Nuno Mendes

Nuno Mendes is a Portuguese professional poker player who has made a name for himself on the live tournament circuit. Known for his aggressive style and solid fundamentals, he achieved a career highlight at the 2023 European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona festival.

In August 2023, Nuno Mendes finished as runner-up in Event #41: €550 NLH Freezeout at the PokerStars EPT Barcelona. The tournament attracted 527 entries, generating a prize pool of €252,960. The top 79 places were paid, with a first prize of €46,610 reserved for the winner.

Mendes (listed as Nuno Martins Mendes) and British player Thomas Pearn negotiated a heads-up deal, and despite Pearn winning the trophy, Mendes took home the larger prize of €41,210 due to his chip lead at the time of the agreement. This result marked one of the best live cashes of his career and demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure in a major festival.

• 1st Thomas Pearn – €35,000
• 2nd Nuno Martins Mendes – €41,210
• 3rd José Lobato – €21,150
• 4th Tomer Taggart – €16,250
• 5th Piet Pape – €12,500

The final prize distribution shows that Mendes secured the highest payout of the event, a testament to his strategic deal-making and deep run.

Mendes was not the only Portuguese player to cash in this event. Ricardo Narciso Figueiredo (56th) and Joaquim Dionísio de Almeida (68th) also earned €950 each, highlighting a strong Portuguese presence in the tournament.

While specific hand histories are not publicly available, Nuno Mendes is known in the Portuguese poker community for his tenacity and ability to navigate large fields. His runner-up finish at EPT Barcelona has elevated his profile among live tournament grinders.

Nuno Mendes may not have won the trophy, but his second-place finish with the biggest payout exemplifies how skill and negotiation can lead to financial success in poker. As he continues to compete, this result serves as a strong foundation for future achievements on the European Poker Tour and beyond.