DENNO0211 wins the King’s Million €500 Closer thanks to a last-minute decision

Player DENNO0211 made a surprise appearance in the final King’s Million €500 Closer tournament and scored the biggest win of his career, taking home the title.

At the very end of the 2026 King’s Million European Poker Championship at King’s Resort, the series wrapped up with its final event — the King’s Million €500 Closer. While most players were already heading out of the casino, there was still one last shot at claiming a prestigious trophy: the royal scepter. The winner was DENNO0211, a player who hadn’t even planned to enter this tournament but made a last-minute decision to play — a choice that led to the biggest win of his career. Last-Minute Decision: How DENNO0211 Ended Up at the Table DENNO0211 had finished playing in the main events of the King’s Million series and, along with his friends, was getting ready to drive home — a 600-kilometer journey awaited them. Their bags were already packed in the car, but just before leaving, one of his friends suggested staying one more night and playing the final event of the series. DENNO0211 recalls: “We were already in the car when my friend said, ‘Let’s see if there’s a room available for one more night. We can play the tournament and then head home.’ I thought, why not? We’re already here, so we might as well give it a shot.” That spontaneous decision turned out to be life-changing: DENNO0211 joined a field of 565 entries in the €500 buy-in event and managed to go the distance, taking first place and winning €46,200. The tournament had a €100,000 guarantee, but thanks to the huge turnout, the prize pool swelled to €240,125. The Final Table: Battling for the Scepter and Surprising Twists In the heads-up, DENNO0211 faced off against Davide Muccini and came out on top, securing the coveted trophy. After the tournament, he admitted, “This is exactly what I wanted. I just wanted the scepter — and now it’s mine. It’s heavy, beautiful, really cool.” This victory was the most significant of DENNO0211’s more than 20-year poker career. He started playing at 16 or 17 with friends at home, and now, 22 years later, he managed to win a major tournament at a prestigious European series. But for him, the main motivation wasn’t the prize money — it was the thrill of competition: “The most important thing is the competition. Everyone wants to win, nobody wants to lose. Winning brings amazing emotions, gives you a rush of dopamine — that’s what I play for.” Tournament Dynamics: Unexpected Bustouts and Key Hands On the final day, 84 players returned, each already guaranteed at least €1,020. The action was fast-paced, with eliminations coming one after another. One of the biggest surprises was the early exit of Davit Mikhanashvili, who started the day as chip leader with 116 big blinds but couldn’t capitalize on his advantage and busted within the first 15 minutes. Samuel Ju also played in the event and had an outstanding series overall: he cashed in all four tournaments he entered. Notably, he finished 13th out of 346 in the €2,000 EPC Masters and 13th in a massive field of 2,903 in the €600 Monster Stack. In this tournament, Ju finished 42nd, adding another €1,156 to his winnings. Kevin Kevinov quickly built up his stack, first pulling off a huge bluff in a six-figure pot, then immediately hitting a straight flush. These back-to-back successes propelled him to the final table, but his run ended in 8th place after a dramatic hand. Up against a young French player, Kevinov went all-in, and after a long tank — even expressing his agony in German — DENNO0211 finally made a “crying call” with pocket aces. The board didn’t change anything, and Kevinov was eliminated. After the hand, DENNO0211 sent his opponent an ironic air kiss, sparking discussion among the spectators. Later, in an interview, DENNO0211 explained: “There was nothing personal about it. My friends and I often joke like that in our home games — we pretend to agonize before calling. It’s just a habit from our friendly games, nothing offensive.” Key Moments of the Heads-Up When play was down to seven, Davide Muccini took control, knocking out five opponents in a row and sending Nicholas Scott to third place, setting up the final heads-up battle. Before the duel, the players tried to negotiate a deal to split the prize money, but couldn’t come to an agreement. In the very first big hand, DENNO0211 got it all-in with A-6 against Muccini’s pocket jacks — and managed to hit trips, doubling up. From there, luck was clearly on his side: he won pot after pot, and then, all-in with a flush draw against Muccini’s trip fours, he hit the fifth heart on the river to clinch the victory. King’s Million €500 Closer Final Table Results Place Player Prize (€) 1 DENNO0211 46,200 2 Davide Muccini 28,600 3 Nicholas Scott 20,000 4 Ivan Izzillo 15,300 5 Marcos Rocha 11,800 6 Rafael Griman 8,900 7 Davit Mikhanashvili 6,700 8 Kevin Kevinov 5,000 Tournament Stats and Fun Facts Total entries: 565 Buy-in: €500 Guaranteed prize pool: €100,000 Actual prize pool: €240,125 Minimum payout on the final day: €1,020 (84 players) DENNO0211 — winner, scoring the biggest tournament victory of his career Samuel Ju cashed in all four series events, including this one Davit Mikhanashvili started the final day as chip leader but was one of the first to bust Kevin Kevinov made back-to-back highlight hands — a huge bluff and a straight flush Context: The King’s Million Series and King’s Resort The King’s Million European Poker Championship is a major European poker series held at King’s Resort, a venue famous for its large-scale tournaments, big guarantees, and for attracting top players from around the world. The €500 Closer event traditionally wraps up the series, offering one last chance to win a trophy and a significant payday. In 2026, the event drew 565 entries — more than doubling the guarantee — and set a record prize pool for its buy-in level. The final table featured several well-known series regulars, and the battle for the scepter was marked by fast-paced action and plenty of memorable hands. DENNO0211’s victory was a fitting conclusion to the series, where not only skill but also mental resilience and the ability to make snap decisions proved decisive. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this story is a great example of why it’s important to stay open to new opportunities and not be afraid to make spontaneous decisions. Even if you think the series is over for you, one extra tournament can completely change your poker year — bringing not just prize money, but also the satisfaction of beating a tough field. The second key takeaway is the value of psychological flexibility at the table. DENNO0211 showed how experience from home games and being comfortable in unusual situations can help: staying calm, joking around, and not taking the game too seriously helps you handle the pressure in crucial spots. This mindset is just as useful for online play in PPPoker clubs, where the atmosphere often feels like a friendly home game. Finally, DENNO0211’s story is a reminder that for many players, the main motivation isn’t just the money — it’s the excitement of competition, the chance to test yourself, and the thrill of big moments. Play in PPPoker club tournaments not just to win prizes, but to enjoy the game itself and connect with fellow enthusiasts.