898 entries to Primary Occasion
Malta had not hosted a European Poker Tour (EPT) occasion in virtually a decade, so the anticipation was palpable within the heat Autumnal Mediterranean air as 898 entrants stumped up €5,300 ($6,152) to provide a prize pool of €4,355,300 ($5,055,393). Amongst them, Tomasz Brzezinski, a 37‑year-old Polish participant, who has spent the final decade dwelling on the island and dealing within the sports activities betting business, entered with a quiet confidence.
the dream of constructing back-to-back closing tables grew to become potential, possible, and ultimately inevitable
Brzezinski was having fun with a breakout yr on the reside felt, having already completed 4th within the EPT Barcelona Primary Occasion for a career-best €493,250 ($572,537). As he navigated his approach by means of the sector, the dream of constructing back-to-back closing tables grew to become potential, possible, and ultimately inevitable. His signature sharp reads and canny consciousness of the place he was in arms propelled him up the chip counts.
With two tables remaining, it was a star-studded affair within the Eden occasion middle, adjoining to On line casino Malta. Nonetheless, a number of of the sport’s largest stars bowed out on the penultimate day, paving the way in which for Brzezinski, who in the end squared off towards Mykhailo Ostash in what was an epic showdown, befitting the event.
A breakout yr for Brzezinski
With a grinder’s resume of four-figure scores in largely three-figure buy-ins, Brzezinski had about €70,000 ($81,252) in recorded reside winnings previous to 2025. I do know that there was a time when he significantly thought of taking part in poker full time however, maybe selecting the safer path, he opted as a substitute for an business profession, in the end turning into the top of a sportsbook. Nonetheless, the sport has remained a ardour and, as this fellow Maltese resident can testify, he has at all times been a formidable opponent in native video games.
simply two months later, he was again at one other large closing desk
This yr began off auspiciously for Brzezinski, who took second within the CNP Winamax Barcelona for €35,000 ($40,626), a outcome that he felt was considerably overdue after umpteen crossbars over time. It proved to be some foreshadowing as simply two months later, he was again at one other large closing desk – this time, the Notte Degli Assi occasion in Albania. Heartbreak would ensue as he completed eighth for €32,000 ($37,144) in a ridiculously top-heavy construction the place one million euro was assured to the winner.
Brzezinski traveled to Barcelona in August for the EPT, kicking off his marketing campaign with a min-cash within the Open. He entered the EPT Primary and 7 days later discovered himself on the closing desk with life-changing cash on the road. Fourth place was greater than a style, and he returned to Malta, buoyed by the expertise and hungry for extra poker. The Sigma Poker Tour Primary Occasion was a €400 ($464) buy-in, nevertheless it got here with extra pomp and ceremony than your common grassroots recreation. On the livestream closing desk, he crushed the opposition and was unfortunate to not declare the trophy, taking second for €19,000 ($22,054).
Ostash and Brzezinski maneuver by means of the elite discipline
Brzezinski put a few small cashes on the board at EPT Malta previous to his deep run within the Primary Occasion. Composure personified behind a pair of sun shades, he maneuvered his approach by means of a troublesome discipline, notably ultimately recreation, by which period the cream had very a lot risen to the highest. The trio of Adrian Mateos, Juan Pardo, and Ben Heath was a very daunting prospect, however he simply went about his enterprise with numerous pot-controlling strains, some well-timed aggression, and greater than his justifiable share of hero-calls.
When the three excessive rollers fell in 11th, 8th, and seventh, respectively, the horizon opened for Brzezinski and the remaining gamers. When Fin Toni Kaukua busted in sixth, the ultimate 5 for the ultimate day have been set, and it was a world affair. Tom‑Aksel Bedell, a Norwegian businessman and excessive curler, who had led in chips on a number of days, was within the hunt. So, too, have been Spaniard Adria Calonge, Ukrainian Ostash, and Belarusian Aliaksei Boika, who was in search of to defend a title he gained 9 years in the past in Malta and thereby turn into one of many few who’ve claimed repeat EPT Primary Occasion triumphs.
Bedell was eradicated first, his pocket deuces no match for Ostash’s pocket threes. The subsequent to fall was Boika, who, after mounting a short resurgence, had his pocket Kings cracked by Ostash’s pocket fives. Calonge was the following to succumb, the bish-bosh motion suggesting an early end for all. Nonetheless, that wasn’t to be, as Ostash and Brzezinski performed out one of many wildest heads-up contests in EPT historical past. You needed to see it to consider it.
Heads-up
When heads-up started, the stacks have been almost even and the 2 finalists struck a deal, splitting €603,058 ($700,000) every, leaving €28,534 ($33,121) and the EPT trophy for which to play. On the graduation of play, Brzezinski took the early initiative, urgent and pushing his opponent. A pocket tens versus King-Jack flip might have ended issues early on, however Ostash would get there. Brzezinski grinded his man again down once more, just for Ace-Eight to lose a flip to Queen-Ten. Rinse and repeat, however this time Ostash held with pocket fours versus Ten-9. The double-ups have been relentless.
It was poker theater.
When the playing cards went on their backs, Ostash was the one in danger 9 out of the primary ten instances. The one time Brzezinski gained was when he was in danger. It was a preposterous sequence. It was poker theater. The 11th all-in showdown was for nearly all of the cheddar, and it noticed Ostash in hassle, his Ace-Ten dominated by Brzezinski’s Ace-Jack. The very best hand-held, and this time, there could be no miraculous comeback.
Within the closing hand, Brzezinski had Ten-4 versus Ostash’s 5-4. The ten on the flop all however sealed it. The flip 4 left Ostash drawing useless. A relieved Brzezinski was lastly in a position to benefit from the second, so tantalizingly shut so many instances throughout the blustery and blistering heads-up battle. He celebrated together with his rail, commiserated with Ostash, after which bee-lined for the trophy, which he proudly held aloft.
The opposite facet of variance
I had just a few fast chats with Brzezinski at numerous factors all through the final three days. For a person who has only recently burst into the limelight, he was remarkably chill, having fun with the expertise, permitting himself to change off at breaks in order that he may very well be laser-focused on the felt. After we spoke on the finish, I might inform he was exhausted, his adrenaline reserves completely depleted after the epic denouement to a rare outcome.
The second was not misplaced on Brzezinski as he described years of operating beneath EV earlier than this purple patch, the place he has loved the opposite facet of variance. He gave me some insights into his total technique and a number of the changes that he appeared to make versus the beasts within the discipline. I don’t really feel like it’s acceptable to share them, however suffice to say, they have been all very nifty, premeditated, and well-executed deviations.
With this outcome, Brzezinski goes to the highest of the listing for poker’s breakout stars of 2025. His story could be very inspirational as one in all grit and perseverance, but additionally a story that accommodates greater than a dollop of “Roy of the Rovers” magic. On residence soil, Brzezinski pulled off a wide ranging efficiency. After years of close to misses, a participant can lastly get their reward.
