The Spanish live poker circuit is gearing up for its biggest night. The CNP Winamax Grand Final, running November 12 to 23, 2026, at Casino Gran Madrid Torrelodones, is expected to draw more than 3,000 entries to its €550 Main Event, which would make it the largest Grand Final in the circuit's 15-year history. Last year's edition set a record with 2,684 entries, and more than 1,200 tickets had already been awarded through LAROUSH LIVE promotions by the time organizers published the schedule.
For anyone considering the trip to Madrid, or simply following the event from home, here is a full breakdown of the structure, the schedule, the registration options and what a field of this size means for strategy.
Festival Overview
- Dates: November 12-23, 2026
- Venue: Casino Gran Madrid Torrelodones
- Main Event buy-in: €550
- Expected entries: more than 3,000
- Previous record: 2,684 entries in 2025
- Tables: 126 across three areas
The venue is set up for volume. The French Room holds 76 tables and handles much of the action, the Mandalay Gardens area adds 35 more tables from November 19, and the Poker Room hosts the televised feature table. A dedicated player lounge completes the setup. Per PokerNews, organizers also expect the event to be the largest in the history of the Spanish circuit.
The published reporting does not mention a guaranteed prize pool, so we will not attach a figure to the festival; the prize pool will be determined by entries.
Main Event Structure
The €550 Main Event has six Day 1 flights:
| Flight | Date | Start |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1A | November 18 | 4:00 p.m. |
| Day 1B | November 19 | 4:00 p.m. |
| Day 1C Low Cost (€300) | November 19 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Day 1D | November 20 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Day 1E | November 20 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Day 1F Non-Stop | November 21 | 11:00 a.m. |
Day 2 is split into two sessions on November 21: Day 2A at 12:00 p.m. for players from flights 1A, 1C and 1D, and Day 2B at 5:00 p.m. for players from 1B, 1E and 1F. The field combines for Day 3 on November 22 at 1:00 p.m., and the Final Day is November 23 at 3:00 p.m., when the champion will be crowned.
The €300 Low Cost flight on Day 1C is a notable feature: it lets players enter the same Main Event at a lower price. Multiple flights with different timings also help players who cannot fit a single weekday into their schedule.
The Wider Schedule
The festival offers far more than the Main Event. Highlights include:
- Opening Event (€200), with Day 1A on November 12, Day 1B on November 13 and Day 1C on November 14, and Day 2 on November 15
- High Roller (€1,100), with Day 1 on November 16 and Day 2 on November 17
- 6-Max NLH (€200), November 16
- Pot Limit Omaha (€200), November 17
- Winamax Mystery Bounty (€400, with a €100 bounty), November 19
- El Cazador (€200, with a €50 bounty), November 20
- Mini CNP (€250), with Day 1 on November 21 and Day 2 on November 22
- CopaG Series Crazy Pineapple (€200), November 22
- Sit & Go Champions League, an invitational on November 23
Accumulator satellites at €125 run on several nights between November 15 and 18, and a "Win the Button" event at €200 is scheduled for November 15. For the full list, check the official festival schedule.
How to Register
PokerNews reports three registration routes:
- LAROUSH LIVE app: players can register through the official app.
- Online: tickets can be bought on the Casino Gran Madrid website up to 24 hours before a tournament starts.
- At the casino: tickets for any scheduled event can be bought from the festival's opening day, even if the event starts days later.
That third option is useful for players who are not sure about their schedule: you can buy in advance and avoid a lineup at the cage. Given the size of the expected field, avoiding queues is a real consideration.
What a 3,000-Entry Field Means
Large live fields behave differently from smaller ones, and there are practical lessons for anyone entering.
Variance is enormous. In a field of more than 3,000, even strong players cash only a small percentage of the time, and winning is a long shot. A €550 buy-in is not a large amount for a regular, but multiple entries add up quickly. Our bankroll management guide discusses how to size your tournament budget.
Multi-flight structures change reentry strategy. With six Day 1 flights, you can pick the flight that best fits your game plan. Early flights often have tougher fields of regulars who cannot play later days; later flights can include more recreational players, though that is a general tendency, not a rule. Whatever flight you choose, make sure you understand the re-entry rules before you sit down.
Deep-stack play rewards patience. Large live Main Events usually have deep starting stacks and slow levels. That favors players who are comfortable with postflop play and who can avoid unnecessary variance in the early stages. Fundamentals such as position, pot control and reading opponents matter more than hero calls. If you want to refine your approach, start with our poker strategy hub and our guide to reading tells.
Bubble play is critical. When thousands of players are chasing a few hundred pay spots, ICM pressure is intense around the bubble. Learn how short stacks should shove and how medium stacks should defend against bubble aggression.
The Satellite Route
Winamax online satellites and LAROUSH LIVE promotions have already put more than 1,200 players into the field. The satellite route is the main way low-budget players reach a large live Main Event. Our tournaments page offers a starting point for finding satellite-heavy poker rooms, and the broader comparison of online poker vs live poker is worth a read if you are weighing a trip.
Last Year's Champion
The tournament's most recent winner, David Nus, took the Grand Final after a marathon final day, per PokerNews. That final day concluded the 2025 edition, which drew the record 2,684 entries that this year's field hopes to surpass.
Practical Tips for Travelers
- Arrive early if you plan to play the opening events, and consider the late-night accumulator satellites for value.
- Plan your meals and breaks. Final days can run for many hours.
- Check structure sheets for starting stack, level length and re-entry policy before registering.
- Manage your energy. Multiple long days in a row demand physical stamina; a sensible approach to rest and nutrition is worth as much as study.
The Bottom Line
The CNP Winamax Grand Final is shaping up as one of the largest live poker gatherings in Europe this year. With a record in sight, six Day 1 flights, a €300 Low Cost option and a packed side-event schedule, it should offer something for every bankroll. For readers who want to build tournament skills at home before travelling, our guide to cash games vs tournaments explains the difference in strategy and variance.
Details are based on PokerNews reporting published in late October 2026. Schedules and buy-ins can change; confirm with the official CNP and Casino Gran Madrid channels.