Ivelin Kolev Wins WPT Prime Cyprus Title for $171,600
Ivelin Kolev won the WPT Prime Cyprus Championship for $171,600, beating Said Tahar heads-up after trailing most of the final table.
Ivelin Kolev won the WPT Prime Cyprus Championship on Monday, topping an eight-player final table at Chamada Prestige Hotel & Casino for $171,600. He beat Said Tahar heads-up after starting the day well behind the chip leader, and also locked up a seat in the WPT World Championship this December.
- Kolev won the WPT Prime Cyprus Championship, a $1,100 buy-in event, for $171,600.
- The final table played out at Chamada Prestige Hotel & Casino on Monday, October 19, 2026.
- Runner-up Said Tahar collected $100,000.
- Kolev held nearly a 7-1 chip lead entering heads-up play.
- His win includes a seat worth $10,400 in the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas this December.
- Kolev won a PokerStars EPT Barcelona event for $44,570 in August.
Who won the WPT Prime Cyprus Championship?
Ivelin Kolev, a Bulgarian player already enjoying a strong year, took down the WPT Prime Cyprus Championship on Monday. PokerNews reports the buy-in was $1,100 and Kolev's payout came to $171,600.
Kolev didn't dominate from the start. He arrived at the livestreamed final table well back in chips, trailing far behind leader Said Tahar and close challenger Andreas Christodoulo. Nobody watching early would have picked him as the favorite.
The final table ran at Chamada Prestige Hotel & Casino, with the action streamed live for fans following along from outside the room. Eight players returned for the day, each chasing a title that carried real weight for the rest of the year.
How did the WPT Prime Cyprus final table play out?
Ismail Yagci came into the day short-stacked and went out first, in eighth place for $19,300, according to PokerNews. Sergiu Cornea followed in seventh for $24,800, then Bora Kurtulus busted in sixth for $32,000.
Johan Storakers was next out, finishing fifth for $42,500. Christodoulo, who had started the day among the chip leaders, never found the cards he needed and settled for fourth place and $56,000.
By the time three players remained, Kolev had quietly taken control of the table. He won a flip with roughly a 60-40 edge to send Joseph El Khoury out in third place for $74,000, setting up a heads-up battle against Tahar.
The eliminations tell the story of a final table that stayed competitive deep into the day. No single player ran away with it early, and the lead changed hands more than once before Kolev finally pulled ahead for good.
How did Kolev beat Said Tahar heads-up?
Kolev began heads-up play holding close to a seven-to-one chip advantage over Tahar. Tahar tried to mount a comeback, but PokerNews reports the rally never really got going.
Kolev finished the match with a straight that beat Tahar's top pair. That hand ended the tournament and left Tahar with second place and a $100,000 payday.
Given the size of Kolev's chip lead walking into heads-up play, the outcome wasn't a huge surprise. Still, Tahar had dominated the field for most of Day 3, and his inability to close it out shows how quickly momentum can shift in a big-field tournament.
What does this win mean for Kolev's year?
The $171,600 score extends what has already been a productive 2026 for Kolev. PokerNews notes he also won a PokerStars EPT Barcelona event back in August, which paid him $44,570.
Beyond the cash from Cyprus, Kolev's win carries a bonus prize. He's now qualified for a spot worth $10,400 in this December's WPT World Championship, set to run at Wynn Las Vegas.
That means Kolev heads into the final stretch of the year with two significant titles already banked and a major event still ahead of him. For a player who wasn't even close to the chip lead when this final table began, it's a notable turnaround.
Two big titles in the same calendar year, on two different continents, is the kind of résumé that gets a player noticed on the circuit. It also puts him in good form heading into a World Championship field that typically draws some of the toughest competition of the year.
What it means for players
Comeback wins like Kolev's are a good reminder that chip counts at the start of a final table rarely predict the outcome. Short stacks can and do run deep, and big leads can evaporate fast once the field narrows. Players looking to sharpen their own decisions in similar spots can work through preflop ranges in the preflop lab or check hand strength fast with the equity calculator before committing big stacks in a flip or a heads-up battle. Watching how quickly stacks shifted at this final table is also a useful lesson in staying patient rather than panicking when short.
Frequently asked
How much did Ivelin Kolev win at WPT Prime Cyprus?
Kolev took home $171,600 for first place in the WPT Prime Cyprus Championship, according to PokerNews. His win also came with a qualifying spot worth $10,400 for the WPT World Championship this December.
Who did Kolev beat heads-up?
He beat Said Tahar heads-up to win the title. Tahar had held the overall chip lead entering the final table but ended up runner-up for $100,000.
What other results has Kolev had this year?
Kolev won a PokerStars EPT Barcelona event for $44,570 back in August, PokerNews reports. The WPT Prime Cyprus title adds another major score to his 2026 run.
Where did the WPT Prime Cyprus final table take place?
The final table played out at Chamada Prestige Hotel & Casino on Monday, October 19, 2026. PokerNews reports the action was livestreamed for fans following the event.