PS Live League: César García is at the top of his game
This interview and accompanying article were prepared by Guille San Martin for the Spanish PokerStars Blog and subsequently translated into English and edited for publication.
César García has had one of the most quietly brilliant and consistently strong careers in Spanish poker.
With more than $2.2M in live earnings, a WSOP bracelet (2016), a final table at EPT Berlin 2012, and deep runs across almost every major stop on the circuit, César has spent more than a decade competing at the highest level. He possesses a rare blend of consistency, sharp hand-reading, and discipline both on and off the felt.
In 2025, he’s put together one of the most complete seasons of his career. Few players balance their two natural habitats as seamlessly as he does: the European Poker Tour Main Events, where he’s remarkably consistent, and pot-limit omaha cash games, his bread and butter.
Monte Carlo was the turning point. A podium finish in the €5,200 PLO was followed by a victory in the €10,200 PLO, where he outlasted a final table packed with international names.
Over the last two years, he has put together deep runs and cashes in the EPT Main Events of Paris, Prague, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Malta, finally reaching the EPT Barcelona final table this summer, finishing 8th after coming close several times before.
Anton Suarez — friend, rival, and the man who knocked César out at the EPT Barcelona final table
Long before the trophies and the spotlight, “CesarSPA” was already a respected name online with runner-up finishes in the Sunday Million, SCOOP and WCOOP titles, and big results in some of the toughest tournaments on the schedule. For years, he was one of the most feared Spanish grinders on PokerStars’ Sunday majors.
It’s no surprise, then, that his 2025 season has pushed him back to the front lines of the circuit. César is currently 11th in the PokerStars Live League High. If he can make it into the top 10, he’s in with a shot of becoming the newest PokerStars Ambassador.
It’s not a hot streak, more the natural result of competing, year after year, at the pace of the elite.
With the decisive stretch of the High League coming up across EPT Prague and PokerStars Open Cannes, we sat down with García to get his thoughts on a great year.
Garcia in action
INTERVIEW WITH CESAR GARCIA
PokerStars Blog: Your 2025 has been huge: titles in PLO, deep runs in almost every EPT Main Event and a level of consistency that’s hard to find. What do you feel has clicked for everything to come together this way?
César García: It’s been a combination of many things. Over the last few years, I’ve worked a lot on my pot limit omaha cash game and, almost without realising it, I had put tournaments and live poker slightly on the back burner. But around three years ago, I started competing more in live events again, especially at European Poker Tour festivals, and I’ve always felt that live poker is one of my strongest areas.
The technical development I gained from studying and playing PLO, together with much more discipline both on and off the felt, brought me to a level of consistency I probably didn’t have before. It’s been a natural process, but one I’ve worked very hard on.
You’re considered one of the top PLO specialists on the circuit. What does this format give you that no other variant does?
From the moment I started playing PLO, it was like love at first sight. I enjoyed it even when my understanding of the game was still pretty limited. Starting early and being self-taught allowed me to internalise the game in a very deep way.
Nowadays, there’s so much more study material–solvers, advanced theory, frequency analysis–and all of that, combined with the base I already had and everything I’ve learned along the way, has helped me grow a lot as a player.
And sharing hands and ideas with friends who are world-class players like Kaju, Lautaro or Sergio has been huge. They show you lines and thought processes that would probably take you years to discover on your own.
César García with his trophy in Monte Carlo
In parallel, you’ve had two incredible years in EPT Main Events. What would you say has allowed you to maintain that level in such tough and technical fields?
As I mentioned, live poker has always been one of my strong points. I feel like I adapt well to my opponents and usually make the most correct decision in each spot. That said, I’m very aware that I’ve also run quite well to put together so many deep runs in EPT Main Events over the last two years. It’s not the norm, and variance plays its part.
That being said, EPT Main Events are my favourite tournaments in the world. Every time I sit down in one, I go in with the mentality of playing my A-game and making as few mistakes as possible. Being able to maintain that level of focus for so many days has probably been the key.
You’ve played a huge amount this year. What has been your favourite live moment of 2025?
Without a doubt, the final table of the EPT Barcelona Main Event. Even though I ended up finishing eighth, I’d been getting close for several stops and always walking away with that bittersweet feeling. Finally making the final table was a huge relief. And once I was there, of course I wanted more, but the satisfaction of achieving something so important was massive.
It was also really special to win the 10K PLO trophy in Monte Carlo. That event had a lot of personal meaning for me, and winning it was one of the key moments of my entire year.
If you had to pick one hand that really taught you something–not because of the size of the pot, but because of what it revealed about your own game–which one would it be?
It’s hard to pick just one. Whenever you pull off a big bluff deep in an event and your opponent folds, that feeling is incredible. But I think the biggest lessons come from staying composed when things don’t go your way.
Not letting your emotions take over is fundamental. And often, making a disciplined fold in a tough spot is far more important than some hero call that everyone will talk about. Those silent decisions–the ones nobody sees–are what really build a solid player.
In a long year, there are always opponents who push you the most. Which players have really tested you in 2025, and what did you take away from them?
I’ve played with a lot of very strong players this year, players I respect and from whom I’ve learned a lot. But the ones who stand out for me are the Spanish players, both in PLO and Hold’em. A few weeks ago, I spent many hours at the EPT Malta with Juan “Malaka$yle” Pardo. He was on my left, and we talked through a lot of hands.
It’s incredible how much you can improve in such a short time when you’re speaking with someone of his level, seeing his thought process and the way he breaks down every detail of a hand.
César García sitting next to Juan Pardo
Mentally, you’ve looked incredibly solid all season. What are you doing differently now to stay stable during deep runs, tough days, or high-pressure moments?
From my point of view, physical preparation is almost as important as mental preparation in these tournaments. When I was younger, I would spend endless sessions in front of the computer, and mental exhaustion was unavoidable. Now I try to keep a balanced diet, work out four or five times a week, and avoid overly long online sessions.
All of this helps me arrive much better prepared for live tournaments, which can sometimes turn into real marathons.
You’re fighting for a Top-10 spot in the High. Does the leaderboard influence how you plan this final stretch of the year?
This year, I was already set on making five or six trips to EPT stops and one longer one to the WSOP, regardless of my position in the leaderboard. That said, being in the Top 10 is obviously an extra motivation, but it hasn’t changed my schedule. It just pushes me to give my best at every stop.
If you had to define your biggest strength in live poker right now, what would it be? And what would you still like to improve?
I’d say my biggest strength is my ability to adapt. I’m comfortable adjusting to every opponent, playing more exploitatively, and making the decision I believe is optimal in each moment.
What I most want to keep improving is maintaining that same level of focus throughout an entire tournament, even in moments of fatigue or pressure. Mental consistency is an area where you can always get better.
If tomorrow they told you that you were becoming a PokerStars Ambassador, what would it mean to you? And what would you like to bring to the role?
I’ve been playing PokerStars events for more than 15 years. I love the way they work and how much care they put into every detail. Their tournaments are as close to perfect as it gets.
Becoming an ambassador would honestly be a dream come true. I’d love to represent the brand and contribute on two fronts: helping new players discover the game in an accessible and responsible way, and sharing my experience and passion with the more technical players.
What do you think of the PS Live League promotion?
I think it’s a brilliant idea. It gives you an extra motivation boost to compete with players from all over the world, and it’s been a key driver for my season. It forces you to stay active, plan better, and bring your best version to every single stop.
HIGH LEAGUE LEADER BOARD
Last updated: Friday, November 28
1. Klemens Roiter (Austria) 3,496 pts
2. Enrico Camosci (Italy) 3,039
3. Aleks Ponakovs (Latvia) 2,040
4. Jesse Lonis (USA) 1,755
5. Christopher Nguyen (Austria) 1,628
6. David Coleman (USA) 1,572
7. Alisson Piekazewicz (Brazil) 1,525
8. Masato Yokosawa (Japan) 1,493
9. Leon Sturm (Germany) 1,439
10. Juan Pardo (Spain) 1,419
11. César García (Spain) 1,391
12. Adrián Mateos (Spain) 1,359
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