Bulgaria’s Ivelin Kolev Captures WPT Prime Cyprus Championship Title and $171,600

Last Updated on October 20, 2026 by Bala Kumar

The WPT Prime Cyprus festival has crowned its headline champion. Bulgarian player Ivelin Kolev outlasted a field of 953 entries to win the $1,100 WPT Prime Cyprus Championship at the Chamada Prestige Hotel & Casino in Kyrenia, banking the top prize of $171,600 when the final table wrapped up on Monday night.

A Championship Worth the Wait

This title carried extra weight because it almost did not happen this year. The championship was originally set for the spring but was postponed due to the war in Iran, as flight cancellations and travel uncertainty prevented WPT staff from attending. WPT then rescheduled the event for October 15–19 with a $1 million guaranteed prize pool, as the centrepiece of the WPT Prime Cyprus festival running October 7–19.

The wait paid off. Across 13 days, the festival offered 14 tournaments, and the Championship comfortably beat its guarantee with 953 entries.

How the Event Played Out

• Starting flights: Five Day 1 flights fed into Day 2
• Money bubble: 118 players cashed, with a minimum payout of $2,100
• Final eight: Only eight players returned on Monday for the final day
• Chip leader: Said Tahar entered the final table with the biggest stack

Play resumed around 4:00 p.m. local time, and by just before 9:00 p.m., the tournament was down to heads-up between Kolev and Tahar.

The Winning Hand

The final hand was a dramatic one. Kolev held 6♦ 4♠ against Tahar’s Q♠ 3♥.

The board ran out 10♣ 7♣ 5♣ Q♥ 3♠. Tahar paired his queen on the turn and picked up two pair on the river, but that same river 3 completed Kolev’s open-ended straight draw, giving him a seven-high straight and the title.

A Career-Defining Win

Kolev was already familiar with this venue. Earlier in 2026 he finished 4th in a $2,200 No-Limit Hold’em event at WPT Prime Cyprus for $37,500, and before this win his recorded career earnings stood at $73,595. This $171,600 score more than triples that total.

Along with the cash, Kolev’s prize includes a $10,400 seat to the WPT World Championship at the Wynn Las Vegas, so his run in Cyprus could be just the beginning.

Want to Know More?

Full results and festival details are available on the official WPT Prime website, and the final table replay can be watched on the WPT’s YouTube channel.

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