Exclusive Series at Bombay Club
The renowned High Stakes Week series unfolded in Estonia's Bombay Club in Tallinn, attracting top players from around the globe. The schedule included several exclusive events with buy-ins ranging from €10k to €50k. Poker stars like Phil Ivey, Dan “Jungleman” Cates, Teun Mulder, Aleksejs Ponakovs, Kayhan Mokri, Estonian chess grandmaster Ottomar Ladva, and 2019 WSOP Main Event winner Hossein Ensan were among the participants.
The series stands out for its exclusivity, with the main event, the €10k Bombay Anniversary Invitational, limited to 64 invite-only players. Even in the early days of High Stakes Week, we witnessed several dramatic tournaments and significant victories. Here's a closer look at some of the most exciting events – the €50k Big 50, €10k Fast Bounty, and €10k Invitational.
First Title for Kayhan Mokri
The Big 50 event with a €50,000 buy-in drew only 7 entries but still generated a decent prizepool of €339,500. Only two places were paid, and after several players were eliminated, the final table saw a trio of favorites: Kayhan Mokri (Norway), Ottomar Ladva (Estonia), and Teun Mulder (Netherlands). Mulder, the Dutch pro, was the unfortunate bubble boy for the third time in this series.
Ultimately, Kayhan Mokri confirmed his excellent form and defeated Ladva in heads-up play to claim his first trophy at Bombay Club. For winning the Big 50, he took home €220,700, while runner-up Ladva earned €118,800, proving his prowess in poker alongside his chess skills.
Fast Bounty Goes to Robert Heidorn
Action continued on Monday night with the €10k “Fast Bounty” tournament, which offered a fast pace and attractive financial rewards for each elimination. With a €10,000 buy-in, the event recorded 16 entries and wrapped up in less than five hours.
Robert Heidorn from Germany emerged victorious, taking home €62,600 including bounties. Heidorn knocked out 5 opponents, including Dutch star Teun Mulder in heads-up play, sealing the win. For the 33-year-old Heidorn, it’s his first victory of 2025, bringing him closer to the $5 million mark in career earnings. After a series of unfortunate bubbles, Teun Mulder finally tasted some success, finishing second for a total prize of €47,500.
Phil Ivey as the Bubble Boy
The week culminated with the €10k Anniversary Invitational, boasting a one-million-euro guarantee. It kicked off on Tuesday and ran for two days. This exclusive anniversary tournament attracted great interest, with 45 players generating 86 entries on the first day. Late registration remained open until the start of Day 2, with additional players joining the 27 survivors.
Once registration closed, the payout structure was announced, promising financial rewards from €20,000 to €266,700 for the winner to the top 13 players. The unlucky soul in this tournament was none other than star Phil Ivey. First, he lost a flip with pocket 9 c 9 s against A s Q c, and when he pushed his remaining stack with A c Q h, he ran into A s A d in Tajiou's hand.
Mounir Tajiou Triumphs
Even though the tournament lost its biggest star, the final table was still packed with talent. Alongside Swedish Mounir Tajiou were Dutch pro Teun Mulder, young American talent David J. Chen, German high roller Robert Heidorn, and Finnish veteran Joni Jouhkimainen.
As remaining contenders were eliminated, the ultimate showdown boiled down to Tajiou versus Mulder in the final heads-up battle. The Swedish player entered with a significant chiplead, and although Mulder fought to turn things around, Tajiou left no opening. Mounir Tajiou ultimately became the champion of the Bombay Anniversary Invitational, earning a prestigious title and a €266,700 prize. Conversely, Teun Mulder took home his third runner-up title of the series, along with €172,100.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1 | Mounir Tajiou | Sweden | 266,700€ |
| 2 | Teun Mulder | Netherlands | 172,100€ |
| 3 | David Chen | USA | 122,900€ |
| 4 | Robert Heidorn | Germany | 94,500€ |
| 5 | Kevin Paque | Netherlands | 75,600€ |
| 6 | Morten Klein | Norway | 60,500€ |
| 7 | George Ana | Romania | 48,400€ |
| 8 | Joni Jouhkimainen | Finland | 38,700€ |
Photo Gallery to Conclude
The superb organization, stellar attendance, and unforgettable atmosphere made this year’s High Stakes Week in Tallinn an exceptional summer poker event. Bombay Club reaffirmed its reputation as an exclusive poker destination for the world elite, leaving both players and fans with unforgettable memories. We conclude with a brief photo gallery courtesy of our partner PokerListings.com, where you can also find reports and details about this prestigious event.
Sources - PokerListings, PokerPro News, FB, YouTube, Bombay Poker Club
