Alexandros Theologis has won the largest buy-in event at the 2025 PokerStars European Poker Tour Malta festival. The Greek high-stakes star overcame a field of 16 entries in the €100,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em super high roller, earning $908,154 and the title. This was the largest live tournament victory yet for Theologis, who is a regular in the biggest online events. He now has more than $8 million in lifetime earnings after this triumph.
Theologis largest overall score came when he took down the $25,000 buy-in high roller at the 2021 World Series of Poker Online for a bracelet and more than $1.2 million. While that victory came with a larger payout, this latest win came with the golden spade trophy and his first big winner’s photoshoot. His only other live win came in a $2,000 buy-in side event at the 2019 ARIA Summer Championship.
“It feels very good, especially because I haven’t actually won any high-stakes live tournaments before, especially with a trophy,” Theologis told PokerNews live reporters after coming out on top.
Action From Day 2
The smaller turnout for this event resulted in a prize pool worth just over $1.8 million when rendered in US dollars, with only the top three finishers earning a share of that sum.
That resulted in a $363,191 money bubble, on which Spanish high-stakes regular Juan Pardo was eventually eliminated. Pardo called off his last 17 big blinds with A♦J♥ facing an open shove from Orpen Kisacikoglu in the small blind. Kisacikoglu’s K♦5♣ was behind, but the K♣10♠5♦8♠8♣ gave him the knockout, sending Pardo the rail empty-handed.
A classic preflop race led to the next elimination. Ben Heath three-bet committed with 8♠8♦ over a button open from Theologis. Kisacikoglu cold four-bet shoved and only Heath called. Theologis showed K♦Q♠. The K♥7♣5♦4♠Q♥ runout gave him top two pair and the pot. Heath earned $363,191 for his podium showing. The British bracelet winner now boasts nearly $35.8 million in recorded tournament earnings.
Heads-up play began with Theologis on top, with 2,250,000 to the 1,770,000 of Kisacikoglu. The gap widened as the match wore on, with Theologis surpassing a 3:1 lead after winning a hefty pot with two pair. Shortly after that, Kisacikoglu limped for 50,000 on the button with K♠3♥. Theologis raised to 175,000 with A♣J♣ and received a call. The flop came down K♣6♣2♠, prompting a 75,000 lead from Theologis and his nut flush draw. Kisacikoglu called and the 3♦ turn improved him to kings and threes. Theologis check-shoved over a 200,000 bet from Kisacikoglu, who called. The 8♣ on the end completed Theologis’ flush, giving him the pot and the title.
Kisacikoglu was awarded $544,869 as the runner-up. The bracelet winner from Turkey surpassed $22.2 million in career cashes thanks to this deep run.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Payout | POY Points |
| 1 | Alexandros Theologis | $908,154 | 240 |
| 2 | Orpen Kisacikoglu | $544,869 | 200 |
| 3 | Ben Heath | $363,191 | 160 |
Photo credit: Manuel Kovsca / Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd.
