Few names in poker have been at the top as long as Finnish poker legend Juha Helppi. Helppi, who occupies the second place on Finland's all-time money list behind Hall of Famer Patrik Antonius, has been playing poker for over two decades, with his first recorded cash stemming from 2001. However, he is still among the best of the best and proved as much today by crushing a compact field of 15 entries to come out on top in the €5,000 Progressive Bounty at the Kings of Tallinn Autumn Edition.

Helppi was awarded his second-ever trophy at Olympic Park Casino, after taking down the Kings of Tallinn Main Event in 2018, along with €14,800 from the €39,900 cash prize pool and a staggering €22,000 in bounties, more than two-thirds of the total bounty prize pool. He defeated Justas Vaiciulionis heads-up, who took home the same €14,800 in cash prize but had to make do with just €2,000 in bounties.

With such a small field, only one other player ended up in the money as Helppi's fellow Finn Luka Sorainen was awarded a min-cash of €8,800, along with the €4,000 he had collected in bounties. The other hunters who succeeded in securing a part of the bounty pool are bubble boy Gytis Lazauninkas and Olympic regular Elias Suhonen, although they both operated at a significant loss as they could only take one bounty each.

Action of the Day

The day started with six entries, and by the third level, the field had grown to a size of ten players. After a relatively calm start, an all-in by the short-stacked Maciej Komorowski created preflop mayhem as no less than four players ended up with all of their chips in the middle. In the end, Komorowski and Bartlomiej Kijak were eliminated, with Soiranen and Suhonen picking up their bounties. Richard Koppel and Heiko Hinkelmann, who both qualified through a €150 satellite, also took their seats but could not write a fairy tale as they were knocked out by Vaiciulionis in quick succession in the early stages of the tournament.

Helppi gained momentum an hour or so after the dinner break when he eliminated Dennis Haarberg and Suhonen in back-to-back hands. After eight levels, only six players remained, and it was decided that late registration would close two levels early and the tournament would be played down to the winner in one day instead of the two days that were scheduled.

Mantas Bagocius was the first to depart from the final table and Mihails Nikitins soon followed. Both fell to Sorainen, who obtained a significant chip lead as four players were left and bubble play commenced. However, Helppi got dealt pocket aces and received three streets of value from Sorainen to get even in chips with him. Lazauninkas, on the other hand, could not seem to win any pots. He was the only player to fire two bullets and needed to get into the money to break even, but instead, he ended up in fourth, only getting a measly €1,000 back on his €10,000 investment.

Once the bubble had burst, Vaiciulionis doubled through Sorainen, after which Helppi won a significant pot against him as well. Eventually, the once-dominant Sorainen was left as the shortest stack and lost with jacks against the ace-ten of Helppi. Resultingly, Helppi started the heads-up with a four-to-one chip lead. Through the best of his efforts, Vaiciulionis inched closer and almost got to even stacks, but the stacks were set back to the start when Helppi rivered a flush in a big pot.

Not much later, Vaiciulionis pushed in his final 13 blinds with an open-ended straight draw on the turn and Helppi called with top pair. The river could not save Vaiciulionis as he became the runner-up. Helppi, meanwhile, hoisted yet another trophy in his illustrious career as he proved that, even nearing 25 years on the felt, he is still a force to be reckoned with in the high-stakes scene.

Level 16: 5,000/10,000 (10,000)
Entries: 2/15

Juha Helppi limped in on the button and Justas Vaiciulionis checked his option in the big blind. Helppi fired 10,000 on the flop, which Vaiciulionis check-called.

Vaiciulionis checked again on the turn, after which he faced a bet of 27,000 from Helppi. He thought for a bit and then shoved all in for 133,000. 

Helppi asked for a count and thought for a few minutes before calling off, creating the first all-in and call of the heads-up.

Justas Vaiciulionis:
Juha Helppi:

Vaiciulionis needed to hit his open-ender against Helppi's top pair but failed to do so on the river.

The opponents shook hands as Vaiciulionis' chips and bounty were shipped over to Helppi.

Justas Vaiciulionis

Level 15: 4,000/8,000 (8,000)
Entries: 2/15

Juha Helppi raised his button to 17,000. Justas Vaiciulionis defended his big blind, after which he check-called Helppi's bet of 14,000 on the flop.

Vaiciulionis then decided to lead out for 20,000 on the turn, which Helppi called. He reverted to checking on the river. Helppi grabbed 75,000 chips and fired them in the middle, receiving a snap-call from Vaiciulionis.

Helppi showed for a flush. Vaiciulionis sighed as he paid off his opponent and a large chip discrepancy was once again created.

Juha Helppi

Level 15: 4,000/8,000 (8,000)
Entries: 2/15

Juha Helppi limped in from the button and saw Justas Vaiciulionis check in the big blind. Vaiciulionis check-called a minimum bet of 8,000 from Helppi on the flop.

The turn and river were checked to showdown. Vaiciulionis tabled for a pair of tens and took down the pot.

Level 15: 4,000/8,000 (8,000)
Entries: 2/15

Justas Vaiciulionis limped in on the button and Juha Helppi checked his big blind. The pair checked through the flop and turn until Helppi bet 18,000 on the river.

Vaiciulionis pondered for a bit and then tossed in a call. Helppi tabled for aces and eights, raking in the pot when Vaiciulionis mucked his cards.

The players have been sent on a small break.

The heads-up will resume when they return.

Level 14: 3,000/6,000 (6,000)
Entries: 2/15

Juha Helppi limped in from the button and Justas Vaiciulionis checked his option. He then checked to Helppi on the flop, who bet 6,000.

Vaiciulionis raised to 20,0000, and Helppi called. Vaiciulionis seemed to slow down and checked the turn to Helppi, who responded by betting 25,000. Vaiciulionis called to the river, where he faced a bet of 40,000 from Helppi.

He counted out his 143,000 chips before check-raising all in. Helppi took one last look at his cards and added them to the muck in defeat.

Justas Vaiciulionis

Level 14: 3,000/6,000 (6,000)
Entries: 2/15

Juha Helppi raised his button to 12,000 and Justas Vaiciulionis called in the big blind. Helppi continued for 10,000 on the flop, which Vaiciulionis check-called. 

Vaiciulionis check-called again on the turn, this time for 35,000. The river was knuckled to showdown, where Vaiciulionis won the pot with for a full house.

Level 14: 3,000/6,000 (6,000)
Entries: 3/15

Luka Sorainen had gone all in for 110,00 from the big blind and was looked up by Juha Helppi on the button.

Luka Sorainen:
Juha Helppi:

Sorainen was ahead, but Helppi turned a combo draw on the board. His flush was completed on the river, sending Sorainen home in third place.

Luka Sorainen

Level 14: 3,000/6,000 (6,000)
Entries: 3/15

Justas Vaiciulionis got his 71,000 chips in from the big blind against Juha Helppi in the small blind.

Justas Vaiciulionis:
Juha Helppi:

Vaiciulionis made trips on the runout to rake in the double-up and dent Helppi's humongous stack.

Level 14: 3,000/6,000 (6,000)
Entries: 3/15

Juha Helppi raised to 18,000 in the small blind and was called by Justas Vaiciulionis in the big blind. Helppi continued for 13,000 on the flop, which Vaiciulionis called.

The turn and river were then checked through. Helppi showed down for fours and threes, taking down the pot.

Level 13: 2,000/5,000 (5,000)
Entries: 3/15

In a blind-on-blind pot, Luka Sorainen and Juha Helppi had arrived on a turn of with 60,000 in the pot. Sorainen and Helppi both checked and the fell on the river.

Sorainen put in a small bet of 9,000, which Helppi raised to 65,000 after some thinking time. Sorainen put in a quick call but mucked his cards in defeat when Helppi tabled for trips.

Level 13: 2,000/5,000 (5,000)
Entries: 3/15

Luka Sorainen had open-raised from the button when Justas Vaiciulionis three-bet all in from the big blind for 58,500.

Sorainen snap-called and the cards were tabled.

Justas Vaiciulionis:
Luka Sorainen:

Vaiciulionis faded the remaining fours in the deck on the runout and doubled up.
Justas Vaiciulionis

Level 13: 2,000/5,000 (5,000)
Entries: 4/15

Luka Sorainen limped in under the gun. Juha Helppi followed suit on the button and Mihails Nikitins completed his small blind.

Big blind Gytis Lazauninkas then put in his stack of 18,000. Sorainen and Helppi called while Nikitins decided to fold.

On the flop, Sorainen check-folded to Helppi's bet of 22,000, and a showdown was ordered.

Gytis Lazauninkas:
Juha Helppi:

Helppi had flopped top pair and held on the turn and made two pair on the  river to knock Lazauninkas out in fourth place as the official bubble boy.

Gytis Lazauninkas

Level 13: 2,000/5,000 (5,000)
Entries: 4/15

Luka Sorainen limped in under the gun. Juha Helppi then raised to 26,500 on the button, after which Gytis Lazauninkas called all-in in the small blind for 6,500. 

Sorainen got out of the way as the pair showed down.

Gytis Lazauninkas:
Juha Hellpi:

Lazauninkas' ducks held throughout the runout. He tripled up and still had a shot to make it into the money.

Level 12: 2,000/4,000 (4,000)
Entries: 4/15

Luka Sorainen raised to 10,000 under the gun. It folded to the short-stacked Gytis Lazauninkas in the big blind, who opted to defend.

The flop fell . Lazauninkas checked, Sorainen tossed in a bet of 5,000, and Lazauninkas quickly folded as he left himself with 8 big blinds.

Level 12: 2,000/4,000 (4,000)
Entries: 4/15

Juha Helppi raised to 9,000 under the gun. Justas Vaiciulionis called on the button before the blinds got out of the way.

Helppi checked the flop to Vaiciulionis, who bet 6,000. Helppi called to the turn, which was checked through. The then fell on the river and saw Helppi check for a third time.

Vaiciulionis bombarded the table with a bet of 40,000. Helppi took some thinking time and raised to 90,000, which garnered a snap-fold from his opponent. 

Level 11: 1,500/3,000 (3,000)
Entries: 4/15

Juha Helppi was first to act and raised to 4,000. Luka Sorainen defended his big blind and check-called Helppi's bet of 6,000 on the flop.

Helppi sized up to 20,000 on the turn. Undeterred, Sorainen check-called again before checking on the river. Helppi fired a hefty bet of 42,000 and saw another swift call from his opponent.

Helppi turned over for aces and threes, taking down the big pot when Sorainen nodded and mucked his cards.

Juha Helppi

Level 11: 1,500/3,000 (3,000)
Entries: 5/15

Mihails Nikitins open-raised from the cutoff, after which the action folded to Luka Sorainen in the big blind. He put Nikitins all-in for 100,000 or so and was snap-called.

Mihails Nikitins:
Luka Sorainen:

Nikitins was in good shape to double up and the pair traded outs on the flop. The turn brought Sorainen a flush draw in addition to his gutshot, and it came in on the river.

Nikitins took the beat in stride, wished his former opponents a good game, and calmly departed from the table as Sorainen added another bounty to his collection.

Mihails Nikitins

Level 11: 1,500/3,000 (3,000)
Entries: 5/15

Juha Helppi raised his button to 6,500 and saw Justas Vaiciulionis call in the big blind. Helppi continued for 4,000 on the flop and Vaiciulionis check-called.

The turn and river were then checked through. Vaiciulionis tabled for eights and threes. Helppi nodded his head, took a look at his cards, and added them to the muck in defeat.

The five players have been sent on a 20-minute break.

They have discussed with the floor and the provisional plan is to play the tournament out today.

Level 10: 1,000/2,500 (2,500)
Entries: 5/15

Juha Helppi opened for 5,500 in the cutoff. Gytis Lazauninkas defended his big blind, after which a flop of was fanned.

Helppi continued for 4,000, seeing Lazauninkas check-call. The turn then checked through to the river. Lazauninkas checked for a third time, after which Helppi piled in a pot-sized bet of 22,500.

Lazauninkas spent some time in the tank but eventually let his hand go as he relinquished the pot.

Level 10: 1,000/2,500 (2,500)
Entries: 5/15

Luka Sorainen raised to 5,000 under the gun. Gytis Lazauninkas defended his big blind and a flop of hit the felt.

Lazauninkas checked, Sorainen bet another 5,000, and Lazauninkas called. The turn was also checked by Lazauninkas, after which Sorainen fired a massive bet of 32,500.

The bet was about one and a half times the size of the pot and got a quick fold from Lazauninkas.

Level 9: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Entries: 5/15

Justas Vaiciulionis raised to 4,000 under the gun before he was three-bet to 15,000 by Luka Sorainen. Vaiciulionis called to the flop, where he checked and was met with a bet of 11,000.

Vaiciulionis then raised to 35,000 getting a quick fold from Sorainen and taking down the pot.

The 15 entries created a prize pool of €38,400. Three players will get paid, distributed as follows (excluding bounties).

Level 9: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Entries: 6/15

Mantas Bagocius put in his final chips against Luka Sorainen on a flop of .

Mantas Bagocius:
Luka Sorainen:

Sorianen was still ahead, and the turn gave him a big lead. Bagocius could not hit his gutshot on the river and was the first player to depart from the final table.
Mantas Bagocius

Level 9: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Entries: 6/15

The tournament directors have decided to close late registration early due to a lack of influx of new players and the event nearing the money.

The six remaining players have redrawn for a final table.

The six remaining players have been sent on a 20-minute break.

Level 8: 1,000/1,500 (1,500)
Entries: 7/15

Nils Veipans got his 13,400 in from the small blind and was called by Luka Sorainen in the big blind and Gytis Lazauninkas under the gun.

The pair checked through the board to showdown. Sorainen showed for a pair of fives but was bested by the of  Lazauninkas.

Veipans had the best hand with for top pair, and tripled up. 

However, one hand later he got his stack in again against Lazauninkas.

Nils Veipans:  
Gytis Lazauninkas:

Veipans flopped a big lead on and stayed ahead on the turn. The river saw Lazauninkas hit one of his two outs, however, and he collected Veipans' bounty.

Level 8: 1,000/1,500 (1,500)
Entries: 9/15

Dennis Haarberg got his stack of 16,500 in from the cutoff against Juha Helppi under the gun.

Dennis Haarberg:
Juha Helppi:

Haarberg could not hit on the board and was consequently eliminated by the hands of Helppi.

"This was the most boring game of cards in my life," Haarberg concluded before he took his exit.

One hand later, Helppi also knocked out Elias Suhonen preflop when his was the best hand on the board.
Juha Helppi

Level 8: 1,000/1,500 (1,500)
Entries: 9/15

Justas Vaiciulionis kicked off the action under the gun. He raised to 3,000 and was three-bet to 10,000 by Elias Suhonen in the cutoff. Vaiciulionis made the call once it had folded back to him, leading to a flop of appearing.

Vaiciulionis check-called a bet of 6,000 from his opponent and the hit the felt on the turn. Vaciulionis checked, Suhonen put in a bet of 21,000, and Vaciulionis quickly mucked his cards in defeat.
Elias Suhonen

Level 7: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 9/15

Elias Suhonen raised to 2,400 under the gun. Dennis Haarberg called on the button before Mihails Nikitins three-bet to 7,300 in the small blind. Both Suhonen and Haarberg called to the flop.

Nikitins made a large bet of 16,000, folding out both opponents and being awarded the already sizable pot.

Level 7: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 10/15

Preflop, Ziga Babic got his final 16,500 in from the small blind against Luka Sorainen in the cutoff.

Ziga Babic:
Luka Sorainen:

The flop left Babic with little hope, and his fate was sealed on the turn. Sorainen received €2,000, half of which ended up in his pocket, on the river as Babic quickly headed to the exit.

Ziga Babic

Level 7: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 10/15

Gytis Lazauninkas raised to 2,500 under the gun. Nils Veipans called in the small blind and Luka Sorainen did so in the big blind.

The flop was checked around before Veipans bet 4,200 on the turn. Sorainen called as Lazauninkas got out of the way.

Veipans sized up to 11,500 on the river but was quickly called down. In what has become something of a signature move, he mucked his cards at showdown, shipping the pot to Sorainen without any cards tabled.

Luka Sorainen

Level 6: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Entries: 10/15

Elias Suhonen raised to 2,000 under the gun. The action folded to Justas Vaiciulionis, who called in the big blind. Vaiciulionis check-called Suhonen's continuation-bet of 1,500 on the flop before the turn emerged from the deck.

He led out for 4,400, receiving a call from Suhonen. The river was knuckled down, seeing Vaiciulionis table for a pair of sixes. Suhonen had a higher pair with his and was awareded the pot.

Level 6: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Entries: 10/14

Newest entry Gytis Lazauninkas got his starting stack in from the small blind against Juha Helppi in the big blind.

Gytis Lazauninkas:
Juha Helppi:

Lazauninkas was in a great spot to get an early double-up, but the flop thought otherwise. The turn meant Lazauninkas had no way to beat Helppi's four-of-a-kind, and he quickly headed to the reentry desk on the river as Helppi raked in his first bounty.

Juha Helppi

Level 6: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Entries: 10/14

Mihails Nitikins raised to 2,000 on the button. Justas Vaiciulionis made it 9,000 in the small blind and Nikitins called. They then checked through the flop before Vaciulionis fired 11,500 on the turn.

Nikitins called to the river, which was checked down. Vaciulionis tabled and his pair of nines won the pot against the of Nikitins.

Level 5: 400/800 (800)
Entries: 9/13

The nine remaining players have been sent on a 60-minute dinner break, in which they can enjoy complimentary snacks and salads from the in-house Able Butcher restaurant.

The action will return around 8:40 p.m. local time.

Level 5: 400/800 (800)
Entries: 10/13

Justas Vaiciulionis raised to 1,600 in the hijack. Heiko Hinkelmann put in a three-bet to 4,200 in the seat next to him, which Vaiciulionis called.

Hinkelmann then put in a tiny bet of 1,200 on the flop, which Vaiciulionis check-called. The turn was also checked by Vaiciulionis, after which Hinkelmann bet a hefty 13,500.

Vaiciulionis gauged Hinkelmann's stack, after which he put him all-in for 34,500. Hinkelmann sighed, shrugged his shoulders, and put in the call.

Heiko Hinkelmann:
Justas Vaiciulionis:

Hinkelmann had no outs remaining against Vaiciulionis' straight. He gave the table a friendly knuckle as he departed when the river upgraded Vaiciulionis to an unessecary flush.

Vaiciulionis, meanwhile, became the new "Bounty Daddy" as he was awarded his second min-bounty of the day.
Heiko Hinkelmann

Level 5: 400/800 (800)
Entries: 10/13

Nils Veipans raised to 2,400 under the gun. Elias Suhonen, in the small blind, three-bet to 9,200 and saw Veipans toss in a call.

Suhonen checked the flop to Veipans, who quickly fired 13,500. Suhonen spent a few minutes in the tank before deciding to muck his cards and forfeit the pot.

Level 5: 400/800 (800)
Entries: 10/13

Not long after Richard Koppel's departure, the other winner from yesterday's €150 satellite, Heiko Hinkelmann, took his seat in the tournament.

Level 4: 300/600 (600)
Entries: 10/12

Qualifier Richard Koppel tossed in his final 400 as first to act, receiving three callers. The flop was checked to Justas Vaiciulionis on the button, who bet 700. Juha Helppi called in the small blind before Dennis Haarberg folded in the big blind.

The pair then checked through the turn, after which Helppi bet 3,000 on the river. Vaiciulionis snapped the bet off, and all three players tabled their cards.

Helppi could only show king-high with , while Koppel played for a pair of fours. Vaiciulionis had turned the best pair with his , however, and raked in the pot and the €2,000 bounty.

Justas Vaiciulionis

Level 4: 300/600 (600)
Entries: 10/12

Juha Helppi raised to 1,500 on the button. Richard Koppel then three-bet to 6,500 in the small blind. Helppi spent a few minutes eyeing his opponent's stack before clicking it back to 15,500.

Koppel tossed in a call and a flop of was spread. Koppel checked to the four-better, who bet 7,000. Koppel then jammed all in for 30,000 and was snap-called by Helppi.

Juha Helppi:
Richard Koppel:

Koppel's top pair needed some help, but the turn left him drawing dead instead. The stacks were counted after the useless river, and it was determined that Koppel covered Helppi by just 400.
Juha Helppi

Level 4: 300/600 (600)
Entries: 10/12

Elias Suhonen raised to 1,300 under the gun. Nils Veipans made it 3,200 to go on the button, after which the action folded back to Suhonen. He called and also check-called the 2,700 that Veipans put in on the flop.

The turn fell the . Suhonen checked again, prompting Veipans to bet 5,700. Suhonen did not need long before deciding to let go of his cards and surrender the pot.

Level 3: 200/500 (500)
Entries: 10/12

Nils Veipans raised his button to 1,100. Ziga Babic three-bet to 6,500 in the big blind, which Veipans called.

Babic continued for 6,000 on the flop, which Veipans quickly called. The seemed to slow down Babic, as he checked to Veipans.

Veipans then bet 12,500, but Babic sprung the trap and jammed for 23,600. Veipans decided he could not fold and stuck in the extra chips.

Ziga Babic:
Nils Veipans:

Veipans had an overcard, and open-ender, and a flush draw, but he missed all of them on the river. Babic faded the world to double up, leaving Veipans with 22,000 chips.

Not long after the hand, Dennis Haarberg joined the field as the lastest entry.

Ziga Babic

Level 3: 200/500 (500)
Entries: 10/10

After Elias Suhonen had opened under the gun, Maciej Komorowski tossed in his stack of 6,000 from the button. 

Luka Sorainen then shoved over the top for 46,800 in the small blind. Bartlomiej Kijak five-bet jammed for 69,000, and Suhonen called off, covering all other players.

Maciej Komorowski:
Luka Sorainen:
Bartlomiej Kijak:
Elias Suhonen:

Miraculously, Sorainen's pocket sixes remained best on the runout. He knocked out Komorowski and tripled up, while Suhonen won the side pot against Kijak and took his bounty and remaining chips.

Luka Sorainen

Level 3: 200/500 (500)
Entries: 10/10

The action was caught on a turn of . Maciej Komorowski was seen betting 12,000 into a pot of 21,000 from the big blind. Elias Suhonen made the call on the button and a river of completed the board.

Komorowski stacked up his remaining chips and put them in the middle for an all-in bet. Suhonen snap called and tabled for a full hosue.

Komorowski opened his as per the rules. He picked the wrong time to bluff and doubled the 22,500 chips of Suhonen. Meanwhile, he was left with roughly 6,000 of them.
Maciej Komorowski

Level 2: 200/400 (400)
Entries: 10/10

Elias Suhonen and Maciej Komorowski have proven to be the two most active players in the tournament so far, and they tangled again when Suhonen raised to 900 on the button and Komorowski defended his big blind.

Komorowski check-called Suhonen's bet of 800 on the flop, but quickly check-folded when his opponent piled in a massive bet of 6,000 on the turn.

Level 2: 200/400 (400)
Entries: 10/10

Elias Suhonen raised to 900 on the button. Maciej Komorowski called in the big blind, after which both checked the flop.

Komorowski led out for 1,500 on the turn and was called by Suhonen. He sized up to 2,500 on the river before Suhonen tossed in another quick call.

Komorowski did not want to table his hand and tossed it into the muck. The pot was shipped to Suhonen without the need for a showdown.

Shortly after the hand, Bartlomiej Kijak joined the table as the latest entry.

Level 1: 100/300 (300)
Entries: 7/7

Level 1: 100/300 (300)
Entries: 6/6

Elias Suhonen raised to 700 in the cutoff. Maciej Komorowski then piled in 2,700 on the button, which Suhonen called.

Komorowski barreled 3,200 on the flop. Suhonen check-called before both players checked the turn.

The river was also checked by Suhonen, but Komorowski tossed in 5,100. Suhonen thought for a minute or so before looking at his cards one last time and tossing them into the muck.

Level 1: 100/300 (300)
Entries: 6/6

Level 1: 100/300 (300)
Entries: 5/5

Mihails Nikitins raised his button to 700. Elias Suhonen called in the small blind before Richard Koppel defended his big blind.

All players checked the flop. Suhonen led out for 600 on the turn, which Koppel raised to 2,600.

He received two quick folds and won his very first hand. Koppel won a seat in a €150 sattelite yesterday, and, judging by his Hendon Mob, this tournament will be by far his biggest buy-in ever, never having cashed in a tournament over €1,100.

Level 1: 100/300 (300)
Entries: 5/5

With five players on the clock, the €5,000 Progressive Bounty has started.

The highest buy-in at the first-ever Kings of Tallinn Autumn Edition, presented by OlyBet, is set to begin at 5 p.m. local time today. The €5,000 Progressive Knockout is expected to attract the best of the best and the highest stakes players of those who traveled to Olympic Park Casino. During the last Kings of Tallinn edition, in March of this year, Estonian crusher Markkos Ladev kept the €5,000 High Roller trophy, which was played as a regular six-max tournament, at home when he conquered a small but stellar field of 29 players and took home €47,290.

The tournament is played six-handed this time around as well, but €2,000 of each buy-in will go towards a progressive bounty. If a player knocks another player out, half of the earned bounty will be awarded as cash, while the other half will be added on top of that player's own bounty. For instance, if a player gets eliminated in the first hand, the player who won the pot will get €1,000 in cash and his bounty will then be worth €3,000. If they then get knocked out, the player who eliminated them will get €1,500 in cash, and €1,500 will be added to their own bounty.

This format guarantees a lot of action as the bounties will stay high and thus relevant throughout most of the tournament.  As if that was not enough, the event will feature unlimited re-entries for players up until the end of Level 10, where a starting stack is worth 20 big blinds.

Each player who sits down will receive 50,000 in chips, and the first level of the tournament is 100/300 with a 300 big blind ante.  All levels will be 30 minutes in length, and Day 1 will end after Level 14: 3,000/6,000 (6,000). The second and final day of the tournament will start tomorrow, October 23, at 1 p.m. local time and play down until a winner is crowned.

Stay tuned as the live reporting team will provide all the action-packed updates straight from the tournament floor in Tallinn, from the very first hand dealt until the survivors are bagging up their chips for Day 2.