The first of 12 gold rings of the inaugural World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) Tallinn was awarded on Sunday afternoon after Ukraine's Viacheslav Sultanov (pictured above) won all the chips in Event #1: €555 No-Limit Hold'em.

Sultanov, who took a huge bad beat near the end of Day 2 when his aces got in against kings and jacks only for the kings improved to trips, began the live-streamed final table at OlyBet.tv with GGPoker Ambassador Anatoly Filatov firmly on the rail in the middle of the pack but had a short lead when agreeing to a heads-up deal with Lukasz Fraczek with €3,500 left to play for along with the ring resulting in Sultanov earning €34,435 and Frazcek €29,825.

Event #1: €555 No-Limit Hold'em Final Table Results

Event #1: €555 No-Limit Hold'em attracted 382 entries to create a €183,360 prize pool. Check out all of the final table results below:

Final Day Action

The final day began with Finland's Rasmus Lundstrom and Torbojn Larsen on the top of the pack with eventual winner Sultanov in the thick of things.

Sultanov was at it right away by eliminating the shortest stack at the table in United Kingdom's Ryan Mandara (pictured below) in ninth place for €4,150 when his king-ten won a flip against sixes.

Not too much later, Sultanov was back at it again. Lithuania's Rimantas Boguzas (eighth - €4,900) effectively jammed a short stack with king-ten and was called by Sultanov with queen-jack suited. Boguzas flopped the top two pair but didn't improve further against Sultanov's flopped straight.

During this time, the lead was bouncing back and forth between Lundstrom and Larsen until the duo collided in a big pot to give Lundstrom a clear chip lead. Larsen got some chips back when his ace-jack proved to be good against ace-nine suited to oust Canada's Charles-Eric Benoit in seventh place for €5,800.

Finland's Aleksi Naski's impressive run was over in sixth place for €7,100 when he unsuccessfully jammed jack-nine suited into Fraczek's queens. Fraczek was near the chip lead after the hand but it was Lundstrom who came storming back by cracking the aces held by Cyprus' Georgios Skarparis before getting a bluff through against Larsen.

Sultanov was back at it again by eliminating his third short stack at the final table. This time around he won a flip with ace-five against deuces to send Skarparis to the showers in fifth place for €9,300.

The dynamics of the final table quickly changed after that. Fraczek three-bet shoved his queens. Lundstrom had a huge decision to make for a lion's share of his stack with king-queen and found a call. The queens held and Fraczek took his first lead at the final table.

Lundstrom (pictured below) then went from hero to zero as shortly after losing most of his stack he lost the rest to hit the rail in fourth place for €12,650 when his jack-nine didn't get there against Sultanov's ace-ten suited.

It didn't take long to get to the heads-up action from there as just a few hands later Fraczek eliminated Larsen in third place for €17,750 when Larsen's short-stacked shove with ace-ten didn't hold against eight-seven.

Sultanov had a marginal lead to start heads-up play and the duo agreed to a deal just a few hands into the action to reduce heads-up variance. 

The action resumed and before long a monster pot developed that more-or-less determined the winner. Fraczek (pictured above) opened with ace-queen and Sultanov defended his big blind with king-jack. Sultanov flopped the top two pair and called a bet by Fraczek. Fraczek still didn't connect with the board and committed himself to an untimely overjam. A brick came on the river and Sultanov was crowned the champion.

Congratulations to Ukraine's Viacheslav Sultanov for becoming the first ring winner at the 2023 World Series of Poker Circuit Tallinn. Stay tuned at OlyBet.tv as we cover all the ring events throughout the week.

Article author: Jason Glatzer
Photo credits: Elena Kask

Kelly Kellner traveled from Western Canada to attend the WSOP Circuit Tallinn. Check out what he had to say in the video below:

*Reflects heads-up deal at the final table.

Level 31: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 2/382

Just after Lukasz Fraczek (pictured below) doubled, Viacheslav Sultanov (pictured above with GGPoker Ambassador Anatoly Filatov) jammed the button. Fraczek called off his stack of seven big blinds and was at risk.

Lukasz Fraczek:
Viacheslav Sultanov:

Fraczek was behind but still had some hope with two live cards. However, most of his hopes and prayers were dashed after Sultanov nailed two pair on the flop. Fraczek was drawing dead on the turn and hit the rail in second place for €29,825.

Meanwhile, a huge congrats to Viacheslav Sultanov for winning WSOP Circuit Tallinn Event #1: €555 No-Limit Hold'em.

Stay tuned for the recap of the final day of Event #1 and in the meantime check out our coverage of the final table of Event #2: €1,100 No-Limit Hold'em.

Level 31: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 2/382

Lukasz Fraczek (pictured below) jammed the button for 500,000 and Viacheslav Sultanov called from the big blind.

Lukasz Fraczek:
Viacheslav Sultanov:

Fraczek was ahead when the chips were committed and pulled far ahead after his king connected on the flop. The turn and river completed the board for Fraczek to double his short stack.

Level 31: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 2/382

Viacheslav Sultanov (pictured below) opened for a min-raise on the button. Lukasz Fraczek, who recently took a small chip lead, three-bet to 1,150,000 from the big blind and Sultanov called.

Fraczek paused for a couple of minutes on the flop before continuing for 700,000 and Sultanov called.  More tanking by Fraczek came on the turn before he opted to jam his 4,100,000 stack. Sultanov made the call and Fraczek was in a bit of trouble.

Lukasz Fraczek:
Viacheslav Sultanov:

Sultanov slow-played his two-pair and got Fraczek to get his stack in thin for the majority of the chips in play. The river paired the board and Sultanov had the majority of chips in play after the hand.

Level 31: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 2/382

Viacheslav Sultanov won a few uncontested pots before he opened for 300,000 with from the button. Lukasz Fraczek defended with from the big blind.

Fraczek improved to the nuts with the flop improving him to a wheel and check-called a bet of 250,000 by Sultanov.

The turn improved Sultanov to a pair and Fraczek checked again. Sultanov fired out for 700,000 and Fraczek tanked for about a minute before he called. The river completed the board. Both players checked and Fraczek managed to gain some chips back.

Check out the highlights of the 2023 WSOPC Tallinn at Olympic Park Casino and the Hilton Tallinn Park below:

Level 31: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 2/382

Both players locked up €25,750 and were playing for €38,510. Viacheslav Sultanov and Lukasz Fraczek played a few heads-up hands before they discussed a deal.

A couple of minutes later, the duo agreed to a deal guaranteeing Sultanov €30,395 and Fraczek €29,825 with still €3,500 to and the coveted WSOP Circuit gold ring to be played for.

Level 31: 75,000/150,000 (150,000)
Entries: 2/382

Torbjorn Larsen (pictured below) jammed his four big blind stack from the small blind and was called by Lukasz Fraczek from the big blind.

Torbjorn Larsen:
Lukasz Fraczek:

Larsen stayed ahead on the flop. However, Fraczek paired up on the turn to take the lead and won the hand with an even better pair after his eight found a friend on the river.

It was a great run for Larsen who began the day inches behind Rasmus Lundstrom for the chip lead. While he won't earn a coveted WSOPC gold ring, he will go home with a healthy third-place podium prize of €17,750.

Meanwhile, both Viacheslav Sultanov and Fraczek are just a handful of big blinds apart to start the heads-up battle.

Players are on a 20-minute break. The blinds will increase to 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 big blind ante when the action resumes. In the meantime, check out the final table payouts as they stand at the break below.

Level 30: 50,000/125,000 (125,000)
Entries: 3/382

Viacheslav Sultanov (pictured below) opened for a min-raise from the button with and was called by Lukasz Fraczek with from the big blind.

Fraczek flopped top pair but was still behind when he check-called a bet by Sultanov on the flop with an overpair for 400,000.

Both players checked the turn and again on the river for Sultanov to win the hand just before the first break.

After the hand, Fraczek and Sultanov were tied for the chip lead.

Level 30: 50,000/125,000 (125,000)
Entries: 3/382

Rasmus Lundstrom (pictured below) was the hero most of the final day but just hit the rail at the final table in fourth place for €12,650.

Lundstrom jammed for 1.4 million from the small blind and was called by Viacheslav Sultanov from the big blind.

Rasmus Lundstrom:
Viacheslav Sultanov:

Lundstrom had two live cards but needed some help. None was on the way with the completing the board.

Level 30: 50,000/125,000 (125,000)
Entries: 4/382

Rasmus Lundstrom held the chip lead but after the following hand was down to just a little more than a dozen big blinds while handing Lukasz Fraczek (pictured below) a huge chip lead.

Lundstrom opened from under the gun for a min-raise before Fraczek three-bet shoved from the big blinds. Lundstrom tanked for more than a minute before he found a call.

Rasmus Lundstrom:
Lukasz Fraczek:

Fraczek was at risk but in good shape to double his stack. It was over before it began after the case queen improved Fraczek to a set on the flop. Lundstrom was drawing dead on the turn and Fraczek catapulted into the chip lead after the river completed the board.

Level 30: 50,000/125,000 (125,000)
Entries: 4/382

Georgios Skarparis (pictured below) jammed his short stack of 665,000 from under the gun and was called by Viacheslav Sultanov for nearly half his stack from the big blind.

Georgios Skarparis:
Viacheslav Sultanov:

Skarparis was ahead on the flip after both the flop and the turn. However, the river put a straight on the board. Unfortunately for Skarparis, there was no chop as Sultanov improved to an even better straight to Broadway and eliminated Skarparis in fifth place for €9,300.

Level 30: 50,000/125,000 (125,000)
Entries: 5/382

Torjborn Larsen opened for a min-raise from the button with and was called by Rasmus Lundstrom (pictured below) with from the big blind.

Neither player found love on the flop. Larsen still with the best hand bet 325,000 after Lundstrom checked. Lundstrom called to see the turn.

Both players checked and the river paired the board. Larsen quickly reached for chips and bet 550,000. Larsen tanked for a few moments before folding the best hand for Lundstrom to extend his chip lead.

Level 29: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 5/382

Ryan Lundstrom min-raised the button with and was called by Georgios Skarparis with from the big blind. Both players checked the flop before some action came on after Lundstrom improved to a full house on the turn.

Skarparis led out for 135,000 and Lundstrom called. The river completed the board. Both players checked again and Lundstrom took down the pot to extend the chip lead.

Despite the bad beat, Skarparis staved off elimination as he could have easily three-bet preflop or driven more action postflop with the best starting hand in poker.

Level 29: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 5/382

Viacheslav Sultanov opened from under the gun with a min-raise. Georgios Skarparis (pictured below), who was easily the short stack with just 5.5 big blinds, three-bet shoved from the cutoff for 550,000. Sultanov called and Skarparis was in decent shape to double his stack.

Georgios Skarparis:
Viacheslav Sultanov:

There was no drama early on with Skarparis nailing a set on the flop. However, there was a small possibility he could be eliminated after the turn gave Sultanov a gutshot to the wheel.

The blank river completed the board and for Skarparis to stay alive and double his stack.

Level 29: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 5/382

Aleksi Naski (pictured below) open-jammed for 525,000 from the button. Lukasz Fraczek tanked for a minute before he three-bet shoved for 1,700,000 from the small blind. Rasmus Lundstrom folded in the big blind before Naski and Fraczek turned over their cards with Naski at risk and in for a world of hurt.

Aleksi Naski:
Lukasz Fraczek:

Naski had a sliver of hope after the flop as an eight would improve him to a straight. Neither the turn nor the river did the job for Naski and he was eliminated by Fraczek in sixth place for €7,100.

Level 28: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 6/382

Shortly after coughing up the chip lead, Torjborn Larsen woke up with a hand and min-raised from the cutoff. Day 1c chip leader Charles-Eric Benoit (pictured below) three-bet shoved for 1,135,000. Larsen tanked for a few moments before he called.

Charles-Eric Benoit:
Torjborn Larsen:

Benoit needed some help to get his ace-nine suited ahead of Larsen's ace-jack. The flop made matters worse for Benoit with Larsen improving to a pair. Benoit was drawing dead after the turn and officially hit the rail in seventh place for €5,800 after the river completed the board.

Level 28: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 7/382

Rasmus Lundstrom min-raised with from the button and was called by Torjborn Larsen with from the big blind.

Lundstrom pulled out ahead in the flip after connecting with his king for a better two-pair than Larsen.

Both players checked and Lundstrom improved to an even better two-pair on the turn. Larsen checked again but this time Lundstrom fired out 255,000. Larsen called to see the river.

Larsen checked again before Lundstrom bet 425,000. Larsen paused for a few moments  before he called. Lindstrom regained the chip lead after the hand.

Level 28: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 7/382

Former Lithuanian goalkeeper Rimantas Boguzas bet 250,000 leaving just 80,000 behind from early position. Viacheslav Sultanov put Boguzas in for the rest from the big blind and the cards were turned over.

Rimantas Boguzas:
Viacheslav Sultanov:

The landed on the flop giving a huge cooler to Boguzas who would have likely gotten more chips in if he had them with top two pair. The problem was, the Sultanov flopped the stone-cold nuts with a straight.

Neither the turn nor the river saved Boguzas and he exited in eighth place for €4,900.

Level 27: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 8/382

The hand began simply enough with Lukasz Fraczek (pictured below) limping from the small blind with and Charles-Eric Benoit with opting to check back his option from the big blind.

Both players snagged something on the flop. Fraczek min-bet his open-ended straight draw for 60,000 and Benoit called with an open-ended straight draw.

"This can be ugly," the commentators said after the turn as this gave Benoit an open-ender but he was drawing only to a chop against Fraczek's made straight.

Fraczek bet out for 125,000 and Benoit called. The blank river completed the board. Fraczek held the nuts and fired out for 400,000. Benoit tanked for about a minute before he called only to get the bad news.

Level 27: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 8/382

Rasmus Lundstrom and Torjborn Larsen entered the final table just a few big blinds apart. Therefore it didn't take much for Larsen to take the chip lead for the first lead change at the final table.

Lundstrom opened for 120,000 with from the hijack and was called by Georgios Skarparis from the button with before Larsen three-bet to 355,000 with from the big blind. Both players folded and that is all it took for Larsen to snag the chip lead.

Level 27: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 8/382

Georgios Skarparis (pictured below) jammed for 430,000 from the small blind and was snap-called by Rimantas Bogus from the big blind.

Georgios Skarparis:
Rimantas Boguzas:

Skarparis was behind but did have two live cards with queen-five against Boguzas’s big slick.

A five connected with Skarparis straight away on the flop but he wasn’t out of the woods yet especially after the turn gave Boguzas more outs to a flush.

However, the river was blank for Boguzas and he was short on chips after doubling up Skarparis.

Level 27: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 9/382

Viacheslav Sultanov opened for a min-raise from the hijack before the short-stacked Ryan Mandara (pictured below) jammed his three big blinds from the cutoff.  Sultanov called for one big blind more and the cards were turned over.

Ryan Mandara:
Viacheslav Sultanov:

Mandara was flipping for his tournament life. It was looking grim for Mandara after Sultanov connected with his ten on the flop. Neither the turn nor the river helped Mandara while Sultanov improved even further to an unnecessary two-pair. Although Mandara didn’t last long today, he will notch a decent cash in his first WSOP Circuit Tallinn event after collecting the ninth-place prize of €4,150 just a few hands into the action.

Level 27: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 9/382

Cards are about to be in the air for the final table of Event #1: €555 No-Limit Hold'em. Tournament Director Teresa Nousiainen (pictured below) was announcing the players with the action beginning with Level 27 with blinds at 30,000/60,000 along with a 60,000 big blind ante.

Sunday will be a huge day for the World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) Tallinn as the festival will be awarding the first two gold rings of the festival.

Both Event #1: €555 No-Limit Hold'em and Event #2: €1,100 No-Limit Hold'em are both down to their final tables. You will be able to follow the action on the live stream on a 30-minute delay. The main focus will be Event #1 which we will also be covering the biggest final table hands in this blog as the winner will be crowned at the televised feature table exclusively at OlyBet.tv. The final table for Event #2 will also be covered in detail in our other blog for the day. While no hole cards will be shown early on, you will also get some snippets from this event on the live stream as well.

Torbjorn Larsen (pictured above) will kick off the final table of nine players in Event #1 as the table captain with 2,445,000 in chips. Larsen will be joined by Lukasz Fraczek (1,640,000), Day 1c chip leader Charles-Eric Benoit (1,400,000), Viacheslav Sultanov (1,115,000), Aleksi Naski (995,000), Rimantas Boguzas (555,000), Rasmus Lundstrom (555,000), Georgios Skarparis (550,000), and Ryan Mandara (210,000) in the quest for the title and the €38,510 top prize with at least the ninth-place prize of €4,150 already locked up. 

As a cool twist, all nine final table members are from eight different countries. And this is without the home country of Estonia having a single representative at the table. Time will tell which of these players will win the coveted first WSOPC gold ring in what promises to be an exciting conclusion.

Blinds will start at 30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 big blind ante when the final table commences at noon on Sunday and increase every 30 minutes until a winner is crowned.

Check out the final table seat draw and the final table payouts below:

Final Table Seat Draw

Final Table Payouts