Lars Christer Johansson Wins Banco Championship 2026 in Bratislava

Poker-SM history was also made on other fronts. For the first time, the Swedish Poker Championship was open to all, giving the international poker community a fighting chance for the famous Swedish poker crown. This time, however, when the chips were finally bagged, the crown was still heading back to Sweden.

Winning the main Banco Championship would normally be enough to make a festival memorable, but Johansson was running hot even before the main course.

The Swedish veteran also won the Sviten Special Championship and 8-Game Mix, and finished fourth in T.O.R.S.E.S.

For the veteran, the Bratislava hot streak was enough to earn him a place in Sweden's Poker Hall of Fame.

Beyond poker, Lars added another scalp to his trophy room with two padel wins against Poker-SM director Mauritz Altikardes. These results you cannot find on Hendon Mob, but there is no doubt the bragging rights will last at least a year.

The 2026 Poker-SM was therefore successful both as a tournament, as a festival, and as a change of direction for the Swedish championship. Opening the event to international players broadened the field, while Johansson's three-title run ensured that the Swedish poker scene didn't have to reclaim its honor next year. For the first international Poker-SM in Bratislava, that is about as clean a result as you can get.