Alex Kulev Turns Bubble Three-Outer Into €2.7M Triumph at Monte Carlo €250K Super High Roll

For a brief moment on the stone bubble of the €250,000 EPT Monte Carlo Super High Roller, Alex Kulev found himself staring at what looked like an early and painful exit from one of the most prestigious high roller poker tournaments in Monte Carlo. One decision, one card, and one cooler situation stood between him and walking away completely empty-handed from an elite European Poker Tour Super High Roller event.

Instead, the hand that nearly ended his run became the defining turning point of the entire EPT Monte Carlo €250K Super High Roller.

Kulev was involved in a massive all-in confrontation against Biao Ding during the bubble stage, where he was in a dominated position and on the brink of elimination in this high stakes poker tournament. The tension peaked as chips went in and the tournament floor went silent. Then, against the odds, the board delivered a crucial saving card—a dramatic three-outer—that completely flipped the situation in Kulev’s favor. In a single instant, he went from near-bubble casualty to surviving contender in the Monte Carlo Super High Roller poker event.

That dramatic escape didn’t just save his tournament life—it completely reshaped his run in the €250K high roller poker championship.

From that point onward, Kulev built unstoppable momentum, navigating through one of the toughest super high roller poker fields in Europe. Hand by hand and elimination by elimination, he gained confidence, control, and stack depth until he reached the closing stages of the event. Eventually, he sealed a stunning victory in the inaugural €250K Super High Roller Monte Carlo, earning €2,786,332 after a heads-up deal with Bryn Kenney, one of poker’s most experienced high roller professionals.

The tournament itself carried historic significance as the highest buy-in event ever staged on the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT). With 38 total entries, it generated a massive €9.31 million prize pool, while only six players made the money—making every decision in this elite poker tournament extremely high pressure and financially critical.

For Kulev, this win carried even greater weight considering his past success in Monte Carlo. Three years earlier, he had already captured the €100K Super High Roller at the same stop, and now he returned to the same arena to conquer an even tougher and more expensive European Poker Tour high roller field.

€250K Super High Roller Results

*Denotes heads-up deal

Kulev Rides Bubble Momentum to Title (EPT Monte Carlo High Roller Run)

The final day began with 14 players still in contention, all fighting to reach the money in this €250K Super High Roller poker tournament in Monte Carlo while dealing with increasing pressure from rising blinds and shrinking stacks.

As expected in a high stakes EPT Super High Roller event, early eliminations came quickly and helped reduce the field. However, once play reached the unofficial final table, the entire rhythm of the tournament shifted. The tempo slowed significantly, with players becoming more cautious and selective, fully aware that one mistake could end their run just outside the payout positions.

With blinds climbing and stacks getting shorter, survival became the priority. Every pot carried massive weight, and players carefully balanced risk versus reward in this Monte Carlo poker high roller battle.

The first major breakthrough at the final table came when Chris Nguyen secured a key knockout. His pocket jacks held strong against Stephen Chidwick’s king-queen, eliminating Chidwick in ninth place and tightening the race toward the paid positions. That moment set the tone for a dramatic finish where every decision in the EPT Monte Carlo Super High Roller final table carried massive financial implications.

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