The title brings the biggest trophy of the series and the Player of the Series prize, funded by 1% of every EMPC 2026 prize pool. “A bit tired, a bit exhausted. It was a long series. Many, many tough battles,” Bokowski said. “The longest heads-up I’ve ever played, against Patrick. But honestly, just happy. Just happy.”

Bokowski took the lead after Day 3, when he won the Nordic Blood Mix for €6,150 and beat 2025 Player of the Series Blaž Žerjav heads-up. Austria’s Robin Panholzer overtook him a day later by winning the Dealer’s Choice. Bokowski went back on top after Day 5 and held the lead to the end of the series.

His Day 5 run came in the S.O.R.B.E.T. High Roller. He played it on one bullet and reached heads-up against Canada’s Patrick Stacey, who won after the longest heads-up of Bokowski’s life. Bokowski took €12,830 for second. “My opponent was the toughest heads-up player I’ve ever played, so it was a challenge, and he’s a beast,” Stacey said.

Bokowski won €21,030 across his three podium finishes in Tallinn. A year earlier in Dublin he finished second in the 6-Game High Roller and third in both the Hi-Lo Mix and the S.O.R.B.E.T. Low Roller, without a title.

“This has just been the best series I’ve ever attended,” he said. “The whole team behind it is just amazing, everybody has done an awesome job, and I can only recommend everybody to come here. Enjoying the games, enjoying the people, the venue, the city. It’s just the perfect series.”

Asked to name his favourite friend of the series, he picked EMPC co-founder Tobias Leknes. “I mean, I have to say Tobias, to be invited next year, I think.” At the Nordic Blood Mix trophy ceremony he had a bigger wish: “I just hope this gets me my Norwegian citizenship finally. But let’s see.”

Full standings on the EMPC 2026 results page.

Photos: Lemon Poker