Lukas Pazma Wins IPFC Main Event for

The Israeli Poker Federation Cup Main Event at Banco Bratislava drew 2,308 entries, building a prizepool of €387,774 that was shared among 231 players. The final day began with sixteen players, each already guaranteed at least €2,860, and ended with a local champion.

Pazma Closes It Out

Lukas Pazma of Slovakia defeated Arnon Mick of Israel in heads-up play to take the title. Pazma collected €65,144 plus a €350 ticket to the EVBETs Live Main Event, a tournament with a €300,000 prize pool scheduled for December. Mick earned €38,910 for second place.

The final table carried a strong Slovak presence, with five local players joined by one Czech, one Georgian, and two Israeli players. The last five included four Slovaks—Lubomir Cicko, Jozef Bihari, Pazma, and Martin Ilavsky—alongside Mick.

Final Table Results

• 1. Lukas Pazma, Slovakia — €65,144 + €350 EVBETs Live ticket
• 2. Arnon Mick, Israel — €38,910 + €350 ticket
• 3. Martin Ilavsky, Slovakia — €27,320 + €350 ticket
• 4. Lubomir Cicko, Slovakia — €19,630 + €350 ticket
• 5. Jozef Bihari, Slovakia — €15,340 + €350 ticket
• 6. Zurab Ejibia, Georgia — €11,520 + €350 ticket
• 7. Peter Jesko, Slovakia — €8,830 + €350 ticket
• 8. Yacov Yehuda Shay Koubi, Israel — €6,270 + €350 ticket
• 9. Tomas Knapek, Czechia — €4,820 + €350 ticket

Bihari entered the final day as chip leader with roughly 57.9 million chips, ahead of Pazma's 49.6 million. By heads-up, Pazma held about 150 million chips to Mick's 75 million, and he converted that advantage into the win.

What the Numbers Say

A field of 2,308 entries is a large turnout for a regional festival, and the €387,774 prizepool reflects that volume. The structure paid 231 places, meaning roughly the top ten percent of the field finished in the money. For players, this kind of payout spread rewards deep runs while still offering a meaningful min-cash of €2,860.

Next Up in Bratislava

Attention now shifts to the Polish Poker Championship 2026, scheduled for November 4 to 16 at Banco Bratislava. The festival is headlined by a €500,000 Main Event with a €150 buy-in. The previous edition recorded 7,740 entries, and this year the series expands to 13 days.

The schedule also includes a €60,000 High Roller, a €40,000 Super High Roller, a Championship Mystery Bounty, additional side events, and a new Road to Dubai promotion.

Why This Result Matters

Pazma's win continues a pattern of strong local performances in Bratislava, where Slovak players have regularly featured at the business end of major regional events. Winning a title in front of a home crowd, against a field that included experienced international players, is a notable result for any tournament regular.

The IPFC Main Event also underlines the health of mid-stakes tournament poker in Central Europe. A €150-style buy-in festival that can attract thousands of entries gives recreational and semi-professional players a realistic path to a five-figure score, while the High Roller and Super High Roller events serve higher-stakes fields.

For players planning the rest of the year, the November festival at Banco Bratislava offers a direct follow-up, with the €500,000 Main Event guarantee as the centerpiece.