Viorel Gavrila became the first King's Million EPC champion and won €125,500

Viorel Gavrila achieved a historic victory at King's Resort, winning the first King's Million European Poker Championship trophy and a prize of €125,500.

Viorel Gavrila made poker history by becoming the first champion of the King's Million European Poker Championship (EPC) at King's Resort. The Romanian online grinder outlasted 4,389 entrants in the €250 EPC Mini Main Event, claimed the Royal Scepter trophy, and took home the biggest win of his career — €125,500 from a prize pool guaranteed at €1,000,000. Viorel Gavrila’s Path to a Historic Victory The final day of the tournament at King's Resort began with 34 players remaining, and it was Viorel Gavrila who set the pace from the very start, a pace no one else could match. Early in the day, he quickly took the chip lead and continued to build his advantage as the field shrank. Gavrila was the first player to surpass the 10, 20, and 30 million chip marks, allowing him to control the game throughout the final stages. As the battle entered its decisive phase, Gavrila only strengthened his dominance. He personally knocked out each of the last four opponents standing between him and the championship title. In heads-up play, he faced a player known as Mystery Kid, with whom Viorel already had experience at the tables. The final showdown was brief: in the very first hand, an all-in and call decided the tournament’s fate. Gavrila, holding 9-5 offsuit, outdrew his opponent’s A-K, sealing the victory and securing the largest prize of his live career. Final Table: Results and Payouts Before this tournament, Viorel Gavrila had $535,157 in live tournament winnings, but none of his previous cashes came close to a six-figure sum. His best result before this was a $40,779 win (according to The Hendon Mob). Despite this, Gavrila was already familiar with live victories: he holds a title from the 888poker LIVE Main Event, as well as wins in the Circuito Nacional de Poker and Gentlemen's Elite Series Main Event. In 2026, Gavrila barely played live: before Rozvadov, his winnings for the year totaled just $10,007, with most of his action taking place online. After his victory, Viorel noted that his many years of online experience helped him stay calm under the pressure of the final day: “I played without emotion. I’m a professional, I’ve spent 12 years at online tables, and it was very easy for me.” Interestingly, three years ago Gavrila had already reached the final table of a similar tournament under the WSOPE banner, but finished only ninth. Now, he has claimed victory and admitted he is very pleased with the result. Final Table Payouts for the €250 EPC Mini Main Event 1st place: Viorel Gavrila — €125,500 2nd place: Mystery Kid — €77,600 3rd place: Dragos Iosub — €55,000 4th place: Michal Ligocki — €41,000 5th place: Maximilian Kuntz — €31,000 6th place: Binh Nguyen (VNM) — €23,000 7th place: [Not specified in the source] 8th place: [Not specified in the source] 9th place: [Not specified in the source] Full payout details for 7th to 9th place are not provided in the source. Key Moments of the Final Day The final day of the tournament can be described as Gavrila’s triumphant march to the title. From the very first hands, he began building his stack, giving his opponents no chance to seize the initiative. His surge was especially notable: he was the first among all players to surpass the 10, 20, and 30 million chip marks, giving him a comfortable cushion for aggressive play at the final table. When five players remained, it was Gavrila who knocked each of them out, sending his opponents to the payout desk one by one. In heads-up, his opponent was Mystery Kid — a player Viorel had faced many times before, making their showdown a matter of principle. Gavrila noted that he respected his opponent’s game: “He played well. We’ve met often, we have history. Today I just got luckier.” The decisive hand was swift: Gavrila’s 9-5 offsuit beat Mystery Kid’s A-K, putting a spectacular end to the tournament. Context: The King's Million EPC Series and King's Resort King's Resort in Rozvadov is one of Europe’s most famous poker venues, regularly hosting the biggest tournaments and series. The 2026 King's Million European Poker Championship is a large-scale festival featuring 10 major events with a variety of formats and buy-ins. The €250 EPC Mini Main Event kicked off the series and was the first of ten tournaments to be covered live by PokerNews. After the Mini Main Event, the series continues with the €400 Deepstack, followed by Mystery Bounty, PLO, and other events. The festival will culminate in the €1,150 EPC Super Main Event, which will bring together the series’ best players and crown the main champion of the King's Million EPC 2026. PokerNews Live Reporting Schedule for King's Million EPC 2026 €250 EPC Mini Main Event (completed, winner — Viorel Gavrila) €400 Deepstack Mystery Bounty PLO Events €1,150 EPC Super Main Event Throughout the festival, PokerNews will continue to publish fresh updates, results, and the main stories from King's Resort. The Winner’s Perspective: Transitioning from Online to Live Play After his victory, Gavrila told PokerNews that he had long preferred online poker, but now plans to play live more often. According to him, it’s live tournaments that bring him real enjoyment: “I love playing live because I enjoy the atmosphere at the table and the chance to interact with people. It’s nothing like online.” The experience gained over 12 years of online play helped him stay calm in crucial moments. Gavrila emphasized that the ability to control emotions and make decisions under pressure was one of the keys to his success at the final table. Interestingly, three years ago he had already reached the final table of a similar tournament, but finished ninth. Now, years later, he has realized his potential and become the first champion of the King's Million EPC. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players Viorel Gavrila’s victory at the King's Million EPC is a great example of how online experience can provide a solid foundation for success in live tournaments. For PPPoker club members, it’s proof that regular practice, studying strategy, and developing skills online can prepare you for serious results at the real tables of major festivals. Gavrila’s story also highlights the importance of psychological resilience and emotional control, especially in the final stages of tournaments with big prizes. PPPoker club players can take this approach to heart, working not only on their technical game but also on the mental side. Finally, Gavrila’s example is an inspiration not to be afraid of transitioning from online to live tournaments. Even if most of your practice is online, the skills and discipline you gain can help you succeed at the biggest live events if you decide to take the next step in your poker career.