2025 Greek Poker Odyssea

After Alexey Shilov went out in fourth place, the three remaining players – Dimitrios Siantikos, Anastasios Vardalis, and Ippokratis Aslanoglou – decided to call it a night. They agreed to a deal; Siantikos and Aslanoglou shared the €5,000 that were still meant to be played for, while chipleader Vardalis was awarded with the trophy. All three players shook hands and seemed very pleased.

Not the ending we expected, but here we are. Such, Vardalis is crowned the champion of the €600 Main Event, and that concludes the 2025 Greek Poker Odyssea.

The poker.pro team would like to thank all players who’ve been enjoying these seven days in poker paradise, Regency Casino Thessaloniki for providing excellent service, all tournament staff and dealer who’s been working day and night to create an absolutely sublime event, and last but not least, Pokerland for assisting with photos and input on the Greek live poker scene for the poker.pro live blog.

This also concludes the poker.pro live coverage. It’s been a fun ride. Tomorrow, a full recap of today’s action will be up. Thanks to everyone who’s been tuning in to the live blog.

€600 Main Event – Final Table Results

Place	Player	Country	Prize
1	Anastasios Vardalis	Greece	€34,546*
2	Dimitrios Siantikos	Greece	€21,436*
3	Ippokratis Aslanoglou	Greece	€21,871*
4	Alexey Shilov	Cyprus	€26,057*
5	Nikolaos Giannopoulos	Greece	€33,652*
6	Ioannis Diamantopoulos	Greece	€9,448
7	Aggelos Valilis	Greece	€7,766
8	Itzhak Cohen	Italy	€6,420
9	Marios-Panagiotis Kapiris	Greece	€5,327

*Denotes a five-way deal.

A short-stacked Alexey Shilov got his 1,275,000 in the middle against Dimitrios Siantikos on a K♣2♣3♠ flop.

Alexey Shilov: 5♠3♦
Dimitrios Siantikos: A♠9♣

Shilov was already ahead, and he extended his lead with the 3♣ turn. However, the A♣ saw Siantikos improving to a flush. Such, Shilov was out in fourth place, cashing for €26,057 thanks to the deal made earlier.

Anastasios Vardalis opened to 800,000 from the Small Blind, and Nikolaos Giannopoulos decided to defend his Big Blind.

All the chips went into the middle on the 7♥10♥J♥ flop, with Giannopoulos being the player at risk.

Anastasios Vardalis: K♣J♣
Nikolaos Giannopoulos: K♥6♣

Giannopoulos was chasing a flush, but didn’t get there as the board completed 9♠10♠. He was out in fifth, but after the deal, he had locked up €33,652, second to most after Anastasios Vardalis.

Seated on the Button, Anastasios Vardalis opened to 650,000. Nikolaos Giannopoulos then moved all in for 5,600,000 from the Small Blind. After Ippokratis Aslanoglou folded his Big Blind, Vardalis quickly made the call.

Nikolaos Giannopoulos: A♣10♥
Anastasios Vardalis: 6♠6♣

Giannopoulos sighed heavily as he saw the 8♠J♥K♥ flop. When the 7♥ fell on the turn, he rose from his chair and started putting on his jacket. The old trick never fails; the 10♣ river saw him doubling up through Vardalis.

Nikolaos Giannopoulos: 11,800,000
Anastasios Vardalis: 8,700,000

After a very intense period earlier, not much has happened during Level 29. Nikolaos Giannopoulos and Alexey Shilov are the two shortest stacks at this moment, but they still have some playability.

Don’t worry, folks; poker.pro is never sleeping and every major update from the final table will be documented.

Anastasios Vardalis opened to 550,000 UTG. Action folded all the way to Dimitrios Siantikos, who moved all in for 6,575,000 from the Big Blind. Vardalis utilized a timebank chip before making the fall.

Dimitrios Siantikos: J♥9♥
Anastasios Vardalis: A♥J♣

Vardalis had Siantikos in rough shape, but the 2♦10♠9♠6♣10♥ favored Siantikos. He took a large chunk out of the Vardalis stack.

Dimitrios Siantikos: 13,700,000
Anastasios Vardalis: 6,850,000

The remaining five players have agreed to the following deal:

• Dimitrios Siantikos has locked up €21,436.
• Anastasios Vardalis has locked up €34,546.
• Nikolaos Giannopoulos has locked up €33,652.
• Ippokratis Aslanoglou has locked up €21,871.
• Alexey Shilov has locked up €26,057.

The players will keep on playing for an additional €5,000 and the trophy. When play commenced after the deal was locked in, the chip counts looked like this:

Action folded to small-stacked Ioannis Diamantopoulos, who moved all in for 595,000 from the Small Blind. Seated in the Small Blind, Ippokratis Aslanoglou made the call.

Ioannis Diamantopoulos: 10♥6♥
Ippokratis Aslanoglou: 8♠7♦

Diamantopoulos was on the course for a double-up, and the question was if Aslanoglou had caught “Too Many Outs”-syndrome on the 9♥6♠2♠9♠ board. The answer would turn out to be no; he hit his straight on the 5♣ river, and sent Diamantopoulos to the rail doing so. For his sixth-place finish, he received €9,448.

As Diamantopoulos left the tournament area, the remaining five players called over the floor to discuss an ICM-deal.

Ippokratis Aslanoglou: 10,500,000
Ioannis Diamantopoulos: 0

The hand after Ioannis Diamantopoulos had become short, Aggelos Valilis opened to 400,000 from UTG. Seated right next to him, Nikolaos Giannopoulos put in a three-bet to 1,550,000. Action folded back to Valilis, who made the call.

There are more intriguing flops in poker than 7♦2♠7♥. Nevertheless, Valilis checked, Giannopoulos fired a 2,300,000 bet, and Valilis made the call. Valilis checked again on the 4♠ turn, prior to Giannopoulos moving all in. After some consideration, Valilis decided to fold, perhaps with ICM in mind, considering the 595,000 stack of Diamantopoulos.

A few hands later, Anastasios Vardalis opened to 550,000 from the Button. Aggelos Valilis moved all in from the Small Blind for roughly 2,500,000, and when action came back to Vardalis, he snap-called.

Aggelos Valilis: A♦Q♦
Anastasios Vardalis: A♥K♦

Valilis’ tournament life came to an end as the board spelled out A♣K♣7♠9♠Q♠. He left the featured table €7,766 richer.

Anastasios Vardalis: 14,300,000
Nikolaos Giannopoulos: 13,900,000
Aggelos Valilis: 0

Ioannis Diamantopoulos moved all in, and was called by Ippokratis Aslanoglou.

Ioannis Diamantopoulos: A♣K♥
Ippokratis Aslanoglou: J♣J♥

The pocket hair held up on the 6♠6♣8♣3♦2♦ runout. Diamantopoulos survived with 595,000.

Ippokratis Aslanoglou: 14,800,000
Ioannis Diamantopoulos: 595,000

Action folded to Itzhak Cohen on the Cut-off, who moved all in for 2,800,000. Dimitrios Siantikos made the call from the Big Blind, having 2,350,000 in chips.

Itzhak Cohen: A♦2♦
Dimitrios Siantikos: A♥Q♣

The K♥9♥8♣4♣5♦ board leaved Cohen crippled with only 450,000, while Siantikos, who had entered the final table as the smallest stack, kept on climbing the rankings.

Two hands later, Cohen went all in for his last two big blinds, seated in the Lo-jack. Anastasios Vardalis (Small Blind) and Aggelos Valilis (Big Blind) both made the call.

The two “blind players” checked the 3♦A♥K♠ flop, and the A♦ turn. Vardalis bet 300,000 on the 6♥ river, and Valilis mucked.

Itzhak Cohen: K♦2♠
Anastasios Vardalis: K♥10♣

With a superior kicker, Vardalis sent Cohen to the rail in eighth place. Before leaving the tournament area, Cohen collected his €6,420 payout.

Anastasios Vardalis: 11,590,000
Dimitrios Siantikos: 5,000,000
Itzhak Cohen: 0

Action folded to Aggelos Valilis, who opened to 400,000 from the Hi-jack. Right next to him, Marios-Panagiotis Kapiris clicked it to 800,000 from the Cut-off. When the decision came back to Valilis, he forced his opponent all in for roughly 3,000,000. Kapiris made the call.

Aggelos Valilis: K♦K♣
Marios-Panagiotis Kapiris: A♠J♦

The 5♥8♦3♠5♣10♣ saw Kapiris, perhaps one of the most experienced players left in the field, being the first casualty of the final table. For his achievements, he was awarded €5,327.

Aggelos Valilis: 7,200,000
Marios-Panagiotis Kapiris: 0

During one of the first hands on the final table, Alexey Shilov (Small Blind) forced Dimitrios Siantikos (Big Blind) all in for 1,500,000. Siantikos, who entered the final table as the smallest stack, made the call for his tournament life.

Alexey Shilov: Q♥10♥
Dimitrios Siantikos: K♣10♠

As the board ran out 9♠4♦K♥2♦9♦, Siantikos received the full double up.

Alexey Shilov: 5,950,000
Dimitrios Siantikos: 3,150,000

Below is a list of all Day 3 eliminations leading up to the final table.

Below are the seat draw and the chip counts for the final table. The remaining payouts can also be found below the seat draw.

€600 Main Event – Final Table Seat Draw and Chip Counts

€600 Main Event – Final Table Payouts

Alexey Shilov eliminated Georgios Mellidis in tenth place, and thus, the final table of nine players is set.

The remaining brave warriors will now go on a 40-minute dinner break. The final table seat draw and chip counts will be posted soon.

Chipleader Anastasios Vardalis opened to 300,000 from the Button, before Alexey Shilov made it 675,000 from the Small Blind. Itzhak Cohen made the call from the Big Blind, and Vardalis also joined in on the fun.

Shilov bet 500,000 on the 4♣2♣2♦ flop, and Cohen wasted little time before raising to 1,200,000. Vardalis must’ve had a tough decision; he used one timebank chip before he threw his hand into the muck. Shilov, however, called for his tournament life.

Itzhak Cohen: 10♥10♣
Alexey Shilov: A♦A♣

For good measure, Shilov improved to a full house on the 8♠A♥ runout.

Itzhak Cohen: 5,800,000
Alexey Shilov: 4,050,000

Anastasios Vardalis Opened to 250,000 from the Button. Seated in the Big Blind, Itzhak Cohen decided to make the call.

Cohen check-called a 250,000 bet from Vardalis on the 5♥9♥6♦ flop. Both players checked the 4♥ turn. It was Cohen who led out for 450,000 on the 8♦ river. After putting one timebank chip to use, Vardalis made the call.

1-5 showed A♦7♣ for a rivered straight. Vardalis couldn’t beat it, and Cohen won a decently sized pot against the chip leader.

Anastasios Vardalis: 10,300,000
Itzhak Cohen:5,400,000

It was “the Ketchup Effect”; not much happened when the final two tables began play, but after X went out in sixteenth place, things started to ramp up. Below is an updated list of eliminations from Day 3.

When action folded to Marios-Panagiotis Kapiris, he moved all in for 2,100,000 from the Button. Aggelos Valilis quickly gave up his Small Blind, but short-stack Marek Rous contemplated a decision. Eventually, he did make the call.

Marios-Panagiotis Kapiris: A♣9♥
Marek Rous: A♥7♣

Kapiris’ nine kicker came into play on the 10♦6♣A♠2♣J♠ board, and such, Rous was eliminated. For his thirteenth-place finish, he was awarded €3,617.

Marios-Panagiotis Kapiris: 3,550,000
Marek Rous: 0

Action folded all the way to Vasileios Poziadis in the Small Blind, who limped. Marios-Panagiotis Kapiris wouldn’t allow it and raised to 325,000 from the Big Blind. Poziadis pondered for a while, utilizing two timebank chips, before moving all in for 2,075,000 in total. Kapiris called in a split second.

Vasileios Poziadis: A♦10♦
Marios-Panagiotis Kapiris: K♠K♣

Poziadis almost improved to a flush on the 5♠3♠4♦7♦10♠, but it wasn’t enough. He was the first one to go from the last two tables; it’s been a slow start.

Marios-Panagiotis Kapiris: 4,750,000
Vasileios Poziadis: 0

Below is an updated list on all eliminations today so far.

During one of the first hands after the second break, Anastasios Vardalis opened to 250,000 from the Button. Andronikos Voliotis moved all in for 2,050,000 from the Small Blind, and after Dimitrios Anastasiadis folded in the Big Blind, Vardalis quickly called.

Andronikos Voliotis: A♠8♦
Anastasios Vardalis: 10♠10♦

A clean runout for Vardalis as the board spelled out 6♥6♠9♥4♦K♦. With Voliotis out, 16 players remain, and a two-table redraw is currently conducted.

Anastasios Vardalis: 8,700,000
Andronikos Voliotis: 0

Another two levels have passed, and the remaining 17 players are on a 15-minute break. They are set to return to Level 24: 50,000/100,000, with a 100,000 Ante. Below are five of the biggest stacks.

Vasileios Poziadis opened to 160,000 from UTG+1. A short-stacked Christos-Dimokratis Athanasiadis moved all in for 290,000 from the Cut-off. Anastasios Vardalis called from the Small Blind, and Poziadis also joined the party.

Action went check-check on the K♥J♦10♠ flop. Vardalis bet 350,000 on the 5♣ turn, and Poziadis made the call. On the K♣ river, Vardalis fired 650,000. After some consideration, Poziadis made the call.

Christos-Dimokratis Athanasiadis: 10♦9♦
Anastasios Vardalis: A♠Q♦
Vasileios Poziadis: Q♠J♣

What a dream flop for Vardalis. He eliminated Athanasiadis, and with the chips he got from Poziadis, his stack now surpassed the six million mark.

Anastasios Vardalis: 6,470,000
Vasileios Poziadis: 3,060,000
Christos-Dimokratis Athanasiadis: 0

There will be no sunshine double for Ivan Popov. A couple of months ago, he won the 2025 Novibet Poker Championship for €46,361. That was the latest big poker event here at Regency Casino Thessaloniki. Today, Popov was the first person to go out when three tables remained.

Here are the latest batch of eliminations.

Seated UTG+1, Ioannis Diamantopoulos opened to 125,000. Action folded to Apostolos Karathanasis in the Small Blind, who moved all in for 430,000. Then, Andronikos Voliotis re-shoved for 810,000 from the Big Blind. Diamantopoulos made the call as fast as humanly possible.

Apostolos Karathanasis: Q♥5♥
Andronikos Voliotis: A♣K♦
Ioannis Diamantopoulos: 10♥10♣

Voliotis took the lead on the K♣2♥4♥ flop, while Karathanasis picked up a flush draw. The 2♣3♠ runout resulted in Karathanasis going out in twenty-sixth place, while Voliotis doubled through Diamantopoulos.

Andronikos Voliotis: 2,650,000
Ioannis Diamantopoulos: 1,650,000
Apostolos Karathanasis: 0

Andronikos Voliotis opened to 120,000 UTG. Right next to him, Ioannis Souroukidis moved all in for 910,000. Things didn’t stop there, as Vasileios Poziadis re-shoved for 1,200,000 from the Cut-off. Action folded back to Voliotis, who used three timebank chips before finally folding.

Ioannis Souroukidis: J♠J♣
Vasileios Poziadis: K♦K♣

No nasty surprises for kings on the 8♥7♥2♥10♠K♥ runout, and Souroukidis was sent to the rail in twenty-eighth place for €1,906. As Poziadis stacked his newly won chips, Voliotis revealed he folded ace-king. Whether he had a heart or not wasn’t confirmed, however.

Vasileios Poziadis: 2,680,000
Ioannis Souroukidis: 0

28 players remain at the first break. They will soon return to Level 22: Blinds 30,000/60,000, and a 60,000 Ante. Below are the five biggest stacks in the room.

Apostolos Karathanasis decided to go for broke; he moved all in for 375,000 from UTG. Action folded all the way to Risto Raernat in the Big Blind, who made the call immediately after peaking at his hole cards.

Apostolos Karathanasis: Q♠J♣
Risto Raernat: A♥Q♥

Karathanasis wasn’t too thrilled to see the holdings of Raernat, but he took a solid lead on the 8♠4♠J♠ flop. Raernat wasn’t able to catch up on the 10♣8♥ runout, and Karathanasis received a full double-up.

Risto Raernat: 1,650,000
Apostolos Karathanasis: 825,000

Seated UTG, Artemios Fournaris opened to 110,000. Then, Anastasios Vardalis raised to 325,000. Right next to him, Sami Natri moved all in for 1,135,000. Fournaris folded rather quickly, but Vardalis put two timebank chips to use before deciding to make the call.

Sami Natri: K♦K♣
Anastasios Vardalis: A♦K♠

Natri had his opponent in rough shape, but he wasn’t too thrilled to see the A♥Q♦6♥ flop. The 7♥6♣ runout didn’t help him, and as he was eliminated in thirty-second position for €1,543, Vardalis’ stack grew to enormous proportions; there is a good chance he is the current chip leader.

Anastasios Vardalis: 3,550,000
Sami Natri: 0

Action folded to Georgios Mellidis in the Small Blind, who decided to just call. Ivan-Liubomirov Popov denied it, and raised to 125,000. Mellidis made the call.

Mellidis check-called an 80,000 bet from Popov on the 7♣7♥10♦ flop. Both players checked the 5♣ turn. Mellidis checked again on the A♣ river and then snap-called the 300,000 bet from Popov.

Ivan-Liubomirov Popov: J♠3♠
Georgios Mellidis: K♦K♣

The slowplay by Mellidis paid off, and he added valuable chips to his stack.

Ivan-Liubomirov Popov: 1,350,000
Georgios Mellidis: 1,150,000

Below are all the players who’ve gone out from Day 3 so far. Remember, for the full results of the Main Event and other tournaments, click the “payouts & results” tab. The tables are being updated continuously, and soon enough, the results for all tournaments during the 2025 Greek Poker Odyssea will be posted.

Itzhak Cohen opened to 80,000 from the Hi-jack. Most players at the table decided to join, as Nikolaos Giannopoulos (Cut-off), Andreas Vlachos (Button), Dimitrios Giannakis (Small Blind), and Hristina Nikolova (Big Blind) all decided to call. In other words, almost a family pot.

Giannakis and Nikolova checked it over to Cohen on the 5♦3♥5♣ flop, who bet 60,000. Then, Giannopoulos raised to 280,000. Things would get even crazier; after using one timebank chip, Giannakis moved all in for 880,000. Action folded back to Giannopoulos, who made the call in a heartbeat.

Dimitrios Giannakis: A♠8♠
Nikolaos Giannopoulos: 3♠3♦

Bad timing for Giannakis to do a creative move. The 10♦9♦ runout didn’t help him; he was sent to the rail in forty-third place, cashing for €1,543.

Nikolaos Giannopoulos: 2,800,000
Dimitrios Giannakis: 0

It’s been an action-packed start to the final day; in just ten minutes, there’s been no fewer than four eliminations.

One of those who had to bid farewell at an early stage was Borislav Yosifov. UTG+1, he put in a 400,000 raise, leaving himself with 130,000 behind. Action folded to Ivan-Liubomirov Popov in the Big Blind, who forced his opponent all in. Yosifov utilized all five of his timebank chips, most likely stalling for a payjump, before making the call.

Ivan-Liubomirov Popov: K♦K♣
Borislav Yosifov: A♦K♠

No dice for Popov on the 6♥7♠10♣4♥10♦ board. He was eliminated in forty-fifth place for €1,206, just missing the pay jump to €1,543.

Ivan-Liubomirov Popov: 2,490,000
Borislav Yosifov: 0

Let’s dance. The first hand of Day 3 has been dealt, and the finale is underway.

It’s soon time for the penultimate day of the €600 Main Event. What a fitting conclusion to the 2025 Greek Poker Odyssea this will be, folks. It’s been an absolutely marvelous week for all poker enthusiasts, and today, everything will conclude with one lucky player claiming the Main Event title and the €56,340 first-place payout.

Ippokratis Aslanoglou may lead the field going into Day 3 (3,180,000), but with 47 players remaining, there still is a lot of poker to be played, and anything can happen. Nevertheless, it’s going to be an entertaining day around the poker tables here in Thessaloniki.

The poker.pro live coverage will commence at 14:00, just when the first hand is dealt. Ladies and gentlemen, today, a winner of the 2025 Greek Poker Odyssea will be crowned, and a new chapter for the poker history books will be written.

A total of 47 players managed to survive Day 2. They will return to Day 3 tomorrow (Sunday, June 29) at 14:00.

Ippokratis Aslanoglou leads the field, as he managed to bag more than 3,000,000 in chips. It’s been a bumpy ride for many players today, especially on the bubble. Some players decided to hold on tight to their chips and secure the min-cash, while some decided to go for broke and attempt to double up their shorter stacks.

The full chip counts and all eliminations since reaching ITM can be seen below.

€600 Main Event – Results

€600 Main Event – Day 2 Chip Counts

Play has now concluded for today. 48 players survived Day 2. They will all return to Day 3 tomorrow (June 29), which kicks off at 14:00.

The complete chip counts will be posted on poker.pro as soon as possible. Can be seen by pressing the “results” tab at the top of the live blog.

It’s common poker knowledge that the “Post Bubble Bustout Bonanza” is a real thing. Since the bubble burst, the following players have all gone out, earning themself a €1,206 min-cash.

Action folded to Ioannis Diamantopoulos, who raised to 60,000 from the Lo-jack. Action folded to Georgios Mylonas, who moved all in for 165,000 from the Small Blind. When it came back to Diamantopoulos, he made the call. The players had to wait a minute or two while action was going on at the other tables, before revealing their holdings.

Georgios Mylonas: A♦K♦
Ioannis Diamantopoulos: A♥2♦

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the floor started talking in the microphone. “We have an all in and a call at Table three. Short stacks holds A♦K♦, big stack has A♥2♦. Dealer, let’s see the flop.”

Mylonas looked good for a double-up on the 4♣9♠10♣ flop. Things were still bright on the 6♠ turn. Then, everyone was reminded why poker can be such a brutal game. The 2♠ shattered Mylonas’ Main Event dreams, and as everyone else started cheering over the fact that they were in the money, Mylonas, gracious in defeat, exited the stage.

While things might feel dull for Mylonas right now, it’s worth to remember he finished second in the €450 Monsterstack Mystery Bounty earlier this week. Overall, he’s had a good time here at the 2025 Greek Poker Odyssea.

Ioannis Diamantopoulos: 1,770,000
Georgios Mylonas: 0

Seated UTG, Dimitrios Giannakis opened to 65,000. Action folded all the way to Anastasios Vardalis, who decided to defend his Big Blind.

Vardalis check-called a 70,000 bet from Giannakis on the 2♥7♣10♦ flop. Action repeated itself on the 3♠ turn, the only difference being that Giannakis this time sized up to 100,000. Both players checked the 2♣ river.

Vardalis was awarded the pot, holding K♠10♠.

Anastasios Vardalis: 1,600,000
Dimitrios Giannakis: 695,000

Nikolay-Dimitrov Savov opened to 50,000 from UTG+1. Then, from UTG+2, Vasileios Zisis raised to 130,000. As if things weren’t already crazy enough, Marek Rous 4-bet to 285,000 from the Button.

Back to Savov, who now 5-bet shoved for 790,000. This sent Zisis deep, deep into the tank. Not one, not two, not three, but four time bank chips he used, before finally mucking his hand with a face displaying great discomfort. Rous then asked the dealer for a count. When the number was confirmed, he made the call.

Nikolay-Dimitrov Savov: A♦K♠
Marek Rous: Q♥Q♠

In the end, it was a flip, and Rous’ queens were good enough as the board ran out 3♦8♦8♦6♠9♥ flop. Before the flop was dealt, though, Zisis revealed his K♠K♥ holdings.

One can understand that Savov didn’t connect, considered two of his outs were gone, and as he hit the rail, Rous won a massive pot and broke the 2,000,000 barrier.

Marek Rous: 2,095,000
Vasileios Zisis: 1,650,000
Nikolay-Dimitrov Savov: 0

The remaining 71 players are raiding the complementary hamburger/hot dog buffet right outside the tournament area. While they are indulging for 30 minutes, the poker.pro live coverage team scouted the floor and identified five of the biggest stacks.

The players will return to Level 18: 15,000/25,000 (25,000). Nine more will go before the remaining 62 are in the money.

Chrysanthos Pappas opened to 40,000 from the Hi-jack. Seated in the Big Blind, Artemios Fournaris was the sole caller.

Fournaris check-called a 20,000 bet from Pappas on the K♥K♣3♠ flop. Both players checked the 5♦ turn.

When Fournaris bet 65,000, Pappas immediately threw two timebank chips in the middle. He scratched his head, trying to make sense of the situation. At last, though, he folded, revealing his Q♥Q♠ holdings.

Artemios Fournaris: 500,000
Chrysanthos Pappas: 180,000

Vasileios Karagiannis committed most of his stack when he opened to 65,000 from the Hi-jack. From the Button, Georgios Mylonas moved all in for 100,000. Action folded back to Karagiannis, who made the call, having Mylonas slightly covered.

Georgios Mylonas: A♦K♥
Vasileios Karagiannis: Q♣J♦

Mylonas never looked back after hitting trips on the A♥A♠3♥ flop. The 2♣4♣ didn’t change the outcome, and the two small stacks switched places on the rankings.

Georgios Mylonas: 250,000
Vasileios Karagiannis: 60,000

Action folded to Marios-Panagiotis Kapiris, who opened to 30,000 from the Button. Then, Vasileios Poziadis raised to 120,000 from the Big Blind, after putting one timebank chip to use. Kapiris made the call.

Poziadis continued for 80,000 on the 9♦9♠10♣ flop. Kapiris called, and the dealer revealed the 3♥ on the turn. Poziadis bet again – this time 165,000 – and Kapiris made the call.

Action went check-check on the 7♥ river. Poziadis turned over K♠K♣ and seeing as Kapiris mucked his hand, he couldn’t beat it.

Vasileios Poziadis: 1,750,000
Marios-Panagiotis Kapiris: 450,000

The poker.pro live reporter visited Hristina Nikolova a few times during Day 1b, to which she had qualified to. She’s still in the Day 2 field and competing for top dollar.

The board read Q♠10♠10♣Q♥ with roughly 140,000 in the middle. Nikolova and Konstantinos Koufogiannidis both checked. Nikolova bet 100,000 on the A♥ river, and Koufogiannidis folded.

Hristina Nikolova: 625,000
Konstantinos Koufogiannidis: 215,000

Dimitrios Siantikos opened to 35,000 UTG. Miroslav Rizov made the call from the Hi-jack, before Borislav Yosifov moved all in for 190,000. Siantikos folded, but Rizov made the call in a heartbeat.

Borislav Yosifov: Q♦Q♠
Miroslav Rizov: 3♥3♣

Just for good measure, Yosifov improved to a full house on the 7♠A♥7♦10♣Q♥ board. Rizov could afford the loss.

Miroslav Rizov: 1,170,000
Borislav Yosifov: 345,000

At the first break, 95 players remain. While they are gone, the poker.pro live coverage team did its best at identifying the biggest stacks in the room. The upcoming level is level 16: 10,000/15,000, with a 15,000 Ante.

Achilleas Kouros opened to 26,000 from UTG+1. Seated right next to him, Konstantinos Stroulis moved all in for 256,000. Action folded back to Kouros, who was faced with a tough decision. He utilized two timebank cards before making the call.

Konstantinos Stroulis: K♦J♦
Achilleas Kouros: A♥Q♠

Kouros had made the right call, and he was awarded on the 2♠6♠A♦K♠9♠ board. He improved his stack and sent Stroulis to the rail in the process.

Achilleas Kouros: 1,150,000
Konstantinos Stroulis: 0

Vasilis Zisis, Achilleas Kouros, and Nikolay-Dimitrov Savov were the three chip leaders from the respective Day 1 flights. The poker.pro live reporter took a look at their current stacks to see how they’re holding up so far in Day 2.

Roughly one and a half hours into Day 2, and roughly 40 players have already gone out. There are still quite a few that will have to fall before the top 62 are in the money.

One of the players still in the mix is Vasileios Zisis. While the Greek is mostly a cash game player, he achieved tournament greatness in Malta last year; he conquered a field of 1,814 entries to win the 2024 Battle of Malta Spring Edition for €100,000. Then, six months later, he finished runner-up in the 2024 Battle of Malta Autumn Edition for €160,800, which had 5,799 entries.

Needless to say, Zisis knows how to navigate his way through large fields. Can he channel his Maltese tournament skills and convert them to a victory here in Thessaloniki?

Konstantinos Daskalou moved all in for 41,000 from the Hi-jack. Action folded to Stavros Kokotsakis in the Big Blind.

“31,000 more, huh,” Kokotsakis speculated, pondering whether he was priced in to make the call or not. Eventually, he did threw in the additional chips required.

Konstantinos Daskalou: K♦J♦
Stavros Kokotsakis: 4♠3♣

Daskalou had little to worry about after the 10♣J♣9♦ flop. The 4♥6♣ runout didn’t help Kokotsakis, and Daskalou will live to fight another hand.

Stavros Kokotsakis: 283,000
Konstantinos Daskalou: 107,000

Andronikos Voliotis opened to 16,000 from UTG+1. Action folded all the way to Nikolaos Tsinas, who called from the Big Blind.

Both players checked the 10♦4♠8♣ flop. Tsinas check-called a 20,000 bet from Voliotis on the 8♠ turn. Tsinas completed the check-trifecta on the 9♣ river, before Voliotis bet 47,000. Tsinas made the call.

Voliotis turned over 8♦7♦ for trip eights. Tsinas couldn’t beat it, and he mucked his hand.

Andronikos Voliotis: 610,000
Nikolaos Tsinas: 185,000

Nikolaos Tsitos opened to 16,000 from the Button. Seated in the Big Blind, Apostolos Karathanasis was the sole caller.

Action went check-check on the 4♥3♦J♣ flop. Karathanasis bet 18,000 on the 8♣ turn, and Tsitos made the call. Both players then checked the 10♠ river.

Karathanasis turned over 9♠4♠; his pair of fours seemed to be good as Tsitos mucked.

Nikolaos Tsitos: 420,000
Apostolos Karathanasis: 705,000

The payouts have been announced for the tournament. The top 62 will be paid, meaning there’s quite some time to go before the bubble.

Cards are in the air for Day 2. 152 players made it through from the three various Day 1 flights, and are now taking their seats.