The €1,100 Kings of Tallinn Primary Occasion is right down to the wire. After battling by way of a record-breaking area of 1,181 gamers, the ultimate 9 have returned to the Olympic Park On line casino, all with one purpose in thoughts—taking dwelling the title, €182,000 and the glory that comes with it.
Calling this remaining desk “stacked” would not fairly do it justice. Priit Parmasto, the 2023 champion, is again and proving his fast rise by way of the poker ranks is not any fluke. Only a few seats away, Anton “WhatIfGod” Bergström, one of many biggest on-line gamers to ever grace the digital felt, is on the hunt for his first reside triumph. Then there’s Chris Da Silva, a battle-tested match crusher with a fame for going deep when it issues most.
However they’re not alone—this desk is full of a few of Northern Europe’s sharpest poker minds, all hungry for the title. And one of the best half? You gained’t miss a second of the motion, due to the reside stream protection from OlyBet.
Meet the Ultimate 9
The Primary Occasion bubble burst late on Day 2 in uncommon trend, with three gamers eradicated in the identical hand. The trio break up the 151st €2,100 min-cash, incomes a small rebate on their buy-in earlier than heading to the rail. By the point play wrapped up, solely 113 gamers remained, all returning the following day with one purpose in thoughts—making the ultimate desk.
Finnish poker royalty, together with former Kings of Tallinn champion Juha Helppi (2018) and the legendary Ilari ‘Ziigmund’ Sahamies, have been amongst those that fought their method to the penultimate stage. However as the sector continued to shrink, their runs got here to an finish. The ultimate elimination of Day 3 got here by the hands of Mounir Tajiou, who gained a flip to ship Robertas Smolskis to the rail—securing the 9 gamers who would battle for the title.
Kaspars Butans, the participant who scooped up my chip stack simply earlier than the bubble burst, ended Day 3 because the chip chief with a commanding 6,435,000. This deep run has already secured him the most important match money of his profession.
Proper behind him is Benyamin Canatan, the €555 Kings of Tallinn Championship winner, who bagged 5,230,000. Canatan has been a dominant presence all week, and along with his robust efficiency, it looks like solely a matter of time earlier than he’s making waves on poker’s largest levels.
Mounir Tajiou sits third in chips with 4,330,000. His standout profession second up to now was a €100,400 payday for ending runner-up in a €10K on the 2023 EPT Prague, however he’s nonetheless chasing that elusive first reside win.
One of the feared gamers on the remaining desk is Anton “WhatIfGod” Bergström (4,330,000). The Swedish on-line phenom stored his actual id hidden for over a decade, remaining out of the limelight. The poker world was solely simply capable of put a face to the alias after he made the ultimate desk of the 2024 EPT Prague Primary Occasion, ending fifth for €300,000. Bergström has gained two on-line EPT Primary Occasions and has racked up quite a few WCOOP and SCOOP titles. Simply forward of the showdown, Bergström spoke to PokerNews, and a few stunning revelations have been made, so be careful for that interview.
In the meantime, Igor Pihela Jr (4,035,000) is carrying the hometown hopes, representing one half of Estonia’s father-son poker duo. His father, Pihela Sr, gained’t be on the rail—he’s nonetheless in rivalry for the €3,000 NLH occasion working alongside the Primary. Pihela Sr presently sits ninth on Estonia’s All-Time Cash Listing, whereas Pihela Jr holds the sixteenth spot. A win at the moment gained’t be sufficient to leapfrog his dad, however it will shut the hole—and provides him some severe bragging rights.
Eldars Sadih-Zade (3,410,000), an unknown amount, has simply €7,000 in cashes however might be the shock choose for the win with the opposite finalists unfamiliar along with his sport.
Pritt Parmasto (2,840,000) could make historical past by changing into the first-ever two-time winner of the Kings of Tallinn Primary Occasion. The second Estonian on the remaining desk took down the title in 2023. He adopted that up with a ninth-place end on the inaugural EPT Cyprus Primary Occasion, although he was eradicated on the very first hand of that remaining desk. Parmasto advised PokerNews that second nonetheless haunts him, calling it the most important mistake of his poker profession. He jammed 19 large blinds over an open with ace-jack, solely to run into queens, and the deck failed to save lots of him.
One large blind behind is Pasi Laihinen (2,735,000), a Finnish up-and-comer with lower than €100,000 in reside earnings.
Chris Da Silva (1,525,000) is propping up the pack and has probably the most work forward of him. With years of match expertise worldwide, Da Silva is a grasp at navigating large-field occasions. He’s earned two top-100 finishes within the WSOP Primary Occasion and lately claimed victory within the 888LIVE Coventry Primary Occasion, strolling away with €160,000. The religious Christian has amassed $1.2 million in reside earnings and boasts probably the most spectacular reside poker resume of the ultimate 9.
Every finalist has locked up €16,800, however in fact, all eyes are on the €182,000 winner’s prize. You’ll want to tune in for this one, as this has the potential to be among the best remaining tables of the 12 months.
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Pictures courtesy of Elena Kask
Calum Grant
Senior Editor & Reside Occasions Govt
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