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€3,500 Legends of the Game
Day 1 Completed
2025 No Filter Nordic & Baltic Championship Open
€3,500 Legends of the Game
Day: 1
Event Info
2025 No Filter Nordic & Baltic Championship Open
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1
Buy-in
€3,500
Prize Pool
€323,301
Total Entries
101
Level
26
Blinds
50,000 / 125,000
Ante
125,000
Entries
101
Players Left
13
Players Left 1 / 101
Filter
Pasi Sormunen Leads 13 Qualifiers into Final Day of No Filter Poker Series Legends of the Game Event
Level 19
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
The atmosphere was crackling today at Olympic Park Casino, Tallinn as players converged on the 2025 No Filter Poker Series Nordic & Baltic Championship Open for the €3,500 No Limit Hold'em No Filter Legends of the Game event.
The event obtained a total of 101 entrants, creating a €323,301 prize pool. After nineteen 30-minute levels, only 13 players were left standing, all of whom have locked up a minimum cash of €7,050, while the sum of €85,400 awaits the victor.
The qualifiers are led by Pasi Sormunen of Finland (2,020,000), who holds a reasonable lead over fellow countryman Pasi Laihinen (1,590,000), while Duncan Horst of the United States (1,230,000) completes the podium places.
€3,500 No Limit Hold'em No Filter Legends of the Game End of Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pasi Sormunen | Finland | 2,020,000 | 81 |
| 2 | Pasi Laihinen | Finland | 1,590,000 | 64 |
| 3 | Duncan Horst | United States | 1,230,000 | 49 |
| 4 | Antti Maki-Franti | Finland | 940,000 | 38 |
| 5 | Mathias Siljander | Finland | 920,000 | 37 |
| 6 | Bengt Larsson | Sweden | 775,000 | 31 |
| 7 | Rusen Yilmaz | Sweden | 475,000 | 19 |
| 8 | Tommi Lankinen | Finland | 470,000 | 19 |
| 9 | Mikko Ylamaki | Finland | 460,000 | 18 |
| 10 | Roope Tarmi | Finland | 400,000 | 16 |
A win here will take Sormunen over the seven-figures in recorded cashes milestone, with a fifth-place finish at the EPT Barcelona Main Event in 2013 for €253,000 being his biggest recorded score to date among total recorded cashes of $914,365.
Laihinen has recorded scores of just over $250,000, and he clearly enjoys playing at Olympic Park, with his biggest cash being a third-place finish in February this year in the Kings of Tallinn Main Event.
The exuberant Horst, who burst into song on numerous occasions throughout the day, has recorded cashes of under $90,000, and he will be hoping to beat his career-best score, being a 16th-place finish for just over $16,000 in a deepstack event at this year's World Series. (All figures courtesy of The Hendon Mob).
Day 1 Action
The event gave players an opportunity to battle with genuine legends of the game, and a lavish opening ceremony introduced reigning WSOP Main Event champion Michael Mizrachi, 1998 Main Event winner Scotty Nguyen, and two-time bracelet winner Juha Helppi to the room.
Helppi would get off to a quick start with an early double-up, but Mizrachi would fall in Level 5 to his own son, Paul Mizrachi, much to the glee of his offspring.
The elder Mizrachi's second bullet would come to an end in a cooler against Guillermo Gordo, and he would ultimately depart just after the three-table redraw to Bengt Larsson. His son's tilt at the title ended when he ran into Antti Maki-Franti's pocket queens, and when the dust settled ultimately none of the legends would make the Day 2 cut.
Sormunen started his charge to the top of the standings when he found a huge river hero call to bust Joonas Helin, and he then picked up rockets to send Igor Pihela packing close to the bubble.
Horst's stack would also primarily arise close to the bubble, his aces holding against Viljami Salakari, after previously spiking a two-outer against the same opponent to stay in it.
Salakari was left with crumbs following the hand with Horst, and he was destined to bubble the tournament shortly thereafter.
€3,500 No Limit Hold'em No Filter Legends of the Game Payouts
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €85,400 | 7 | €14,850 | |
| 2 | €59,650 | 8 | €11,950 | |
| 3 | €40,850 | 9 | €9,451 | |
| 4 | €29,850 | 10-11 | €7,950 | |
| 5 | €22,850 | 12-13 | €7,050 | |
| 6 | €18,450 |
The players will return to Olympic Park Casino at noon, October 19 to do battle for the title, and play will continue until a winner is crowned.
A stream will be available on Olybet Poker's YouTube channel, with the action on a 30-minute delay. Our coverage will be delayed to match the stream, so be sure to stick with us at PokerNews as we see who can claim the Legends of the Game title and chunky first-place prize.
Level 19
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,020,000
120,000
|
120,000 |
|
||
|
1,590,000 | |
|
1,230,000 | |
|
940,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
920,000
480,000
|
480,000 |
|
775,000
510,000
|
510,000 |
|
475,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
470,000 | |
|
460,000
50,000
|
50,000 |
|
400,000
245,000
|
245,000 |
|
315,000
156,000
|
156,000 |
|
260,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
235,000
250,000
|
250,000 |
Level 19
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Day 1 has now concluded with 14 minutes left in Level 19 and with 13 players remaining, all of whom have locked up a minimum cash of €7,050.
The players will return at midday for the final day, where play will continue until a winner is crowned.
Stay tuned for updated chip counts and a recap of the day.
Level 19
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Pasi Laihinen opened to 50,000 from early position, and Viljami Salakari moved his remaining stack of 30,000 into the middle from the small blind, while Tommi Lankinen also called in the big blind.
The K♠J♠8♠K♣7♦ runout was checked through by the active players.
Salakari tabled Q♥10♦, Lankinen had Q♦3♦, but Laihinen took the pot with A♥7♣ for two pair, kings and sevens.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,590,000
140,000
|
140,000 |
|
|
470,000
396,000
|
396,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 19
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Pasi Laihinen opened to 50,000 from early position, before being met with a three-bet to 150,000 from Duncan Horst in middle position.
Viljami Salakari cold-called in the big blind, and Laihinen got out of the way.
On the 6♥4♠3♠ flop, Salakari jammed with the slightly covering stack, and Horst moved his stack of 425,000 into the middle.
While the players were waiting to table their cards, Horst burst into a rendition of My Way, altered to be a narrative of the hand.
Duncan Horst: A♦A♣ 
Viljami Salakari: A♠J♠
Horst had the goods with pocket aces, but he had a sweat against Salakari's flush draw, and the second verse of My Way reflected the position.
Much to Horst's delight and Salakari's dismay, the 5♥ turn and J♣ river were bricks, and Horst finished the song with a crescendo, confirming he had indeed done it his way.
Salakari could only grimance, and was left with crumbs on the bubble.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,450,000
1,060,000
|
1,060,000 |
|
|
1,230,000
925,000
|
925,000 |
|
|
40,000
960,000
|
960,000 |
Level 19
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Igor Pihela opened to 50,000 from the button, and received a call from Mikko Ylamaki in the small blind, before Pasi Sormunen produced a three-bet to 205,000 from the big blind. Ylamaki folded but Pihela called.
On the 8♦7♠4♣ flop, Sormunen continued with a bet of 200,000, and called after Pihela moved all in for 290,000.
Igor Pihela: 8♠6♠
Pasi Sormunen: A♥A♦
Pihela had top pair and a gutshot but was in bad shape versus Sormunen's aces, and the K♥ turn and J♠ river confirmed his exit.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,900,000
850,000
|
850,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
510,000
339,000
|
339,000 |
|
Busted | |
Level 19
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Jon Vallinas Santos moved all in for 135,000 from early position, and Viljami Salakari rejammed, forcing out all other opponents.
Jon Vallinas Santos: A♥J♥
Viljami Salakari: A♣K♠
Vallinas Santos was crushed, and despite turning a flush and wrap draw, he bricked the 10♠8♥4♠9♥5♠ runout.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,000,000
425,000
|
425,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 19
Blinds: 10,000/25,000
Ante: 25,000
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Mika Surakka was getting up from the table, after jamming from the small blind with K♣2♣ and running into Lars Brodin's 10♥10♣ in the big blind.
Brodin flopped top set, and improved to a full house, on the 10♦7♠3♣J♠3♥ runout.
Johan Karlsson was also seen departing the tournament area after busting.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
300,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |
