Vasilis Nikolas won €123,850 at the King's Million EPC tournament

Vasilis Nikolas claimed his first live poker tournament victory, winning €123,850 and a big bounty at the King's Million European Poker Championship 2026.

Vasilis Nikolas claimed his first live poker tournament victory, winning €123,850 and a large bounty at the King's Million EPC King’s Million EPC: Series and Tournament Format In 2026, the prestigious King’s Million European Poker Championship was held at King’s Resort. One of the key events of the series was the €1,000 Mystery Bounty tournament—a format where each knockout earns a player a random bounty of unknown value. The tournament featured eight starting days (flights), which helped gather an impressive field of 1,863 entries and create a prize pool of €1,583,550 . Mystery Bounty is a type of knockout tournament where, for each elimination, a player draws an envelope with a prize of unknown value. The minimum bounty was €300, while the maximum reached an impressive €150,000. This format adds extra excitement and strategy: players compete not only for the final prizes but also for the chance to pull a big bonus during the tournament. Vasilis Nikolas’s Road to Victory This tournament was special for Vasilis Nikolas for several reasons. First, it was his first live tournament win. Previously, he had reached several final tables but had never won a trophy. Second, the €1,000 buy-in was the largest of his career, and his winnings exceeded all his previous live cashes combined (his first cash dates back to 2022). Nikolas spent three intense days at the poker tables, overcoming competition from nearly two thousand participants. After his victory, he noted that this success is just the beginning of his journey and emphasized the importance of support from family and friends. Nikolas thanked his Greek and Swedish friends and especially highlighted the support of his wife, who, he said, believes in him and allows him to pursue his passion. Key Tournament Moments: Bounties and the Final Table The mystery bounties came into play on Day 2. Each time a player knocked out an opponent, they had the chance to draw an envelope with a prize. The top prize— €150,000 —went to French pro Axel Bayout about halfway through Day 2. Thanks to this, regardless of his final position, Bayout had already secured a solid payout, almost equal to the first-place prize. However, Bayout didn’t stop there and made it to the final table, ultimately finishing fourth and earning another €89,280 . In total, his winnings were the largest of the tournament. The second largest bounty— €75,000 —went to Leonidas Georgopoulos . He drew this prize during a break but couldn’t repeat Bayout’s success: he busted in 54th place, earning €1,970. On Day 3, 24 players returned to the tables. In addition to the battle for the championship title, one last big bounty— €30,000 —was still up for grabs. This added extra dynamics: players were willing to take risks for a chance at the final significant prize. When Andrea Marchi was eliminated in fifth place, the remaining four players agreed to an ICM deal (dividing the prize money according to chip stacks), considering that the last bounty made up a significant part of the remaining payouts. Final Table Showdown: Key Hands and Nikolas’s Victory After the deal, the battle became even more intense. The first to bust from the final four was Axel Bayout : his big bluff in a blind-vs-blind battle was picked off by Vasilis Nikolas, who made a smart hero call with pocket kings on an ace-high board. This decision sent Bayout to fourth place. Soon after, Luca Beretta lost a crucial coin flip to Loris Greco , setting up the heads-up match. The final showdown between Vasilis Nikolas and Loris Greco was very brief—just two hands. In the key hand, Greco went all-in with pocket eights against Nikolas’s A-K. An ace hit the turn, giving Nikolas the win. After the final handshake, Nikolas celebrated his victory with family and friends who had supported him throughout the tournament. The tournament’s final act: Nikolas drew the last unclaimed bounty of €30,000 , bringing his total winnings to over €150,000. This success was not only his first trophy but also the biggest achievement of his career. Final Table Results of the €1,000 Mystery Bounty 1st place: Vasilis Nikolas — €123,850* + bounty 2nd place: Loris Greco — €116,540* 3rd place: Luca Beretta — €108,880* 4th place: Axel Bayout — €89,280* + €150,000 (top bounty) 5th place: Andrea Marchi — €53,300 6th place: Leandro Gaone — €40,400 7th place: Emmanouil Chalkiotis — €30,900 8th place: — * — The final four players agreed to an ICM deal (prize pool split according to chip stacks). It’s also worth noting that Leonidas Georgopoulos finished 54th (€1,970) but also won the second largest bounty—€75,000. Key Players and Their Achievements Vasilis Nikolas — tournament champion, won his first live trophy, earned over €150,000 including bounties. Axel Bayout — winner of the largest bounty (€150,000) and fourth place finisher, total winnings were the highest among all participants. Leonidas Georgopoulos — won the second largest bounty (€75,000) but did not reach the final table. Loris Greco — finalist, runner-up in heads-up. Luca Beretta — bronze medalist. Andrea Marchi — fifth place. Leandro Gaone and Emmanouil Chalkiotis — final table participants. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players This story shows that even players without big titles and with little experience can achieve major success in today’s poker tournaments. For PPPoker club members, it’s a great example of how smart play, support from those around you, and self-belief can lead to significant results—even in tournaments with large fields and tough competition. The Mystery Bounty format is becoming increasingly popular both in live and online poker, including club games on PPPoker. This approach makes tournament strategy more flexible: it’s important not only to build your stack but also to actively go after bounties, since a single lucky envelope can change your entire tournament destiny. Players should keep this in mind when choosing their tactics and not be afraid to take risks when a big bonus is on the line. Finally, Vasilis Nikolas’s experience highlights that support from friends and family, as well as a positive mindset, are key ingredients for success. In PPPoker clubs, you can always find like-minded people who will offer advice and support, and regular tournaments with bounty structures give everyone a chance to shine and perhaps follow in the footsteps of the new King’s Million EPC champion.