Players are beginning to take their seats. The big board is reading 86 players already registered, a figure that is certain to at least triple by the time late-registration is closed at the conclusion of the first blind level of Day 2.
The tournament director estimates that the tournament will begin at approximately 12:15 p.m.
The Kings of Tallinn at the Hilton Tallinn Park and Olympic Park Casino is the biggest live poker tournament festival in the Baltics and Nordics of the year. Attendance has grown each year since its inception in 2015 with this year's fifth edition featuring 40 action-packed events from Feb. 18-24.
The highlight of the festival, the Kings of Tallinn €1,100 Main Event, kicks off the first of its four days of action today at 12 p.m EET.
The Main Event boasts an amazing structure with players kicking off the action with 30,000 in chips and blinds increasing every 60 minutes and utilizes the latest trend of the single big blind ante.
Players are scheduled to play eight blind levels today and can re-enter an unlimited amount of times up until the late-registration period closes at the conclusion of the first blind level of tomorrow's Day 2.
Last year, Finnish poker legend Juha Helppi outlasted a field of 268 players to win the 2018 OlyBet Kings of Tallinn €1,100 Main Event for €62,000. Helppi will is back in Tallinn and will attempt to become the first-ever King's of Tallinn Main Event champion.
Helppi isn't the only poker legend in the house as he has joined forces with the team challenge with other Finnish poker superstars including Joel Lehtinen, Veli-Pekka Alakorva, and Ilari “Ziigmund” Sahamies. The star-studded team is the early favorite to win the challenge with almost $10 million in combined winnings.
For the second straight year, Patrik Antonius is in attendance and expected to play cash games on the casino floor.
Kings of Tallinn Main Event Day 1 Blind Structure
| Level | Small blind | Big blind | Ante |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | 50 | |
| 2 | 50 | 100 | |
| 3 | 75 | 150 | |
| 4 | 100 | 200 | 200 |
| 5 | 150 | 300 | 300 |
| 6 | 200 | 400 | 400 |
| 7 | 300 | 600 | 600 |
| 8 | 400 | 800 | 800 |
Many side events are also taking place today including the €165 Archie at 3 p.m. EET, the €110 No Limit Hold'em at 5 p.m. EEST, the €330 5 Card Pot Limit Omaha at 9 p.m. EET, and the €110 Hyper Turbo Bounty at 11 p.m. EET. The second and final day of the Kings Of Tallinn €550 Championship resumes at 9 p.m. and will also play down to a winner.
Stay tuned as The PokerNews live reporting team will be on the floor to provide all the action until a champion is crowned.
Main Event
Day 1 Started
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