European Mixed Poker Championship

What a debut this was at JP Poker! The European Mixed Poker Championship brought everyone to Dublin — from part-time enthusiasts to millionaire professionals — and even saw locals jump into the fray and start falling in love with the unique world of mixed games poker.

We had players from all over Europe and even North America having a blast at JP Poker in a mix of poker formats they rarely get to enjoy.

One of the standout stories was 🇨🇭 Walter Tischhauser, who took down the 6-Game Mystery Bounty after a strong run and a heads-up deal with 🇫🇷 Rodolphe Zagaoury.

After his win, Walter told EMPC:

“I feel great. It was a really good experience. Nice people, good stuff, really good. I started playing mixed games this summer in August, and I’ve played maybe seven times. The Deuce to Seven No-Limit I had never played before, and it was really challenging.”

Walter is part of the Keole Poker community — a group for German-speaking players — and made sure to give them a shout-out:

“All of the community from Keole!”

But the most successful of them all has been the Slovenian poker prodigy Blaž Žerjav. He won the Main Event, added a second place in the Big Bet Mix, and other cashes — earning himself the Player of the Series title at EMPC 2025.

He had this to say when we asked him why people should give mixed games a shot:

“It can feel very overwhelming at first since it’s a lot of new stuff to learn, but at the same time, if you get to play an 8-game mix, the game changes every six or so hands, and it can be a very enjoyable experience. I hope many more people start to actually play.”

European Mixed Poker Championship Dublin 2025 — Player of the Series Final Standings:

1️⃣ Blaž Žerjav
2️⃣ Jens Voertmann
3️⃣ Nicolas Bokowski
4️⃣ Robin Panholzer
5️⃣ Tobias Leknes
6️⃣ Rowan James Harley
7️⃣ Alexander Aaneland
8️⃣ Matthew Kelley
9️⃣ Kim Kallman
🔟 Thor William Morstøl

Alexander Aaneland finally gets his first live tournament win — and it happens at JP Poker during the European Mixed Poker Championship 6-Game High Roller!

He takes home €7,343, the trophy, and the satisfaction of winning an event that featured not only prodigy and Main Event winner Blaž Žerjav, but also mixed-games dominator Benny Glaser, who flew in just for this event.

Aaneland also adds this title to his two cashes from EMPC 2024 in Bratislava, continuing his strong run in mixed games.

After his win, surrounded by fellow mixed-game players, Aaneland told EMPC:

“Playing fun games with amazing people. That’s all it is. So it’s great. I love it.”

Final Results – 6-Game High Roller
1️⃣ 🇳🇴 Alexander Aaneland – €7,343
2️⃣ 🇩🇪 Nicolas Bokowski – €4,405
3️⃣ 🇩🇪 Jens Voertmann – €2,940

Slovenia’s Blaž Žerjav has added another title to his incredible 2025 run, taking down the European Mixed Poker Championship Main Event (8-Game) at JP Poker in Dublin for €15,743!

Already this year, Žerjav has won two WSOP bracelets and an EPT title, and now adds the EMPC trophy to a year few players could dream of.

“It’s always great to win an event,” Žerjav said. “Mixed games are usually way more fun than Hold’em — playing both is a healthy mix that suits me really well.”

The final table featured seven nationalities, highlighting the growing global appeal of mixed games. Žerjav praised the diversity and the friendly atmosphere.

“It’s great to see players from so many countries, especially for a European championship, I hope it keeps growing.”

American Matt “Baltimore” Kelley was one of the stories of the week, flying in from the U.S. and earning his first-ever cash in Europe, nearly winning the whole thing in the process in his second one.

“I came to Ireland because I saw there was the European Mixed Poker Championship in Dublin,” Kelley wrote in his Facebook Post. “They were playing my kind of games at price points that made sense for me. It’s easy to get to from the U.S., so why not try to win some money and see Dublin?”

Kelley battled Žerjav heads-up but couldn’t stop the Slovenian on yet another heater.

“I like to take whatever I play seriously,” Žerjav added. “But yeah, I’ve been running really well lately — and getting the right cards helps.”

When asked which format he enjoys most, Žerjav laughed.

“All of them — except Limit Hold’em. We could just take that one out.”

Final Results – Main Event (8-Game)

1️⃣ 🇸🇮 Blaž Žerjav – €15,743
2️⃣ 🇺🇸 Matthew Kelley – €10,260
3️⃣ 🇩🇪 Jens Voertmann – €6,720 
4️⃣ 🇮🇷 Ali Sarkeshik – €5,170
5️⃣ 🇫🇮 Kim Kallman – €4,095
6️⃣ 🇦🇹 Alexander Freud – €3,200
7️⃣ 🇨🇦 Patrick Stacey – €2,520

🇮🇪 Rowan Harley took down the S.O.R.B.E.T. at the European Mixed Poker Championship in Dublin, claiming €4,482 after outlasting 57 entries at JP Poker Club.

“Lady Luck was on my side,” Harley said after the win. “I had a few good hands and was doing well up to the final table. Then I had some bad ones that knocked me down a bit, but we managed to pull it back somehow.”

The Irishman drew one of the biggest rails of the week.

“Apparently everyone has a stake in me,” he laughed. “Nobody believed in me, but I managed to pull through and end up here.”

Harley also praised the atmosphere at JP Poker and the mixed games festival.

“The European Mixed Poker Championship is just the best event — great team, great players, and a ton of games you never get to play anywhere else.”

When asked what he’ll do with the winnings, he smiled:

“Buy the taxi home first — I missed the last train because of this win.”

Final Results – S.O.R.B.E.T. Championship

1️⃣ 🇮🇪 Rowan Harley – €4,482
2️⃣ 🇮🇪 Michael Graydon – €3,235
3️⃣ 🇩🇪 Nicolas Bokowski – €2,065
4️⃣ 🇦🇹 Robin Panholzer – €1,565
5️⃣ 🇬🇧 Graham Clarkson – €1,210
6️⃣ 🇳🇴 Tobias Leknes – €925
7️⃣ 🇳🇴 Eirik Kristiansen – €745

Nine years. That’s how long it’s been since Finland’s Kim Kallman last held up a trophy. But that streak finally ended in Dublin, where he took down the €600 Dealer’s Choice at the European Mixed Poker Championship for €7,303.

“It feels great,” Kim said after the win. “It’s been a nine-year dry spell without winning a tournament. There were times I wanted to give up, but I just kept going and finally it happened. You know — never give up.”

According to The Hendon Mob, Kallman’s last recorded win came back in 2016, when he shipped the PLO Hi-Lo Turbo at EPT Prague. This one clearly meant a lot.

And what a ride it was.

“They were playing Badeucy, Badugi, No-Limit Single Draw Deuce-to-Seven, and also No-Limit Five Card Draw — all kinds of games,” he laughed. “The toughest one for me was definitely No-Limit Five Card Draw Single Draw. That one’s tricky.”

Kim’s love for mixed games runs deep.

“I actually started playing poker in 1996 against my grandpa, playing Deuce-to-Seven Single Draw,” he said. “When I lost, he told me, ‘Shuffle up and learn to play.’ So I had to learn to play it.”

Even after a long-awaited victory, he’s not slowing down.

“After this interview, I’m going straight to register for the 8-Game,” he grinned.

And the atmosphere?

“It’s been amazing here — a lot of fun, friendly people, great atmosphere.”

A well-deserved win for 🇫🇮 Kim Kallman — and proof that in poker, patience really does pay off.

Final Results – Dealer’s Choice (€600 buy-in)

1️⃣ 🇫🇮 Kim Kallman – €7,303
2️⃣ 🇳🇴 Thor William Morstol – €4,870
3️⃣ 🇮🇪 Rowan Harley – €3,175
4️⃣ 🇩🇪 Tobias Hansen – €2,435
5️⃣ 🇳🇴 Tobias Leknes – €1,905
6️⃣ 🇳🇴 Alexander Åsneland – €1,480

Austria’s Robin Panholzer took down the High-Low Mix at the European Mixed Poker Championship 2025 at JP Poker, defeating Slovenia’s Blaž Žerjav after a long back-and-forth heads-up battle.

“I couldn’t be happier with this,” said Panholzer. “In the morning I didn’t even want to play it, and then I decided to jump in.”

The final table was one of the toughest of the week, with Panholzer facing the likes of Martin “Franke” von Zweigbergk, Blaž Žerjav, Nicolas Bokowski, and Barrie Dear —a lineup that collectively held more than $3.7 million in live earnings according to The Hendon Mob!

“It was really back and forth against Blaž,” he said. “It was really tough against him as well, obviously, because he’s just that guy basically. Somehow I managed to scrape through it and I’m very happy about it.”

When asked how he managed to beat one of Europe’s most successful young mixed-game players, Panholzer smiled.

“I probably just got lucky, to be honest. Got the cards at the right time — that’s kind of what matters.”

Panholzer praised the atmosphere around the European Mixed Poker Championship.

“How could you not come? The community is amazing, and it’s fantastic to be here every year.”

He also had a message for players who haven’t yet tried mixed games.

“It’s a lot of fun. You can’t go wrong with trying something new — just give it a try and see if it’s for you.”

The Austrian will stay in Dublin to take part in more events throughout the week — even if his broken glasses, as he joked, might not survive that long.

“I kind of broke them last night, which wasn’t great, but it is what it is. They still do the job.”

Final Standings – High-Low Mix, EMPC 2025

1️⃣ 🇦🇹 Robin Panholzer – €7,656
2️⃣ 🇸🇮 Blaž Žerjav – €5,100
3️⃣ 🇩🇪 Nicolas Bokowski – €3,325
4️⃣ 🇬🇧 Barrie Dear – €2,550
5️⃣ 🇺🇸 Matthew Kelley – €1,995 (first European cash)
6️⃣ 🇪🇪 🇸🇪 Martin “Franke” von Zweigbergk – €1,550

The European Mixed Poker Championship 2025 kicked off in style at JP Poker, with a familiar face taking down the first trophy of the week. Norwegian mixed-game specialist and EMPC co-founder Tobias Leknes outlasted a 47-entry field in the €300 Welcomer Big Bet Mix, pocketing €4,207 and making sure the festival started with a bang.

Leknes, who helped design the event structures himself, couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of winning his own creation.

“I’m just very lucky,” he said.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing on his way to victory.

“I was short at times. I had people bluffing me left and right, but I just started making hands. And when you make a lot of good hands and you play a little bit aggro, you often get paid, and then it turned out for me very well.”

A long-time advocate for mixed games, Leknes reminded players that formats like Big Bet Mix deserve more attention.

“First of all, they should get my BBZ course, of course,” he laughed. “But I just truly enjoy mixed games. I think more people should get their eyes out for these games because they’re truly fun, and I think Big Bet Mix is an underestimated part of the mix — playing a lot of different variants where you can battle often. I like this format.”

The final table was a tense one, with deep stacks and even chip counts keeping everyone cautious until the final flips went Leknes’ way.

“Yeah, it was pretty cagey on the final table,” he said. “We started on a bubble and then there’s pay jumps so people were pretty even in stacks for a long, long time. That’s just how it is. And then at the end, I just kept winning the flips and then it was all over in a hurry.”

Asked if he planned to win again this week, he grinned.

“Absolutely. I’m not gonna win any more tournaments,” he said.

Few around JP Poker are convinced.

Final Results – Event #1: Welcomer Big Bet Mix (€300 buy-in, 47 entries)
1️⃣ Tobias Leknes – €4,207
2️⃣ John D Parke – €2,800
3️⃣ Thor Morstol – €1,825
4️⃣ Benjamin Sweetman – €1,400
5️⃣ Nicolas Bokowski – €1,095
6️⃣ Dinish Khatti – €855

A massive treat is in store for poker players in just ten days when the European Mixed Poker Championship (EMPC) comes to Dublin for the first time.

The six-day festival, which is taking place from November 4 to November 9 at the JP Poker Club and Maldron Hotel in Dublin, features seven different tournaments on an enticing new schedule.

The festival promises a real test for mixed game enthusiasts with a huge variety of tournaments designed to test and crown the world’s best all-around players, including the flagship €800 8-Game Main Event.

Main Event starts November 6
The prestigious 8-Game Main Event will have two Day 1 starting flights (single re-entry per flight) on November 6 with the final taking place the following day on November 7. The featured games will be: No Limit Hold’em, Stud, Fixed Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8-or-Better, Razz, Pot Limit Omaha, Fixed Limit Omaha, Stud 8 and 2-7 Triple Draws. At the last festival in 2024, British player Sam Perry became the European Mixed Poker Champion when he bested an 161-entry field to take down the Main Event for €15,821.

Side events and cash games
The festival will kick off on November 4 with the €300 Welcomer Big Bet Mix – an exciting, fast-paced tournament with an unlimited number of re-buys available. Organiser Frode Fragerli said: “It is a playful, fast-paced start to the series and we should expect all-ins left and right from start to finish. The mix involves No Limit Omaha high-low 8 or better, No Limit 5 card Draw, Pot Limit Omaha, No Limit 2-7 Single draw and No Limit Holdem. It’s a mix that players rarely get to experience, with a nice structure, and is sure to generate fast-paced action from the get-go.”

On November 5, the schedule features a €600, single re-entry High-Low Mix tournament and Day 1 of the €600 Dealer’s Choice which has unlimited re-entries. There are 19 games up for grabs in the Dealers Choice, and players will take turns deciding which game to play for the next orbit. Day 1 will play 12 levels with Day 2 starting at 11am the following day (November 6).

In addition to the Main Event final, Friday’s tournaments (November 7) are all about S.O.R.B.E.T. – a twist on the classic H.O.R.S.E. variant with Limit Hold-em replaced by two draw games, Badugi and 2-7 Triple Draw. There will be a €300 “low roller” tournament starting at 2pm, along with a two-day €2k High Roller starting at 3pm.  The High Roller has unlimited re-entries and 40-minute blind levels, with Day 2 kicking off at noon on Saturday.

On Saturday, November 8 – the penultimate day of the festival – we’ll be hosting a €300 6-Game Mystery Bounty and Day 1 of the €2k 6-Game High Roller. On the final day of the Championship, there will be a new EMPC event – a €300 Pot Limit Turbo Mix along with the final of the €2k 6-Game High Roller.

Cash games
It’s not just tourneys on the schedule – cash games will be running every day starting from €3/€5. On November 5, we’ll also be hosting an exciting high-stakes cash game (€100/€200). As you would expect, there will be a heady mix of games available including 6-game, 8-game and 10-game, plus Stud mix, BigBet Mix including Sviten, Dealers Choice (orbit), Draw Mix, Pot Limit Mix and HORSE.

JP McCann, founder of the JP Poker Card Club and Casino, said: “We’re really thrilled that the European Mixed Poker Championship is coming to Dublin. We have a ton of excellent, home-grown mixed game fans here in Ireland but we are also expecting a huge number of overseas players to compete. Nothing really beats mixed games for action and excitement so I expect the Club to be absolutely buzzing when the festival kicks off.”

About JP Poker Card Club and Casino
The JP Poker Card Club and Casino is located in Tallaght’s well-known Arena complex – just a 30-minute drive from Dublin Airport. Great accommodation at the Maldron Hotel Tallaght is right next door.

The Club, which features ten poker tables along with a bar, slot machines and a pool table, is open 18 hours a day, every day of the week, from noon to 6am. There is ample free parking on site and an ATM on the casino floor.

All you need to do to join the club (over 18s only) is bring photographic identification and proof of address on your first visit. JP Poker is a fully accessible ground-floor premises with disabled toilets and disabled parking available.

The weekend before the Championship starts, the €150 JP Poker Series XIX event will be taking place, featuring a €25,000 prize pool guarantee.

About the European Mixed Poker Championship

The European Mixed Poker Championship was first launched in 2023 and previous events have all taken place in Bratislava. Players from all over the world compete at the Championship and a big turnout is expected at the Dublin edition.