Greek player Kyriakos Kesidis won the EPC Monsterstack trophy

Greek poker enthusiast Kyriakos Kesidis claimed victory in the €600 Monsterstack event at the King's Million European Poker Championship 2026. Discover the details of the final table and his road to success.

As part of the prestigious King's Million European Poker Championship 2026 series, the €600 Monsterstack tournament at King's Resort has concluded, attracting an impressive number of participants and ending in triumph for Greek poker enthusiast Kyriakos Kesidis. Despite a string of setbacks during the starting flights, it was his fifth attempt that brought him not only his first major trophy but also a substantial cash prize. In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at the tournament’s progress, the key moments of the final table, and what this success means for PPPoker club players. Context: The Series and Tournament Format The King's Million European Poker Championship is one of the largest poker series held annually at King's Resort. This resort is renowned for its large-scale tournaments and attracts top players from around the world. The €600 Monsterstack tournament traditionally draws both professionals and amateurs thanks to its affordable buy-in (€600) and deep stacks, allowing participants to showcase their skill and endurance. Monsterstack is a tournament format where players start with a larger starting stack compared to regular tournaments. This provides more room for maneuvering and strategic play, as well as extending the tournament’s duration, which is especially valued by experienced players. Kyriakos Kesidis’s Road to Victory: From Despair to Triumph Kyriakos Kesidis, a native of Greece who works as a physiotherapist in Cyprus, is not a professional player and only participates in live tournaments a few times a year. For him, poker is a hobby, not a profession, and by his own admission, he plays just two or three times a year, combining the game with travel and his favorite pastime. This time, the road to success was not easy: Kesidis was eliminated four times during the tournament’s starting flights, but despite a friend’s advice to stop, he decided to make a fifth attempt. This determination proved to be the turning point: “Two days ago, I told my friend I’d already played four times and busted, and he replied, ‘Don’t register again, that’s too much for this tournament.’ But I felt this tournament was for me, so I registered for the fifth time,” Kesidis said after his victory. The fifth registration allowed him to advance to Day 2 of the tournament, where he began to dominate at the tables and entered the final day as one of the chip leaders among the remaining 24 players. The Final Day: Key Moments The final day of the tournament started with 24 participants, and already in the first level, a third of the field was eliminated, setting a fast pace for the action. Kesidis began the day with a big stack, but by the time the final table of nine was set, he found himself in the middle of the chip counts. Nevertheless, he managed to score two knockouts and double up twice, regaining the lead when only four players remained. Before the decisive stage, the finalists took a break, after which a key decision was made—a deal to split the prize money according to ICM (Independent Chip Model). It was Kesidis who suggested discussing a deal to guarantee each of the four remaining players a six-figure payout. “I suggested we discuss a deal, but I didn’t demand more than the others. We just looked at the numbers,” the winner noted. As a result, the players agreed to an ICM deal, with the main part of the prize pool distributed among the four finalists and an additional sum left for the top two spots. After the deal, Kesidis admitted he relaxed a bit, knowing he had secured over €112,000. However, his friend reminded him there was still more money to play for: “You’ve never had that kind of money in your account, so keep fighting.” Inspired by the support, Kesidis pulled himself together and continued playing, including getting lucky on the river in a key hand against BUNJO. Tournament Climax: The Battle for the Title and the Winner’s Emotions In the decisive phase of the tournament, Kesidis found himself as the short stack several times but managed to keep his chances alive. Third place went to Dan Sfarlea, who was left with just four big blinds after the first hand of the final day and couldn’t recover. In heads-up, Kesidis first doubled up against BUNJO, and in the very next hand caught the card he needed on the river to seal the victory. After the final hand, Kesidis admitted he couldn’t believe his success at first: “I thought—no way, this can’t be happening. I didn’t even know how to react, since only my friend was there. But I’m sure that in Cyprus, people are supporting me and celebrating with me, and that makes me happy.” Tournament Numbers: Payouts and Final Table Results The €600 Monsterstack tournament drew a record 2,903 entries, creating a prize pool of €1,480,530. Thanks to the ICM deal, all four finalists received six-figure payouts, while Kesidis took home his first major trophy and €146,800 in prize money. €600 Monsterstack Final Table Results* *Payouts adjusted according to the four-way ICM deal. 1st place: Kyriakos Kesidis — €146,800* 2nd place: BUNJO — €124,900* 3rd place: Dan Sfarlea — €112,000* 4th place: Dalibor Dula — €112,000* 5th place: Jan Bendik — €54,200 6th place: Gal Naim — €38,100 7th place: Jaime Lebre — €27,100 8th place: Jan Tichacek — €19,500 9th place: Lowkey — €14,200 Psychology and Strategy: The Role of Persistence and Deals at the Final Table Kyriakos Kesidis’s story is an example of how persistence and self-belief can lead to success even after a series of setbacks. Five entries into a tournament is a serious investment for a recreational player, but it was determination and the ability to seize the opportunity that proved to be the key factors. Additionally, the ICM deal at the final table highlights the importance of strategic thinking. ICM deals allow players to minimize risk and guarantee themselves large payouts, which is especially relevant in tournaments with big prize pools. In this case, Kesidis’s initiative to discuss a deal brought calm and confidence, while his friend’s support helped him keep up the pace in the fight for the top prize. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, Kyriakos Kesidis’s story is a vivid illustration that even an amateur can achieve major success at a big series if they show persistence and don’t give up after setbacks. It’s important not to lose heart after busting out and to take every new chance, as that extra attempt could be the decisive one. It’s also worth paying attention to the practice of making deals at final tables. In PPPoker club tournaments, situations often arise where players can agree to split the prize money according to ICM or chip counts. Mastering these skills and understanding the benefits of such agreements can significantly increase your chances of consistent big wins and reduce tournament variance. Finally, Kesidis’s example shows that even with limited experience and infrequent trips to live tournaments, you can successfully compete with strong opponents. The main thing is to stay calm, assess the situation objectively, and not be afraid to make decisions that may seem risky if you believe in your abilities.