Cards Go in the Air for €1 Million GTD Kings of Tallinn Main Event

The poker world has gathered at OlyBet’s Olympic Park Casino for a landmark celebration as the Kings of Tallinn marks its 10th anniversary with its biggest festival to date.

Now firmly established as Northern Europe’s premier poker series, Kings of Tallinn has become a must-play event, and this year’s edition—running until March 2—is already in full swing after kicking off on February 20.

With nearly €500,000 already awarded in prizes, the stakes are only getting higher as Tuesday saw the start of the festival’s marquee event—the €1 million guaranteed Kings of Tallinn Main Event.

The Kings of Tallinn Main Event, boasting a €1,100 buy-in, features five Day 1 flights, followed by Day 2 and Day 3, before crowning a champion on Sunday, March 2. Each entry begins with a 30,000-chip starting stack, and each Day 1 flight concludes after nine levels.

Players looking to skip the early hurdles can buy in directly on Day 2, with late registration open for the first four levels. With unlimited entries, there are plenty of chances to build a stack before registration closes on Friday, February 28.

What started in 2015 as a small but ambitious poker festival has grown into Northern Europe’s largest poker celebration. From just 140 players in the first Main Event to 914 entrants and a €859,160 prize pool in 2024, Kings of Tallinn has earned a reputation for incredible poker, a vibrant atmosphere, and world-class hospitality.

For its 10th anniversary, the festival is raising the bar even higher. This year marks the first-ever €1 million guarantee for the Main Event, making 2025 the largest edition in its history.

“Kings of Tallinn has grown into something truly special over the years, and we wanted to mark our 10th anniversary in a way that really reflects how far we’ve come,” said Christer Larsson, Group Poker Director for OlyBet.

“A €1 million guarantee felt like the perfect way to do it—bigger prizes, bigger fields, and an even better experience for everyone involved. And we’re proud to say that OlyBet has sent over 200 players into the Main Event this year—showcasing how much this festival means to the local and international poker communities. At its heart, this event has always been about bringing people together for amazing poker, and this year, we’re making it our best one yet.”

Previous Kings of Tallinn Main Event Champions

Kabrhel Bows Out on Kings of Tallinn Championship Final Day

As the Kings of Tallinn Main Event begins, the €555 Kings of Tallinn Championship event is wrapping up its finale. With 710 entries and a €330,150 prize pool, only 24 players made it to the final day, and now just 11 remain in the hunt for the €66,050 top prize.

Among those eliminated was three-time WSOP bracelet winner Martin Kabrhel, who made his Kings of Tallinn debut. Unfortunately for him, a massive loss to an opponent’s aces left him short, and he was soon finished off by Risto Parnat.

But the action is far from over. Notable players still in the running include the 2023 Kings of Tallinn Main Event champion Priit Parmasto. Also in the mix is this year’s €350 Kings of Tallinn Cup winner, Stanislav Smeljov, who recently crossed the €100,0000 milestone in live tournament earnings thanks to his €26,100 victory earlier in the festival.

Kings of Tallinn Championship Final Table Payouts

€555 Mystery Bounty Bubble Bursts

Tension was immediate as play resumed on the soft bubble in the €555 Mystery Bounty tournament. Starting with 29 players, the remaining field quickly shrank to 27 as those players reached the payout spots.

Dmitri Zatsik was the first to fall during the bubble phase, but the real drama unfolded when Vidar Assersen became the bubble boy. Assersen was eliminated by Sondre Stormyr, who flopped trips with his ace-deuce, leaving Assersen just shy of the money.

The tournament features a €49,250 mystery bounty prize pool, with two of the biggest bounties worth €5,000 each. On top of that, there’s a €42,355 regular prize pool. With 12 players still in the hunt, things are heating up as they get closer to the final table and those big prizes.

€555 Mystery Bounty Final Table Payouts

What Else is on the Cards?

There’s so much more happening at Kings of Tallinn besides the big main events. One cool thing to check out is the Royal Showdown (you can catch it in the video above). This one features some of the previous Kings and Queens of Tallinn champions, and Juha Helppi, who won the 2018 Kings of Tallinn Main Event for €62,000, is leading the charge. It’s a Sit-and-Go format, so it’s a fun and fast-paced way to see some top players in action.

If you’re up for something a little different, the €350 Open Face Chinese Deepstack might be right up your alley. There’s a plethora of unique poker games on the schedule, and we think the following are some tournaments worth your while.

• Wed, Feb 26, 8 p.m. – €200 Pot Limit 2-7 Triple Draw: A bit more of a niche game, but Pot Limit 2-7 Triple Draw is a fun and strategic variant. If you’re tired of the same old stuff and want to mix it up, this could be the perfect event.
• Sat, Mar 1, 5 p.m. – €200 5 Card Mix (Sviten/PLO5/5-card Triple Draw, Pot Limit, High Only, 6-handed): For anyone who likes variety, this mix game is a blast. It combines multiple poker formats into one event, keeping things fresh and fun for everyone.
• Sat, Mar 1, 7 p.m. – €750 Pot Limit Omaha 4/5 Card Mystery Bounty Day 1

Kings of Tallinn Remaining Schedule

2025 Kings of Tallinn Results

Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game.

Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).