The OlyBet Showdown Vilnius Ace Breaker marked an exciting start to 2026, delivering nine days of nonstop poker action at Olympic Casino Lietuva. The €1,100 Main Event stole the spotlight, proving that the Baltic poker scene is about more than just trophies.
A Competitive Field in the Baltics
The Ace Breaker Main Event attracted 183 entries across three starting flights, generating a total prize pool of €173,850. Of those, 23 players cashed, with the minimum payout set at €2,210. However, the main focus was clearly the top prizes and the trophy.
The final table was dominated by local talent, with seven of nine seats held by Lithuanian players. The day started quickly, with early exits including Audrius Stakelis, Kornelijus Smilingis, and Jurgis Ragauskas, leaving the Finnish player Jarmo Luokkala as a strong contender among the remaining six.
Heads-Up Drama
Luokkala carried his momentum into the final heads-up showdown against local favorite Deividas Butnoras. Butnoras briefly took the lead, but Luokkala regained control with patient play. The decisive hand came on a flop of K♥ 9♣ Q♦, where Luokkala’s J♠ T♥ connected for the nuts, leaving Butnoras’ K♠ 6♣ without help.
With the victory, Luokkala earned €39,260 and a distinctive Ace Breaker trophy, while Butnoras collected €25,350 as runner-up.
Final Table Payouts
| Position | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jarmo Luokkala | Finland | €39,260 |
| 2 | Deividas Butnoras | Lithuania | €25,350 |
| 3 | Martynas Mockevicius | Lithuania | €18,110 |
| 4 | Evaldas Narmontas | Norway | €14,090 |
| 5 | Justinas Adomauskas | Lithuania | €10,870 |
| 6 | Gediminas Uselis | Lithuania | €8,450 |
| 7 | Jurgis Ragauskas | Lithuania | €6,720 |
| 8 | Kornelijus Smilingis | Lithuania | €5,630 |
| 9 | Audrius Stakelis | Lithuania | €4,830 |
The Vilnius Ace Breaker set the tone for the Baltic poker circuit in 2026, delivering high-stakes excitement, strong local participation, and a well-earned win for Finland’s Luokkala. This inaugural event showcased that the region continues to host competitive, memorable tournaments for players across the Baltics and beyond.
