The 2024 Kings of Tallinn festival kicked off on a high note, setting the stage for a record-smashing week in the Olympic Park Casino. Among the festival’s highlights, the €555 Kings of Tallinn Championship drew a crowd of 700 entries, surpassing the previous record of 573. This turnout created a staggering prize pool of €329,000, setting a new benchmark for the tournament.
After three long days of poker and an intense heads-up battle, Finland’s Mikko Ylämäki emerged victorious, securing his largest career win of €58,835. This victory marks another milestone for Ylämäki, who was crowned the Finnish champion at the 2023 Finnish Championship in Helsinki just a few months prior. With the latest win, his live tournament earnings are nearing the $250,000 mark.
Facing him in the heads-up was a seasoned player, Andrius Bielskis, with over $560,000 in live tournament winnings, according to The Hendon Mob, and a winner of 2013 Sunday Million 7th Anniversary on PokerStars for $848,589.
€555 Kings of Tallinn Championship 2024 Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (EUR) |
| 1 | Mikko Ylämäki | Finland | €58,835 * |
| 2 | Andrius Bielskis | Lithuania | €49,875 * |
| 3 | Joonas Helin | Finland | €27,900 |
| 4 | Oscar Peleg | Sweden | €20,100 |
| 5 | Jordi Baixas | Spain | €15,200 |
| 6 | Aleksandrs Krumins | Latvia | €11,250 |
| 7 | Touko Berndtson | Finland | €8,700 |
| 8 | Matte Karjalainen | Finland | €7,200 |
| 9 | Knut Trulsen | Norway | €5,890 |
€555 Kings of Tallinn Championship 2024 Final Table Action
The final day saw thirteen players return to battle for the title and €65,360 first-place money prize. Notably without a home country representative, as the highest-placed Estonian player, Dmitri Zatsik, finished in 35th place.
Aleksandrs Krumins and Andrius Bielskis entered the final table as the chip leaders with 49 big blinds, followed by Mikko Ylämäki with 26 big blinds. As two other short-stackers doubled up quickly at the start, the Norwegian Knut Trulsen was the first to hit the rail.
Bielskis then took a big chunk of chips from his final table co-leader in a big cooler with pocket kings against Krumins’ ace-king and a king on the flop. Utilizing his new riches, Bielskis eliminated Matte Karjalainen in eighth place. The eliminations continued with Touko Berndtson and Krumins falling next, unable to overcome their opponents’ hands.
Despite multiple double-ups during the final table, Jordi Baixas was ousted by Ylämäki in fifth place. Ylämäki, now with a substantial lead, quickly dispatched Oscar Peleg and Joonas Helin in fourth and third place, respectively, setting the stage for the heads-up with Bielskis.
Before the heads-up commenced, Ylämäki and Bielskis agreed to a deal, securing €56,980 for Ylämäki and €49,875 for Bielskis, with the trophy and an additional €1,855 still up for grabs.
Bielskis was already on the exit door with only a few hands into the heads-up after he pushed all-in with ace-queen on a 6T3 flop, and Ylämäki quickly called with a top pair. Two queens hit the turn and river, and Bielskis took a lucky double-up and a chip lead.
Ylämäki had his own share of luck on the way to victory. Down one-to-six in chips, he went all-in with jack-eight against Bielskis’ queen-ten. Flop brought both ten and an eight, but it was the turn that saved Ylämäki with another eight.
Reigning Finnish champion later won two flips in quick succession. First with ace-jack against pocket six to level the playing field and another with his pocket six against king-ten of Bielskis for a big lead.
It was soon over after Bielskis limp-jammed with king-nine suited, which put Ylämäki in the tank, before eventually calling with king-jack. The board didn’t help the Lithuanian, and Ylämäki won the record-breaking €555 Kings of Tallinn Championship.
