The 33rd European Poker Championship was held at Casino Velden in Velden am Wörthersee, Austria. This traditional festival takes place after the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas winds down. From July 16 to 28, seven new European poker champions were crowned in seven different events.
The highlight of the festival was the European Poker Championship Main Event, which saw an incredible comeback story. Austrian Harald Heigl, who was the runner-up to Italian Nicola Angelini last year, returned with a vengeance to upgrade his silver medal to gold. Heigl pocketed €135,200 for the championship win, improving on the career-best €103,360 he received for his second-place finish in 2023.
2024 NLH European Poker Championship Main Event Results
Place | Player | Country | Prize |
1 | Harald Heigl | Austria | €135,200 |
2 | Matthias Habernig | Austria | €90,500 |
3 | Timo Kamphues | Germany | €64,000 |
4 | Artyon Smbatyan | Armenia | €45,900 |
5 | Medet Kilinc | Germany | €33,900 |
6 | Stefan Jedlicka | Austria | €26,700 |
7 | Guido Garnies | Germany | €20,600 |
8 | “Lichthupe” | Germany | €16,900 |
9 | Daniel Lange | Germany | €14,400 |
The Main Event attracted 253 entries, creating a prize pool of €632,500, with 34 players finishing in the money. Heigl entered the final day as the chip leader among the last nine players, followed closely by Armenian Artyon Smbatyan and fellow Austrian Matthias Habernig, who was the Day 3 leader.
Smbatyan was knocked out in fourth place, taking home €45,900, and Germany’s Timo Kamphus finished third for €64,000. The heads-up battle for the coveted title of European Champion was between two Austrians. In the end, Heigl triumphed over Habernig, who had to settle for the €90,500 runner-up prize.
Champions Crowned in Other Events
While the NLH European Poker Championship Main Event was the highlight of the festival, six other new champions were crowned.
The first champion of the series was Yvonne Savary Taveras, who won the NLH Ladies European Championship event. She bested a field of 70 entries and pocketed €5,820 for her victory.
Stanislav Koleno, one of Slovakia’s best poker players, triumphed in the PL Omaha European Championship. Koleno topped a field of 109 entries and earned €54,585 for his win.
On Tuesday, two champions were crowned. Austrian Roland Weidinger claimed the title in the longest-running Poker EM Event, the Limit Seven Card Stud European Championship, and took home €7,160 after beating 64 players. Later that evening, Moritz Dietrich won the NLH 6-Handed European Championship event, defeating Fabian Bartuschk heads-up for the title and a €33,000 prize.
The €5,400 NLH High Roller European Championship saw 81 players compete. Hannes Pflanzl and high stakes cash game regular Severi Palmu battled for the championship. The win stayed in Austria as amateur Pflanzl triumphed over the Finnish pro, pocketing €112,600.
The festival’s final day concluded with the NLH Mystery Bounty Championship. Among 172 participants, Slovenian David Gradič emerged victorious, celebrating his biggest live career win with €18,300 from the regular prize pool, plus additional bounties.
2024 European Poker Champions
Event | Winner | Country | Prize |
NLH European Poker Championship Main Event | Harald Heigl | Austria | €135,200 |
NLH Ladies European Championship | Yvonne Savary Taveras | Switzerland | €5,820 |
PL Omaha European Championship | Stanislav Koleno | Slovakia | €54,585 |
Limit Seven Card Stud European Championship | Roland Weidinger | Austria | €7,160 |
NLH 6-Handed European Championship | Moritz Dietrich | Austria | €33,000 |
NLH High Roller European Championship | Hannes Pflanzl | Austria | €112,600 |
NLH Mystery Bounty Championship | David Gradič | Slovenia | €18,300 |