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German poker player Julian Selinger has won the 2026 WSOP Circuit Tallinn €1,500 Main Event, defeating a record-breaking field of 977 entries at the Hilton Tallinn Park Hotel & Olympic Park Casino. The victory earned him €210,000, a $5,000 WSOP Paradise package, and a WSOP Circuit ring.
Selinger’s path to the title was far from smooth. He was repeatedly the shortest stack at the final table, at one point holding just three big blinds during heads-up play against Dutchman Roy van der Reijnst. Despite this, he fought back to win the tournament after a four-hour heads-up battle.
Van der Reijnst’s run to the final table carried deep personal significance. He lost his son Joris shortly after birth in May, and during Day 2 of the tournament discovered an electronic candle in his coat pocket, which he then used as a card protector for the remainder of the event in his son’s memory.
Prior to the heads-up duel, Selinger had already survived multiple swings, including a stretch where he was the shortest stack with six players left. Van der Reijnst, meanwhile, built a commanding lead after winning a crucial flip against start-of-day chip leader Egidijus Matonis, later controlling nearly 80 percent of the chips three-handed.
Selinger clawed back once again, doubling up before eliminating third-place finisher Kai Lehto to reach heads-up play. The lead changed hands several times before a decisive flip put Van der Reijnst well ahead, leaving Selinger with only three big blinds.
Refusing to fold, Selinger won three consecutive all-ins to reclaim the chip lead and ultimately sealed the win when Van der Reijnst’s two pair fell to his rivered straight. Selinger, who previously had €13,300 in live tournament cashes, called the win “insanely” gratifying following an emotional embrace with his runner-up opponent.
