A Lithuanian player named Marius Kudzmanas made history by winning the 2026 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event. He cracked pocket kings on the final hand to claim €2 million from a record field of 2,617 entrants. This victory marks the first time a player from Lithuania has topped the European flagship tournament.
The event smashed expectations at its new Prague home. Players flocked to the tables, creating buzz that lit up social media. Details of Kudzmanas’ bold run promise thrills ahead.
The 2026 WSOP Europe Main Event drew 2,617 players. That number beat all past records for the tournament. The €5,300 buy-in event ran from late March into early April at King’s Casino in Hilton Prague.
This huge turnout built a prize pool of €13,085,000. It topped the €10 million guarantee by a wide margin. Top prizes went to skilled pros and dream chasers alike.
One single fact stands out. No previous WSOP Europe Main Event had seen so many entries. Organizers credit the move to Prague and strong online support from GGPoker.
Players loved the fresh spot. Easy access from major cities helped boost numbers. The festival featured 15 bracelet events overall, drawing top talent.
Star-Studded Final Table Delivers Drama
Nine players returned for the final table on April 10. Chip leader Hengtao Zhu from Finland started with 36.3 million. Thomas Eychenne of France sat close behind at 25.8 million.
Marius Kudzmanas held 18 million, good for fourth in chips. Veterans like Chris Hunichen of the US brought serious heat. Here are the starting stacks:
| Seat | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas Eychenne | France | 25.8M | 65 |
| 2 | Joona Nyholm | Finland | 3.3M | 8 |
| 3 | Chris Hunichen | United States | 19.3M | 48 |
| 4 | Hengtao Zhu | Finland | 36.3M | 91 |
| 5 | Nikolay Bibov | Bulgaria | 13.2M | 33 |
| 6 | Antonio Guimaraens | Spain | 5.7M | 14 |
| 7 | Akihiro Konishi | Japan | 14.4M | 36 |
| 8 | Marius Kudzmanas | Lithuania | 18.1M | 45 |
| 9 | Brandon Sheils | UK | 20.9M | 52 |
Short stack Joona Nyholm fell first. He lost a flip to Hunichen.
Brandon Sheils, third in chips, dropped big pots early. He jammed ace-queen into ace-king and busted eighth for €185,000.
Eychenne, a 2025 EPT Barcelona champ, ran kings into Kudzmanas’ nines. That key spot shifted momentum. France’s star exited seventh with €245,000.
Kudzmanas Builds Lead Through Tense Eliminations
Kudzmanas gained steam after top pros bowed out. He called a river heroically to end Hengtao Zhu in sixth for €320,000.
Spain’s Antonio Guimaraens, a music fest organizer new to big stages, grabbed fifth and €425,000.
Dinner break brought fireworks. Hunichen tripled up with jacks over aces held by others. He grabbed the lead briefly.
Nikolay Bibov then lost a massive 61 million pot to Kudzmanas. Bibov hit a three-outer but still busted fourth for €575,000.
Hunichen shoved sevens into Konishi’s queens. The US pro took third and €800,000.
Heads-up pitted Kudzmanas against Japan’s Akihiro Konishi. Konishi held an 82 to 60 big blind edge at first.
Kudzmanas fought back with big bets and pressure. He built a 3-to-1 lead.
Epic Final Hand Crowns Lithuania’s First Champ
The last hand sealed it all. Flop came seven-five-four rainbow. Konishi shoved with pocket kings.
Kudzmanas snap-called with seven-six suited. Turn brought another seven for trips. River jack changed nothing.
Kudzmanas turned trips to crack kings and win €2 million. Konishi earned €1.2 million for second.
Full final table payouts:
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marius Kudzmanas | Lithuania | 2,000,000 |
| 2 | Akihiro Konishi | Japan | 1,200,000 |
| 3 | Chris Hunichen | US | 800,000 |
| 4 | Nikolay Bibov | Bulgaria | 575,000 |
| 5 | Antonio Guimaraens | Spain | 425,000 |
| 6 | Hengtao Zhu | Finland | 320,000 |
| 7 | Thomas Eychenne | France | 245,000 |
| 8 | Brandon Sheils | UK | 185,000 |
| 9 | Joona Nyholm | Finland | 140,000 |
This marked Kudzmanas’ third WSOP bracelet. His first two came online. Past live scores include a runner-up at EPT Prague High Roller for €340,000.
He now leads WSOP Player of the Year race. That contest offers $1 million total across series.
Kudzmanas shared his mindset. “I felt like the best at the table. Just play my game.” The Main Event win felt special. Poker Hall of Famer Michael Mizrachi handed him the bracelet.
Prague Move Sparks WSOP Europe Revival
WSOP Europe shifted from Rozvadov after nine years. The 100-mile jump to Prague paid off big.
The Hilton Prague venue wowed players. Better flights and hotels drew crowds from Europe and beyond.
Festival success showed in numbers. 15 bracelet events filled fast under GGPoker. It sets up future growth.
Past winners like Daniel Pidun in 2025 hailed from Germany. Kudzmanas breaks new ground for smaller nations.
Lithuania celebrates its poker trailblazer. His story inspires grinders everywhere.
Marius Kudzmanas’ epic run in the 2026 WSOP Europe Main Event blends skill, luck, and grit into poker gold. From record fields to a dream call, this tale shows why the game captivates millions. Prague’s fresh start promises more thrills ahead.
