Ultimate Guide to the European Mixed Poker Championship 2026 in Estonia

By Samantha Doyle

2 hours ago

Samantha Doyle 2 hours ago

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12-event series in Tallinn, Oct 26–31, 2026
€800 8-Game Main Event is centerpiece
Focus on innovative formats & Scandinavian camaraderie

The autumn poker calendar has just received a major upgrade for players who pride themselves on being well-rounded strategists. Running from October 26 to October 31, 2026, the European Mixed Poker Championship 2026 is bringing a premium lineup of non-traditional formats to Northern Europe.

Let's look closely at what players can expect regarding the venue layout, tournament design, and the official timeline of events.

Main Event & Other Highlights

The undeniable focal point of the series is the €800 buy-in 8-Game Main Event. Spanning across Friday, October 30, the Main Event offers two starting flights: Flight 1A at 11:30 and Flight 1B at 18:30, giving bust-outs a clear path to re-enter and find a bag for the final day.

Every tournament structure on the 12-event roster has been crafted by Tobias Leknes, a 13-time WCOOP champion who understands exactly what a mixed-game field requires. Other notable highlights from the schedule include:

The S.O.R.B.E.T. Tournaments: Featuring a €200 entry on Wednesday, October 28, and a massive €1,500 High Roller edition on Thursday, October 29.
The €555 Lowball Draw Mix: A pure test of drawing skill scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, October 27.
Omaha Dealer's Choice: A high-action €200 closer running on the final evening of the festival.

Official Tournament Schedule for 2026

Date & Time	Tournament	Buy-in
Oct 26, 18:30	#1 Welcomer Big Bet Mix	€200
Oct 27, 12:00	#2 Lowball Draw Mix	€555
Oct 27, 18:00	#3 Nordic Blood Mix	€300
Oct 28, 12:00	#4 Dealer's Choice	€700
Oct 28, 16:00	#5 S.O.R.B.E.T.	€200
Oct 28, 20:30	#6 T.O.E. Turbo	€800
Oct 29, 14:00	#7 S.O.R.B.E.T. High Roller	€1,500
Oct 29, 18:00	#8 Senkel's Paradise Pick'em	€300
Oct 30, 11:30	#9A 8-Game Main Event 1A	€800
Oct 30, 18:30	#9B 8-Game Main Event 1B	€800
Oct 31, 12:00	#10 6-Game Mystery Bounty	€300
Oct 31, 16:30	#11 6-Game High Roller	€1,500
Oct 31, 18:00	#12 Omaha Dealer's Choice	€200

Poker at the Heart of Estonia

The tournament series will be completely staged at the Olympic Park Casino, a top-tier European card room nested inside the luxury Hilton Tallinn Park. As the largest card room in the Baltic states, Olympic Park Casino regularly handles major tournament fields with world-class floor management and elite dealer training.

How the EMPC Came to Be

The festival is a passion project forged by tournament visionary Frode Fagerli and mixed-game pioneer Tobias Jelsa Leknes. Their goal was simple: export the lighthearted, engaging camaraderie of the Scandinavian mixed-game scene to a broader European audience.

Unlike standard high-stakes tournaments where tables are often silent and intensely clinical, the European Mixed Poker Championship is structured to promote active table talk, shared strategies, and an inclusive atmosphere where players can celebrate the pure joy of navigating complex game rotations.