EMPC 2026: Panholzer & Ryynänen Win Tallinn Titles
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If you’ve ever felt like tournament poker is just No-Limit Hold’em on repeat, the European Mixed Poker Championship is the antidote. For six days, the Olympic Park Casino in Tallinn, Estonia, is hosting 12 events built around Stud, Razz, Badugi, Triple Draw and a long list of games most Hold’em players have never tried.
Two more champions were crowned this week. Here’s what happened, what the numbers tell us, and why these games are worth learning even if you’ve never played anything but Hold’em.
What Is the European Mixed Poker Championship?
The EMPC was created by Norwegian mixed-game specialist Tobias “senkel92” Leknes, the head of the Norwegian Poker Federation, together with Norwegian Championship organizer Frode Fagerli. The idea was simple: give Europe’s mixed-game community a dedicated festival with affordable buy-ins and a friendly, social atmosphere.
According to JP Poker, the series launched in 2023 with editions in Bratislava, where Sam Perry won the 2024 Main Event. It moved to Dublin in November 2025, and this year it has arrived in Tallinn with backing from OlyBet.
EMPC 2026 at a glance:
- Dates: October 26–31, 2026
- Venue: Olympic Park Casino, Hilton Tallinn Park, Tallinn, Estonia
- Events: 12 tournaments
- Buy-ins: €200 to €1,500
- Main Event: €800 8-Game
Event #4: €700 20-Game Dealer’s Choice
This is the ultimate test of an all-round poker player. In Dealer’s Choice, whoever has the dealer button picks the game for that orbit. With 20 games on the menu, players need to be competent at everything, and they quickly learn to pick games where opponents look uncomfortable.
The 20 games included No-Limit and Fixed-Limit Hold’em, several Omaha variants (PLO, 5-Card PLO, Omaha Hi-Lo in limit, pot-limit and no-limit forms), Stud, Stud Hi-Lo, Razz, 5-Card Draw, 2-7 and A-5 Triple Draw, 2-7 Single Draw in no-limit, Badugi, Badacey and Badeucey, plus the Scandinavian favorite Sviten Special in two formats.
The result: 69 entries built a €40,313 prize pool, and nine players cashed. Austria’s Robin Panholzer won the heads-up battle against Norway’s Martin Rottem Dahle to take €12,093.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1 | Robin Panholzer | Austria | €12,093 |
| 2 | Martin Rottem Dahle | Norway | €8,040 |
| 3 | Jean-Michael Kabbaj | Austria | €5,650 |
| 4 | Philipp Krieger | Germany | €4,120 |
| 5 | Alexander Zain Rizvi | United Kingdom | €3,010 |
| 6 | Lee Horton | United Kingdom | €2,470 |
| 7 | Christophe Stammet | Luxembourg | €2,020 |
| 8 | Sampo Kalervo Ryynänen | Finland | €1,610 |
| 9 | Jan Roger Holte | Norway | €1,300 |
Event #6: €800 T.O.E. Turbo
T.O.E. combines three Fixed-Limit games that reward discipline and hand-reading:
- T – 2-7 Triple Draw: a lowball game where the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2, and you get three chances to draw.
- O – Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better: the pot is split between the best high hand and the best qualifying low.
- E – Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better (“Eight or better”): seven-card stud with a split pot.
The result: 33 entries built a €22,572 prize pool, with five places paid. Finland’s Sampo Ryynänen took the title and €8,072.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1 | Sampo Ryynänen | Finland | €8,072 |
| 2 | Andrew Kelsall | USA | €5,650 |
| 3 | Didier Rabl | Switzerland | €4,050 |
| 4 | Jens Vörtmann | Germany | €2,770 |
| 5 | Matthew Grapenthien | Ireland | €2,030 |
By the Numbers: Comparing the Two Events
| €700 Dealer’s Choice | €800 T.O.E. Turbo | |
| Entries | 69 | 33 |
| Gross buy-ins | €48,300 | €26,400 |
| Prize pool | €40,313 | €22,572 |
| Share of buy-ins in prize pool | 83.5% | 85.5% |
| Places paid | 9 (13% of field) | 5 (15% of field) |
| Winner’s prize | €12,093 (17x buy-in) | €8,072 (10x buy-in) |
| Winner’s share of pool | 30% | 36% |
| Min-cash | €1,300 (1.9x buy-in) | €2,030 (2.5x buy-in) |
| Countries in the money | 6 | 5 |
What this tells us: The Dealer’s Choice drew more than twice as many entries as the T.O.E. Turbo despite being only €100 cheaper. Its broad game list and slower pace clearly appeal to a wider pool of players.
In smaller fields like the T.O.E., the payout structure is steeper. The winner took over a third of the prize pool. But the min-cash is also more generous, so anyone reaching the money in a small mixed-game event gets a solid return.
Story of the Week: Sampo Ryynänen’s Double
Ryynänen had already cashed eighth in the Dealer’s Choice for €1,610 before going on to win the T.O.E. Turbo the same day. Two cashes in two very different formats is exactly the kind of all-round consistency mixed games reward.
According to the Hendon Mob database, he has around $1.96 million in career live tournament earnings, which ranks him 16th on Finland’s all-time money list. As a mixed-game specialist, he’s used to travelling to Las Vegas to find these games. Tallinn is just a short trip across the Gulf of Finland from Helsinki, which makes this festival an easy choice for Finnish players.
Other storylines:
- Austria had a strong day, with Panholzer winning and Jean-Michael Kabbaj finishing third in the Dealer’s Choice.
- Andrew Kelsall made his second final table of the week. After finishing sixth in the Lowball Draw Mix, he took second in the T.O.E. Turbo for €5,650.
- Norway is everywhere, as expected at a festival founded by Norwegian organizers. Martin Rottem Dahle and Jan Roger Holte both cashed in the Dealer’s Choice.
What’s Next: The €800 8-Game Main Event
The headline event starts today. The 8-Game Main Event rotates through eight variants, typically covering Hold’em, Omaha, Stud, Razz and Triple Draw in different betting formats.
| Event | Date | Local time (EET) | India (IST) | Buy-in |
| #9A 8-Game Main Event, Flight 1A | Fri, Oct 30 | 11:30 | 15:00 | €800 |
| #9B 8-Game Main Event, Flight 1B | Fri, Oct 30 | 18:30 | 22:00 | €800 |
| 8-Game Main Event, Day 2 | Sat, Oct 31 | — | — | — |
| #10 6-Game Mystery Bounty | Sat, Oct 31 | 12:00 | 15:30 | €300 |
| #11 6-Game High Roller | Sat, Oct 31 | 16:30 | 20:00 | €1,500 |
| #12 Omaha Dealer’s Choice | Sat, Oct 31 | 18:00 | 21:30 | €200 |
Players get one re-entry per starting flight, and €185 satellites offer a cheaper route into the Main Event.
New to Mixed Games? Here’s Why You Should Try Them
If you only play Hold’em, mixed games can seem intimidating. But they’re worth learning, for three reasons:
- Softer fields in the right spots. Many players are strong in one or two games but weak in others. If you learn a few games well, you’ll often have an edge somewhere in the rotation.
- Better overall poker skills. Games like Stud and Razz train you to remember exposed cards and read hands. Triple Draw teaches patience and discipline. All of this improves your Hold’em too.
- A friendlier atmosphere. Mixed-game communities tend to be social and welcoming. The EMPC even includes free community meals as part of the festival.
Where to start: Begin with Fixed-Limit games like Stud Hi-Lo and Omaha Hi-Lo, where mistakes cost less. Then add Razz and 2-7 Triple Draw. Once you’re comfortable, try a H.O.R.S.E. or 8-Game tournament online at low stakes before playing live.
Europe has been busy this week. Catch up on our coverage of WSOP Circuit Madrid 2026 and the Malta Poker Festival Autumn 2026.
FAQs
What is the European Mixed Poker Championship?
The European Mixed Poker Championship (EMPC) is a festival dedicated to mixed poker games such as Stud, Razz, Badugi and Triple Draw. It was created by Norwegian mixed-game specialist Tobias Leknes, and the 2026 edition runs from October 26 to 31 at Olympic Park Casino in Tallinn, Estonia.
Who won the €700 20-Game Dealer’s Choice at EMPC 2026?
Austria’s Robin Panholzer won Event #4, the €700 20-Game Dealer’s Choice, for €12,093. He beat Norway’s Martin Rottem Dahle heads-up in a 69-entry field with a €40,313 prize pool.
Who won the €800 T.O.E. Turbo at EMPC 2026?
Finland’s Sampo Ryynänen won Event #6, the €800 T.O.E. Turbo, for €8,072. The event drew 33 entries and a €22,572 prize pool. American Andrew Kelsall finished second.
What does T.O.E. stand for in poker?
T.O.E. is a mixed-game rotation of three Fixed-Limit games: 2-7 Triple Draw, Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, and Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better.
How does Dealer’s Choice poker work?
In Dealer’s Choice, the player with the dealer button chooses which game is played for that orbit. At EMPC 2026, players could choose from 20 games, ranging from No-Limit Hold’em to Badugi and Razz.
When is the EMPC 2026 Main Event?
The €800 8-Game Main Event has two starting flights on October 30, 2026, at 11:30 and 18:30 local time, with Day 2 on October 31. Players can re-enter once per flight.
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