In an Exclusive Interview WPT Global conducted and shared here on iGaming.org, Barbero Recounts His Epic Journey from Magic: The Gathering Prodigy to WPT Global Star

Nacho Joins Forces with WPT Global and conquers Triton Jeju

Fresh off being unveiled as a WPT Global Ambassador in July, Nacho Barbero has immediately validated his new role with a stunning victory. Competing at the WPT Global sponsored Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II, Barbero conquered a field of elite players, including the legendary Phil Ivey, to win Event #11: $30K PLO/NLH. His victory solidifies his position as a formidable player and ambassador for the WPT Global brand.

Following an intense three-week campaign in Jeju, we sat down with Barbero to delve into his journey through life & poker. This interview begins with his recent tournament success, offering insights into the career of Argentina’s #1 poker player.

A Champion’s Tribute: Nacho Barbero Defeats Phil Ivey to Win Triton Jeju Title

Nacho Barbero delivered a spectacular championship performance in Event #11 at the Triton SHRS Jeju II. The tournament brought together 81 of the world’s top players, and in the heads-up stage, Barbero faced poker legend Phil Ivey – a fellow WPT Global Ambassador. Confronting who is widely considered the G.O.A.T of poker across the table, Barbero sealed his victory, claiming the Triton trophy and the $646,000 grand prize.

Barbero says he’s no longer intimidated by Ivey, now that they play together regularly. He remembers feeling nervous facing Ivey during his early days, but his experience has quashed that at this stage of his poker career.

“I play with him every day now, so there’s no reason to be scared,” he said.

He also praised Ivey’s natural talent, noting that his skills come from instinct rather than GTO study and hand analysis.

Barbero has great respect for poker’s top players.

“Playing against Ivey is more fun because he’s unpredictable – he’s seen everything,” he said. “It’s an honor to compete with him and Daniel Negreanu. They are the best in the game.”

Now considered an elite player himself, Barbero has a straightforward approach to tournaments. Focusing on doing everything he can to take home the trophy, rather than the implications of ICM.

“I honestly don’t think about ICM. I just play to win,” he explained. “I think people are just playing, sometimes, kind of scared at the final table and they’re just trying to make what would be the right decision in the solver.”

Barbero has an impressive record at Triton events: four wins, six runner-up finishes, and 18 final table appearances. About half of his final table runs ended with a top-three finish.

“When you see an opportunity, you have to go all-in for the top prize – that’s the only way to make it worthwhile.”

With most of the prize money concentrated in the top three spots, his strategy is simple: “Whenever you strike, you have to strike big.”

Barbero was on fire – coming incredibly close to achieving back-to-back titles. Just one day after his first victory, he dominated the Pot-Limit Omaha Main Event (Event #12) at Triton Jeju. Out of 116 entrants, he fought his way to another final table, ultimately finishing as runner-up to Player of the Year contender Isaac Haxton, adding a massive $1,897,000 to his winnings.

Poker Roots: From Argentine Crisis to Parisian Card Tables

Barbero’s poker dream began in 2001, during a severe economic crisis in Argentina. With the country in turmoil, the 22-year-old law student struggled academically and became fascinated with the widely-popular TCG, Magic: The Gathering. When a friend invited him to move to Paris to play professionally, he didn’t hesitate.

He said, “‘Why don’t you come to Paris? ‘I looked around, Argentina was on fire, riots everywhere… I said, ‘Okay, bro, I’m going! Bye, Mom!’” Living in France pushed his skills to a new level.

“That’s where I really became good at Magic. We played every day at a cyber café in Paris—that’s where I met Elky.”

Though he was already strong in Argentina, he realized “European and American players were better.” Over three years in France, he traveled the world with friends and fully immersed himself in competitive gaming.

Life in Paris was far from easy

“I was sneaking into the metro. We were running away from the controllers, they were catching us, sometimes, without paying. We were eating the same food every day, like kebabs, for only $5. We had no money.“

He entered poker when a friend introduced him to NLH. Without understanding rules, he regularly misplayed weak hands as strong and lost his friend’s $850 bankroll – an expensive start to his career at the time. “I was such a fish,” he recalled. “When he woke up, I was crying.”

Reflecting on his journey, Barbero offers hard-won advice to aspiring players: prioritize health and smart money management.

“I’d tell them to be more careful and smart,” he says, emphasizing his shift toward conservative investing in real estate and companies. “Now when I have money, I take it out of poker and treat it as gone, I won’t touch it.”

He also stresses balance. “Play less and enjoy life more. By the end of a long series… I don’t even want to see a card.”

Now, he focuses on wellness: working out, maintaining a keto diet during Triton and avoids the grind of private cash games, stating “I think I’m a bit over that.”

The Double-Edged Sword of Professional Poker: Passion and Burnout

To maintain his top ranking on the GPI, Barbero once fell into the trap of relentlessly chasing points. He entered tournament after tournament, ultimately draining his passion for the game and causing his results and overall form to decline.

“About two years ago in 2023, I was first or second for the whole year, but I ended up falling short and finishing second,” he recalled with some disappointment. “I was going to every tour, really giving it my all. I had to play everything because the system counts your best 10 scores.”

He explained the grueling reality of the GPI race, where the percentage of the field you beat matters more than the prize money itself. This led him to play numerous smaller tournaments just for points.

“I was going to every stop for the last four months. Playing high stakes is already very draining,” he noted, contrasting his approach with top players like Jason Koon or Fedor Holz. “The guys who I think are doing it best, are the ones playing fewer stops, because it’s just too much.”

His conclusion marks a shift in philosophy: “I think it leads to better quality of play if you don’t go to every stop.”

For Nacho, the primary drive is no longer money, but the thrill of competing against top players, observing how they handle each hand and learning from in-game situations, an experience no theoretical study can replace.

“I still love the game more than anybody. When I’m not playing Triton, I’m playing mixed cash games or even on my phone—I just love the competition,” he says.

“Honestly, I love playing against the best. When I started playing high rollers, I faced the world’s top players and improved tremendously just by watching them—seeing how they approach every situation. You learn far more from being there with them all day than from any study away from the table.”

Unstoppable Run: Nacho Barbero’s Success Since Joining WPT Global

Since joining WPT Global on July 15, 2025, Nacho Barbero has been on an impressive heater, accumulating approximately $2,888,190 in winnings. His momentum continued into September, where he cashed in five tournaments, all at Triton series events. These results include the previously mentioned victory and runner-up finish, a 21st-place finish ($223,000) in a 228-entry Main Event, and a 26th-place finish ($53,500) in an 183-entry 8-Max event.

Barbero now boasts four Triton titles and has amassed a remarkable $14.1 million in total earnings from Triton tournaments alone.

Regarding the partnership between Triton and WPT Global, Barbero expressed strong support:

“I love that WPT Global is sponsoring Triton because that’s what we need. We need new players to come in. Even with smaller buy-ins, some will stay and eventually take shots at the bigger ones, that would be pretty cool. I think that’s the way to go. We want new faces, we want people depositing and wanting to play on camera. I want to play against the best, and I think this helps make that happen in a fair and positive way.”

Joining WPT Global: A New Beginning and New Challenges

In his role as a WPT Global Ambassador, Barbero has developed deeper insights into the poker industry. When discussing the strengths and weaknesses of online platforms, he emphasizes that security is the top priority.

“Right now, what everyone is really concerned about is the security of the sites. People worry about bots, and I believe the priority for all platforms should be security, keeping players safe and maintaining a fair environment so that recreational players can join without feeling overwhelmed. It’s very challenging because bots are constantly improving, becoming more sophisticated with AI and other technologies.”

He adds, “I love WPT Global, and not just because I represent them. I know they have the best security on the market, and that is extremely important.”

“I really like the new way they structure cash games. It’s very interesting, by adopting formats with super deep stacks, three blinds, and a big ante, they completely change the dynamic for players. Traditional two-blind structures on other sites are easier to solve, making gameplay more predictable. I think it’s a major improvement that WPT

Global is experimenting with new formats.” He also highlighted the flexibility in buyins:

“What stands out is the ability to buy in for up to 2,000 blinds, whereas other platforms often limit you to 100 blinds or so. It allows for deeper strategy and more creative play.”

WPT Global Ambassador Nacho Barbero Eyes WPT World Championship Title as December Approaches

With the WPT World Championship approaching this December at Wynn Las Vegas, Nacho Barbero has shared his expectations and compared poker environments between Europe and the U.S.

“I would definitely tell people to go—it’s such a soft field and an amazing $10K event.” Barbero remarked. “The U.S. fields are softer than Europe’s. In Europe, you face many tough online pros, making games noticeably tougher. But the WPT $10K event is very accessible, especially with the option to qualify online from home. It’s incredibly convenient, the structure is fantastic, and the competition level is very favorable.”

As December draws closer, Barbero’s sights are firmly set on making his mark at the WPT World Championship. With confidence in the structure, field, and opportunity ahead, he’s ready to chase the title and add another milestone to his decorated poker journey.

The post Exclusive interview with Nacho Barbero: from Magic: The Gathering Prodigy to WPT Global Star appeared first on iGaming.org.