Last Updated on September 22, 2026 by Bala Kumar
Bratislava’s Banco Casino played host to history this week as the very first EPICBET Club Championship wrapped up its inaugural Main Event, crowning Norway’s Jan Marius Bakke as the series’ first-ever champion after a tense final table and a three-way deal.
A Record Turnout for a Brand-New Series
Running September 16–21, 2026, the EPICBET Club Championship marked Banco Bratislava’s first time hosting the new festival, and the €300+40 Main Event delivered in a big way. What began with expectations of a modest field, and even some talk of a potential overlay, turned into a total of 549 entries and a prize pool of €154,818 after a 6% staff deduction, comfortably clearing the €150,000 guarantee. Fifty-six players made the money, each securing a min-cash of €790.
Setting the Stage for the Final Table
Heading into the final day, only nine of the 549 original entries remained, with Icelandic player Daniel Palsson holding the chip lead. The final nine represented a genuinely international lineup, with the livestream from the final table kicking off at 16:30 local time.
One storyline fans were watching closely was whether Martina Svobodová could become the tournament’s first female champion — she took her seat at the final table as the player with the fourth-largest stack. Ultimately, her run ended in sixth place, earning her €3,770 — the min-cash for the final table’s last lady standing.
Germany’s Niclas Thumm also made a notable push. Despite being the shortest stack at the final table with 1,040,000 chips, Thumm found a double-up in a key spot, rivering an 8 to crack the kings of Morten Opedal, and battled his way to a fifth-place finish.
The Final Stretch and a Three-Way Deal
As the field narrowed, the remaining players opted to negotiate rather than play it all the way out. A deal was struck among the final three players, a common move in tournaments of this size where players look to lock in life-changing money while still leaving something meaningful on the table for first place.
When the deal was done and the cards stopped flying, it was Jan Marius Bakke who claimed the title of the first-ever EPICBET Club Championship Main Event winner, taking home the headline prize of €30,128.
By the Numbers
- Buy-in: €300 + €40
- Total entries: 549
- Prize pool: €154,818 (after 6% staff deduction)
- Guarantee: €150,000 (smashed)
- Winner: Jan Marius Bakke
- First prize: €30,128
- Best German finish: Niclas Thumm, 5th place
- Last woman standing: Martina Svobodová, 6th place, €3,770
What’s Next for Banco Bratislava
The poker doesn’t stop in Bratislava. Just one day after the EPICBET Club Championship wrapped, the 45th edition of the Banco Casino Masters & PLO Masters kicks off on September 22 and runs through September 28, headlined once again by a Main Event with a €250,000 guarantee for a €170 buy-in. Organizers have also introduced a Day 1A option at half price (€85), making the Main Event more accessible to players with smaller bankrolls.
Looking further ahead, Banco Bratislava has already announced its biggest festival of the year: the €500,000 Polish Poker Championship Main Event, running November 4–16 for a buy-in of just €150.
For a series making its debut, the first EPICBET Club Championship delivered exactly what organizers hoped for — a packed field, a nail-biting final table, and a new champion crowned live in front of an online audience. If this is the standard for year one, Bratislava’s newest poker series looks like it’s here to stay.
FAQs
1. Who won the inaugural EPICBET Club Championship Main Event?
Norway’s Jan Marius Bakke won the inaugural EPICBET Club Championship Main Event at Banco Casino Bratislava, taking home €30,128.
2. How many entries did the EPICBET Club Championship Main Event attract?
The €300+40 Main Event attracted 549 entries, generating a prize pool of €154,818 after the 6% staff deduction.
3. What was the guarantee for the EPICBET Club Championship Main Event?
The tournament carried a €150,000 guarantee, which was exceeded when the final prize pool reached €154,818.
4. Who finished second and third in the EPICBET Club Championship?
The final three players reached a three-way deal before play concluded. Jan Marius Bakke ultimately took the title and €30,128, while the other two players shared the remaining negotiated payouts.
5. Where was the EPICBET Club Championship Main Event held?
The inaugural EPICBET Club Championship Main Event was held at Banco Casino Bratislava in Bratislava, Slovakia, with the final table streamed live online.
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