€1,500 Main Event
Day 4 Completed
€1,500 Main Event
Day 4 Completed
It's never over until it's over. The saying exists for a reason, and today at the Hilton Tallinn Park Hotel & Olympic Park Casino, German native Julian Selinger found out exactly why.
On the final table of the 2026 WSOP Circuit Tallinn €1,500 Main Event, Selinger found himself last in chips numerous times, not the least of which was when his heads-up opponent, Dutchman Roy van der Reijnst, had knocked him down to just three big blinds. However, Selinger refused to give up, and after a four-hour battle with Van der Reijnst, he emerged victorious to win the top prize of €210,000, as well as a $5,000 package to WSOP Paradise and the coveted piece of jewelry that is a WSOP Circuit Main Event ring.
"I'm beyond exhausted," the newly crowned champion shared with PokerNews moments after the arduous heads-up saw him top the record-breaking field of 977 entries and claim the lion's share of the €1,253,002 prize pool. "For hours I've been tired. Obviously, I'm really happy and insanely grateful to be here."
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julian Selinger | Germany | €210,000 |
| 2 | Roy van der Reijnst | Netherlands | €140,500 |
| 3 | Kai Lehto | Finland | €96,950 |
| 4 | David Marfil | Spain | €68,575 |
| 5 | Egidijus Matonis | Lithuania | €49,300 |
| 6 | Fehim Hajdari | Denmark | €36,050 |
| 7 | Valentin Imperatore | France | €26,810 |
| 8 | Mateusz Dabkowski | Poland | €20,300 |
| 9 | Feras Abid | Finland | €15,657 |
The conclusion of the tournament was especially emotional for runner-up Van der Reijnst. Having lost his son Joris at birth back in May, Van der Reijnst could not hold back his tears after the final hand had been played out. On Day 2 of the tournament, he found, by chance or fate, an electronic candle in his coat pocket. From that moment, it never left his side. In remembrance of his son, he used it as a card protector all the way until the last card had been dealt.
Aware of Van der Reijnst's story, Selinger shared a long hug with his former rival after all was said and done. "At the final two tables, we started to talk, and I think we just had a lot of sympathy for each other. I mean, we both understand that it could have been the other person as well, winning or losing," the gracious winner shared.
Selinger started the final table in the middle of the pack, but appeared to climb towards the top of the counts when he provided the first elimination of the day by knocking out Feras Abid. However, the tide soon changed, and, after doubling up two of his opponents in quick succession, Selinger found himself shortest with six players remaining.
With the average stack being relatively short throughout the final table, every pot became vital. Selinger chipped back up, sitting in third place when Van der Reijnst won a monster flip against start-of-day leader Egidijus Matonis. Van der Reijnst emerged victorious in the chiplead pot, and Matonis was knocked out shortly after. Van der Reijnst went on an absolute tear after the flip, eliminating David Marfil as well, and at one point having nearly 80 percent of the chips in play three-handed.
Already having proven he is not one to give up easily, though, Selinger commenced another comeback by first doubling against Van der Reijnst before busting out third-place finisher Kai Lehto.
What ensued next was a heads-up for the ages. Starting with even stacks, Van der Reijnst was the first to take a significant lead. However, after firing several successful bluffs and calling a bluff by Van der Reijnst himself, Selinger was back out in front with a big advantage. For a while, Van der Reijnst held on, and he even became the chipleader again.
Then, the big clash happened. With the blinds catching up to them, a massive flip was decided in Van der Reijnst's favor, leaving Selinger with just three big blinds. However, as he had done throughout the final table, Selinger came back. He won three consecutive all-ins to reclaim the chip lead, and was crowned champion not much later when Van der Reijnst called off two pair against Selinger's rivered straight.
That concludes the PokerNews coverage for the 2026 WSOP Circuit Tallinn. However, if you're craving more poker action, do not fret, as our live reporting hub provides near-constant coverage from events around the world.
After a marathon heads-up battle of four hours, Julian Selinger was crowned champion of the 2026 WSOP Circuit Tallinn Main Event.
He conquered a record-breaking field of 977 entries to capture the €210,000 first-place prize, a $5,000 package for WSOP Paradise, and, of course, the coveted WSOP Circuit ring.
A full recap of the day and an interview with the winner will follow shortly.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julian Selinger | Germany | €210,000 |
| 2 | Roy van der Reijnst | Netherlands | €140,500 |
| 3 | Kai Lehto | Finland | €96,950 |
| 4 | David Marfil | Spain | €68,575 |
| 5 | Egidijus Matonis | Lithuania | €49,300 |
| 6 | Fehim Hajdari | Denmark | €36,050 |
| 7 | Valentin Imperatore | France | €26,810 |
| 8 | Mateusz Dabkowski | Poland | €20,300 |
| 9 | Feras Abid | Finland | €15,657 |
Julian Selinger limped in on the button, and Roy van der Reijnst checked in the big blind.
Van der Reijnst led out for 1,200,000 on the 2♥5♠7♠ flop, only to be raised to 2,800,000 by Selinger. Van der Reijnst just called, after which the K♥ turn was checked through.
The 9♠ river completed the board, seeing Van der Reijnst bet 1,800,000. Selinger responded with an all-in raise, and Van der Reijnst called for 13,000,000 in total.
Selinger showed a straight with 8♥6♣. Van der Reijnst had flopped two pair with 7♦5♣, but it was no longer good as the final pot of the tournament was shipped to Selinger.
Roy van der Reijnst found A♦9♦ on the button and raised to 3,000,000. Julian Selinger looked at 8♣7♦ in the big blind, which he defended.
Selinger checked the 10♦7♠10♣ flop before Van der Reijnst continued for 2,200,000. Selinger raised it to 6,800,000, winning the pot as Van der Reijnst mucked.
Julian Selinger limped in K♠8♣ on the button, calling when Roy van der Reijnst made it 3,500,000 in the big blind with A♣K♣.
Van der Reijnst continued for 3,100,000 on the 5♥7♦4♠ flop, which was enough to let Selinger fold his gutshot.
Roy van der Reijnst raised to 3,000,000 on his button. Julian Selinger responded by moving all in for 13,000,000 in the big blind, and Van der Reijnst instantly called.
Julian Selinger: J♦J♣
Roy van der Reijnst: A♦10♥
Selinger made a straight on the 7♦8♥9♥10♣ turn to leave Van der Reijnst drawing to a chop. The 6♣ river changed nothing, doubling up Selinger for the third time in a few minutes.
Julian Selinger raised all in to 3,700,000 on the button, and was looked up by Roy van der Reijnst in the big blind.
Julian Selinger: K♣J♦
Roy van der Reijnst: J♣8♦
Neither player improved on the 2♦Q♣4♠7♠3♠ runout, seeing Selinger double up.
On the next deal, Selinger open-shoved himself, and Van der Reijnst called off the bet of 7,300,000.
Julian Selinger: A♣8♣
Roy van der Reijnst: Q♦8♦
Again, Selinger's hand remained best on the J♠5♣4♠10♥J♣ runout, doubling him up to a stack of 13 big blinds.
Roy van der Reijnst limped in on the button and snap-called when Julian Selinger put him all in for 22,000,000 from the big blind.
Roy van der Reijnst: 9♥9♦
Julian Selinger: J♦10♦
Van der Reijnst flopped top set on 5♦7♥9♣ for a big lead. Selinger had a gutshot, but it did not arrive on the 4♠ turn or 5♣ river.
Van der Reijnst took a gigantic lead by winning the flip, leaving Selinger with just over three big blinds in his stack.
Level: 37
Blinds: 600,000/1,200,000
Ante: 1,200,000