WSOPE 2026: Theuma, Ayoub, Eggenberger & Mustafov Shine in Prague

The World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) is in full swing at King’s Casino Prague, and while the headlines have been dominated by bad beats (unlucky, Shaun Deeb) and the ever-entertaining table talk (looking at you, Martin Kabrhel), there’s also been some remarkable performances you may have missed.

From Malta’s first-ever WSOP bracelet winner to a giant-killing run in the PLOSSUS Bounty, and even an appropriately Easter-themed champion in the Ladies Championship, the storylines are stacking up nicely at the halfway point of this year’s WSOPE.

Here’s a look at some of the other winners who have helped shape what is already turning into a hugely memorable series.

The Maltese Falcon Soars in Prague

To be the first from your nation to win a WSOP bracelet is a truly special achievement, and that unique honor now belongs to Malta’s Corel Thuema, after the man from the Mediterranean island took down the €1,100 Opener Mystery Bounty, to kick off the action here in Prague.

Theuma’s victory was no easy feat, with none other than 8-time WSOP champion Benny Glaser leading the field into the final day, but the Englishman would crash out in fifth place when his ace-seven was cracked by the jack-ten of Janis Kulikauskis.

Even as heads-up play started with Maksim Paniak, Theuma was still an underdog, holding a slight chip disadvantage to the Russian, but would move ahead when he flopped an eight-high straight to snap off Paniak’s turn shove and take a commanding lead of more than six-to-one.

From there, the man from Malta would never look back, rivering a straight with king-nine after Paniak moved all-in preflop holding ace-eight, to secure his, and his nation’s, first-ever WSOP bracelet alongside €150,000.

2026 WSOPE €1,100 Opener Mystery Bounty Final Table Results

Ayoub Downs Daniel Rezaei in the PLOSSUS Bounty

Jules Ayoub won his first WSOP bracelet and the biggest cash of his career in the €565 PLOSSUS Bounty PLO, defeating Austrian poker legend Daniel Rezaei heads-up to claim €50,780.

Ayoub, whose previous largest live score was also in Prague, finishing with €37,700 in the €5,200 PLO at EPT Prague 2023, has been an Omaha specialist for years, with cashes in the format dating back to 2009.

And the German relied on all of that experience to get the better of Rezaei, one of the world’s top players, who won $1,900,000 in the $50,000 NLHE High Roller Turbo at WSOP Paradise last December, and added another $1,939,000 at the Triton Super High Roller Series in Jeju just a few weeks ago.

2026 WSOPE €565 PLOSSUS Bounty PLO Final Table Results

A Suitably Egg-cellent Winner of the Ladies Championship

For those who believe in nominative determinism, there was a highly satisfying winner of the €1,000 Ladies Championship as Anca Eggenberger captured the festival’s showpiece ladies event on Easter Sunday for €40,298.

Eggenberger topped a 197-entry field to secure the biggest live cash of her career, after Ladies Championship legend Shiina Okamoto and the returning former WSOPE Main Event champion Annette Obrestad both bowed out on Day 1.

The event would deliver drama to the very end, after Eggenberger looked for all the world as though she would be eliminated by Eunbeen Joo heads-up, before a runner-runner turn and river of diamonds delivered a flush and changed the tide decisively in the Swiss player’s favor.

Eggenberger, who had already risen from her seat, then returned to close the event out and win her first WSOP bracelet.

2026 WSOPE €1,000 Ladies Championship Final Table Results

Mustafov Applies the Afterburners in Turbo Bounty

Bulgarian poker royalty Fahredin Mustafov captured his second WSOP bracelet in quickfire style on Sunday, taking down the €2,200 Turbo Bounty NLHE for €142,420 ahead of Iran’s Bahram Chobineh.

The result pushes the Bulgarian close to $11 million in live tournament earnings and adds to the bracelet he won on GGPoker after taking down the 2025 WSOP Online $25K GGMillion$ SHR Championship for $956,138.

The tournament created a €904,000 prize pool, with an equal amount reserved for bounty prizes. Mustafov earned €142,420 for his win, along with €1,000 for each player he eliminated, including five knockouts at the eight-handed final table.

2026 WSOPE €2,200 Turbo Bounty NLHE Final Table Results

Eliot Thomas is an Editor at PokerNews, specializing in casino and poker coverage. He has reported on major events around the world, including the World Series of Poker, European Poker Tour, and Triton Super High Roller Series.

Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game.

Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

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