2025 Kings of Tallinn – Event #27: The Royal Showdown Invitational

Johan Karlsson battled through one of the toughest fields possible, filled with past Kings and Queens of Tallinn winners, to emerge as the 2025 Royal Showdown Invitational champion. This victory adds another title to his poker resume, after winning the 2020 Kings of Tallinn Main Event for €126,900.

The freebuy invitational event at the 2025 Kings of Tallinn featured seven invited players with an optional €500 rake-free re-entry, which was used five times, adding €2,500 to the prize pool. Karlsson rode on his initial invitation from the start, even though he was close to packing up his bag in a hand when his pocket sixes ran into Saara Benlamine’s pocket kings, only to spike a case six on the flop.

That lucky break started his deep run, and when he later eliminated Benlamine in sixth place, he found himself among the true contenders. Karlsson kept a steady presence throughout, and after knocking out Ranno Sootla in third place, he entered heads-up play with a lead over Juha Helppi.

He didn’t need much to control the match, using well-time bluffs, capitalizing on key hands, and having a bit of good fortune as well. The final hand saw him win a crucial coin flip, as his ace-nine held against Helppi’s pocket deuces, securing the title and with it a a €3,000 tournament ticket, €1,000 in prize money, and an exclusive VIP football trip.

2025 The Royal Showdown Invitational Final Results

Place	Player	Prize
1	Johan Karlsson	€3,000 Ticket + €1,000 + VIP football trip
2	Juha Helppi	€3,000 Ticket + €1,000
3	Ranno Sootla	€1,100 Main Event Ticket + €500
4	Matias Knaapinen	€1,100 Main Event Ticket

Juha Helppi took an early lead in the heads-up battle after scooping a few pots, but it was short-lived. Johan Karlsson swung momentum back in his favor with a bluff in a sizable pot, holding J♣9♥ against Helppi’s Q♠2♣ on a Q♣10♣7♣4♥ board.

From that point on, Karlsson maintained control, and apart from some smaller pots, it felt like a one-way street.

The final hand saw Helppi push all-in for 227,000 with 2♦2♣ from the button. Karlsson had a decision to make, looking down at A♣ first and hoping to see a good kicker as well. He squeezed a 9♥, which needed a brief consideration, but eventually made a call, putting the 2018 Kings of Tallinn champion at risk.

The dealer exposed an ace right away on the Q♦5♥A♦ flop, and Helppi needed a lot of help. The 5♣ turn offered no backdoor possibilities, and the 10♦ river sealed the deal.

Johan Karlsson is the 2025 Royal Showdown Invitational champion! He takes home a €3,000 tournament ticket, €1,000 in prize money, and an exclusive VIP football trip! Congratulations!

Johan Karlsson – 603,000
Juha Helppi – 0

The heads-up battle is set between two Kings of Tallinn champions. Johan Karlsson, winner of the 2020 edition, holds a slight lead over Juha Helppi, the Finnish poker legend who claimed the title in 218.

Both players have already secured a €3,000 tournament ticket and an additional €1,000 in prize money, but they still play for the glory of being the best King in Tallinn, on top of an exclusive VIP football trip.

Johan Karlsson – 330,000
Juha Helppi – 277,000

Shortly after his brutal coinflip loss, Ranno Sootla shoved all-in blind, tabling 2♥5♦ and Johan Karlsson made the easy call with 9♣8♣.

The flop 9♥K♣3♣ spelled disaster for Sootla, as Karlsson flopped top pair and a flush draw, leaving him with little hope.

The turn 10♥ sealed the deal and ended Sootla’s run in third place. The 2015 Kings of Tallinn champion didn’t leave empty-handed, earning a €1,100 Main Event ticket and €500 in cash for his deep finish in the Royal Showdown Invitational.

Johan Karlsson – 330,000
Ranno Sootla – 0

Johan Karlsson opened the pot on the button with A♥J♠ and Ranno Sootla had a decision to make with 5♥5♦ in the small blind. He decided to make a stand, three-betting to 80,000.

This confused Karlsson, who ultimately responded with a four-bet all-in for 148,000, and Sootla called with 67,800 more.

A coinflip of the shortest stacks ended with a big hit on the river as Karlsson paired his jack on a 8♦K♥3♣3♠J♣ board, leaving home crowd favorite Sootla on fumes.

Johan Karlsson – 308,000
Ranno Sootla – 19,200

Matias Knaapinen, who squeezed into the money with just seven big blinds, finally found a great hand to make a move, shoving his 49,500 stack from the cutoff with Q♠Q♦. In the big blind, Ranno Sootla saw an ace and decided that was good enough, making the call with A♥7♥.

A wild ace appeared on the flop of A♠J♦4♦, looking quite grim for Knaapinen.

The turn K♦ gave him quite some hope, adding 11 outs with both a flush and straight draw.

But the river 5♥ was no help, sending the 2017 Kings of Tallinn champion to the rail in fourth place, securing a ticket to the 2025 Kings of Tallinn Main Event worth €1,100

Ranno Sootla – 152,000
Matias Knaapinen – 0

With just five players remaining, Mathias Siljander opened from the first position to 10,000 with A♠J♦. Juha Helppi, holding a nice looking K♠Q♠, made the call from the button.

The action flop of 3♠8♥J♠ almost guaranteed some fireworks and that’s what happened. Siljander fired a 10,000 continuation bet, only for Helppi to crank up the pressure with a raise to 40,000.

It looked too good to Siljander to pass as he shoved for his full 101,000. Helppi wasted no time calling with 14 outs, being even a slight favorite with 53% equity.

The turn immediately brought K♦, catapulting him ahead. Only an ace or jack could save Siljander.

The river 7♠ completed flush for Helppi and one of the most active players of the day bubbled The Royal Showdown Invitational in fifth place.

Juha Helppi – 315,000
Mathias Siljander – 0

Johan Karlsson opened the action to 10,000 with Q♥Q♣, only for Saara Benlamine to wake up with A♥Q♠ in the big blind at the worst possible time. With just 69,000 behind, she went all-in, and Karlsson called, covering her by only a handful of chips.

The dealer opened another sweat-inducing flop of 10♦Q♦J♠, giving Benlamine additional outs with a straight and backdoor draw. The A♣ on the turn, added aces on the river to her survival.

Unfortunately for Benlamine, the river was a blank [invalid notations], and the 2024 Queens of Tallinn winner was the latest casualty of The Royal Showdown Invitational at the 2025 Kings of Tallinn.

Johan Karlsson – 144,000
Saara Benlamine – 0

The official payouts have been announced! The top four players will cash tonight, with the winner taking home a €3,000 tournament ticket, a €1,000 cash prize, and an exclusive VIP football trip.

Juha Helppi woke up with K♦K♣ under the gun and raised to 7,000. It looked like Kai Lehto might be in serious trouble holding Q♠Q♣, but opted to just call and invited Matias Knaapinen to come along from the big blind with 6♠5♠, setting up a three-way pot.

The dealer opened the 9♥3♦10♣ flop, guaranteeing action between the two overpairs. After Helppi checked, Lehto made a bet of 8,500 into a 25,500 pot. Knaapinen quickly got out of the way, and Helppi moved all-in. Lehto snap-called, only to see the bad news.

Only two queens left in the deck to save him, the turn and rivered offered no help and Lehto became the first elimination of The Royal Showdown Invitational as registration officially closed.

Juha Helppi – 196,000
Kai Lehto – 0

Ranno Sootla opened the action from under the gun, raising to 6,000 with A♥10♣. In the big blind, Mathias Siljander couldn’t resist defending with Q♥3♥.

The dealer spread a flop of 10♥9♦3♥, giving Sootla top pair while Siljander picked up bottom pair. Sootla fired a standard 5,000 continuation bet, and Siljander made the call.

The turn brought a dangerous looking K♦, the action slowed down, and both checked.

A blank river 5♣ hit and Siljander had one of the worst hands possible in the situation and felt a bluff was a must. He casually threw chips into the middle, announcing an all-in.

Sootla found himself in a tough spot, tanking for several minutes as he thought over the decision. After some table talk, he must have picked up on something that convinced him Siljander was bluffing. He made the call, and Siljander in a good spirit, showed the bluff that moved Sootla in the chip lead

Ranno Sootla – 133,000
Mathias Siljander – 66,200

Mathias Siljander opened from the lojack with A♥2♦ to 5,000, and Kai Lehto defended his blind with A♣4♠, setting up a battle of ace-rags.

The flop gave both players two pair with 8♠A♠8♣ and a high chance for a chop pot, unless someone really wanted to push the action. Lehto checked, Siljander continued for 5,000, and Lehto called.

On a turn 6♦ both players checked.

The river delivered A♦, giving both a full house. After checking twice, Lehto decided to bet 7,000 into 30,500 pot and Siljander quickly clicked it back to 14,000.

Lehto, thinking how to get some value out of Siljander, opted for a non-all-in three-bet to 36,000, and Siljander called right away, expecting the chop.

Mathias Siljander – 159,000
Kai Lehto – 56,800

Players are now on a short 15-minute break. When they return, Level 10 will commence with blinds at 1,000/2,500 and a 2,500 ante.

Place	Player	Chips	Big Blinds
1	Mathias Siljander	140,000	56
2	Juha Helppi	104,000	72
3	Johan Karlsson	104,000	42
4	Saara Benlamine	100,000	40
5	Kai Lehto	58,500	23
6	Ranno Sootla	47,500	19
7	Matias Knaapinen	45,000	18

With a fresh 50,000 stack from his re-entry, Matias Knaapinen wasted no time getting involved, raising to 4,000 from early position with 10♥9♦. Juha Helppi behind him called with A♦8♦ and everybody else gou out of their way.

Flop of 8♠6♦A♠ connected with Helppi, giving him top two pair, while Knaapinen only had a gutshot straight draw. Still, he felt it was a good opportunity to take the lead with a 4,000 bet and Helppi smoothly called.

The turn 4♦ helped Helppi strengthening his position, but Knaapinen fired another barrel, this time with a half pot bet and Helppi called again.

The river paired the ace and Knaapinen felt he had to represent it, pushing his stack in the middle and Helppi showed the nuts.

Knaapinen walked away from the table, but was called back as he still had a couple of blinds left. Those went in the very next hand with 10♠9♥, only for Saara Benlamine to found dominant 9♠9♦. The board didn’t help Knaapinen and he was out for real this time, but he contributed new €500 to the Royal Showdown prize pool and will get new 50,000 chip stack for it.

Juha Helppi – 93,200
Saara Benlamine – 85,900
Matias Knaapinen – 0

Matias Knaapinen opened the pot from under the gun with A♠Q♥, only to face a three-bet to 11,000 from the new chip leader, Mathias Siljander, who was holding K♥K♣.

The flop came A♥8♣3♠, catapulting Knaapinen ahead with a top pair against Siljander’s kings. Unfazed, Siljander fired a 6,000 continuation bet, and Knaapinen made the call.

Then disaster struck for Knaapinen on the turn as the K♦ hit, giving Siljander a set of kings. Siljander continued with his story, making a quick bet of 22,000 into the 37,000 pot. Knaapinen made the call, not knowing he was stone-cold dead already.

The river brought the 10♠, and as expected, Siljander moved all-in. Knaapinen took a moment to think it over but eventually made the call. With that, Knaapinen was eliminated but wasted no time heading to the cashier for a rake-free €500 re-entry.

Mathias Siljander – 215,000
Matias Knaapinen – 0

Johan Karlsson moved all-in from under the gun with pocket sixes, only to run straight into the pocket kings of chip leader Saara Benlamine in the small blind.

Johan Karlsson: 6♠6♣
Saara Benlamine: K♠K♣

With Benlamine not only holding the superior hand but also covering both of Karlsson’s suits, things were looking grim for him. It seemed like Benlamine was about to extend her lead, but Lady Fortuna had other plans.

The dealer opened a flop of 6♥2♥Q♠, and just like that, Karlsson found one of the two sixes left in the deck to vault into the lead. The turn and river brought no help for Benlamine, securing Karlsson a much-needed double-up.

Johan Karlsson – 62,400
Saara Benlamine – 59,000

Mathias Siljander spiced up the action, opening under the gun with 8♥4♥, and Juha Helppi came along on the cutoff with another suited hand, K♦5♦.

The flop came 8♦3♦3♣, giving Siljander two pair while Helppi picked up a flush draw. Siljander continued for 2,000, and Helppi wasted no time making the call.

The 7♣ hit the turn, locking up the hand for Siljander with a full house. He opted for a sneaky check, giving Helppi room to take a move, and he did, firing 5,500 into the pot, leaving himself with just 12 big blinds behind.

Siljander moved all-in, and with so much already committed, Helppi had no choice but to call, learning the bad news. To add insult to injury, river brought 8♠, giving Siljander quads, sending Helppi to cashier to fire another bullet in the Royal Showdown Invitational.

Mathias Siljander – 87,600
Juha Helppi – 0

Kai Lehto opened the action from under the gun, raising to 2,000 with A♣10♦. Juha Helppi defended his small blind with 6♦3♦, while the big blind opted to fold.

The dealer opened a flop of 2♦Q♣J♣, missing both Finnish players and the action went check-check. Both players opted to check on the 9♣ turn as well.

The river delivered the 8♠, completing Lehto’s straight. Helppi tried to steal the pot, betting 4,500 into 6,000 pot, but Lehto raised to 13,000. Just when it seemed the hand was done, Helppi had other ideas, pushing back with a three-bet of 39,500, and Lehto quickly called.

Helppi showed bluff with a smile on his face, but the chips went Lehto’s way.

Kai Lehto – 64,800
Juha Helppi – 28,600

Saara Benlamine kicked off the action from under the gun, raising to 1,600 with A♥K♣. Ranno Sootla looked down at A♠5♠ and decided to fire a bluff, bumping it up to 5,500. Back on Benlamine, she wasn’t backing down, firing in a four-bet to 14,000.

Sootla wasn’t convinced and asked, “What do you want me to do?” but got nothing but silence in return. He moved all in, and Benlamine snap-called.

The board ran out 9♦8♥4♣K♠2♠, pairing Benlamine’s king and sealing Sootla’s fate. It was his second elimination of the tournament, be he was back a couple of minutes later with another rake-free €500 re-entry, contributing to the Royal Showdown prize pool.

Saara Benlamine – 125,000
Ranno Sootla – 0

Matias Knaapinen opened up from early position with 9♦9♣, and Juha Helppi behind him calls with a nice looking 6♦5♦. Kai Lehto joined the action with K♥10♥ on the button and so does Johan Karlsson on small blind holding A♦7♦.

A big family pot was brewing, but Mathias Siljander had other ideas as he slammed a stack of blue chips in the middle, moving all-in for 93,300. Knaapinen called and everyone else got out of the way.

The board ran out 10♠8♥3♥J♣2♥, missing Siljander and Knaapinen doubled up.

Matias Knaapinen – 72,300
Mathias Siljander – 59,400

Johan Karlsson battled through one of the toughest fields possible, filled with past Kings and Queens of Tallinn winners, to emerge as the 2025 Royal Showdown Invitational champion. This victory adds another title to his poker resume, after winning the 2020 Kings of Tallinn Main Event for €126,900.

The freebuy invitational event at the 2025 Kings of Tallinn featured seven invited players with an optional €500 rake-free re-entry, which was used five times, adding €2,500 to the prize pool. Karlsson rode on his initial invitation from the start, even though he was close to packing up his bag in a hand when his pocket sixes ran into Saara Benlamine’s pocket kings, only to spike a case six on the flop.

That lucky break started his deep run, and when he later eliminated Benlamine in sixth place, he found himself among the true contenders. Karlsson kept a steady presence throughout, and after knocking out Ranno Sootla in third place, he entered heads-up play with a lead over Juha Helppi.

He didn’t need much to control the match, using well-time bluffs, capitalizing on key hands, and having a bit of good fortune as well. The final hand saw him win a crucial coin flip, as his ace-nine held against Helppi’s pocket deuces, securing the title and with it a a €3,000 tournament ticket, €1,000 in prize money, and an exclusive VIP football trip.

2025 The Royal Showdown Invitational Final Results

Place	Player	Prize
1	Johan Karlsson	€3,000 Ticket + €1,000 + VIP football trip
2	Juha Helppi	€3,000 Ticket + €1,000
3	Ranno Sootla	€1,100 Main Event Ticket + €500
4	Matias Knaapinen	€1,100 Main Event Ticket

Juha Helppi took an early lead in the heads-up battle after scooping a few pots, but it was short-lived. Johan Karlsson swung momentum back in his favor with a bluff in a sizable pot, holding J♣9♥ against Helppi’s Q♠2♣ on a Q♣10♣7♣4♥ board.

From that point on, Karlsson maintained control, and apart from some smaller pots, it felt like a one-way street.

The final hand saw Helppi push all-in for 227,000 with 2♦2♣ from the button. Karlsson had a decision to make, looking down at A♣ first and hoping to see a good kicker as well. He squeezed a 9♥, which needed a brief consideration, but eventually made a call, putting the 2018 Kings of Tallinn champion at risk.

The dealer exposed an ace right away on the Q♦5♥A♦ flop, and Helppi needed a lot of help. The 5♣ turn offered no backdoor possibilities, and the 10♦ river sealed the deal.

Johan Karlsson is the 2025 Royal Showdown Invitational champion! He takes home a €3,000 tournament ticket, €1,000 in prize money, and an exclusive VIP football trip! Congratulations!

Johan Karlsson – 603,000
Juha Helppi – 0

The heads-up battle is set between two Kings of Tallinn champions. Johan Karlsson, winner of the 2020 edition, holds a slight lead over Juha Helppi, the Finnish poker legend who claimed the title in 218.

Both players have already secured a €3,000 tournament ticket and an additional €1,000 in prize money, but they still play for the glory of being the best King in Tallinn, on top of an exclusive VIP football trip.

Johan Karlsson – 330,000
Juha Helppi – 277,000

Shortly after his brutal coinflip loss, Ranno Sootla shoved all-in blind, tabling 2♥5♦ and Johan Karlsson made the easy call with 9♣8♣.

The flop 9♥K♣3♣ spelled disaster for Sootla, as Karlsson flopped top pair and a flush draw, leaving him with little hope.

The turn 10♥ sealed the deal and ended Sootla’s run in third place. The 2015 Kings of Tallinn champion didn’t leave empty-handed, earning a €1,100 Main Event ticket and €500 in cash for his deep finish in the Royal Showdown Invitational.

Johan Karlsson – 330,000
Ranno Sootla – 0

Johan Karlsson opened the pot on the button with A♥J♠ and Ranno Sootla had a decision to make with 5♥5♦ in the small blind. He decided to make a stand, three-betting to 80,000.

This confused Karlsson, who ultimately responded with a four-bet all-in for 148,000, and Sootla called with 67,800 more.

A coinflip of the shortest stacks ended with a big hit on the river as Karlsson paired his jack on a 8♦K♥3♣3♠J♣ board, leaving home crowd favorite Sootla on fumes.

Johan Karlsson – 308,000
Ranno Sootla – 19,200

Matias Knaapinen, who squeezed into the money with just seven big blinds, finally found a great hand to make a move, shoving his 49,500 stack from the cutoff with Q♠Q♦. In the big blind, Ranno Sootla saw an ace and decided that was good enough, making the call with A♥7♥.

A wild ace appeared on the flop of A♠J♦4♦, looking quite grim for Knaapinen.

The turn K♦ gave him quite some hope, adding 11 outs with both a flush and straight draw.

But the river 5♥ was no help, sending the 2017 Kings of Tallinn champion to the rail in fourth place, securing a ticket to the 2025 Kings of Tallinn Main Event worth €1,100

Ranno Sootla – 152,000
Matias Knaapinen – 0

With just five players remaining, Mathias Siljander opened from the first position to 10,000 with A♠J♦. Juha Helppi, holding a nice looking K♠Q♠, made the call from the button.

The action flop of 3♠8♥J♠ almost guaranteed some fireworks and that’s what happened. Siljander fired a 10,000 continuation bet, only for Helppi to crank up the pressure with a raise to 40,000.

It looked too good to Siljander to pass as he shoved for his full 101,000. Helppi wasted no time calling with 14 outs, being even a slight favorite with 53% equity.

The turn immediately brought K♦, catapulting him ahead. Only an ace or jack could save Siljander.

The river 7♠ completed flush for Helppi and one of the most active players of the day bubbled The Royal Showdown Invitational in fifth place.

Juha Helppi – 315,000
Mathias Siljander – 0

Johan Karlsson opened the action to 10,000 with Q♥Q♣, only for Saara Benlamine to wake up with A♥Q♠ in the big blind at the worst possible time. With just 69,000 behind, she went all-in, and Karlsson called, covering her by only a handful of chips.

The dealer opened another sweat-inducing flop of 10♦Q♦J♠, giving Benlamine additional outs with a straight and backdoor draw. The A♣ on the turn, added aces on the river to her survival.

Unfortunately for Benlamine, the river was a blank [invalid notations], and the 2024 Queens of Tallinn winner was the latest casualty of The Royal Showdown Invitational at the 2025 Kings of Tallinn.

Johan Karlsson – 144,000
Saara Benlamine – 0

The official payouts have been announced! The top four players will cash tonight, with the winner taking home a €3,000 tournament ticket, a €1,000 cash prize, and an exclusive VIP football trip.

Juha Helppi woke up with K♦K♣ under the gun and raised to 7,000. It looked like Kai Lehto might be in serious trouble holding Q♠Q♣, but opted to just call and invited Matias Knaapinen to come along from the big blind with 6♠5♠, setting up a three-way pot.

The dealer opened the 9♥3♦10♣ flop, guaranteeing action between the two overpairs. After Helppi checked, Lehto made a bet of 8,500 into a 25,500 pot. Knaapinen quickly got out of the way, and Helppi moved all-in. Lehto snap-called, only to see the bad news.

Only two queens left in the deck to save him, the turn and rivered offered no help and Lehto became the first elimination of The Royal Showdown Invitational as registration officially closed.

Juha Helppi – 196,000
Kai Lehto – 0

Ranno Sootla opened the action from under the gun, raising to 6,000 with A♥10♣. In the big blind, Mathias Siljander couldn’t resist defending with Q♥3♥.

The dealer spread a flop of 10♥9♦3♥, giving Sootla top pair while Siljander picked up bottom pair. Sootla fired a standard 5,000 continuation bet, and Siljander made the call.

The turn brought a dangerous looking K♦, the action slowed down, and both checked.

A blank river 5♣ hit and Siljander had one of the worst hands possible in the situation and felt a bluff was a must. He casually threw chips into the middle, announcing an all-in.

Sootla found himself in a tough spot, tanking for several minutes as he thought over the decision. After some table talk, he must have picked up on something that convinced him Siljander was bluffing. He made the call, and Siljander in a good spirit, showed the bluff that moved Sootla in the chip lead

Ranno Sootla – 133,000
Mathias Siljander – 66,200

Mathias Siljander opened from the lojack with A♥2♦ to 5,000, and Kai Lehto defended his blind with A♣4♠, setting up a battle of ace-rags.

The flop gave both players two pair with 8♠A♠8♣ and a high chance for a chop pot, unless someone really wanted to push the action. Lehto checked, Siljander continued for 5,000, and Lehto called.

On a turn 6♦ both players checked.

The river delivered A♦, giving both a full house. After checking twice, Lehto decided to bet 7,000 into 30,500 pot and Siljander quickly clicked it back to 14,000.

Lehto, thinking how to get some value out of Siljander, opted for a non-all-in three-bet to 36,000, and Siljander called right away, expecting the chop.

Mathias Siljander – 159,000
Kai Lehto – 56,800

Players are now on a short 15-minute break. When they return, Level 10 will commence with blinds at 1,000/2,500 and a 2,500 ante.

Place	Player	Chips	Big Blinds
1	Mathias Siljander	140,000	56
2	Juha Helppi	104,000	72
3	Johan Karlsson	104,000	42
4	Saara Benlamine	100,000	40
5	Kai Lehto	58,500	23
6	Ranno Sootla	47,500	19
7	Matias Knaapinen	45,000	18

With a fresh 50,000 stack from his re-entry, Matias Knaapinen wasted no time getting involved, raising to 4,000 from early position with 10♥9♦. Juha Helppi behind him called with A♦8♦ and everybody else gou out of their way.

Flop of 8♠6♦A♠ connected with Helppi, giving him top two pair, while Knaapinen only had a gutshot straight draw. Still, he felt it was a good opportunity to take the lead with a 4,000 bet and Helppi smoothly called.

The turn 4♦ helped Helppi strengthening his position, but Knaapinen fired another barrel, this time with a half pot bet and Helppi called again.

The river paired the ace and Knaapinen felt he had to represent it, pushing his stack in the middle and Helppi showed the nuts.

Knaapinen walked away from the table, but was called back as he still had a couple of blinds left. Those went in the very next hand with 10♠9♥, only for Saara Benlamine to found dominant 9♠9♦. The board didn’t help Knaapinen and he was out for real this time, but he contributed new €500 to the Royal Showdown prize pool and will get new 50,000 chip stack for it.

Juha Helppi – 93,200
Saara Benlamine – 85,900
Matias Knaapinen – 0

Matias Knaapinen opened the pot from under the gun with A♠Q♥, only to face a three-bet to 11,000 from the new chip leader, Mathias Siljander, who was holding K♥K♣.

The flop came A♥8♣3♠, catapulting Knaapinen ahead with a top pair against Siljander’s kings. Unfazed, Siljander fired a 6,000 continuation bet, and Knaapinen made the call.

Then disaster struck for Knaapinen on the turn as the K♦ hit, giving Siljander a set of kings. Siljander continued with his story, making a quick bet of 22,000 into the 37,000 pot. Knaapinen made the call, not knowing he was stone-cold dead already.

The river brought the 10♠, and as expected, Siljander moved all-in. Knaapinen took a moment to think it over but eventually made the call. With that, Knaapinen was eliminated but wasted no time heading to the cashier for a rake-free €500 re-entry.

Mathias Siljander – 215,000
Matias Knaapinen – 0

Johan Karlsson moved all-in from under the gun with pocket sixes, only to run straight into the pocket kings of chip leader Saara Benlamine in the small blind.

Johan Karlsson: 6♠6♣
Saara Benlamine: K♠K♣

With Benlamine not only holding the superior hand but also covering both of Karlsson’s suits, things were looking grim for him. It seemed like Benlamine was about to extend her lead, but Lady Fortuna had other plans.

The dealer opened a flop of 6♥2♥Q♠, and just like that, Karlsson found one of the two sixes left in the deck to vault into the lead. The turn and river brought no help for Benlamine, securing Karlsson a much-needed double-up.

Johan Karlsson – 62,400
Saara Benlamine – 59,000

Mathias Siljander spiced up the action, opening under the gun with 8♥4♥, and Juha Helppi came along on the cutoff with another suited hand, K♦5♦.

The flop came 8♦3♦3♣, giving Siljander two pair while Helppi picked up a flush draw. Siljander continued for 2,000, and Helppi wasted no time making the call.

The 7♣ hit the turn, locking up the hand for Siljander with a full house. He opted for a sneaky check, giving Helppi room to take a move, and he did, firing 5,500 into the pot, leaving himself with just 12 big blinds behind.

Siljander moved all-in, and with so much already committed, Helppi had no choice but to call, learning the bad news. To add insult to injury, river brought 8♠, giving Siljander quads, sending Helppi to cashier to fire another bullet in the Royal Showdown Invitational.

Mathias Siljander – 87,600
Juha Helppi – 0

Kai Lehto opened the action from under the gun, raising to 2,000 with A♣10♦. Juha Helppi defended his small blind with 6♦3♦, while the big blind opted to fold.

The dealer opened a flop of 2♦Q♣J♣, missing both Finnish players and the action went check-check. Both players opted to check on the 9♣ turn as well.

The river delivered the 8♠, completing Lehto’s straight. Helppi tried to steal the pot, betting 4,500 into 6,000 pot, but Lehto raised to 13,000. Just when it seemed the hand was done, Helppi had other ideas, pushing back with a three-bet of 39,500, and Lehto quickly called.

Helppi showed bluff with a smile on his face, but the chips went Lehto’s way.

Kai Lehto – 64,800
Juha Helppi – 28,600

Saara Benlamine kicked off the action from under the gun, raising to 1,600 with A♥K♣. Ranno Sootla looked down at A♠5♠ and decided to fire a bluff, bumping it up to 5,500. Back on Benlamine, she wasn’t backing down, firing in a four-bet to 14,000.

Sootla wasn’t convinced and asked, “What do you want me to do?” but got nothing but silence in return. He moved all in, and Benlamine snap-called.

The board ran out 9♦8♥4♣K♠2♠, pairing Benlamine’s king and sealing Sootla’s fate. It was his second elimination of the tournament, be he was back a couple of minutes later with another rake-free €500 re-entry, contributing to the Royal Showdown prize pool.

Saara Benlamine – 125,000
Ranno Sootla – 0

Matias Knaapinen opened up from early position with 9♦9♣, and Juha Helppi behind him calls with a nice looking 6♦5♦. Kai Lehto joined the action with K♥10♥ on the button and so does Johan Karlsson on small blind holding A♦7♦.

A big family pot was brewing, but Mathias Siljander had other ideas as he slammed a stack of blue chips in the middle, moving all-in for 93,300. Knaapinen called and everyone else got out of the way.

The board ran out 10♠8♥3♥J♣2♥, missing Siljander and Knaapinen doubled up.

Matias Knaapinen – 72,300
Mathias Siljander – 59,400