Records were broken and a new Kings of Tallinn legend was made in the 2023 Kings of Tallinn Summer Showdown €555 Championship Event. Estonia's Maikel Homin (pictured above) began the final day with the second shortest stack of the final 14 players and dazzled both spectators and his opponents with an amazing performance to win the event for €56,900 at Olympic Park Casino and the Hilton Tallinn Park.

The event not only was the largest of its kind at the Kings of Tallinn Summer Showdown but proved to be the biggest in Kings of Tallinn history with 573 entries creating a huge €269,310 prize pool. This was even more than the record established in February to create a new gold standard when France's Benjamin Gros defeated a field of 559 entries to win the €55,500 top prize.

"I'm very happy about the win," said Homin. "Although I would have to win two or three more similar events to consider moving up stakes."

From an observer's point of view, it appeared that Homin didn't make any mistakes, at least any major ones. This was a concern of his at the start of the day, especially with a short stack.

"In my head, I understood I can't be making the same mistakes I make sometimes while playing online poker," Homin shared. "I often make silly moves when running deep."

The heads-up affair against Finland's Henri Antikainen spanned a few hours with the lead change going back and forth. Homin noticed his opponent changing up his style, and it was one of the more entertaining heads-up matches to follow in recent history.

Event #9: €555 Championship Final Table Results

Event #9: €555 Championship Final Day Action

The final day began with Finnish poker streamer Juho Heiska in the lead with Henri Antikainen and Raivo Pinsel just a blind or two behind. On the flip, was the eventual winner Maikel Homin with a short stack.

In poker, no lead is safe and stacks can fall apart like they did for Pinsel who bubbled the final table when his king-eight was unable to hold against the jack-ten held by Michailas Miserkejevas. Antikainen managed to chip up and he began the final table with the chip. By this time, Homin was near the top of the pack.

A massive hand took place early at the final table where Heiska blew up his stack by three-bet jamming with king-ten suited. He ran into the queens of Ojala and Homin's cowboys to hit the rail, while Homin was inches away from the chip lead.

Dmitri Dudakov, who had the lead a few times on Day 2, took the lead after doubling through Miserkejevas in a blind vs. blind battle when his ace-nine held against ace-eight.

Dudakov's good fortunes came to an end shortly after Miserkevjevas dusted off his stack. First, Simon Forendal won a big flip against Dudakov when his fours were good against ace-jack before hitting the rail a short while later when his ace-deuce didn't match up well against Homin's ace-eight.

By this point, it was Antikainen with the big chip lead with just three players remaining. Homin doubled through Antikainen to take the chip lead but Antikainen fought back and regained control.

Homin then eliminated Forendal on a bad beat when his queen-seven got there against king-seven but was still facing a 2:1 chip disadvantage against Antikainen.

The lead went back and forth several times in the truly entertaining two-hour heads-up battle.  Eventually, Antikainen, who was quite aggressive at the final table, got his hand caught in the proverbial cookie jar. He jammed with middle pair on the flop with eight-seven and got no help to get beyond the top pair held by Homin with king-nine suited to be left with crumbs.

Antikainen (pictured below) nearly evened things up by doubling through Homin twice. Both times Homin was ahead when the chips went in preflop and it appeared that Antikainen regained momentum. However, time shortly after ran out for Antikainen. This time Antikainen got it in good with ace-queen but it didn't hold after Homin called with king-ten to fall one player shy of the title.

Congrats to Maikel Homin for his epic victory and we wish him and all of the players the best of luck during this week's Kings of Tallinn Summer Showdown.

Level 35: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 2/573

After a couple of bad beats, Maikel Homin won the last pot while slightly behind. Henri Antikainen opened for 1.1 million. Homin jammed and Antikainen snap-called off his stack of a little more than 7 million.

Henri Antikainen:
Maikel Homin:

Homin connected with his king on the board to win the tournament with two pair for a record top prize for this event of €56,900. Antikainen had tons of heart and took it well. Perhaps, the huge €38,450 runner-up prize helped soften the blow of falling one player short of the title.

Stay tuned for a recap of the final day of the 2023 Kings of Tallinn Summer Showdown €555 Championship and check out all of the final table payouts below:

Level 35: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 2/573

Maikel Homin defended his big blind after Henri Antikainen min-raised. Antikainen checked the flop.

Homin bet 600,000. Antikainen jammed and Homin called off for 6,900,000. A crowd surrounded the table as the players showed their cards.

Maikel Homin:
Henri Antikainen:

"Seven please?" Antikainen pleaded.

Instead, he was drawing dead and on fumes after Homin improved to trips on the turn. The river ended the hand and Antikainen was on thin ice with crumbs in his stack.

He got a lucky double the next hand when his got there against after improving to trips on the board.

Shortly after, Antikainen jammed for 3,200,000 from the button and was called again.

Henri Antikainen:
Maikel Homin:

Antikainen connected with his eight on the board to get back into the thick of things.

Level 35: 200,000/400,000 (400,000)
Entries: 2/573

Maikel Homin jammed from the button. Henri Antikainen looked down at his cards before he snap-called off his stack of 3.6 million.

Henri Antikainen:
Maikel Homin:

Antikainen's tens held on the runout to double his short stack.

The final two are on a 15-minute break. Blinds will increase to 200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 big blind ante.

Level 34: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 2/573

Henri Antikainen (pictured below) won a couple of small pots before he min-raised the button and Maikel Homin defended his big blind to see the flop. Both players checked and Homin checked again on the turn.

Antikainen fired out for 900,000 and Homin called. The river completed the board. Homin checked and Antikainen bet 1,200,000. Homin went into the tank for a few minutes before making the call.

Antikainen turned over the and lost the pot to Homin who paired his four with the .

Level 34: 150,000/300,000 (300,000)
Entries: 2/573

Maikel Homin won a couple of small pots without showdowns to take the lead over Henri Antikainen.

Level 33: 125,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 2/573

The action began small enough with a limped pot before Maikel Homin bet 275,000 on the flop. Henri Antikainen called before he called a bet of 600,000 on the turn. Homin open-jammed for 3,325,000 on the river. Antikainen tanked for several minutes before he called.

Homin turned over the for the third pair.

"You're good," said Antikainen.

"I'm good???!?" said a shocked Homin.

Antikainen had a bluff catcher with his but this wasn't good enough to beat what Homin was trying to get Antikainen off of. The stacks were fairly even for the first time during heads-up play after the hand.

Level 33: 125,000/250,000 (250,000)
Entries: 2/573

Maikel Homin opened the button for 500,000. Henri Antikainen defended his big blind and both players checked the flop.

Antikainen fired out for 850,000 on the turn before the river paired the board. Both players checked.

"King-high," Antikainen said before showing his . 

Apparently, king-high was good as Homin mucked his cards and lost some chips he earned winning other small pots.

Level 32: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 2/573

It was a heck of a run for Sweden's Simon Forendal (pictured below) and he could have potentially gone further if not for the following bad beat against Maikel Homin.

Homin jammed from the small blind and Forendal called off his short stack of under 10 big blinds from the big blind.

Simon Forendal:
Maikel Homin:

Homin nailed two pair on the flop and Forendal was out in third place for €22,760 after the turn and river didn't get him past Homin's two pair.

Meanwhile, Henri Antikainen will begin the heads-up battle against Homin with a nearly 2:1 chip advantage with both players already locking up €38,450 runner-up prize with a €56,900 top prize on the line for the winner.

Level 32: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 3/573

The chip lead was short-lived for Maikel Homin and is back with Henri Antikainen. There were 1 million chips in the pot with the on the board after the turn when Homin check-called a bet of 750,000 by Antikainen.

Homin checked again on the river. Antikainen fired out for 1,400,000 and Homin quickly called.

Homin shook his head in what appeared to be frustration with Antikainen turning over the . Homin's cards went into the muck and the exciting three-handed play continued.

Level 32: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)
Entries: 3/573

There wasn't a ton in the pot when Henri Antikainen check-jammed the flop and was called by Maikel Homin for his stack of around 4 million.

Maikel Homin:
Henri Antikainen:

Homin's overpair held after the turn and river completed the board to take his first chip lead.

The final three players are on break for 15 minutes. Blinds will increase to 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 big blind ante when the action resumes. 

Henri Antikainen jammed a river over a bet by Maikel Homin with the on the board. Homin tanked for a few minutes before he laid down his hand. Antikainen will have a massive chip lead once the action resumes.

Level 31: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 3/573

Maikel Homin min-raised the button before Dmitri Dudakov jammed for about a dozen big blinds. Homin snapped it off with Dudakov at risk.

Dmitri Dudakov:
Maikel Homin:

Dudakov wasn't happy about Homin's call but he pulled ahead with two pair on the flop. It was looking even better for Dudakov to double on the turn but the spiked the river to improve Homin to a better two pair to eliminate Dudakov.

Level 31: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 4/573

Simon Forendal jammed for 1,450,000 from the button. Dmitri Dudakov came in over the top for about 3,200,000 from the small blind and Henri Antikainen folded from the big blind.

Simon Forendal:
Dmitri Dudakov:

Dudakov expressed his frustration on the turn after Forendal improved to a straight to win the flip after the ran out on the board.

Level 31: 50,000/125,000 (125,000)
Entries: 4/573

Michailas Miserkejevas (pictured below) folded a few hands before he jammed his decimated 225,000 chip stack from under the gun. Maikel Homin called from the button and Dmitri Dudakov called from the big blind.

Dudakov and Homin checked down the board.

Homin turned over the for the bottom pair. This won the pot to oust Miserkejevas in fifth place with Dudakov showing and Miserkejevas bricking his live cards with .

Level 31: 50,000/125,000 (125,000)
Entries: 5/573

Dmitri Dudakov jammed from the small blind with and was called by Michailas Miserkejevas with from the big blind.

Both players connected with their kickers to their ace on the runout. Dudakov had the better pair and doubled through Miserkejevas, who was left with crumbs after the hand.

Players went on a quick unscheduled toilet break after the hand.

Level 31: 50,000/125,000 (125,000)
Entries: 5/573

Kim Lindstrom jammed his short stack from the small blind of five big blinds and was looked up by Simon Forendal from blinds.

Kim Lindstrom:
Simon Forendal:

Forendal's queen found some love on the board to eliminate Linstrom in sixth place for €9,770.

Level 31: 60,000/120,000 (100,000)
Entries: 6/573

Maikel Homin came into the final day with one of the shortest stacks and now is near the chip lead after eliminating Day 2 chip leader Juho Heiska (pictured above) and Janne Ojala (pictured below) as follows.

Homin opened for 250,000 from the hijack. Heiska jammed for 1,500,000 from the small blind. Ojala called off for 625,000 from the big blind. Homin, who barely had Heiska covered, snap-called when the action came back to him.

Janne Ojala:
Juho Heiska:
Maikel Homin:

Homin got nervous after the flop gave Heiska a pair to improve from along with a flush draw. Heiska bricked the turn and river and Homin's rockets held to eliminate Heiska in seventh place for €6,700 and Ojala in eighth place for €4,930.

Level 30: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 8/573

Dmitri Dudakov opened for 225,000 from early position. Maikel Homin called from the small blind before Jevgenijs Sapronenko (pictured below) jammed for 300,000 from the big blind. Both Dudakov and Homin called to see the flop.

Homin check-called a bet of 175,000 before giving up on the turn after Dudakov bet 275,000.

Jevgenijs Sapronenko:
Dmitri Dudakov:

Dudakov flopped the nuts and by the time the cards were turned over Sapronenko was drawing dead. The river completed the board and Sapronenko was the first player to hit the rail at the final table.

Level 30: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 9/573

Juho Heika jammed from the small blind before Janne Ojala called off his small stack of 300,000 from the big blind.

Janne Ojala:
Juho Heiska:

The flop improved Ojala to a set but he had a sweat with Heiska holding an open-ended straight draw.

Heiska was calling for an ace but he bricked the turn and river to double Ojala.

Level 30: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 9/573

Raivo Pinsel began the day near the chip lead but was unable to parlay that into a final table appearance. The Estonian jammed for 650,000 from the cutoff and was called by Michailas Miserkevicius from the big blind.

Raivo Pinsel:
Michailas Miserkevicius:

Pinsel's king-high was unable to hold after Miserkevicius connected with his jack on the board. 

Players were immediately in their seats with the action resuming after Elena Kask snapped a photo of the group of nine.

Level 30: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 10/573

Jonatan Fors (pictured below) jammed for 400,000 from under the gun and was cold-called by Michailas Miserkevicius from the button.

Jonatan Fors:
Michailas Miserkevicius:

The table remained silent after the flop but Fors spoke up after the turn.

"Way too many outs," Fors said about his two over cards, gutshot Broadway draw, and flush draw.

Fors saw it coming as a blank river completed the board to hit the rail in 11th place for €2,780.

"Good game," Fors said to the table before collecting his payout slip. 

Henri Antikainen held the lead at the break after winning a big hand against Juho Heiska without a showdown during Level 29. Check out all the chip counts below:

Players are on a 15-minute break. Blinds will increase to 50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 big blind ante when the action resumes.

Level 29: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 11/573

Juho Heiska three-bet Henri Antikainen's open to 320,000. Antikainen called to see the flop. Both players checked the flop before things got more interesting on the turn.

Antikainen check-raised Heiska's 250,000 to 650,000 and Heiska called. The river completed the board and Antikainen jammed. Heiska mentioned he thought his opponent was bluffing but a few minutes later folded to give Antikainen the chip lead.

Level 29: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 11/573

Two players hit the rail at the same time and it was a similar situation with the button jamming and the big blind calling.

The first to go was Steven Seller (pictured below). He open-jammed a short stack with and was actually ahead of Michailas Miserkejevas who called from the big blind with . The double-paired board improved Miserkejevas to a full house and Seller was out in 13th place for €2,320.

Moments later, it was Hendrik Diegenant, jammed his short stack with . Juho Heiska called from the big blind with and it looked like he would double up his opponent after Diegenant connected his ten on the flop. That all changed when Heiska improved to a better pair on the turn and Diegenant was eliminated in 12th place for €2,780.

Level 28: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 13/573

Moments after Homin doubled up, Phillip Berggren (pictured below) had different fortunes at the other table in play. Berggren jammed for less than 10 big blinds with before Simon Foredal three-bet shoved with .

The cowboys were more than good on the runout and Berggren was the first player on the rail on the final day in 14th place for €2,320.

Level 28: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 14/573

Maikel Homin jammed for 465,000 from the button over the min-raise open Dmitri Dudakov from the cutoff. Dudakov asked for a count before he called.

Maikel Homin:
Dmitri Dudakov:

Homin flopped Yahtzee as he nailed a straight on the flop and doubled through Dudakov after the turn and river completed the board.

Level 28: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 14/573

Simon Forendal opened for 120,000 from the cutoff. Kim Lindstrom (pictured below) quickly jammed the button for 435,000. Forendal asked for a count before he called.

Kim Lindstrom:
Simon Forendal:

Lindstrom was ahead the entire way and doubled with a flush after the ran out on the board.

Level 27: 20,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 14/573

The first all-in and call just took place on Table 11 but ended in no drama. Juho Heiska min-raised from early position before Maikel Homin jammed the button for 10 big blinds. Hendrik Diegenant four-bet jammed for a little more from the small blind and Heiska quickly got out of the way.

Maikel Homin:
Hendrik Diegenant:

Both players took back their stacks after a chop was apparent on the flop and the chop was made official after the turn and river competed the board.

Level 27: 20,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 14/573

Despite the major fireworks last night, players are playing tight to the vest with the big money jumps and the final table looming. The short stacks are getting away with shoves at least for now.

Level 27: 20,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 14/573

The action kicked off for the final day of the €555 Championship. Best of luck to all of the players.

The time is near and the mission is clear. There are just 14 players remaining from the record-breaking €555 Championship at the 2023 Kings of Tallinn Summer Showdown at Olympic Park Casino and the Hilton Tallinn Park.

Finland's Juho Heiska (pictured above) will enter the final day in the pole position with 2,390,000 in chips good for 48 big blinds. However,  Heiska's lead is far from secure there are two other players just a big blind or two behind with Henri Antikainen sitting on 2,365,000 and Raivo Pinsel with 2,330,000. While Heiska and Antikainen were near the top of the pack for a bit near the end of the day, Heiska catapulted his stack near the end of Day 2 after winning a miracle of a hand to end Day 2 with a two-outer on the river to end the dreams of €555 Championship glory for Roope Tarmi.

The final 14 players have each locked up €2,390 with much more on the line for every pay jump. Today's winner is slated to bank a tasty €56,900 top prize, which if no deal is made would surpass the previous record top prize of €55,500 won by Benjamin Gros at the 2023 Kings of Tallinn earlier this year.

The action will begin with the second half of Level 27 with blinds at 20,000/50,000 along with a 50,000 big blind ante. After this blind level, blind levels will increase every 40 minutes until a winner is crowned.

Stay tuned as we bring you the action of the 2023 Kings of Tallinn Summer Showdown €555 Championship starting at noon. Will one of the three chip leaders ship the event or will someone else rise to the occasion? Time will tell but in the meantime check out the opening chip counts for the day below: