After five demanding days of action on the Adriatic coast, the €1,650 Main Event of the Merit Poker Montenegro Championship has reached its conclusion inside the Merit Royal Splendid Casino in Budva. When the final card was dealt, Timur Margolin emerged victorious, overcoming the swings of a challenging final day to lift the trophy and collect the €110,000 top prize.
The Main Event attracted 414 entries, generating a €571,320 prize pool and producing a final table where every decision carried significant weight. Margolin began the final day third in chips and quickly faced adversity after losing a major pot early on — a moment that briefly placed his tournament life in jeopardy.
Rather than unravel, Margolin regrouped and remained focused, allowing himself to reset during a day that tested both patience and resolve. He steadily rebuilt through a volatile final table before carrying momentum into heads-up play against Nikolay Fal, where he ultimately closed out a long-awaited Main Event victory.
€1,650 Main Event – Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timur Margolin | Israel | €110,000 |
| 2 | Nikolay Fal | Russian Federation | €75,000 |
| 3 | Paul Esau | Germany | €51,500 |
| 4 | Jon Kyte | Norway | €36,800 |
| 5 | Eric Sands | San Marino | €28,000 |
| 6 | Yaser Sakarya | Turkey | €22,500 |
| 7 | Ufuk Erkmen | Turkey | €18,600 |
| 8 | Andrei Daniliuk | Russian Federation | €14,800 |
| 9 | Oleksii Shchukin | Ukraine | €11,020 |
Winner’s Reaction
Margolin admitted it took a moment for the victory to fully sink in, especially given the time since his last Main Event title.
“I feel great,” he said. “Someone introduced me earlier as a veteran, and I started wondering if I really am that old now. I won a Main Event and got married twelve years ago, so it’s been a while. To win another Main Event like this feels amazing.”
He also spoke warmly about his long-standing connection with the Merit Poker brand and how special this stop proved to be.
“I have many great memories with Merit over the years. This was my first time here in Montenegro, and to finish it with a win makes it even more special.”
Reflecting on the final day, Margolin described a true emotional rollercoaster, particularly after a costly hand earlier in the session.
“It was definitely an up-and-down day. I lost most of my chips in a big pot against Nikolay and wasn’t too happy. For a moment, I even thought about giving up.”
Rather than letting that moment define the outcome, Margolin reset and focused on execution.
“I stayed present and tried to play each hand as well as I could. We all make mistakes sometimes, but I was proud that I stayed focused and kept going.”
Away from the table, Margolin said his support system followed every step from afar.
“My family, my wife, my kids, my mom — they were all following along. My wife was traveling, but we were texting during the breaks. They were really excited.”
As for what comes next, the plan is simple.
“I just want to rest. I missed my flight, so the trip home will be a bit long. I’ll eat something, maybe have a drink, and relax. The adrenaline really drops after a win like this.”
He closed by praising the Merit Poker organization and venue.
“Merit has felt like a second home to me over the years. The staff takes care of everything, so you can focus fully on playing. This place didn’t disappoint at all.”
From Final Table to the Finish Line
The final table opened with immediate fireworks, including an early double elimination that reshaped the leaderboard when Jon Kyte sent both Oleksii Shchukin and Andrei Daniliuk to the rail in a three-way all-in. Margolin soon gained momentum, surviving a crucial flip with pocket eights against Kyte — a hand that proved pivotal as the dynamics shifted.
Fal’s run was marked by timely aggression, briefly seizing control of the table after winning a major pot against Margolin with a flopped full house. Margolin absorbed the setback and continued to apply steady pressure without forcing the action.
Kyte’s tournament came to an end in fourth place after his pocket fours ran into Fal’s pocket jacks, setting the stage for the final stretch. Paul Esau exited in third following a blind-on-blind confrontation, leaving Margolin and Fal to battle heads-up.
The heads-up contest featured several momentum swings. Fal found an early double-up to stay alive, but Margolin remained composed, gradually reasserting control.
In the final hand, Fal moved all in holding king-queen, and Margolin made the call with jack-ten. The turn completed Broadway for Margolin, and the river confirmed the result, bringing the €1,650 Merit Poker Montenegro Championship Main Event to a dramatic close.
