Nicolas Bokowski recognized as the Player of the Series at EMPC 2026 in Tallinn

The EMPC 2026 poker festival has concluded in Tallinn, where Nicolas Bokowski became the best player of the series, surpassing his competitors on the leaderboard.

The European Mixed Poker Championship (EMPC) 2026 festival has concluded in Tallinn, held at the Olympic Park Casino under the auspices of Olybet Poker. The main star of the series was German player Nicolas Bokowski, who demonstrated consistent play throughout the week and claimed the title of “EMPC Player of the Series.” According to the leaderboard, he outperformed Englishman Seun Oluwole and fellow German Philipp Krieger, who finished second and third respectively. EMPC 2026 Festival Overview: Formats, Participants, and Prizes The EMPC 2026 series featured 12 tournaments in various mixed game formats, with buy-ins ranging from €200 to €1,500. There were a total of 856 entries, and the overall prize pool reached €371,070. Both seasoned professionals and amateurs were among the participants and prize winners, highlighting the growing interest in mixed poker disciplines. Particular attention was drawn to the victory of Finn Tapani Pulkkinen in the series’ Main Event — an 8-Game tournament with an €800 buy-in. This tournament attracted 146 entries and boasted the largest prize pool, awarding €97,090. The winner received €22,250 — the biggest prize of the festival. Nicolas Bokowski’s Path to the “EMPC Player of the Series” Title Nicolas Bokowski from Germany showed remarkable consistency, cashing five times during the festival. His run began with a win in the €300 Nordic Special Mix tournament, where he defeated Slovenian Blaz Zerjav heads-up to claim €6,150. Zerjav, who won both the Main Event and Player of the Series title in 2025, was denied a repeat by Bokowski this time. Bokowski’s second major result came in the €1,500 S.O.R.B.E.T. High Roller . In a tense heads-up battle against Patrick Stacey that lasted three and a half hours, the German finished runner-up but added another €12,830 to his bankroll. Stacey took home €20,230 for the win. In addition to these achievements, Bokowski finished third in the opening event, the €300 Big Bet Mix , and cashed twice more. His total points amounted to 809.5 — enough to confidently outpace his closest rivals. Seun Oluwole from England was Bokowski’s main competitor. He reached three final tables: fourth place in the €200 S.O.R.B.E.T. , runner-up in Senkel's Paradise Pick'em , and third in the Main Event, earning €10,930. Philipp Krieger, also representing Germany, made an impressive leap on the final day of the series. His victory in the last tournament, €200 Omaha Dealer's Choice , against Estonian Heiti Riisberg, earned him €3,004 and propelled him from 19th to third place overall. This was Krieger’s fifth cash of the festival. EMPC Player of the Series Leaderboard 1. Nicolas Bokowski (Germany) — 809.5 points 2. Seun Oluwole (England) — 702 points 3. Philipp Krieger (Germany) — secured third place with a win in the final tournament The leaderboard was based on results from all 12 tournaments, taking into account the depth of each run, and allowed players who consistently cashed to contend for the overall victory even without winning the Main Event. Main Event: Tapani Pulkkinen’s Triumph The largest prize pool was awarded in the €800 8-Game Main Event , which combined eight different poker disciplines. The tournament drew 146 players, and the final table featured top representatives from various countries. Tapani Pulkkinen from Finland entered the final with the second-largest stack, trailing only Wantao Tang, but managed to capitalize on key hands. In heads-up play, Pulkkinen faced Danish player Christian Elgstrøm and emerged victorious, taking home €22,250. Elgstrøm finished second (€15,070), while Seun Oluwole claimed third place, adding €10,930 to his winnings. After his win, Pulkkinen noted that his strategy was simple: play as rationally as possible and hope for good fortune. He also emphasized that his strongest discipline is Pot-Limit Omaha — the decisive hand of the final was played in this variant. Defending champion Blaz Zerjav also participated in the tournament but finished 22nd, just three spots short of the money — he was eliminated by Seun Oluwole. EMPC Main Event 2026 Final Table Results 1. Tapani Pulkkinen (Finland) — €22,250 2. Christian Elgstrøm (Denmark) — €15,070 3. Seun Oluwole (England) — €10,930 Diverse Formats and Festival Atmosphere EMPC 2026 stood out for its wide range of formats: from classic limit games to popular mixes like Big Bet Mix and 8-Game. Buy-ins ranged from €200 to €1,500, attracting both professionals and mixed game enthusiasts. According to Pulkkinen, the atmosphere at the series was very friendly and helped promote mixed games: “I had a great time, the atmosphere here is excellent, and I’m sure many will want to try these formats.” Across 12 tournaments, €371,070 was awarded, and winners and finalists represented various countries: Germany, Finland, England, Denmark, Slovenia, Estonia. This confirms the series’ high international status and the growing interest in mixed games beyond traditional poker hubs. Key Participants and Their Achievements Notable players at the festival included: Blaz Zerjav (Slovenia) — EMPC 2025 champion, came close to cashing in this year’s Main Event; Patrick Stacey — winner of the €1,500 S.O.R.B.E.T. High Roller (€20,230); Heiti Riisberg (Estonia) — finalist in the series’ concluding tournament; Philipp Krieger (Germany) — made a breakthrough on the leaderboard with a win in the final tournament; Seun Oluwole (England) — three final tables, third in the Main Event, and runner-up in Senkel's Paradise Pick'em; Tapani Pulkkinen (Finland) — Main Event champion and winner of the festival’s largest prize. Other participants mentioned in the festival recap included Alexander Aaneland, Andres Korn, Christophe Stammet, Eirik Kristiansen, Erik Sønste­by, Ilkka Heikkila, Jerry Ödeen, Marius Toverud, Patrick Stacey, Raymond For. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, the results of EMPC 2026 offer several important takeaways. First, consistency and regular cashes can be just as valuable as single big wins. Mixed game formats allow players to showcase their skills across different disciplines, which is especially relevant for those aiming for versatility and growth. Second, the growing interest in mixed games at international series confirms that mastering new formats is not only a way to improve your game but also an opportunity for success in PPPoker club leagues. Practicing in tournaments like 8-Game, Big Bet Mix, Omaha Dealer's Choice, and other variants will help prepare for major events and increase your chances of success. Finally, the EMPC experience shows that even amateurs, like Philipp Krieger, can achieve impressive results by actively participating in the series and seizing every opportunity to cash. This is a great incentive for PPPoker players not to limit themselves to a single discipline, but to try different formats, broaden their poker horizons, and boost their chances for major achievements.