Bulgarian Pro Ivelin Kolev Captures WPT Prime Cyprus Championship Title

The $1,100 WPT Prime Cyprus Championship concluded in October 2026 when Bulgarian professional Ivelin Kolev defeated a field of 953 entries at the Chamada Prestige Hotel & Casino in Kyrenia, Cyprus, and secured the first-place prize of $171,600 that included a $10,400 seat to the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas. Kolev started the final day with the shortest stack among the remaining six players, holding just 11 big blinds, yet he navigated the later stages to reach heads-up play against Said Tahar and claim the title.

Tournament Field and Early Stages

Organizers recorded 953 total entries across multiple starting flights, and this turnout generated a substantial prize pool that attracted both recreational players and seasoned professionals from across Europe and beyond. Action progressed through several days of play until the final table formed, where Kolev found himself at a significant disadvantage with limited chips while five opponents held deeper stacks. Observers noted that such short-stack situations often require precise decision-making under pressure, and Kolev executed multiple all-in confrontations successfully to double up and stabilize his position before the field narrowed further.

The Final Table Dynamics and Comeback

With six players remaining, Kolev held the shortest stack of 11 big blinds, a position that placed him at immediate risk of elimination on the next pay jump. He survived the initial orbits by finding favorable spots for shoves and calls, gradually accumulating chips through a series of doubles that brought him back into contention. Said Tahar, who entered the later stages with a more comfortable stack, maintained pressure on the table yet could not prevent Kolev from chipping up steadily. The heads-up match lasted several hours, during which both players exchanged leads multiple times before Kolev secured the final hand to end the tournament.

Prize Structure and Additional Benefits

The winner received $171,600 in total value, with the package incorporating the $10,400 entry to the WPT World Championship scheduled for later in the year at Wynn Las Vegas. This seat represents a direct path to one of the largest annual events on the WPT schedule, where the overall field typically exceeds several thousand players. Tahar finished in second place, earning a substantial runner-up payout that reflected the deep runs both competitors achieved. The payout structure distributed money across the top finishers, and those who reached the final table received recognition for navigating the large field size successfully.

Event Context at Chamada Prestige Hotel & Casino

The Chamada Prestige Hotel & Casino in Kyrenia hosted the entire series, providing facilities that accommodated the high volume of entrants across multiple days in October 2026. Tournament officials managed the logistics of registration, seating, and live streaming that allowed viewers to follow key hands from the final stages. The venue has hosted previous international poker events, and the WPT Prime stop added to its calendar of competitive play that draws participants from various regions.

Path Forward for the Champion

Kolev's victory earned him entry into the WPT World Championship, where he will compete against a global field later in the season. The Bulgarian pro has appeared in multiple international tournaments over recent years, and this result marks one of his largest career cashes to date. Tahar, who fell just short in heads-up play, continues to build his own tournament resume with this deep run in Cyprus.

Conclusion

The WPT Prime Cyprus Championship concluded with Ivelin Kolev overcoming a short-stack deficit at the final table to defeat Said Tahar and claim the title along with the associated prizes. The event drew 953 entries to Kyrenia and distributed significant payouts across the leaderboard while advancing the winner toward the WPT World Championship. Reports from the series appear on established poker media outlets including PokerNews and Poker.org, which documented the key hands and payout details from the final day.