Lithuania's Aurimas Stanevicius will go down in history as the winner of the largest event ever held, Olympic Park Casino and the Hilton Tallinn Park, the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Tallinn €1,500 Main Event for €167,900. Stanevicius was an underdog to start heads-up play before agreeing to a deal with Norwegian WSOP bracelet winner Espen Sandvik, which left €32,000, the coveted gold ring, and the invite to the 2025 WSOP Tournament of Champions, where players will compete for a share of $1 million and a gold bracelet. Stanevicius came roaring from behind en route to victory.
Stanevicius nearly didn't come to the WSOP Circuit Tallinn. His friends on the rail, including 2024 Kings of Tallinn Queens Mystery Bounty champion Indre Martoviciute, convinced him to come to Tallinn at the last second, a decision that Stanevicius obviously doesn't regret.
"I am glad I came to Tallinn," shared Stanevicius. I couldn't be happier about winning the Main Event. It is the highlight of my poker career."
It was a story for the ages. Stanevicius entered the final table as a short stack before chipping up and witnessing other players hit the rail. He noted that a little luck helped him along the way.
"I should have busted twice at the final table," shared Stanevicius. "I feel fortunate to go on to win. The feeling is still sinking in after a long battle of four days."
The Main Event set a new gold standard in Tallinn with 812 entries smashing the €1 million guarantee to create a record-breaking €1,052,352 prize pool with the top 103 players guaranteed at least a min-cash of €3,000.
Place | Player | Country | Prize |
1 | Aurimas Stanevicius | Lithuania | €167,900 |
2 | Espen Sandvik | Norway | €152,900 |
3 | Jeffrey Cormier | Canada | €88,750 |
4 | Sergei Aleksejev | Estonia | €66,950 |
5 | Yurii Zabrodotskyi | Ukraine | €50,700 |
6 | Kriss Riekstins | Latvia | €38,000 |
7 | Evgeny Vyal | Estonia | €28,650 |
8 | Roberto Olsen | Sweden | €22,250 |
9 | Mindaugas Kriauciunas | Lithuania | €17,350 |
Stanevicius began the final table as the short stack with under ten big blinds, with Canada's Jeffrey Cormier kicking off the action as the clear chip leader. Cormier nearly didn't make the final table himself, but his tens got there against kings on the final hand of Day 3 to provide him the chip lead instead of a payout slip in ninth place with Greece's Enea Subashi bubbling the final table in the same hand with king-queen.
Lithuania's Mindaugas Kriauciunas was the first to hit the rail in ninth place for €17,350 after his big slick didn't win a flip against Estonia's Sergei Aleksejev.
Stanevicius then earned some breathing room after doubling through eventual runner-up Sandvik when his tens held strong against nines.
Sweden's Roberto Olsen, in theory, could have been the chip leader to start the final table if his kings held against tens during the final hand of Day 3. Instead, he was in the middle of the pack and couldn't get much going. To make matters worse, he hit the rail in eighth place for €22,250 on a bad beat, which could have resulted in Stanevicius exiting eighth place after his ace-king hadn't held against the ace-queen.
Latvia's Kriss Riekstins then doubled through Evgeny Vyal, leaving his opponent with just one chip. There was no Cinderella story for Vyal as he lost that chip the following hand to exit in seventh place for €28,650.
Stanevicius could have been out next as for the second time at the final table Lady Luck was on his side. His nines got there against Aleksejev's aces for his first taste at the chip lead.
It wasn't all smooth sailing from there as Cormier managed to snag the chip lead back before Aleksejev mounted a run to take the lead. The lead then was passed to Sandvik before winding back with Cormier once again.
Cormier padded his chip lead by ousting the short-stacked Riekstins in sixth place for €38,000 when his ace-jack held against king-jack.
Sandvik then won a big hand against Cormier to take the chip lead, which he held onto until the heads-up action began. Sandvik padded his lead after eliminating the formidable Ukrainian Yurii Zabrodotskyi in fifth place for €50,700 when his ace-jack held against king-seven suited.
The next two players also fell victim to Sandvik. Aleksejev headed to the cashier in fourth place for €66,950 after his king-trey didn't get ahead of ace-trey. Cormier then made a move with middle pair with eight-six in a limped blind vs. blind pot and was picked off by Sandvik with the top pair to exit on the podium in third place for €88,750.
Sandvik held a 3:1 chip advantage against Stanevicius to start the heads-up action. The duo agreed to take a break to discuss a deal to even out the payouts. Sandvik locked up €152,900, while Stanevicius was guaranteed at least €135,600 with the duo playing for the coveted ring, the invite to the $1 million WSOP Tournament of Champions bracelet-event freeroll, and an extra €32,000.
Stanevicius quickly turned the tables and had a significant chip lead himself before picking off Sandvik's bluff with two pair to win the ring and a massive payout of €167,900.
Congrats to Stanevicius for his epic victory! We will be seeing more of Stanevicius in Tallinn as he already shared he plans to attend the 2024 Kings of Tallinn Autumn Edition on Oct 18-27 at Olympic Park Casino and the Hilton Tallinn Park.
Level 37: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 2/812
Espen Sandvik nearly evened up the stacks before Aurimas Stanevicius won back some chips. Unfortunately for 2019 WSOP Europe 8-Game bracelet winner Sandvik, he won't earn a coveted WSOP Circuit gold ring to add to his collection.
Stanevicius limped from the button before Sandvik checked back his option from the big blind. Sandvik check-raised the flop from 600,000 to 1,500,000, and Stanevicius called.
Sandvik led out for 1,600,000 on the turn. Stanevicius called and the blank river completed the board.
Sandvik overjammed the river for 13,000,000 into a pot of 8,000,000. Stanevicius found a call and was crowned the 2024 WSOP Circuit Tallinn Main Event champion after his two pair with was more than enough to defeat the held by Sandvik.
Sandvik made out better thanks to the deal and will go home with the €152,900 instead of the slated runner-up prize of €126,750.
Meanwhile, a massive congrats to Lithuania's Aurimas Stanevicius, who began the final day with less than 10 big blinds, on winning the 2024 World Series of Poker Circuit Tallinn Main Event for €167,900.
Level 37: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 2/812
Aurimas Stanevicius piled up a massive lead with nearly 35 million in chips. Sandvik was down but not out, as he just doubled as follows:
Sandvik min-raised the button with and was called by Stanevicius with from the big blind. Stanevicius check-called a bet of 800,000 on the flop before the paired the board on the turn.
Stanevicius led out for 2,300,000. Sandvik called, and the river completed the board. Stanevicius jammed his ten-high and doubled up Sandvik after he called.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Aurimas Stanevicius | 28,000,000 | 2,000,000 | |
Espen Sandvik | 12,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
Level 37: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 2/812
Aurimas Stanevicius won a handful of small pots since the break to extend his chip lead to the same 3:1 chip advantage that Espen Sandvik had to start the heads-up battle.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Aurimas Stanevicius | 30,000,000 | 7,600,000 | |
Espen Sandvik | 11,000,000 | 7,200,000 |
Aurimas Stanevicius will head to break with a short lead over Espen Sandvik. The blinds will increase to 300,000/600,000 with a 600,000 big blind ante when the action resumes.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Aurimas Stanevicius | 22,400,000 | 400,000 | |
Espen Sandvik | 18,200,000 | 800,000 |
Level 37: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 2/812
Espen Sandvik opened the button for 1 million from the button with and was called by Aurimas Stanevicius called with from the button.
Both players checked the flop with Sandvik ahead after pairing his six. Stanevicius fired out a pot-sized bet of 2.5 million and Sandvik called.
Stanevicius pulled ahead on the river and jammed a little bit less than the pot for 7 million. Sandvik called only to get the bad news that he was rivered. Meanwhile, Stanevicius doubled through Sandvik to snag the chip lead.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Aurimas Stanevicius | 22,000,000 | 8,000,000 | |
Espen Sandvik | 19,000,000 | 8,000,000 |
Level 37: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 2/812
Espen Sandvik opened the button for a min-raise with and was called by Aurimas Stanevicius with from the big blind.
Stanevicius checked his flush draw after the landed on the flop. Sandvik bet 1.3 million, and Stanevicius went into the tank before he called.
The turn completed a flush for Stanevicius. Sandvik bet 2 million after Stanevicius checked. Stanevicius went into the tank before he jammed for 6.5 million. Sandvik quickly folded for Stanevicius to win the hand.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Espen Sandvik | 27,000,000 | 4,000,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 14,000,000 | 5,000,000 |
Level 37: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 2/812
It was a limped pot when both players checked the flop. Espen Sandvik with bet 500,000 after the paired the board on the turn and Aurimas Stanevicius with middle pair holding called.
Sandvik overbet the pot for 3,700,000 on the river and Stanevicius went into the tank before he folded.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Espen Sandvik | 31,000,000 | 1,000,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 9,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
Espen Sandvik and Aurimas Stanevicius agreed to a heads-up guaranteeing Sandvik €152,900 and Stanevicius €135,600 while they are still playing for another €32,000.
In addition, the winner will earn a WSOP Circuit gold ring and an invite into the 2025 WSOP Tournament of Champions freeroll where $1 million in prizes and a WSOP gold bracelet are on the line.
Level 37: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 2/812
Espen Sandvik completed from the small blind before Jeffrey Cormier checked back his option from the big blind to see the flop.
Sandvik bet 500,000. Cormier raised to 6,500,000, and Sandvik quickly called.
Jeffrey Cormier:
Espen Sandvik:
Cormier's pair wasn't good enough, and the man who fired six bullets into the Main Event got a nice return on the final bullet, winning a third-place prize of €88,750 after neither the turn nor the river completed the board.
Sandvik and Aurimas Stanevicius agreed to take a 30-minute break to get up and stretch and potentially discuss a deal. Sandvik will begin the heads-up action with a 3:1 chip advantage.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Espen Sandvik | 30,000,000 | 5,000,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 10,000,000 | 1,100,000 | |
Jeffrey Cormier | 0 | 0 |
Level 37: 250,000/500,000 (500,000)
Entries: 3/812
Sergei Aleksejev was blinding off and was down to just 650,000 after posting the big blind ante. Espen Sandvik opened from under the gun for 2,500,000, and Aleksejev called off his short stack.
Sergei Aleksejev:
Espen Sandvik:
Sandvik's ace-trey was good on the runout to eliminate Aleksejev in fourth place for €66,950.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Espen Sandvik | 25,000,000 | 6,000,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 8,900,000 | 400,000 | |
Jeffrey Cormier | 7,500,000 | 2,500,000 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 0 | 0 |
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Espen Sandvik | 19,000,000 | 1,000,000 | |
Jeffrey Cormier | 10,000,000 | 0 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 9,300,000 | 1,400,000 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 1,700,000 | 1,000,000 |
Level 36: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 4/812
Ukraine's Yurii Zabrodotskyi just ended his impressive run in the Main Event in fifth place for €50,700. Zabrodotskyi three-bet jammed from the big blind to 4,500,000. Espen Sandvik, who is strongly in the hunt to add a WSOP Circuit ring to his WSOP Europe bracelet he earned in 8-Game in 2019, called after originally opening for a min-raise from the button.
Yurii Zabrodotskyi:
Espen Sandvik:
Sandvik held almost half the chips in play after Zabrodotskyi ran his two pair into a flush on the runout.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Espen Sandvik | 18,000,000 | 6,000,000 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 0 | 0 |
Level 36: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 5/812
Espen Sandvik limped with from the small blind before Jeffrey Cormier with checked back his option from the big blind.
Sandvik led out for 400,000 on the flop and Cormier called. Cormier bet 1,000,000 on the turn, and Sandvik checked-called to see the river. Sandvik checked again. Cormier fired out for 2,700,000, leaving Sandvik to make a decision off his 5,800,000 stack.
Sandvik eventually called and took the chip lead from Cormier as a result of taking down the pot.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Espen Sandvik | 12,000,000 | 2,100,000 | |
Jeffrey Cormier | 10,000,000 | 4,000,000 |
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Jeffrey Cormier | 14,000,000 | 2,000,000 | |
Espen Sandvik | 9,900,000 | 1,900,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 7,900,000 | 100,000 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 6,100,000 | 2,600,000 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 2,700,000 | 1,300,000 |
Level 36: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 5/812
Kriss Riekstins jammed his short stack of 2.5 million and was called by chip leader Jeffrey Cormier from the cutoff.
Kriss Riekstins:
Jeffrey Cormier:
Cormier shook Riekstins's hand after his ace-jack was good enough on the runout. Riekstins, meanwhile, collected his largest-ever live poker cash of €38,000 for his sixth-place performance.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Jeffrey Cormier | 16,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
Players are on their second break of the final table. Jeffrey Cormier remains on top with plenty of more action to come.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Jeffrey Cormier | 13,000,000 | 3,000,000 | |
Espen Sandvik | 8,000,000 | 600,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 7,800,000 | 700,000 | |
Kriss Riekstins | 4,400,000 | 100,000 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 4,000,000 | 100,000 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 3,500,000 | 1,500,000 |
Level 35: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 6/812
Jeffrey Cormier is back in a familiar spot with the chip lead after folding preflop in the following hand.
Kriss Riekstins jammed for his short stack of 1,900,000 and was called by Espen Sandvik from the hijack.
Kriss Riekstins:
Espen Sandvik:
Riekstins was behind when the chips went in and it was looking grim for the Latvian after Sandvik connected with his ace on the flop.
Miracles do happen, and Riekstins somehow survived after getting a pair of runners for two pair with the turn and river completing the board.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Jeffrey Cormier | 10,000,000 | 0 | |
Espen Sandvik | 8,600,000 | 1,900,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 8,500,000 | 200,000 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 5,000,000 | 200,000 | |
Kriss Riekstins | 4,500,000 | 2,600,000 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 3,900,000 | 600,000 |
Level 35: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 6/812
Espen Sandvik min-raised the cutoff with and was called by Aurimas Stanevicius with defended his big blind only to improve to a straight on the flop.
Stanevicius checked before Sandvik bet 400,000 with his top pair. Stanevicius called before and the blank turn followed. Both players checked and the river completed the board.
Stanevicius went into the tank and bet 1,800,000. Sandvik then went into the tank for several minutes before making a great laydown.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Espen Sandvik | 10,500,000 | 500,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 8,700,000 | 1,200,000 |
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Espen Sandvik | 11,000,000 | 2,000,000 | |
Jeffrey Cormier | 10,000,000 | 4,000,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 7,500,000 | 100,000 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 5,200,000 | 200,000 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 4,500,000 | 4,125,000 | |
Kriss Riekstins | 1,900,000 | 700,000 |
Level 35: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 6/812
Espen Sandvik opened for 650,000 with from the hijack. Yurii Zabrodotskyi three-bet to 1,600,000 from the button, and Sandvik called.
Zabrodotskyi bet 2,000,000 on the flop after Sandvik checked. Sandvik was ahead despite not connecting and found a call from out of position.
Sandvik still didn't connect on the turn, but was ahead when he bravely fired out for 1,300,000 off a stack of 3,800,000. The leveling war continued after Zabrodotskyi called, also with ace-high, albeit with kicker issues.
The river completed the board. Sandvik jammed for 2,500,000 and took the chip lead for the first time today after Zabrodotskyi folded.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Espen Sandvik | 13,000,000 | 5,600,000 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 5,000,000 | 3,600,000 |
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Sergei Aleksejev | 8,625,000 | 1,375,000 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 8,600,000 | 0 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 7,400,000 | 0 | |
Espen Sandvik | 7,400,000 | 100,000 | |
Jeffrey Cormier | 6,000,000 | 0 | |
Kriss Riekstins | 2,600,000 | 800,000 |
Level 35: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 6/812
Jeffrey Cormier limped from the small blind with before Yurii Zabrodotskyi with checked back his option.
Cormier bet 300,000 on the flop with two pair. Zabrodotskyi temporarily had the better kicker and raised to 600,000 and Cormier called before checking the turn.
It would have been a chopped pot of a blank came on the river but it didn't get that far. Zabrodotskyi bet 1,000,000, and Cormier folded his hand face-up. Zabrodotskyi didn't return the favor as he collected his newly found chips previously belonging to Cormier.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 8,600,000 | 300,000 | |
Jeffrey Cormier | 6,000,000 | 1,600,000 |
Level 34: 125,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 6/812
Aurimas Stanevicius min-raised from the cutoff with and was called by Espen Sandvik with from the big blind.
Sandvik check-called a bet of 300,000 by Stanevicius on the flop before both players checked the turn.
The blank completed the board on the river. Sandvik bet 700,000 and Stanevicius tanked for about a minute before he folded.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Espen Sandvik | 7,500,000 | 1,500,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 7,400,000 | 1,600,000 |
Level 34: 125,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 6/812
Sergei Aleksejev min-raised from the hijack with before Yurii Zabrodotskyi with defended his big blind.
Zabrodotskyi checked the flop. Aleksejev bet 400,000 with his top pair, and Zabrodotskyi called.
Both players checked the turn before the river completed the board. Both players checked again, and Aleksejev had the chip lead for the first time at the final table after winning the hand.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Sergei Aleksejev | 10,000,000 | 900,000 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 8,300,000 | 1,100,000 |
Level 34: 125,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 6/812
Sergei Aleksejev min-raised the cutoff with and was called by Jeffrey Cormier with from the big blind.
Aleksejev improved to the top pair on the flop, while Cormier held an open-ended straight draw. Both players checked before the paired the board on the turn.
Cormier led out for 650,000. Aleksejev quickly came in for a min-click to 1,300,000. Cormier called, and Aleksejev improved to a full house on the river. Cormier didn't slow down and bet 1,400,000. Aleksejev instantly jammed for 3,700,000. Cormier tanked for a few minutes and was unusually quiet. Cormier eventually believed the story and saved himself more chips by folding.
Meanwhile, for the first time, Yurii Zabrodotskyi was with the chip lead after this hand with Aleksejev about a big blind away.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 9,400,000 | 0 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 9,100,000 | 3,600,000 | |
Jeffrey Cormier | 7,600,000 | 2,400,000 |
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Jeffrey Cormier | 10,000,000 | 200,000 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 9,400,000 | 800,000 | |
Espen Sandvik | 6,000,000 | 200,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 5,800,000 | 0 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 5,500,000 | 600,000 | |
Kriss Riekstins | 3,400,000 | 0 |
Level 34: 125,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 6/812
Aurimas Stanevicius min-raised the button. Kriss Riekstins jammed for 1,300,000 and Stanevicius was ahead when he made the call.
Kriss Riekstins:
Aurimas Stanevicius:
A deuce on the turn saved Riekstins after the came out on the board as he doubled his stack instead of heading to the cashier.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Aurimas Stanevicius | 5,800,000 | 2,300,000 | |
Kriss Riekstins | 3,400,000 | 400,000 |
Level 34: 125,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 6/812
Jeffrey Cormier opened for 500,000 with from under the gun and was called by Sergei Aleksejev with from the button and Espen Sandvik with from the big blind.
All three players checked the flop before the improved Sandvik to a flush leaving both of his opponents drawing dead. Sandvik and Cormier both checked before Aleksejev bet 500,000 with his top pair.
Sandvik raised to 1,200,000. Cormier quickly folded before Aleksejev went into the tank. Eventually, Aleksejev saved himself chips with a fold.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Jeffrey Cormier | 9,800,000 | 100,000 | |
Espen Sandvik | 6,200,000 | 2,175,000 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 6,100,000 | 1,500,000 |
Level 34: 125,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 6/812
Jeff Cormier min-raised the button with and was called by Yurii Zabrodotskyi from the small blind with and by Aurimas Stanevicius with from the big blind.
The players in the blinds checked the flop before Cormier put his head down on his hands resting on the table. A few moments later, Cormier bet 625,000 with his air. Zabrodotskyi raised his two-pair to 2,200,000.
Both Stanevicius and Cormier folded for Zabrodotskyi to win the pot and chip back into second place.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Jeffrey Cormier | 9,700,000 | 300,000 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 8,600,000 | 1,175,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 8,100,000 | 1,200,000 |
Level 34: 125,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 6/812
There haven't been many hands since the break, but two of them resulted in Sergei Aleksejev doubling his short stack.
Aurimas Stanevicius jammed his chip-leading stack of 13 million from the cutoff before Aleksejev called off his stack of 3.5 million from the button.
Sergei Aleksejev:
Aurimas Stanevicius:
Aleksejev was miles ahead and doubled once again after the safe ran out on the board.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey Cormier snagged the chip lead back by after Stanevicius's stack took a dent.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Aurimas Stanevicius | 9,300,000 | 3,000,000 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 7,600,000 | 4,000,000 |
Apart from the final table here today playing down to one lucky winner there's plenty of more going on at the Hilton Park and Olympic Casino in Tallinn. First of all, there was the €3,000 NLH Event final right next to the feature table. This played from start to finish in only two hours. At the same time as those two, the last out of 12 events started, the €555 Progressive Knockout.
Ingemar Backman
To finish this series the organizers scheduled a Mini Main Event starting at 2 pm and just like every single ring and side event here during this year's WSOP Circuit the interest from the players was massive. In particular for the Nordic players who are still here in the Estonian capital and so far this must be the tournament that attracted the most Swedes apart from the Sviten tournament a few days ago and it seems like there are at least two on each table in the 119 entries strong field.
The registration just closed in this turbo event and among the entering players, there are many notable names from the recreational poker scene. The former snowboarding pro Ingemar Backman also used to play poker professionally but hasn't been seen around the poker tables for quite some time now, all of a sudden, showed up here in Tallinn and has been seen in several tournaments. After being eliminated in his first tournament of today he decided to take a shot in the last event too and is still one of the contestants as half the field is gone (down to 51 as this is written). Ingemar sits at the same table as Gia Carnestrom.
Gia Carnestrom
Another familiar face from the Swedish poker scene is the one with a nickname amongst his friends making you think this Mini Main Event is a tribute to him. Bjorne sits together with two other very familiar faces both here in Tallinn and on the live poker scene in Stockholm, Jonas Kovacs, and Benny "Brasan" Hagberg. As Mister Kovacs was all-in with kings versus queens for a huge pot Bjorne showed the Swedish spirit as he was rooting for a queen on the table. However, the best hand held up and Kovacs doubled up as Benny shook his head and looked like he wanted to be moved to one of the other tables.
Bjorne Lindberg
Jonas Kovacs
Benny "Brasan" Hagberg
Head over to the album to see more pictures from this event.
Level 34: 125,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 6/812
Jeffrey Cormier won the first hand of the day and got involved in the first hand after the first break with a different result. Cormier opened for 500,000 from the cutoff. Sergei Aleksejev three-bet jammed for 1,625,000 and Cormier called.
Sergei Aleksejev:
Jeffrey Cormier:
Ace-jack held against ace-trey for Cormier to double his stack after the ran out on the board.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Jeffrey Cormier | 10,000,000 | 1,925,000 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 3,600,000 | 1,675,000 |
The final six players are on their first break of the day. Blinds will increase to 125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 big blind ante when the action resumes.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Aurimas Stanevicius | 12,300,000 | 700,000 | |
Jeffrey Cormier | 11,925,000 | 925,000 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 7,425,000 | 975,000 | |
Espen Sandvik | 4,025,000 | 1,625,000 | |
Kriss Riekstins | 3,000,000 | 500,000 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 1,925,000 | 25,000 |
Level 33: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 6/812
Aurimas Stanevicius opened for 400,000 from under the gun before he called a three-bet by Sergei Aleksejev to 1,000,000 from the hijack.
Stanevicius checked the flop. Aleksejev bet 1,500,000 and Stanevicius called. Stanevicius checked again on the turn. Aleksejev jammed for 5,500,000 and was drawing to just a chop after Stanevicius called off his stack of 3,600,000.
Aurimas Stanevicius:
Sergei Aleksejev:
Stanevicius doubled for a second time after turning a straight to crack aces, with the river pairing the board. While the Lithuanian came in as a short stack he had the chip lead in what was the biggest pot thus far of the day.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Aurimas Stanevicius | 13,000,000 | 6,400,000 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 1,900,000 | 5,600,000 |
Level 33: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 6/812
Evgeny Vyal took the Day 1b chip lead and rode it all the way to the final table until bowing out in seventh place for €28,650.
His stack was crushed one hand ago and he committed his remaining chip of 25,000 with from early position.
Yurii Zabrodotskyi opted to complete from the small blind with , matching Vyal's hand to make matters worse for the short stack. Aurimas Stanevicius with checked back his option from the big blind.
Zabrodotskyi checked the flop. Stanevicius min-bet his top pair and it was a heads-up showdown after Zabrodotskyi folded.
Vyal had some hope for a straight on the turn but he bricked the river to exit before the first break.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 8,400,000 | 400,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 6,600,000 | 200,000 | |
Evgeny Vyal | 0 | 0 |
Level 33: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 7/812
Evgeny Vyal jammed for 1.5 million from the hijack. Kriss Riekstins committed his stack of just 25,000 chips less to create a defining moment at the final table for both players..
Kriss Riekstins:
Evgeny Vyal:
Ace-queen held on the board for Riekstins to double his stack and Vyal was left with crumbs. Time will tell if Vyal can turn this into a Cinderella story of a chip and a chair.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Kriss Riekstins | 3,500,000 | 1,500,000 | |
Evgeny Vyal | 25,000 | 1,975,000 |
Level 33: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 7/812
Aurimas Stanevicius min-raised from the cutoff before Roberto Olsen jammed for 2,900,000 from the button. Sergei Aleksejev tanked with for several moments before opting to fold from the small blind. Stanevicius called off most of his stack as he would be left with just 100,000 if he lost.
Roberto Olsen:
Aurimas Stanevicius:
It appeared nothing could go right since the end of last night. He could have had an overwhelming chip lead with just eight players left if his kings could hold against Cormier's tens, who instead began today with the chip lead. He still had a healthy stack at the final table but was unable to get anything going and had to settle for the eighth-place prize of €22,250 after Stanevicius delivered a bad beat after nailing the nut-flush on the runout.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Aurimas Stanevicius | 6,400,000 | 2,900,000 | |
Roberto Olsen | 0 | 0 |
Last night the 11th out of the 12 events to be held here during the 2024 WSOP Circuit in Tallinn crowned its winner but it wasn't here at the Hilton Park and Olympic Casino. This event was for anyone who couldn't make it here but still wanted to join the action, or the ones who did but felt like having another try to lay their hands on that coveted golden ring.
The €350 online event at Olybet had an astonishing €50,000 in the guaranteed prize pool and attracted 124 unique players who did 147 entries. This deep stack tournament started at 8 pm local time and it would take until 2 am until we had reached a final table and amongst the finalists was one of our queens here in Tallinn - Indre Martoviciute. She sat next to the blogger HQ late last night multitasking the final on her phone while rooting for her fellow countrymen who were playing the final table bubble at the same time.
Indres two countrymen made the final table in the Main Event here as you could see on the stream after a spectacular bad beat in the last hand. Soon after Indre was eliminated from the final table in the online event finishing 7th for €2,030.
Another well-known name at this final table was the popular streamer Oskar Ojaveer who finished fourth for €4,587. Winner of the 11th ring during this circuit festival was Estonian player Andres "Isa Rusikas" Loiv who beat Finnish player "rehuperuna" heads-up. Alongside the golden WSOP Circuit ring, Loiv was rewarded with €10,364.
WSOPC Event #11 - €350 Online Event - Final table results:
1. Isa Rusikas (Estonia) - €10,364
2. rehuperuna (Finland) - €7,898
3. koos7aa (Estonia) - €6,019
4. deckflow (Estonia) - €4,587
5. Varisuoravelho (Finland) - €3,496
6. Raivo Grislis (Latvia) - €2,664
7. Proprietary (Lithuania) - €2,030
8. AMPLERFAN86 (Estonia) - €1,547
9. MyNameIsCrab (Estonia) - €1,179
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Jeffrey Cormier | 11,000,000 | 1,000,000 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 8,800,000 | 0 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 7,500,000 | 500,000 | |
Roberto Olsen | 3,800,000 | 400,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 3,500,000 | 0 | |
Espen Sandvik | 2,400,000 | 0 | |
Evgeny Vyal | 2,000,000 | 500,000 | |
Kriss Riekstins | 2,000,000 | 600,000 |
Level 33: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 8/812
Yurii Zabrodotskyi min-raised from early position with and was called by Aurimas Stanevicius with from one seat over.
Zabrodotskyi continued for 450,000 on the flop. Stanevicius called and the turn brought a double-gut shot for Zabrodotskyi.
"A double gutshot with the jack-three," said WSOP Circuit Tallinn commentator George Sandford, who was in the booth with Olympic Entertainment Group Chief Performance Officer Tomas Graham. "I don't get to say that often."
Zabrodotskyi jammed for more than the 3,500,000 Stanevicius had left in his stack.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 8,800,000 | 1,100,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 3,500,000 | 500,000 |
Level 32: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 8/812
Yurii Zabrodotskyi opened with for 300,000 from early position. Sergei Aleksejev with three-bet to 800,000 from the cutoff. Zabrodotskyi four-bet to 1,400,000.
Aleksejev took control with a five-bet shove for 6,300,000 and pulled into second place after Zabrodotskyi folded.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Sergei Aleksejev | 8,000,000 | 1,700,000 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 7,700,000 | 1,400,000 |
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Jeffrey Cormier | 10,000,000 | 0 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 9,100,000 | 1,100,000 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 6,300,000 | 600,000 | |
Roberto Olsen | 4,200,000 | 400,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 3,000,000 | 0 | |
Kriss Riekstins | 2,600,000 | 200,000 | |
Evgeny Vyal | 2,500,000 | 400,000 | |
Espen Sandvik | 2,400,000 | 0 |
Level 32: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 8/812
Espen Sandvik opened for 400,000 before he called a three-bet shove to 1,300,000 by Aurimas Stanevicius from the button.
Aurimas Stanevicius:
Espen Sandvik:
Stanevicius earned some breathing room with a double instead of hitting the rail on a bad beat after the ran out on the board.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Aurimas Stanevicius | 3,000,000 | 1,300,000 | |
Espen Sandvik | 2,400,000 | 1,300,000 |
Level 32: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 8/812
Espen Sandvik opened for 400,000 from middle position with before Roberto Olsen with defended his big blind.
Olsen checked the flop. Sandvik bet 250,000 with his bottom pair and got a call from Olsen with his air. The turn improved Sandvik to trips. Olsen attempted to steal it away with a bet of 550,000. Sandvik called before Olsen checked the river.
Sandvik bet 800,000 and was unable to get more value after Olsen folded.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Roberto Olsen | 4,600,000 | 1,400,000 | |
Espen Sandvik | 3,700,000 | 1,400,000 |
Level 32: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 8/812
Mindaugas Kriauciunas may not have earned a ring but he recorded his biggest live cash in his poker ventures in an international tournament recorded at The Hendon Mob after exiting in ninth place for €17,350. A coin flip going the other way could have had things turn out differently for the Lithuanian but it wasn't meant to be.
Sergei Aleksejev opened for 300,000 from early position before Kriauciunas three-bet jammed for 2,400,000. Aleksejev called off more than half his stack and the flip was on after the hands from both players were tabled.
Mindaugas Kriauciunas:
Sergei Aleksejev:
Kriauciunas bricked the low runout and the Main Event was down to just eight players, each locking up at least a €22,250 payday.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Sergei Aleksejev | 6,900,000 | 2,700,000 | |
Mindaugas Kriauciunas | 0 | 0 |
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Jeffrey Cormier | 10,000,000 | 1,000,000 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 8,000,000 | 0 | |
Roberto Olsen | 6,000,000 | 800,000 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 4,200,000 | 0 | |
Evgeny Vyal | 2,900,000 | 375,000 | |
Mindaugas Kriauciunas | 2,700,000 | 0 | |
Kriss Riekstins | 2,400,000 | 400,000 | |
Espen Sandvik | 2,300,000 | 400,000 | |
Aurimas Stanevicius | 1,700,000 | 275,000 |
Level 32: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 9/812
Roberto Olsen opened for 300,000 from the hijack with before Sergei Aleksejev three-bet with from the cutoff.
Aleksejev nailed top set on the flop. Olsen check-folded a bet of 300,000 to further limit the damage to his stack.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Roberto Olsen | 5,200,000 | 1,725,000 | |
Sergei Aleksejev | 4,200,000 | 700,000 |
Level 32: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 9/812
On the first hand of the final table, Jeffrey Cormier raised to 375,000 with from the small blind and was called by Yurii Zabrodotskyi with from the big blind.
Cormier was unable to find any real connections with the flop when he bet 225,000. Zabrodotskyi called with his overcard and gutshot straight draw.
The gutshot was completed for Zabrodotskyi on the turn. Cormier came out barrelling again, this time for 425,000. Zabrodotskyi raised to 1,500,000 before Cormier snap-folded.
Player | Chips | Progress | |
---|---|---|---|
Jeffrey Cormier | 11,000,000 | 850,000 | |
Yurii Zabrodotskyi | 8,000,000 | 1,025,000 |
Level 32: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 9/812
Cards are in the air to start the Main Event's final table. We will be reporting on a 30-minute delay, so those of you who are also watching the stream at OlyBet.tv won't be delivered any spoilers.
Best of luck to all of the final table players!
The time is here, and the mission is clear. Only nine players remain in the OlyBet 2024 WSOP Circuit Tallinn €1,500 Main Event from the original record-breaking field of 812 entries at Olympic Park Casino and the Hilton Tallinn Park.
For the nine skilled players who have advanced to the final table, the stakes are high. Each has already secured €17,350, but the ultimate prize is yet to be claimed. The eventual champion, to be decided on Sunday, will walk away with a staggering €193,750, a coveted WSOP Circuit gold ring, and an exclusive invite to the 2025 WSOP Tournament of Champions. There, they will compete for a share of a $1 million prize pool and the chance to win a WSOP gold bracelet.
Canada's Jeffrey Cormier will begin the day with a substantial chip-leading stack of 11,850,000. Cormier nearly didn't make it to the final day, but on the very last hand, his tens got there against Sweden's Roberto Olsen's to double his stack instead of hitting the rail. A short-stacked Enea Subashi from Greece held king-queen in the same hand, and the final table was set.
Cormier's good fortunes at the end of the day might spell trouble for the rest of the field as he piled on the aggression throughout the day and seemed to win just about every flip at the feature table to eliminate opponents throughout the penultimate day.
Ukraine's Yurii Zabrodotskyi (6,975,000) and Olsen (6,925,000) are bunched together in second and third place, while a pair of players waving the Estonian flag on today's final table Sergei Aleksejev (3,500,000) and Evgeny Vyal (3,275,000).
Lithuania's Mindaugas Kriauciunas (2,700,000), Latvia's Kriss Riekstins (2,000,000), Norwegian WSOP bracelet winner Espen Sandvik (1,900,000), and Aurimas Stanevicius (1,425,000) bring in the short stacks.
The action will start with blinds at 75,000/150,000 and a 150,000 big blind ante, increasing every 60 minutes until a winner is crowned. Best of luck to all players at the final table in making WSOP Circuit and Estonian poker history.
Cards are in the air at noon. Our reporting will be on a 30-minute delay so as not to give spoilers to those following along on the live stream hosted by WSOP Circuit commentator George Sandford at OlyBetPoker.tv.
Seat | Name | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
1 | Roberto Ahane Olsen | Sweden | 6,925,000 | 46 |
2 | Sergei Aleksejev | Estonia | 3,500,000 | 23 |
3 | Evgeny Vyal | Estonia | 3,275,000 | 22 |
4 | Kriss Riekstins | Latvia | 2,000,000 | 13 |
5 | Espen Smorholm Sandvik | Norway | 1,900,000 | 13 |
6 | Jeffrey Cormier | Canada | 11,850,000 | 79 |
7 | Yurii Zabrodotskyi | Ukraine | 6,975,000 | 47 |
8 | Mindaugas Kriauciunas | Lithuania | 2,700,000 | 18 |
9 | Aurimas Stanevicius | Lithuania | 1,425,000 | 10 |