Andre Winkler wins the EPC Masters 2026 tournament in Rozvadov

Andre Winkler continues his successful year by winning the prestigious €2,000 EPC Masters tournament at King's Resort, Rozvadov, and claiming the King's Royal Scepter.

In 2026, Andre Winkler continues to amaze the poker community with his achievements. After impressive victories at major tournaments, including winning a WSOP gold ring and a big score in July, Winkler once again found himself in the spotlight. This time, he became the champion of the €2,000 EPC Masters tournament, held as part of the inaugural King's Million European Championship series at King's Resort, Rozvadov. His victory brought him not only the prestigious King's Royal Scepter trophy—one of only ten in existence—but also a significant cash prize. Context: King's Million European Championship series and King's Resort venue King's Resort in Rozvadov is a renowned poker venue that regularly hosts the largest European and global tournaments. In 2026, the King's Million European Championship series was held here for the first time, bringing together players from across the continent. One of the key events of the series was the €2,000 EPC Masters tournament, which attracted 346 entries and a prize pool of €602,040. The series was distinguished by its unique trophies—the King's Royal Scepter, of which there are only ten. This trophy became Andre Winkler's main goal even before the tournament began. Andre Winkler's road to victory: from short stack to triumph Andre Winkler started the final day of the tournament among the 69 returning players with a large stack. Thanks to this, he made it into the money without much difficulty, with payouts starting from 52nd place. However, when only 13 players remained, Winkler found himself in a critical situation: his stack was down to just eight big blinds—a highly vulnerable position where losing a single all-in could mean elimination. At that moment, Winkler went all-in with king-three against his opponent MajiMike's pocket eights. He managed to hit a king on the flop, doubling up and staying in contention for the title. This marked the start of his "fairytale" run through the tournament. At the final table, Winkler started with 22 big blinds, holding a middle position in terms of chip count. While other players were quickly eliminated, Winkler stuck to a cautious strategy, avoiding big confrontations and steadily climbing the payout ladder. The key moment came when four players remained. Winkler made a bold hero call with a low pair against a bluff by Pasquale Casella. This win allowed him to strengthen his position. Soon after, Casella tried to bluff again but lost more chips to Winkler and was eliminated shortly thereafter. In three-handed play, Tobias Peters lost a big all-in (a so-called "cooler"—a situation where strong hands clash) to Marco Giordano, setting up a heads-up battle between Winkler and Giordano. Heads-up: the deal and the battle for the trophy At the start of the duel, Marco Giordano had about a two-to-one chip lead. However, Winkler quickly doubled up, seizing the lead. He then won several hands in a row, widening the gap. The players made a deal: thanks to his larger stack at the time, Giordano received €118,400—the biggest payout of the night, while Winkler secured €99,600 and continued to play for the trophy. In the decisive hand, Giordano went all-in with king-four against Winkler's queen-ten. Winkler hit a pair on the flop and made a flush on the river, clinching the victory and the coveted King's Royal Scepter. After the tournament, Winkler admitted he felt a bit tired but very happy. He noted that after his success at the EPM two months earlier, he decided to play many more tournaments than he had originally planned. According to him, the series had not been going well, he fired many bullets (made many re-entries), but in the end, it all ended in triumph. Final table: results and payouts The €2,000 EPC Masters final table featured both seasoned professionals and recreational players. Winkler admitted that he started playing live poker only two and a half years ago, but has already managed to notch dozens of cashes at King's Resort. Here’s how the final table payouts were distributed: 1st place: Andre Winkler — €99,600* 2nd place: Marco Giordano — €118,400* 3rd place: Tobias Peters — €68,100 4th place: Pasquale Casella — €49,900 5th place: Fatih Sen — €36,900 6th place: Sebastian Kotowicz — €27,800 7th place: Paul Craciunas — €21,100 8th place: Catalin Moraru — €16,200 9th place: MajikMike — €12,500 *Amounts for 1st and 2nd place were determined by the heads-up deal The total prize pool for the tournament was €602,040, with a buy-in of €2,000. The tournament attracted 346 players, highlighting the strong interest in the event. The winner’s opinion: why King's Resort is the best choice for players Winkler shared his experience playing at King's Resort, noting that for tournaments with buy-ins from €300 to €1,000, there is no competition anywhere in the world. According to him, you can find a tournament with a prize pool of around a million euros here every week. He also said that until 2024, he mainly played online, but then decided to focus on live tournaments. Now, he uses online platforms only to qualify for live events, spending the rest of his time in casinos around the world. In 2026, he planned to play about 50 tournaments, but estimates that the number will exceed 100. Key players and their journey at the final table The final table brought together tough opponents: Tobias Peters — an experienced pro who finished third after losing a big hand to Marco Giordano. Pasquale Casella — bluffed actively but lost two big pots to Winkler, finishing fourth. Fatih Sen, Sebastian Kotowicz, Paul Craciunas, Catalin Moraru, MajikMike — each showed solid play but fell short against luckier and more persistent rivals. Special mention goes to MajikMike, who had Winkler on the brink of elimination, but ultimately lost a key hand to him, allowing the future champion to get back in the game. What this means for PPPoker club players For PPPoker club members, this story is a great example of how regular practice and participation in various tournament formats can lead to major success in a short time. Andre Winkler started playing live poker just two and a half years ago, yet has already won at the biggest European series. This proves that experience gained in online games and club tournaments can be an excellent foundation for transitioning to live play. Winkler uses online platforms exclusively to qualify for live events. This approach is also relevant for PPPoker players: regular online tournaments and satellites not only help develop skills but also offer tickets to major live series. It’s a chance to shine on the world stage, even if you’re just starting your poker journey. Finally, Winkler’s story is a reminder of the importance of discipline and patience. His strategy at the final table—cautious play and smart use of opportunities—paid off. For PPPoker club players, this is a signal: you don’t have to be a long-time pro to compete for big prizes. The main thing is to seize your chance, learn from experience, and not be afraid to aim high.