Record-Breaking Prague: WSOPE Debut Makes History with €35.8 Million in Prizes

The poker world is staring in awe at the Czech capital. The move of the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) from the quiet border town of Rozvadov to the metropolis of Prague has already proven to be a strategic stroke of genius in its first 2026 edition. The figures presented by the King’s Resort as the organizer after the conclusion of the 15 bracelet events leave no room for doubt: Prague is the new focal point for high-stakes action on the European continent. With a total of 15,779 entries from 83 different nations, an international reach was achieved that is rarely found in such density.

One of the big winners of this marathon is Austrian Christopher Nguyen. He triumphed in the prestigious Super High Roller event with a buy-in of €20,800. For his victory, he collected a handsome sum of €1,100,000. This success is representative of the enormous financial momentum the festival developed. In total, prize money amounting to €35,810,276 was played out across all tournaments. It is a sum that illustrates that poker in Europe is more alive than ever, despite regulatory hurdles in many countries.

Numbers and facts

The €5,300 buy-in Main Event in particular provided data of superlatives. With 2,617 entries, a prize pool of €13,085,000 was generated. According to the organizer, this is not only a new record for the WSOPE but also the largest prize pool of an open poker tournament in entire European history. For comparison: the previous record from 2023 in Rozvadov stood at 817 entries and around €7.76 million. The increase is therefore massive and shows how much more attractive a location like Prague is for international professionals and amateurs alike. The victory in the Main Event was secured by Lithuanian Marius Kudzmanas, who went home with his first WSOP bracelet and prize money of €2,000,000.

German players also made their mark. Ole Schemion, one of the most famous German poker exports, secured victory in the €5,300 PLO European Championship. There was also success for the German-speaking region in the women's category: Anca Eggenberger from Switzerland won the Ladies Championship. Other highlights included events like the Mystery Bounty, won by American Corel Theuma, or the Colossus, which attracted 2,662 entries.

Background

The move to Prague was met with a certain amount of skepticism, as the King’s Resort in Rozvadov had been the series' permanent home for years. However, the Hilton Prague offered the necessary infrastructure to handle the massive influx of players. The combination of top-class poker and the cultural offerings of a world-class city seems to have been the formula for this success.

"The Main Event prize pool is the largest in the history of the WSOPE and also the largest prize pool of an open poker tournament in Europe." - Official Spokesperson, King’s Resort

This statement underlines the organizers' ambition to permanently establish the WSOPE as the most important poker event outside of Las Vegas. The fact that GGPoker, as a partner, sent over 1,000 players to Prague via online qualifiers contributed significantly to these record fields.

Why it matters for German players

For German poker players, participating in such major events abroad is often the only way to experience tournament poker on this scale. In Germany, live poker is heavily regulated by the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). While online poker is legally possible with providers on the GGL whitelist, there are strict limits. For example, a €1 limit per spin applies to online slots, and a general deposit limit of €1,000 per month via the LUGAS system. For high rollers, such as those at the start in Prague, these restrictions are often a reason to switch to physical events in neighboring countries.

The tax situation is also complex for professionals in Germany, while recreational players can usually keep winnings tax-free. However, tournaments like the one in Prague show the contrast between restrictive German legislation and the booming international market. Anyone wishing to play poker legally in Germany should make sure to use only providers with an official license from the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) to be legally protected.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For operators with a GGL license in Germany, such record values are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, general interest in poker is increasing, which can bring in new customers. On the other hand, the success in Prague illustrates that players are prepared to invest high sums given appropriate offers, which can hardly be mapped in the German licensed market due to protection mechanisms such as LUGAS and the tax burden. Nevertheless, the German market remains attractive due to legal certainty, even if bracelets can only be won at the PC there for the time being.