Brzezinski Caps Breakout Year with Landmark Victory
Tomasz Brzezinski’s 2025 just went from remarkable to unforgettable. The 37-year-old from Poland, who finished fourth at the EPT Barcelona Main Event just weeks ago, captured the coveted 2025 PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Malta €5,300 Main Event title at Casino Malta, topping a record-breaking field of 898 entries.
Brzezinski, who has called Malta home for the past decade while working in the sports betting industry, outlasted Ukrainian debutant Mykhailo Ostash in one of the most dramatic heads-up battles in recent EPT history. The pair agreed to an even chop before Brzezinski went on to take the trophy and €631,632 from the €4,355,300 prize pool after securing the final €28,534 on top.
The win marks Brzezinski’s first EPT title and cements his place in the history books as only the 11th player ever to reach back-to-back EPT Main Event final tables.
“It Was Wild”: Brzezinski Reflects on the Grind
“It was wild,” Brzezinski said moments after his win. “At some point, yes, I thought it might slip away. I’m not the luckiest in heads-up. I’ve been second six or seven times at festivals before, so it almost felt like I was cursed. Especially after losing so many flips in a row and watching the stacks even out again. But in the end, it went my way, and I’m very happy.”
Despite his stellar year on the felt, Brzezinski says poker is still more of a passion than a profession. “I used to play poker years ago,” he explained. “Then came the choice to continue with poker or start a regular job. I decided to go the safe route, but I’ve always played on the side. I enjoy live poker much more than my actual work sometimes,” he laughed. “I’ve got a lot of friends who are great players, and I try to be a sponge, learn from them, and analyze spots. Somehow, it’s paying off.”
Final Table Payouts
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tomasz Brzezinski | Poland | €631,632* |
| 2 | Mykhailo Ostash | Ukraine | €603,058* |
| 3 | Adria Calonge | Spain | €339,000 |
| 4 | Aliaksei Boika | Belarus | €260,750 |
| 5 | Tom-Aksel Bedell | Norway | €200,550 |
| 6 | Toni Kaukua | Finland | €154,250 |
| 7 | Ben Heath | United Kingdom | €118,650 |
| 8 | Juan Pardo | Spain | €91,250 |
| 9 | Joao Tomas | Portugal | €70,250 |
*Denotes heads-up deal
Boika Falls Short in Title Defense
Former champion Aliaksei Boika was gunning to make history as only the fifth player ever to win two EPT Main Event titles — a feat accomplished by Victoria Coren Mitchell, Mikalai Pobal, Mike Watson, and Anton “WhatIfGod” Bergstrom. The Belarusian’s run, however, came to an end in fourth place after his pocket kings were cracked by Ostash’s pocket fives, which spiked a set on the flop.
Earlier, Norway’s Tom-Aksel Bedell, who led the counts through much of Days 3 and 4, saw his final day unravel quickly. After entering the final table as the short stack, Bedell became the first to bust when his deuces couldn’t outrun Ostash’s pocket threes.
With Boika’s exit, the stage was set for three-handed play. Spain’s Adria Calonge was the next to fall, bowing out in third when his king-five failed to connect against Brzezinski’s pocket tens. That elimination sent Brzezinski into heads-up play with a healthy lead.
A Rollercoaster Heads-Up Finale
The heads-up duel between Brzezinski and Ostash was nothing short of epic. After agreeing to an even deal worth €603,098 each, the two battled for the remaining €28,534 and the prestigious EPT trophy.
Brzezinski pressed the action early, but Ostash refused to go quietly. The Ukrainian pulled off a string of improbable double-ups — surviving all-ins again and again with miracle flops and rivered cards. At one point, he clawed his way back into the chip lead, only for Brzezinski to answer with a gutsy call and a runner-runner flush to regain control.
Ostash’s survival act seemed endless, as he notched 11 double-ups across 14 all-ins, defying elimination time after time. But the magic finally faded when Brzezinski’s ace-jack held against ace-ten, leaving Ostash on fumes. On the very next hand, Brzezinski sealed the deal, claiming the last of the chips and the biggest win of his career.
A Breakthrough Year
Brzezinski’s victory in Malta crowns a breakout year that began with his deep run in Barcelona. Now, with an EPT title and back-to-back final tables to his name, the Polish pro-turned-enthusiast has cemented himself among Europe’s rising poker stars.
“It’s been a dream year,” Brzezinski said. “I just try to enjoy the game and stay present. To finally win one feels amazing.”
