Kings of Vilnius: The Crown Remains at Home, Mantas Bagočius Dominates Main Event

The Kings of Vilnius poker festival is the newest addition to the 'Kings of' festival family, renowned for the legendary Kings of Tallinn. The success of the Tallinn stop inspired the organizers to bring a similar format to the Lithuanian capital, making Vilnius the home of the country's largest poker event since 2024. The inaugural 2024 edition showcased Lithuania's eagerness for such a festival—the Main Event with a €1,100 buy-in and a €250,000 guarantee drew 365 entries.

The second edition of Kings of Vilnius returned to the Olympic Casino at the Radisson Blu Lietuva hotel from November 14 – 23, 2025, and without exaggeration, it took things up a notch. The festival featured 34 tournaments, alongside non-stop cash game action that filled the poker room with players from across Europe.

The schedule was designed to cater to regulars and recreational players alike. Alongside the flagship €1,100 Main Event guaranteeing €250,000, there was the three-day €555 Kings of Vilnius Championship, a €2,000 High Roller, a €150 Ladies' Queens event, progressive bounty tournaments, and a rich variety of mixed games.

Main Event Exceeds Expectations

The Main Event, with a €1,100 buy-in and a guaranteed €250,000 prizepool, was split into three opening flights, amassing 327 entries, comfortably surpassing its guarantee with €310,650 in the pot.

Only 16 players advanced to the final Day 3, with Jae Han Kim from South Korea as the chipleader, closely followed by locals Egidijus Digrys and Mantas Bagočius. Lithuanian flags dominated the chip count—and ultimately the leaderboard. After a rapidly paced opening to Day 3, the field condensed to the final nine, a showcase of Lithuanian poker talent, featuring seven local players alongside Frenchman Baptiste Caim and South Korean Jae Han Kim.

Paulius Kisielius emerged at the forefront, seizing control with a series of precise decisions. When play whittled down to three—Kisielius, Bagočius, and Deividas Butnoras—the most dramatic moments of the evening unfolded. Butnoras seemed like a strong candidate for heads-up, but a brutal two-outer against Kisielius saw him exit in 3rd place for €30,140.

Sensational Heads-Up Comeback

The heads-up duel featured experienced online grinder Mantas Bagočius facing an on-form Paulius Kisielius. Bagočius was nearly tripled in chips, with many seeing the trophy leaning closer to Kisielius. However, Bagočius displayed his 'crusher' reputation, and following a daring all-in bluff on the river, the match began to turn.

Shortly after the players agreed on a deal securing both €47,630, a showdown for €10,500 and the trophy awaited, stretching over approximately another two hours. The finale witnessed an exhausting marathon, ultimately crowning Mantas Bagočius as the new King of Vilnius after a grueling ten-hour final day.

For Mantas Bagočius, this is more than just 'another title on the shelf.' Already a respected name in the online scene, this year he clinched his first WSOP Online Super Circuit ring in the $215 Mystery Millions for a massive $411,850 and captured the famed Sunday Million back in 2015 for $168,883.

Final Table Results:

Find reports, photo galleries, and more information about this event on our partner site poker.pro