The final weekend of the 2025 WSOP Circuit Tallinn is approaching at Olympic Park Casino and the adjoining Hilton Tallinn Park, and there is tons of action yet to come.
Poland’s Krzysztof Budka was easily the star of the day after earning the sole WSOP Circuit Tallinn ring on Thursday in the €1,100 8-Game for €22,390. This was Budka’s second taste at WSOP gold, as back in April 2022, he earned his first ring at Kings Resort after winning the €1,100 PLO5 for €24,174. In addition, Budka also earned a trophy in Tallinn the same year after winning the OlyBet Holiday Special €350 PLO4/PLO5 for €5,050.
Three other familiar names earned trophies on Saturday. Estonia’s Risto Pärnat earned €21,260 plus progressive bounties in a new event on the schedule in the €750 NLH Progressive Bounty & Mystery Bounty. This event featured progressive bounties from the start, plus mystery bounties after players were in the money. The poker.pro host and social media guru Glenn Brown introduced the event with OlyBet tournament director Teresa Nousiainen before the action kicked off. Brown will be presenting this tournament on a big stage in Manchester for the newly founded Poker Experience Tour with his partner Paul Moyce, who came up with this new tournament concept.
Fellow Estonian Karev Tralla celebrated a birthday recently. His present to himself came a little late, but as they say, better late than never. Tralla was the last player standing in the €200 PL Deuce to Seven for €4,030.
However, Estonians could not sweep the board on the trophies as Switzerland’s Nico Frenn broke the trend after winning the €350 NLH Progressive Bounty for €6,200 plus bounties.
In other news, the €1 million guaranteed WSOP Circuit Tallinn €1,500 Main Event finished its five opening flights with 764 entries thus far. The lofty seven-figure guarantee will be smashed with late registration remaining open for the first two blind levels of Friday’s Day 2 when the action resumes at noon. Estonian poker beast Markku Koplimaa leads the way after catapulting his 50,000 opening stack into a whopping 435,500 in chips.
Read on to learn more about Thursday’s action at the 2025 WSOP Circuit Tallinn at Olympic Park Casino and the Hilton Tallinn Park.
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Krzysztof Budka Earns Second WSOP Circuit Ring
As we mentioned in the intro, Poland’s Krzysztof Budka earned his second WSOP Circuit Ring on Thursday. It was his first career title in an 8-Game format after defeating Finland’s Pasi Laihinen (second – €14,370) heads-up to win the €22,390 top prize. In addition to the pile of cash and the coveted gold ring, Laihenen also earned a package valued at $5,000 to the 2025 WSOP Paradise held in December.
The two-day affair attracted 79 mixed game enthusiasts, creating a €75,050 prize pool. Many big names found their way to the payout desk, including Denmark’s Nicklas Dehli (fourth – €6,780), Norway’s Thor Morstol (fifth – €4,920), and Finland’s Aki Pyysing (seventh – €3,140), who earned a gold ring during the 2024 WSOP Circuit Tallinn.
The poker.pro live reporter Christoffer Karlen caught the action of the final hand seven-card Stud hi-lo as follows:
With the 5♦ as his revealed card, Pasi Laihinen brought in for 30,000. Krzysztof Budka, having the 7♣ in front of him, raised to 100,000. Laihinen made the call.
The dealer dealt Budka the 10♦ and Laihinen the 5♠. Laihinen bet 100,000, and Budka called.
Budka then got the 2♥ and Laihinen the 4♣. Laihinen now bet 200,000, before Budka forced his opponent all in for roughly 400,000. Laihinen made the call.
Krzysztof Budka: 7♠6♠ / 7♣10♦2♥
Pasi Laihinen: 3♥4♠ / 5♦5♠4♣
Budka was dealt 9♥7♥ as his two final cards, while Laihinen got 7♦9♦. Budka won the pot, and with that, he eliminated his heads-up opponent, Laihinen.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Krzysztof Budka | Poland | €22,390 |
| 2 |  Pasi Laihinen | Finland | €14,370 |
| 3 | Verneri Häkkinen | Finland | €9,640 |
| 4 |  Nicklas Dehli | Denmark | €6,780 |
| 5 |  Thor Morstol | Norway | €4,920 |
| 6 | Jyri Merivirta | Finland | €3,930 |
| 7 | Aki Pyysing | Finland | €3,140 |
| 8 | Lars Hole | Norway | €2,640 |
| 9 |  Hanno Kerem | Estonia | €2,640 |
| 10 | Sampo Ryynänen | Finland | €2,300 |
| 11 | Simen Gulbrandsen | Norway | €2,300 |
2025 WSOP Circuit Tallinn Day 8 Schedule (Friday, August 1)
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 12:00 | Event #5: WSOPC €1,500 NLH Main Event Day 2 |
| 12:00 | Event #41: €20 Rebuy Satellite to the Ring Event #9 WSOPC €555 Sviten (3 Seats GTD) |
| 13:00 | Event #9: WSOPC €555 Sviten Special Day 1 |
| 15:00 | Event #42: €80 Satellite to the Ring Event #10 WSOPC €1,100 NLH Mystery Bounty (5 Seats GTD) |
| 18:00 | Event #10: WSOPC €1,100 NLH Mystery Bounty Day 1 |
| 18:00 | Event #43: €200 NLH Progressive Bounty |
| 21:00 | Event #44: €200 PLO6 |
| 22:00 | Event #45: €150 Satellite to the Ring Event #11 WSOPC €3,000 NLH (3 Seats GTD) |
- Photos courtesy of Elena Kask / OlyBet Poker
