The last-minute decision paid off, and DENNO0211 won the King's Million €500 Closer title.

DENNO0211 made a last-minute decision to enter the tournament, emerging victorious from 565 entries to win the King's Million €500 Closer title and €46,200. The prize pool reached €240,125, far exceeding the €100,000 guarantee.

As the 2026 King's Million European Poker Championship draws to a close and King's Resort gradually empties, only one royal scepter remains to be contested.

DENNO0211 was already on his way home when he made a decision that would ultimately bring him the biggest tournament victory of his career.

After finishing their trip to the 2026 King's Million European Poker Championship, DENNO0211 and his friends have loaded their luggage into the car and are ready to embark on a 600-kilometer journey home.

"We were already in the car. We put our things in the car and got ready to go home," DENNO0211 told PokerNews after winning the tournament. "Then my friend said, 'Let's ask around, maybe we can stay another night and play this tournament before going home.'"

I said, 'Sure, why not?' We're already here, 600 kilometers away, so let's give it a try.

This last-minute decision proved to be a stroke of genius, as DENNO0211 emerged victorious from 565 entries in the €500 Closer event, winning €46,200. This far exceeded the €100,000 guaranteed prize pool, swelling the prize pool to €240,125.

King's Million €500 Closer Final Table Results

Production of dopamine

DENNO0211 then defeated Davide Muccini in a head-to-head match, winning the trophy he had coveted since the moment he entered the competition.

“This is really great. This is exactly what I wanted. All I wanted was that scepter, and now I have it,” he said. “It’s heavy, it’s great, it’s really good.”

This victory marks DENNO0211's biggest tournament win and the pinnacle of his more than two decades-long poker career.

"I started playing cards in my friends' living rooms when I was about 16 or 17 years old, just with my friends, so it's been 22 years now," he explained.

However, for DENNO0211, money wasn't the primary motivation. It was the competitive nature of poker that made this victory so satisfying.

"The most important thing is competition. You win the game, everyone wants to win, nobody wants to lose," he said. "It feels good to win. It releases dopamine, and I think that's the key."

Winning the Scepter

All 84 returning players were guaranteed at least €1,020 in prize money, and the afternoon action was intense and fast-paced, with eliminations occurring one after another. One of the most surprising exits was Davit Mikhanashvili, who entered the day as a chip leader with 116 big blinds. However, he failed to translate his huge chip lead into a deep finish, being eliminated within 15 minutes of the start of the tournament.

Another familiar face on the field was Samuel Ju, who performed exceptionally well in this series, making the money in all four events he participated in. Most notably, Ju finished 13th out of 346 players in the €2,000 EPC Masters and 13th out of 2,903 players in the €600 Monster Stack. However, today he could only settle for 42nd place, adding another €1,156 to his series earnings.

Kevin Kevinov quickly accumulated chips, first displaying a huge bluff in a six-figure pot, then immediately forming a straight flush in the next hand. He translated this momentum into a final table seat, but his journey ended in eighth place, leaving a bitter taste. Facing the young Frenchman's all-in, Denno0211 looked pained, rising from his seat, looking dejectedly at his friends and family, and muttering to himself in German. After a tearful call, he revealed an Ace. Karma didn't change the outcome; Kevinov was eliminated. As Denno0211 finished stacking his chips, he spun a sarcastic kiss at Kevinov.

DENNO0211 later explained in a post-match interview, "This wasn't personal," he said with a laugh. "It's just something we do in our private games, like, 'Oh, should I call? Should I do this?'"

"So I was just doing what we usually do with friends in private poker games. It's not personal, it's not a bad thing or anything. We do this among friends, that's why I did it."

The seven-person battle quickly turned into a show by Davide Muccini, who won the next five eliminations and eventually eliminated Nicholas Scott, triggering a one-on-one duel.

After a brief pause to discuss the prize money without reaching an agreement, the last two players prepared for the final battle. DENNO0211 was the first to take advantage of his good fortune, betting his weaker A-6 against Muccini's pocket Jacks all-in, ultimately hitting three of a kind for a huge double.

The momentum shifted for DENNO0211, who continued to win pot after pot, eventually facing Muccini's all-in with a flush draw. Poker gods were on his side; the dealer dealt the fifth heart on the river, securing victory for him.

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