Seat 3: Mariusz Golinski, 36, Poznan, Poland (6,495,000)
Mariusz Golinski burst onto the live scene at the World Series of Poker Europe 2024 when he reached the final table of the Main Event. His fourth-place finish for €415,000 didn’t change the 36-year-old’s life – he was already playing high stakes online tournaments from his home in Poznań, Poland – but it did give him a welcome confidence boost. “I really hadn’t played a lot live,” he says. “It made me think I should play more and more.”
Two months after that score, he cashed both the Main Event and High Roller at EPT Prague, final tabling the latter, so he’s no stranger to PokerStars events either. Now, after ending EPT Monte Carlo’s two previous days in the middle of the pack, he’s at the final table of Europe’s most prestigious event. “I’m very excited but trying to stay calm and be humble,” he says.
It’s his first time playing in Monte Carlo and he’s thoroughly enjoyed both the Principality and the venue. “I will be back here in the future for sure,” he says. “Everything is great at the EPTs so if anyone is thinking or hoping to take part, I fully recommend it.”
Final table bios courtesy of PokerStars
Tournament Progression
Day 1: 201,000 (1a, 8/123)
Day 2: 820,000 (3/149)
Day 3: 429,000 (36/52)
Day 4: 1,045,000 (13/18)
Day 5: 6,495,000 (3/6)
Career Statistics
Earnings: $713,891
Best EPT result: 42nd, 2024 EPT Prague
EPT cashes: 1
Event Highlights
Golinski began Day 5 as one of the shorter stacks but doubled up three times over the course of the day. First, his ace-king held up against Jamil Wakil's king-queen. He then picked up aces as Kestutis Jungevicius missed a flush draw. Golinski finally won a flip with two sevens against Leon Zeaiter's ace-ten.
Golinski finished off Zeaiter shortly afterward when the German tried an audacious bluff for 1,740,000 with just a pair of sevens, but Golinski called him down with a pair of aces to win the massive pot and bust Zeaiter in eighth place.