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12 Aug 2026Read More
European Poker Fever Continued in WSOP Circuit Samorin 2026
- WSOPC Samorin 2026 broke records with 1,160 Main Event entries and €1.47M prize pool.
- Romania's Alexandru Popa won the Main Event for €235,000; 11 rings awarded across Europe.
- Side events saw huge turnouts, confirming live poker’s thriving health.
WSOP Circuit Samorin 2026.
The live poker boom is alive and well. Anyone doubting the health of the European circuit only needed to look at Card Casino Šamorín this August. Massive fields, shattered guarantees, and serious ROI were on the menu.
If you made the trip, you found plenty of value. If you stayed home, the WSOPC Samorin 2026 results show exactly what you missed.
WSOPC Samorin 2026 Basic Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 31 – August 11, 2026 |
| Venue | Card Casino Šamorín (near Bratislava) |
| Advertised Guarantees | €2.8 million |
| Scheduled Ring Events | 12 (11 confirmed, what happened to PLO High Roller?) |
| Main Event Guarantee | €1,000,000 |
| Main Event Prize Pool | €1,472,120 |
| Main Event Entries | 1,160 |
WSOP Circuit Samorin Main Event: Popa Crowned After Dominating Run
- Initial Guarantee: €1,000,000
- Total Entries: 1,160
- Final Prize Pool: €1,472,120
- The Champion: Alexandru Popa (Romania) – €235,000
- The Runner-up: Rostyslav Sabishchenko (Ukraine) – €155,000
Popa secured the largest first-place prize in Card Casino history, while Ukraine’s Sabishchenko and Hungary’s Bence Paris (€109,000) also received six-figure paydays.
Superb Side-Action In Full Display
Complete WSOPC Samorin 2026 Ring Winner Roster
A total of 11 WSOPC rings were confirmed. Hungary took down three, Romania claimed two, and the rest scattered across Europe.
Next to the main event, the Samorin side-action ended up being super popular.
- Where was the best budget value?
Without a doubt, the €350 Mini Main Event. It drew a ridiculous 1,709 entries, inflating a €300K guarantee up to €519,536. Hungary's Peter Tordai walked away with €85,000 and a $5,000 WSOP Paradise package. Massive return on a low buy-in. - Who committed the ultimate heist?
Slovenia's Žiga Klopčič. He busted in 71st place in the €550 Mystery Bounty but managed to snipe the €25,000 top envelope on his way out the door. The actual tournament winner, Antonino Karman, outlasted the 658-entry field and took home €29,500 from the regular pool. A proper hit-and-run by Klopčič. - Did PLO specialists get paid?
They did. Czech grinder Ondrej Goetz shipped the €1,800 PLO Championship for a very solid €106,800 against a 272-entry field. For the smaller bankrolls, Bulgaria's Miroslav Pantaleev beat out 326 entries to take down the €550 PLO Opener for €32,400.
Complete WSOPC Samorin 2026 Ring Winner Roster
A total of 11 WSOPC rings were confirmed. Hungary took down three, Romania claimed two, and the rest scattered across Europe.
| Tournament | Buy-in | GTD | Entries | Winner | Country | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Main Event | €350 | €300,000 | 1,709 | Peter Tordai | Hungary | €85,000 |
| Mystery Bounty | €550 | €200,000 | 658 | Antonino Karman | Hungary | €29,500* |
| PLO Opener | €550 | €150,000 | 326 | Miroslav Pantaleev | Bulgaria | €32,400 |
| NLH Bounty Hunter | €800 | €75,000 | 173 | Vincenzo Lapenna | Italy | €18,226 |
| PLO Championship | €1,800 | €500,000 | 272 | Ondrej Goetz | Czechia | €106,800 |
| NLH 6-Max | €750 | €100,000 | 318 | Alexandru Cinca | Romania | €46,148 |
| NLH Championship Main Event | €1,500 | €1,000,000 | 1,160 | Alexandru Popa | Romania | €235,000 |
| NLH High Roller | €3,500 | €150,000 | 59 | Laszlo Molnar | Hungary | €58,465 |
| NLH Ladies Night | €350 | €10,000 | 64 | Jenny Westerlund | Sweden | €5,990 |
| Mix NLH/PLO | €600 | €50,000 | 172 | Tomer Halevy | Israel | €21,934 |
| Last Chance 1K | €1,000 | €100,000 | 219 | Dmytro Smyrnov | Ukraine | €43,815 |
Next Stops on the 2026 WSOPC Schedule
The WSOPC 2026 calendar waits for no one. The festival machine is already packing up and moving straight into the autumn grind. If you are looking to chase rings before the year ends, here is exactly where you need to be:
- WSOP Super Circuit Canada: The WSOP Super Circuit takes over Playground from August 24 to September 9.
- WSOPC Paris: European action resumes at the Partouche Casino Club running September 1 through September 12.
- WSOPC Malta: Casino Malta hosts the next Mediterranean stop from September 25 to October 5.
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