Poker Triumph in Rozvadov: Andre Winkler Claims Third Trophy of the Year

The King’s Resort in Rozvadov continues to be a successful venue for German poker players. On Monday, October 5, 2026, Andre Winkler capped off an impressive year by winning the €2,000 EPC Masters. This victory marks Winkler's third trophy within the current calendar year. The competition was part of the prestigious King’s Million European Poker Championship (KMEPC), attracting numerous international professionals to the Czech-German border.

The tournament generated significant interest within the poker community. A total of 346 entries were recorded, consisting of 277 unique participants and 69 re-entries. This brought the prize pool to a substantial 602,040 euros. On the final day, 69 players returned to the tables, with reaching the money as the first major objective. Ultimately, 52 players made the cut, with the minimum cash set at 4,230 euros.

Numbers and facts

The final table saw an intense battle between experienced players. Andre Winkler was the lone German representative left to face a strong international field. Among his opponents was the well-known Dutch professional Tobias Peters, who finished in third place for 58,100 euros. The final stages were notably populated by Italian players, who occupied three of the top five positions.

Italy's Marco Giordano entered the decisive heads-up against Winkler as the massive chip leader. Due to the chip distribution, both players agreed to a deal. This secured Giordano the largest financial portion of the remaining prize pool at 118,400 euros, even though he eventually lost the match. Without the deal, the winner was originally scheduled to receive 131,600 euros, while second place was set at 86,400 euros.

"Andre Winkler took the lead after the deal and ultimately secured the victory, claiming both the title and the trophy." - Tournament officials at King’s Resort

Background

The King’s Million European Poker Championship is a highlight of the European tournament calendar. Alongside the EPC Masters, the Super Main Event formed the core of the series. King’s Resort provides a world-class infrastructure for such large-scale events. Parallel to the tournaments, active cash games were running with stakes starting from €1/2 No Limit Hold’em (NLH) and €2/2 Pot Limit Omaha (PLO).

Winkler's victory is no coincidence but follows a series of recent successes. The German player seems to have a keen ability to navigate final table dynamics in Rozvadov. While players like Pasquale183 and MajikMike from Italy finished in fourth and fifth place, Winkler demonstrated the necessary stamina to turn the tide in the heads-up phase.

Why it matters for German players

For German poker players, King’s Resort in Rozvadov is the primary destination for live poker due to its proximity and high standards. However, players residing in Germany must adhere to the legal framework of the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV). While live play in Czech casinos is subject to local laws, online poker in Germany is strictly regulated. The Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL) maintains a whitelist of providers that meet rigorous requirements.

These regulations include a monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros across all providers, monitored via the LUGAS system, and a stake limit of 1 euro per spin for virtual slot games. Licensed online poker providers in Germany must also ensure that players do not engage in multi-tabling across different platforms simultaneously. Anyone wishing to play poker legally in Germany should exclusively use platforms listed on the GGL whitelist to ensure legal protection and player safety.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

Successes like Andre Winkler's increase overall interest in poker. For legally licensed casinos in Germany, this presents an opportunity to strengthen their poker segments. However, since many German professionals travel abroad for major tournaments, domestic operators must compete through high security standards and reliability. The GGL license serves as a mark of quality. Providers failing to follow rules or operating without a license risk network blocking and legal prosecution.