5s][9s] of Andrey Demidov, by the way. The next hand he played was today, and wouldn't you know it he knocked out a player then too, doubling his starting stack to 60,000 immediately in this even bigger event.

By the time the players went to their third break, Sabato was up to about 90,000 after felting another one.

He is on a brilliant roll right now. I just can't wait until he butts heads with the similarly unstoppable Dan Smith.

Follow all the action from the Estrellas Poker Tour on the Spanish version of PokerStars Blog. Ivan Marti is your guide there, but if you run it through Google Translate, he becomes Stephen Bartley. Go on, try it.

*****

Tournament update:

Registration has ended and 665 players are now on the board as having joined the fray. They join the 403 from yesterday, of whom 222 survived. This is not entirely official, so it will be a while before we learn full prize pool information. But it does seem certain that we broke through the 1,000 barrier for the first time in Barcelona.

*****

Video update:

The full list of entrants featured 1,036 players from 55 countries, creating a €1,004,920 prize pool. The top 128 players made the money.

In less than four hours on day three, 35 players were eliminated, including the European Poker Tour champions Martin Finger (Prague) and Michael Eiler (Vienna) as well as the ESPT Alicante finalist Martín Clemmensen.

Tomorrow's eight finalists - all eying a first prize of €200,000 - are as follows:

Miguel Mora Hernandez, 26, Spain, Madrid, 3,543,000 chips
Samuel Bernabeu Guilabert, 22, Spain, Alicante, 2,521,000 chips
Lorenzo Sabato, 27, Italy, Roma, 2,021,000 chips
Andrey Demidov, Russian Federation, 1,902,000 chips
Artur Alabart Urgelles, 23, Spain, Reus, 1,7775,000 chips
Pere Estatuet Llorens, 44, Spain, Monistrol de Montserrat, 1,690,000 chips
Niclas Svensson, 34, Sweden, Gothenburg, 1,180,000 chips
Jonas Garstick, 29, Switzerland, 969,000 chips

You can find the prize list here
To see the final table player profiles here.