Stenbäck Wins the Mystery Bounty as Iceland Dominates Day 1A of 2026 Coolbet Open Main Event

Wednesday at the 2026 Coolbet Open delivered on every level. Six events completed, six winners crowned, and the €550 NLH Coolbet Open Main Event played its opening flight with a strong 169-entry field, sending 67 survivors into Day 2. The mystery bounty envelopes opened in the morning and the drama they produced set the tone for a day that did not let up. Norway dominated the T.O.R.S.E.S. final table. Finland swept the top four in the Progressive Bounty. Iceland led the Main Event chip counts at the close of Day 1A. And a local legend took the PLO5/PLO5 Hi-Lo. Christoffer Karlén is reporting all the action live at the poker.pro Coolbet Open live reporting hub.

Simon Stenbäck Wins the Two-Day €350 NLH Mystery Bounty While Karlsen Collects Largest Prize

The two-day €350 NLH Deepstack Mystery Bounty wrapped up Wednesday morning with Finland's Simon Stenbäck taking the title and €8,884 in prize money from the 303-entry field afger defeating countrymate Julia Kuusijärvi in heads-up play. The event generated €89,234 in total prizes, split between €43,784 in the prize pool and €45,450 in mystery bounties, and produced the most entertaining twist of the week so far.

Norway's Anders Karlsen did not win the tournament but walked away with more money than anyone. Karlsen finished third for €4,360 in prize money, but pulled several large mystery bounty envelopes throughout Day 2 to collect a total haul of €24,860, the highest single-player collection in the event and the entire festival thus far. 

Place

Player

Country

Prize

1st

Simon Stenbäck

Finland

€8,884

2nd

Julia Kuusijärvi

Finland

€5,970

3rd

Anders Karlsen

Norway

€4,360

4th

Jari Rättyä

Finland

€3,260

5th

Janis Kähr

Estonia

€2,320

6th

Dmitri Dudakov

Estonia

€1,680

7th

Edgars Hauks

Latvia

€1,320

8th

Simon Hesserud Persson

Sweden

€1,090

9th

Göran Göthlin

Sweden

€930

Alf Jacobsen Wins the €250 T.O.R.S.E.S.: Norwegian Domination

Norway took the top three spots in the €250 T.O.R.S.E.S. and it was not particularly close. Alf Jacobsen won the title for €4,014 from a 56-entry field worth €11,704, beating his compatriot Erik Hamre heads-up. Asle Blomacher completed an all-Norwegian podium in third. Anders Bjorkheim, the 2024 Coolbet Open Main Event champion, also made the final table, finishing seventh.

T.O.R.S.E.S. is a mixed game format rotating through 2-7 Triple Draw, Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better, and Sviten, giving the mixed game community exactly what they come to the Coolbet Open for in a format that rewards breadth of knowledge across multiple disciplines rather than mastery of a single game. The Norwegian players have historically been among the strongest mixed game players at the Coolbet Open, and Wednesday proved the point again.

Place

Player

Country

Prize

1st

Alf Jacobsen

Norway

€4,014

2nd

Erik Hamre

Norway

€2,550

3rd

Asle Blomacher

Norway

€1,690

4th

Andres Abakanov

Estonia

€1,230

5th

Jari Mähönen

Finland

€950

6th

Karol Olszewski

Poland

€720

7th

Anders Bjorkheim

Norway

€550

Antti Rantanen Wins the €250 NLH Progressive Bounty

Finland's Antti Rantanen won the €250 NLH Progressive Bounty for €3,800 plus bounties after a heads-up deal with Norway's Even Kristiansen, who also collected €3,800 plus bounties despite missing out on the trophy and the massive final bounty. 

The event drew 199 entries and produced €41,591 in total prizes, including €21,691 in the prize pool and €19,900 in bounties, making it the largest field of the day's side events. Finland took the top four spots in the prize pool standings, with Maruen Zormati fourth and Kristiansen's deal aside, the Finnish dominance of the Progressive Bounty final was total.

Place

Player

Country

Prize

1st

Antti Rantanen

Finland

€3,800*

2nd

Even Kristiansen

Norway

€3,800*

3rd

Johan Ekdahl

Sweden

€2,480

4th

Maruen Zormati

Finland

€1,780

5th

Rait Kaimer

Estonia

€1,370

6th

Rasmus Parts

Estonia

€1,070

7th

Mart Rinken

Estonia

€850

8th

Conny Eriksson

Finland

€720

9th

Granit Haziraj

Norway

€611

Henri Käsper Wins the €200 PLO5/PLO5 Hi-Lo

When Estonia's Henri Käsper sits down at a poker table, the rest of the field notices. Käsper has accumulated over $1.6 million in recorded live tournament earnings, according to The Hendon Mob, making him one of the most decorated live poker players Estonia has ever produced. 

He sits on the board of the Estonian Tournament Poker Federation. He is a multiple Estonian poker champion. He has been a presence at the Coolbet Open going back to its earliest editions and knows this venue better than almost anyone in the field. On Wednesday he added another title to a resume that needs no further padding, winning the €200 PLO5/PLO5 Hi-Lo from a 71-entry field for €3,436, defeating Sweden's Göran Göthlin heads-up. Göthlin, who had led the Mystery Bounty field overnight, had to settle for runner-up here.

Place

Player

Country

Prize

1st

Henri Käsper

Estonia

€3,436

2nd

Göran Göthlin

Sweden

€2,290

3rd

Janne Johansson

Finland

€1,610

4th

Ville Salmi

Finland

€1,170

5th

Andreas Backlund

Finland

€860

6th

Stein Pedersen

Norway

€700

7th

Mika Hautakangas

Sweden

€570

8th

Tommi Verkasalo

Finland

€460

9th

Joni Nenonen

Finland

€370

Alger Pissarev Wins the €350 NLH Deepstack

Estonia's Alger Pissarev won the €350 NLH Deepstack from an 85-entry field for €7,342, defeating Finland's Markus Kärpijoki heads-up. Erik Põlluveer, who has been one of Estonia's more active tournament players throughout the Coolbet Open so far, finished third for €3,300. Three Norwegians in the top ten and Iceland's Jon Thorvaldsson making the final table added to the international flavor of the result.

Place

Player

Country

Prize

1st

Alger Pissarev

Estonia

€7,342

2nd

Markus Kärpijoki

Finland

€4,780

3rd

Erik Põlluveer

Estonia

€3,300

4th

Pal Koppegodt

Norway

€2,400

5th

Pekka Ikonen

Finland

€1,780

6th

Joni Tielinen

Finland

€1,340

7th

Kristian Dahl

Norway

€1,100

8th

Vesa Salo

Finland

€910

9th

Joonas Helin

Finland

€760

10th

Nils Overtun

Norway

€660

11th

Jon Thorvaldsson

Iceland

€660

Lukas Kasparavicius Wins Jevakim's Hyper Turbo

The late-night €200 NLH Hyper Turbo is named after Ylva "Jevakim" Thorsrud, Norway's Coolbet poker streamer and one of the most beloved figures in the Coolbet Open community. Thorsrud built her Jevakim persona streaming low and mid-stakes poker on Coolbet for years, building a loyal following of Norwegian players and turning her Tuesday and Friday home game streams into genuine events. 

She finished third in the 2023 Coolbet Open Main Event and made the final table in 2022, proving that the streamer who built the community can also beat it. The hyper turbo that carries her name has become one of the most popular late-night events on the Coolbet schedule. Lithuania's Lukas Kasparavicius won Wednesday's edition from a 101-entry field for €4,331, defeating Finland's Daniel Rantanen heads-up.

Place

Player

Country

Prize

1st

Lukas Kasparavicius

Lithuania

€4,331

2nd

Daniel Rantanen

Finland

€3,010

3rd

Joonas Salo

Finland

€2,060

4th

Kert Hallik

Estonia

€1,500

5th

Knut Gronli

Norway

€1,150

6th

Jani Rainela

Finland

€930

7th

Markus Volk

Finland

€750

8th

[Jari Hurri

Finland

€600

9th

Gunnar Leifsson

Iceland

€480

Iceland Leads Main Event Day 1A: Borgarsson Bags Chip Lead

The €550 NLH Coolbet Open Main Event opened its first starting flight on Wednesday and delivered the kind of Day 1A that sets up a festival. A total of 169 entries added €80,275 to what will become the Main Event prize pool, with 67 players surviving to Day 2. Iceland finished the day with the top two chip stacks, a remarkable result that underlines just how strong the Icelandic contingent has been historically at the Coolbet Open.

Baldvin Borgarsson of Iceland bags the overnight chip lead with 179,000 (119 big blinds), just ahead of compatriot Jon Thorvaldsson with 173,700. Thorvaldsson also cashed in the €350 NLH Deepstack on the same day, making him one of the busiest players in Tallinn this week. Georgia's Sergi Kapanadze is third with 157,000. Finland's Andreas Backlund, who also cashed in the PLO5/PLO5 Hi-Lo, sits fourth with 150,100. Estonia's Steven Tool rounds out the top five with 143,000.

Four Icelandic players in the top seven on Day 1A is not a coincidence. Iceland has sent one of its strongest ever Coolbet Open contingents to Tallinn and the results are showing across every event. Notable survivors include Lithuania's Daiva Byrne, who was here with her FLIP community at the Queens of Tallinn in 15th with 100,500, Denmark's Denise Fodor in 24th with 89,300, and Estonia's Alger Pissarev in 40th with 60,700, making it a double-cash day for the NLH Deepstack winner. All 67 survivors return for Day 2 on Friday, with Day 1B firing Thursday at 12:00 and Day 1C Thursday evening at 19:30. Follow every elimination and chip count live at poker.pro.

Position

Player

Country

Chips

BBs

1

Baldvin Borgarsson

Iceland

179,000

119

2

Jon Thorvaldsson

Iceland

173,700

115

3

Sergi Kapanadze

Georgia

157,000

104

4

Andreas Backlund

Finland

150,100

100

5

Steven Tool

Estonia

143,000

95

6

Skuli Sigfusson

Iceland

141,200

94

7

Sigurdur Fridriksson

Iceland

140,100

93

8

Markus Volk

Finland

118,900

79

9

Benny Hagberg

Sweden

118,400

78

10

Lukas Kasparavicius

Lithuania

114,200

76

11

Igor Pihela

Estonia

111,400

74

12

Pal Koppegodt

Norway

104,300

69

13

Jarmo Salonen

Finland

103,900

69

14

Kert Hallik

Estonia

102,900

68

15

Daiva Byrne

Lithuania

100,500

67

16

Magnus Pukk

Estonia

100,000

66

17

Halldor Sverrisson

Iceland

99,500

66

18

Petter Berg

Norway

97,700

65

19

Alessandro Barone

Canada

96,900

64

20

Timo Rantamäki

Finland

95,500

63

21

Konstantin Färber

Germany

95,000

63

22

Daniel Rantanen

Finland

93,900

62

23

Erik Põlluveer

Estonia

93,200

62

24

Denise Fodor

Denmark

89,300

59

25

Thomas Jakobsen

Norway

89,300

59

26

Olaf Larssen

Norway

85,800

57

27

Jari Hurri

Finland

82,300

54

28

Erlend Nilsen

Norway

79,900

53

29

Ville-Matti Keränen

Finland

77,600

51

30

Sindre Roenquist

Norway

77,600

51

31

Andrei Mjagkov

Estonia

72,800

48

32

Jere Laitinen

Finland

72,000

48

33

Lauri Laast

Estonia

71,800

47

34

Robert Kallikorm

Estonia

69,200

46

35

Raivo Grislis

Latvia

66,800

44

36

Tarmo Tammel

Estonia

64,000

42

37

Joni Nenonen

Finland

63,100

42

38

Mounir Tajiou

Sweden

61,400

40

39

Timo Koivusalo

Finland

60,800

40

40

Alger Pissarev

Estonia

60,700

40

41

Tarvi Apsolon

Estonia

57,700

38

42

Orjan Johnsen

Norway

56,000

37

43

arkus Huiskonen

Finland

55,100

36

44

Kjetil Hanstvedt

Norway

53,800

35

45

Lluis Murcia Grano

Spain

53,000

35

46

Mar Wardum

Iceland

51,900

34

47

Egidijus Matonis

Lithuania

51,400

34

48

Ingi Hallgrimsson

Iceland

51,100

34

49

Johan Storakers

Sweden

50,100

33

50

Christian Arstad

Norway

49,300

32

51

Stein Pedersen

Norway

49,300

32

52

Kristjan Arsaelsson

Iceland

48,300

32

53

Jonatan Wedde

Norway

44,800

29

54

Petter Richardsen

Norway

41,400

27

55

Yngve Lommerud

Norway

38,800

25

56

annes Gudmundsson

Iceland

38,500

25

57

Joakim Fjar

Norway

38,400

25

58

Daniel Axelsson

Iceland

37,700

25

59

Andrew Paterson

Canada

36,200

24

60

Martin Zobel

Germany

36,000

24

61

Frode Toft

Norway

33,000

22

62

Sigurdur Thengilsson

Iceland

32,200

21

63

Patrick Lunderbye

Norway

29,800

19

64

Alejandro Fernandez Ruiz

Spain

29,000

19

65

Maksim Petrov

Estonia

22,200

14

66

Elisabeth Harestad

Norway

13,600

9

67

Lisbeth Sunde

Norway

11,400

7

Thursday at the 2026 Coolbet Open

Thursday is another full day of action at Olympic Park Casino and the Hilton Tallinn Park. The two remaining Main Event starting flights fire on Thursday, meaning the full Day 2 field takes shape by the end of the evening. Day 1B starts at 12:00, Day 1C at 19:30. Cash games are running 24 hours a day on the casino floor for anyone who wants to keep playing between tournament sessions. The €250 PLO4/5 Progressive Bounty fires at 14:00, the €200 NLH at 16:00, and the €200 Five-Card Mix at 19:00. Leffern's Hyper Turbo closes the night at 20:00, another named event from the Coolbet community, with a €150 satellite to the €1,100 NLH at 22:00 for anyone with DeepStack ambitions.

Time

Event

12:00

Event #7: €550 Main Event Day 1B

12:00

Event #14: €80 Satellite to €1,100 NLH (Three Seats GTD)

13:30

Event #15: €100 Icelandic Private Tournament

14:00

Event #16: €250 PLO4/5 Progressive Bounty

16:00

Event #17: €200 NLH

19:00

Event #18: €200 Five-Card Mix

19:30

Event #7: €550 Main Event Day 1C

20:00

Event #19: €200 Leffern's Hyper Turbo

22:00

Event #20: €150 Satellite to €1,100 NLH (Five Seats GTD)

All results, chip counts, and live updates at poker.pro and on the Coolbet Open social media channels.

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