Epicbet Club Championship Final Table

Final Table Reached in Bratislava

The inaugural Epicbet Club Championship at Banco Bratislava has reached its final day. The Main Event closed registration with 549 entries, a field that pushed the prize pool past its €150,000 guarantee and set up a first champion's payday of €30,128.

Fifty-six players returned for the second playing day, each already guaranteed a minimum payout of €790. From that group, nine finalists advanced to the last table, where the winner will be decided.

Palsson Leads the Final Nine

Iceland's Daniel Mar Palsson leads the final table with 6,135,000 chips. Norway holds four of the nine seats, with Jan Marius Bakke second in chips at 4,105,000 and Morten Opedal third at 3,570,000.

Slovakia's Martina Svobodová sits fourth with 3,440,000 and will be looking to keep the trophy on home soil. Ronny Vihovde Ulveraker of Norway (3,370,000) and Borys Sebastian Borowik of Poland (3,200,000) round out the middle of the counts.

The shorter stacks belong to Jason Lawrence Kiselis of Australia (1,270,000), John Oskar Oestensen of Norway (1,200,000) and Niclas Laurin Thumm of Germany (1,040,000).

Final Table Chip Counts

• Daniel Mar Palsson (Iceland) – 6,135,000
• Jan Marius Bakke (Norway) – 4,105,000
• Morten Opedal (Norway) – 3,570,000
• Martina Svobodová (Slovakia) – 3,440,000
• Ronny Vihovde Ulveraker (Norway) – 3,370,000
• Borys Sebastian Borowik (Poland) – 3,200,000
• Jason Lawrence Kiselis (Australia) – 1,270,000
• John Oskar Oestensen (Norway) – 1,200,000
• Niclas Laurin Thumm (Germany) – 1,040,000

Payouts at the Top

• 1st – €30,128
• 2nd – €19,050
• 3rd – €13,070
• 4th – €9,650
• 5th – €7,510
• 6th – €5,770
• 7th – €4,650
• 8th – €3,720
• 9th – €2,980

A livestream of the final table is scheduled to begin at 16:30, giving viewers a chance to follow the crowning of the series' first Main Event champion.

What a Deep Stack Means at a Final Table

Chip leadership at a final table is an advantage, but it is not a guarantee. In tournament poker, a big stack allows a player to apply pressure on shorter stacks, particularly near pay jumps, because those opponents have more to lose by calling off their tournament life.

A common approach for a chip leader is to open more frequently in late position and force medium stacks into difficult decisions. Shorter stacks, by contrast, typically look for spots to re-enter the action with a shove rather than call, since fold equity is their most valuable asset.

ICM, or the Independent Chip Model, becomes a central consideration once pay jumps grow. It describes how the real-money value of a chip changes depending on the payout structure: chips won are worth less than chips lost, which is why players often tighten up when a significant pay increase is on the line. This is a general principle rather than a fixed rule, and the correct adjustment depends on stack sizes, payouts and the tendencies of the opponents at the table.

Banco Casino Masters Follows

The poker schedule at Banco Bratislava continues after the Epicbet Club Championship. The 45th edition of the Banco Casino Masters and PLO Masters runs from September 22 to 28, 2026, with a €250,000 guaranteed Main Event and a €170 buy-in.

The series has been a fixture on the Slovakian calendar since 2016, and the September edition introduces a lower-cost route into the Main Event: players can enter Day 1A for €85. Organizers are also launching a new Masters Playzone as part of the festival.

Each starting flight of the Main Event carries a Chipleader Bonus, adding €2,600 per flight. The largest stacks at the end of each Day 1 receive €1,500 for first, €750 for second and €350 for third.

Looking Ahead to the Rest of the Year

More festival poker follows in Bratislava. The Israeli Federation Cup returns from October 6 to 12 for its second edition, featuring a €300,000 Main Event with a €200 buy-in.

In November, the Polish Poker Championship 2026 runs from November 4 to 16 with a €500,000 guaranteed Main Event and a €150 buy-in. The series drew a record 7,740 entries last year, and organizers are expecting another large turnout.

The year closes with the debut of the EVBETS LIVE festival, scheduled for December 15 to 20 in Bratislava. Its Main Event carries a €300,000 guarantee, alongside High Rollers, side events and a Banco PlayZone with prizes worth thousands of euros.