Robin Panholzer Triumphs at the Mixed Poker European Championship in Tallinn

The Olympic Park Casino in Tallinn has once again proven itself as a hub for the European poker scene. During the 2026 Mixed Poker European Championship (EMPC), one of the most complex tournaments on the calendar took place. Event #4, the 700 euro 20 Game Dealer’s Choice, attracted specialists from across Europe. In the end, it was Austrian Robin Panholzer who kept his cool and emerged victorious in a high-caliber field. The tournament demanded everything from the participants, as it required not just knowledge of standard variants, but a deep understanding of 20 different types of poker.

With a total of 69 entries, a significant prize pool of 40.313 euros was generated. The tournament was scheduled over two days, with players starting with a stack of 70.000 chips. The 30-minute levels provided enough room for tactical maneuvers, which was essential given the technically demanding variants like Badugi, Razz, or 2-7 Triple Draw. Panholzer demonstrated impressive consistency throughout the tournament, safely navigating a field packed with experienced professionals.

Numbers and facts

The field fought for nine paid positions. From a German-speaking perspective, Philipp Krieger’s performance was particularly noteworthy. The German player narrowly missed the podium, finishing in fourth place for 4.120 euros. Taking third place was another Austrian, Jean-Michael Kabbaj, who walked away with 5.650 euros. The decisive heads-up match was played between Panholzer and the Norwegian Martin Rottem Dahle. After an intense duel, Panholzer was declared the winner, receiving 12.093 euros, while Dahle took 8.040 euros for second place.

The 20 Game Dealer’s Choice offered a selection that challenged even die-hard mixed-game fans. The choices included NLH, FLH, PLO, 5C PLO, FL Sviten Special, PL Sviten Special, FLO8, PLO8, 5C PLO8, NLO8, Stud, Stud8, Razz, 5CD, NL2-7, A-5TD, 2-7TD, Badugi, Badacey, and Badeuce. This variety ensures that luck plays a minor role and true skill comes to the forefront.

Background

The Mixed Poker European Championship has established itself as a staple in the tournament calendar. The Olympic Park Casino in Tallinn provides the perfect setting for this. It is known for giving a stage to niche variants that are often neglected in conventional casinos. The event shows that interest in games beyond Texas Hold'em is steadily growing. With his victory, Robin Panholzer joins a list of players who have proven their versatility. Following the conclusion of this event, focus now shifts to the 800 euro Main Event, which features eight different variants.

Why it matters for German players

For German poker players, a success like Philipp Krieger's is an important signal, yet the legal situation for online poker at home remains strictly regulated. Anyone wishing to play poker legally for real money in Germany must stick to providers on the official whitelist of the Gemeinsame Gluecksspielbehoerde der Laender (GGL). The State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021) sets tight limits here. For example, a general deposit limit of 1.000 euros per month applies across all providers, monitored by the central LUGAS system. There are also strict requirements for game stakes, such as the one-euro-per-spin limit for virtual slots, while poker tables are often affected by high tax duties and limitations on the number of tables. Live tournaments abroad, such as in Tallinn, therefore remain the only option for many German pros to play variants like Dealer’s Choice on this scale, as the offering in German state-run casinos is often limited to Texas Hold'em.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For casinos with a GGL license, the success of such mixed-game events indicates a demand for variety. However, implementing 20 different poker variants online is difficult under current German tax and regulatory conditions. The 5.3 percent stake tax on every hand makes many variants mathematically almost unbeatable for players. Nevertheless, licensed providers must try to find attractive solutions within the legal framework to prevent players from being driven into the unregulated black market of MGA or Curacao providers. A safe environment with player protection measures remains the most important selling point for German licensees, even if the game selection lags behind that of Tallinn due to technical and regulatory reasons.