The 2025 Advantage Poker Carmen Sequence $2,200 Heat Up has its champion, as Dmitrii Kopyl staged a shocking late-game comeback to assert the $210,000 high prize. Getting into the ultimate desk sixth in chips, the Russian participant remained affected person whereas greater stacks battled for management.
However as the sphere thinned and the stakes soared, he got here alive at precisely the proper time. With fearless aggression, well-timed strikes, and a little bit of luck when he wanted it, Kopyl remodeled from an afterthought to the one lifting the trophy contained in the Crystal Cove Resort and On line casino.
With momentum on his facet, he dismantled the competitors one pot at a time earlier than delivering a fast and environment friendly heads-up efficiency towards Atanas Malinov to safe the most important win of his profession. Whereas the prize cash was life-changing, the trophy itself held a fair higher significance—a logo of his resilience and skill to thrive beneath stress. Along with his spouse cheering from the rail and the highlight shining vivid, Kopyl etched his title into Carmen Sequence historical past in an unforgettable vogue.
Last Desk Outcomes
Winner’s Response
After lifting the trophy and celebrating with buddies, Kopyl mirrored on his journey by means of this match and his rising connection to Advantage Poker.
“The primary time I got here to Advantage was in August 2022… or possibly 2021?” he stated with a smile. “It was an enormous sequence; I performed the $5,300 Essential Occasion. Then, I used to be on the EPT in October. My first Advantage Poker Traditional was in November 2023, and now I come right here often. Why? As a result of every part right here is top-notch—nice service, nice group.”
Kopyl wasn’t alone in his victory run. His spouse, who usually travels with him to tournaments, loved the expertise in her personal manner. “Whereas my husband grinds, I calm down on the spa and benefit from the recent air, the ocean, and the seashores. I even took half in a ladies’s coaching session right here.”

On his path to the trophy, Kopyl confronted loads of adversity, together with a tough begin within the occasion, the place he fired a few bullets earlier than bowing out. However on bullet quantity three, every part got here collectively. “I bagged simply 200,000 into Day 3, coming in with 15 gamers left earlier than the cash, sitting ninety fifth out of 105. However I spun it up, and from there, issues ran rather more easily.”
The ultimate desk was a rollercoaster, with Kopyl short-stacked at instances however by no means rattled. “I used to be right down to 10-12 large blinds at one level, however I used to be affected person. Both whole rubbish or premium fingers. Ten fingers in a row of seven-deuce, then all of the sudden I get up with ace-king.”
Then got here the important thing moments. “4-handed, stacks have been even; I picked up aces—they obtained paid off. Then I obtained it in with king-six suited on the flip with a flush draw and binked it on the river. Heads-up, I had a stable lead, chipped up with small pots, after which the ultimate hand—sevens full.”
The $210,000 payday made this Kopyl’s largest profession money, however the victory was about extra than simply the cash. “The trophy means lots too. Large discipline, nice buy-in, large cash. This win is de facto particular for me.”
Last Desk Motion
With Malinov, Alessio Isaia, Daniel Abrahamsson, and Humberto Lopes Galindo all beginning the day with large stacks, many anticipated the battle for the title to return right down to that quartet, whereas the shorter stacks fought for ladder spots. Early on, that script appeared to be taking part in out as deliberate, with Malinov rapidly dispatching Rui Querido Martins after the Portuguese participant made an enormous mistake to change into the primary casualty of the ultimate desk.
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya, Galindo, and Atanas Pavlov all hit the rail in fast succession, with Pavlov’s elimination leaving Malinov holding practically half of the chips in play. At that stage, it appeared just like the Bulgarian was in full management, however the momentum began to shift when Kopyl discovered an important stroke of luck to remain in competition.
Brief-stacked and needing a double, Kopyl ran jack-ten into Abrahamsson’s superior ace-jack, solely to spike a ten on the flop to drag forward. Abrahamsson had outs to regain the lead, however the board ran dry, holding Kopyl alive and giving him the enhance he wanted to mount his late-game surge.

Erdal Gulseven bowed out in fifth place earlier than Isaia, who had led the ultimate desk for stretches and sits eighth on Italy’s all-time cash record, adopted in fourth. Isaia’s run ended when ace-eight couldn’t outrun Malinov’s pocket nines, leaving simply three gamers in competition for the title.
It was at this level that Kopyl took management, shifting gears and asserting dominance in back-to-back fingers towards Abrahamsson. The largest of them noticed Kopyl get up with pocket aces and receives a commission off with an all-in shove on the river, vaulting into the lead. With momentum absolutely on his facet, he by no means appeared again, using the wave to victory.

With Abrahamsson already on the ropes after shedding an enormous pot to Kopyl’s pocket aces, his match ended simply moments later. A typical open from Kopyl noticed Abrahamsson defend from the massive blind, and after calling a continuation wager on the flop, he dedicated the remainder of his chips on the flip with a pair and an open-ended straight draw. This time, Kopyl was the one drawing, holding a flush draw and an overcard, however the deck was on his facet as soon as once more as a membership on the river sealed the deal.
With that, Abrahamsson fell in third, and Kopyl entered heads-up play with a dominant stack, holding practically a three-to-one benefit over Malinov. It didn’t take lengthy for him to complete the job, as Malinov shoved preflop with ace-five suited, solely to run into Kopyl’s pocket sevens, organising the ultimate showdown for the title.

A secure flop saved Kopyl forward, although the flip gave Malinov a number of further outs to remain alive. However there was no miracle river, because the board paired as soon as extra to provide Kopyl a full home and formally crown him the 2025 Advantage Poker Carmen Sequence Heat-Up champion.
Keep tuned as PokerNews brings you full protection from the continued $5,300 Excessive Curler and the extremely anticipated $3,300 Essential Occasion on the 2025 Advantage Poker Carmen Sequence!