Stephen Bartley reports from the EPT Barcelona on the eve of the final table that could see an historic record being set...

We have our final. After four days of play, 619 competitors and 56 of 64 places paid so far, just eight players remain. It was a day of heroic effort and tragic defeat and at the end of play there exists the possibility of a remarkable record being broken, in what has been the biggest EPT Barcelona so far.

If there was an underlying theme to this tournament's third day it would be the unfinished business of the EPT in San Remo several months ago. Back then several players showed the world ability most learned to respect and fear. The likes of Randall Flowers, Jonas Klausen and PokerStars player Jason Mercier rocked the Italian stage on partisan surroundings and two EPT events later have done the same in Spain. Whilst Flowers and Klausen fell short of the final in Italy, finishing in 10th and 12th respectively, Mercier remained in the field tonight, and is within sight of becoming the first player ever to win two EPT titles.

Looking for an historic double, PokerStars player Jason Mercier

All that will come tomorrow, but for now there is a day of poker to look back on, one that started in quick fashion when the short stack on the day Andrey Chesnakov busted soon after play resumed. A steady trickle of eliminations would follow, including the likes of the last remaining Team PokerStars Pro Chad Brown, out in 34th place.

Brown had started in good shape, found jacks twice but lost with them both times, the second time badly enough to send him to the rail and a pay-out of €17,300.

Sebastian Ruthenberg also continued his quest to light up the poker scene, bringing his world class form to Spain. It follows the German's success at the World Series this summer that culminated in a bracelet in the seven card stud hi/lo event. Still playing dynamite poker, Ruthenberg starts tomorrow second in chips with 1,204,000 and is looking to top his third place finish in Dortmund in season three.

Chip leader Martin Nielsen of Denmark

But for all the talk of records being broken the man standing in the way of that is Denmark's Martin Nielsen, the overnight chip leader with 1,229,000, who started as one of the short stacks when the last nine sat around one table. Ironically that was the same for Sebastian Ruthenberg who finished just as strong. If Mercier is to achieve the impossible he’ll need to beat them both, five others with the same intentions, and a whole load of precedent.

PokerStars sponsored player Sebastian Ruthenberg

Brandon Schaeffer came close to the record in season one, winning his first in Deauville and coming second in the next in Monte Carlo. Mark Teltscher did something similar; winning the EPT London in season two before finishing runner-up here in Barcelona twelve months ago. Now Jason has chance to better both of them.

It proved to be a long day, with the gap between nine players and eight lasting three and a half hours with the chip counts often being evenly matched. But we now have a great final table to look forward to. Here’s how it will look.

1. Martin Nielsen, Denmark, 1,229,000
2. Davidi Kitai, Belgium, 600,000
3. Dren Ukala, Germany, 734,000
4. Jason Mercier, PokerStars player, United States, 526,000
5. Samuel Chartier, PokerStars player, Canada, 879,000
6. Daniele Mazzia, Italy, 359,000
7. Fintan Gavin, PokerStars player, Ireland, 701,000
8. Sebastian Ruthenberg, PokerStars sponsored player, 1,204,000

Players get an extra hour of rest tonight with the final resuming tomorrow at the later time of 4pm local time. With the long night tonight that may be a good thing. See you then.