EPT Paris: Hungarian Patrik Demus Triumphs in PS Open Main Event, Ottomar Ladva Dominates the High Roller Scene

Patrik Demus: A Career-Defining Victory

The largest turnout of the EPT Paris 2026 so far belonged to Event #1: €1,650 PS Open Main Event, with 2,992 entries generating a prize pool of €4,308,480. After six starting flights and three additional play days at the Palais des Congrès, it was Patrik Demus who celebrated the title, taking home €551,090, significantly boosting his career-best win.

The Hungarian player overcame a final table dominated by local talent, with six seats occupied by the French, including Enzo Nicolas, who battled to the heads-up.

The decisive heads-up moment came when Demus caught his opponent bluffing with a failed flush draw and called with a pair of tens. Nicolas couldn’t recover, sealing Demus' Hungarian triumph in one of the festival's largest side events.

Ladva Claims Another Million-Dollar Win

The most prestigious tournament of the festival's first half, the €100,000 EPT Super High Roller, attracted a small yet incredibly elite field of 24 entries. As is customary with six-figure buy-ins, every participant was part of the world’s high stakes elite, and the four winning spots meant a steep prize structure.

Estonian Ottomar Ladva captured the event title, pocketing €970,920. In heads-up, he defeated Thailand's specialist Punnat Punsri, who faced his second heads-up loss in Paris in just a few days.

Dutchman Teun Mulder finished third, while seasoned French businessman and regular high roller participant Jean-Noel Thorel claimed fourth place.

With this triumph, Ottomar Ladva secured his fourth EPT title, almost matching his career-best win. He achieved this earlier in the month when he dominated the $25K High Roller at the Onyx High Roller Series.

PS Open Cup Draws Massive Attendance

While the super high roller event attracted the elite, the masses were captivated by Event #14: €825 PS Open Cup. The tournament recorded 1,649 entries, making it the second-largest event so far at EPT Paris, following the larger PS Open Main Event.

With the huge turnout, the prize pool swelled to €1,187,280, and winner Theo Rebour transformed a small buy-in into a life-changing €185,190. This win marks a significant personal best for the French player and his first PS Spade trophy.

Second place went to Portugal’s Manuel De Sousa, while Ivan Uzunov secured third, delivering yet another notable result for Bulgarian colors.

Second Bulgarian Triumph in Paris

The €5,200 PL Omaha event brought Bulgaria their second title of EPT Paris 2026, firmly establishing the country among the most successful. This success is further underscored by several high Bulgarian finishes across the festival.

Event #13 attracted 123 entries, creating a prize pool of €602,700. The winner, Fahredin Mustafov, took home €154,650 and secured his third EPT title. This win also moved Mustafov slightly ahead of his compatriot Danchev in the race for second place in career earnings among Bulgarians.

The final table was filled with seasoned Omaha specialists, with players like Reard and Barakat also marking final table appearances in NLH events at EPT Paris 2026.

Mooney Takes His Second EPT Title

Another Omaha highlight of the festival was Event #19: €10,200 PLO 6-Max. The tournament recorded 61 entries, creating a prize pool of €597,800. This second major PLO tournament of the festival offered a six-figure payday for the winner, affirming Omaha’s strong and stable presence in the EPT schedule.

In the quick and aggressive 6-max format, Australia's Geoffrey Mooney prevailed, winning €179,400 and capturing his second EPT title. The victory also helped him surpass the two-million-dollar mark in career earnings.

Mooney successfully managed the heads-up against Norway's Joachim Haraldstad, while local pro Benjamin Pollak took third place.

Sources: PS Live, Flickr, The Hendon Mob