The Five Biggest Poker Scores of King's Resort Owner Leon Tsoukernik

October 17, 2023

Leon Tsoukernik is a man of many talents. To some, he is an astute businessman who built Europe's largest cardroom at King's Resort, Rozvadov. To others, Tsoukernik is an art dealer with an unrivaled eye for detail. But under his many layers, Tsoukernik is a poker player with a penchant for high-stakes cash games and tournaments.

The fact Tsoukernik has more than $5.3 million in recorded live cashes, placing him third in the Czech Republic's all-time money list (according to The Hendon Mob) is a testament to his ability at the poker table. The King's Resort supremo trails only Martin Staszko, who banked more than $5.4 million for his runner-up finish in the 2011 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, and the polarizing Martin Kabrhel, who has almost seven-times as many in the money finishes as Tsoukernik. Not bad for a poker-playing businessman.

$1,800,000 from the 2017 Super High Roller Bowl

Two of Tsoukernik's 21 recorded cashes tip the scales at seven figures, with the $1,800,000 he collected for a fourth-place finish in the 2017 Super High Roller Bowl being his largest score of all.

That year, 56 players ponied up a staggering $300,000 for the Super High Roller Bowl buy-in, resulting in a $16,860,000 prize pool that the players at the eight-handed final table shared.

As you would expect, the eight finalists read like a who's who of the poker world, with Jason Koon, Justin Bonomo, Pratyush Buddiga, and Byron Kaverman seeing a return on their investment.

Tsoukernik bowed out in a respectable fourth place, and collected $1,800,000 for his efforts. Only Stefan Schillhabel ($2,400,000), Jake Schindler ($3,600,000), and Christoph Vogelsang ($6,000,000) managed to outlast the Czech star.

€1,102,000 ($1,231,519) from the 2019 King's Super High Roller

As the 2019 WSOP Europe festival was winding down at Tsoukernik's King's Resort, a €100,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em Short Deck Super High Roller took place. The bankroll-damaging buy-in combined with the Short Deck format resulted in a compact but stellar field of 29 entries and a €2,755,000 prize pool.

Only four players got their hands on a slice of the pot, including Cary Katz and Paul Phua. Tsoukernik found himself in the unenvious position of being heads-up with one of poker's greatest ever players, the one and only Phil Ivey. Although you would be hard-pressed to find anyone not backing Ivey to win, it was Tsoukernik that came out on top, and who received €1,102,000 ($1,231,519).

€741,100 ($782,453) from the 2016 EPT Prague Super High Roller

Prior to his massive score from the 2017 Super High Roller Bowl, Tsoukernik banked €741,100 ($782,453) during the 2016 European Poker Tour (EPT) Prague festival. Tsoukernik was one of 49 entrants in the €50,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em Super High Roller, and was ultimately the last player standing.

Anthony Zinno, Julian Thomas, Paul Newey, Viacheslav Buldygin, and Finnish star Juha Helppi all navigated their way to the final table but could not get the job done. Tsoukernik locked horns with the British phenom Charlie Carrel and put his vast experience to good use, leaving the young Brit in his wake, and helping himself to a then-career-best haul.

€370,000 ($432,819) from the 2018 Poker EM Super High Roller

In July 2018, The Casinos Austria in Velden hosted the Poker EM festival. Although most of the scheduled events featured buy-ins of €275 to €550, there was also a €25,750 Super High Roller towards the series' conclusion.

Twenty-seven unique entrants purchased 14 re-entries between them, resulting in a €1,025,000 prize pool. Tsoukernik found himself at yet another final table. The legendary Antanas "Tony G" Guoga was present and correct, although he busted in fourth. Tsoukernik then made light work of Germany's Manig Loeser to reel in another €370,000 ($432,819) in prize money.

$400,000 from the 2022 Coin Rivet Invitational

Tsoukernik's most recent cash, worth $400,000, came from the Triton Poker High Roller Series Cyprus in September 2022. The $200,000 Coin Rivet Invitational saw a mixture of professional poker players and wealthy business types do battle at the Merit Royal Hotel & Casino. Some 115 massive buy-ins were processed, leaving $23 million in the pot.

Unfortunately for Tsoukernik, he fell during the first couple of payouts, finishing in 14th place for a $400,000 score. Team PokerStars' Sam Grafton was crowned the tournament's champion, with the popular British star padding his bankroll with $5.5 million.

Will Tsoukernik Add to His Winnings During the 2023 WSOP Europe?

The 2023 WSOP Europe is less than a fortnight away, with the opening event schedule to shuffle up and deal at Tsoukernik's King's Resort on October 25. While it is highly unlikely Tsoukernik will buy into that €350 event, there are a handful of tournaments that could tempt the casino owner .

Event #8 is the €25,000 No-Limit Hold'em GGMillion$, while Event #12 is the €50,000 No-Limit Hold'em Diamond High Roller. Then there is Event #13, the €10,350 Main Event.

In addition to those high-stakes bracelet-awarding events, King's Resort is running a €5,000 and a €10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event, Tsoukernik's favored game. Rounding out the high-stakes action are a €50,000 and €100,000 buy-in No-Limit Super High Roller. It would be surprising not to see Tsoukernik grace those events with his presence, and even more surprising if he was not still in the mix as they reach the business end.

Senior Editor

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