2022 Kings of Tallinn – Day 4

Australian poker globetrotter Adam Kharman defeated Norway’s Kurt Skimmeland heads-up in the Kings of Tallinn €1,100 Main Event to win the €64,280 top prize and the coveted trophy on Sunday evening at Olympic Park Casino and adjoining Hilton Tallinn Park.

Kharman, who took sixth place in the Kings of Tallinn Main Event last year, put on one of the most commanding final table performances at any international poker Main Event in the Estonian capital of Tallinn. The Aussie came into the final table with the chip lead and went coast-to-coast en route to the victory while also eliminating four of his seven final table opponents.

Usually, the chip leader will cough up the lead at least once even if winning an event. This was not the case today as there was little doubt at any point in time that Kharman was going to lose control of the table.

“I’m so happy,” shared Kharman to PokerListings after securing the victory. “Lots of time and energy go into poker and so grateful it has rewarded me. I think I played really well except at the start of the event when I had to re-enter. I played well, ran well, and had no bad beats. Nice way to win!”

Kharman was aggressive from eight players until he was heads-up against Skimmeland when he took his foot off the gas for some time.

“I was able to leverage my stacks against the next biggest stacks and put pressure on the players I knew I could put pressure on,” Kharman shared about his play. “It was nice having the short stacks around for a while.”

2022 Kings of Tallinn Final Table Results

Final Table Recap

Kharman entered the final table with the chip lead and never let it go with Skimmeland always in second place just behind Kharman. They eliminated the entire final table between the two players, with Kharman taking care of four players and Skimmeland three.

Thanks to both Julian Herold and Sebastian Wahl hitting the rail during the final hand of Day 3, the final table featured eight players instead of nine. Very soon out of the gate it was down to just five players.

First Skimmeland eliminated Juhana Konttinen when his queens were good against eights before Kharman woke up with aces and managed to eliminate both Finnish poker legend Ilari ‘Ziigmund’ Sahamies with nines and Marius Olsvik with ace-queen.

The action slowed down for some time with both the short-stacked Lithuanians at the table in WSOP bracelet winner Vincas Tamasauskas and countrymate Algirdas Saveikas doubling their stack. Jordi Baixas attempted to do the same with king-nine. However, he wasn’t able to beat Skimmeland’s king-queen and hit the rail in fifth place.

Shortly after, Skimmeland sent Tamasauskas packing on a bad beat when his king-queen got there against ace-queen. Saveikas then ran his king-five suited into Kharman’s big slick and Kharman had about quadruple the chip stack of Skimmeland to start heads-up play.

As we already mentioned, Kharman changed gears during heads-up play. He shared some of that came from the fact that there were no ICM implications but also that Skimmeland was a skilled and tricky player with a passive playing style.

A few blind levels passed and although Skimmeland did manage to double once, he never was able to gain any ground. Eventually, Skimmeland three-bet king-jack for about 20 big blinds. Kharman called with ace-queen and won the title after Skimmeland bricked the board.

A huge congrats to Adam Kharman for not only improving on last year’s sixth-place performance but shipping the Kings of Tallinn Main Event trophy in a memorable fashion.

*Photos courtesy of Kings of Tallinn photographer Elena Kask.

Level 28: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 1/328

Adam Kharman min-raised the button. Kurt Skimmeland jammed for 2,000,000 and was at risk for all his chips after Kharman called.

Kurt Skimmeland: K J
Adam Kharman: A Q

Kharman won the 2022 Kings of Tallinn Main Event for €64,280 after Skimmeland bricked the 4 3 8 Q 7 board. 

While the final table was all Kharman from beginning to end, Kurt Skimmeland should be proud of his runner-up prize of €48,150 and how he put his second place stack through including eliminating three players.

Stay tuned at PokerListings for the full payouts and the final Kings of Tallinn Main Event recap.

Adam Kharman – 9.8 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 0

Level 28: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 2/328

Adam Kharman limped with 8 5 from the button. Kurt Skimmeland checked back with J 7 from the big blind.

Skimmeland checked after he improved to middle pair on the 2 7 10 flop. Kharman fired for 150,000 with air and got a call.

The Q turn put three spades on the board. Skimmeland checked and Skimmeland went into the tank before calling.

The 2 river paired the board and Skimmeland checked once again.

Kharman didn’t have another bullet in him and checked back for Skimmeland to win the pot.

Adam Kharman – 7.2 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 2.7 million

Level 28: 50,000/100,000 (100,000)
Entries: 2/328

Adam Kharman and Kurt Skimmeland asked for a short break before the new blind level. The action will resume in a few minutes.

Level 27: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 2/328

Adam Kharman limped with 8 7 from the button before Kurt Skimmeland checked back with 5 2 from the big blind.

Skimmeland check-raised the 5 J J flop from 80,000 to 225,000 and Kharman called to see the A turn.

“Now is the time to pull the trigger,” Kings of Tallinn commentator Kristjan Laas said.

Kharman must have listened as after Skimmeland checked, Kharman bet 250,000 and took down the pot after his opponent snap-folded.

Adam Kharman – 8.1 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 1.7 million

Level 27: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 2/328

It has been all small ball including a ton of limped pots the last dozen hands or so. Here is a look at the chip counts.

Adam Kharman – 8.0 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 1.8 million

Level 27: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 2/328

Kurt Skimmeland opened the button for 190,000 from the button with A 10 and was called by Adam Kharman with Q 5 from the big blind.

Kharman improved to two pair on the K Q 5 flop. Both players checked and then checked again after the 9 turn.

Skimmeland snagged a piece of the board after the 10 river completed the board. Kharman fired out for 150,000. Skimmeland found a fold and saved himself some chips.

Adam Kharman – 8.1 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 1.8 million

Level 27: 40,000/80,000 (80,000)
Entries: 2/328

Kurt Skimmeland limped the button with A K . Adam Kharman checked back his option with J 8 from the big blind before both players checked the 5 9 8 flop.

Kharman check-called for 105,000 on the A turn and checked again on the 3 river. Skimmeland bet 180,000 and was awarded the pot after Kharman folded.

Adam Kharman – 8.0 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 1.9 million

Adam Kharman and Kurt Skimmeland are on a short break. The blinds will increase to 40,000/80,000 with a big blind ante of 80,000 when the action resumes.

Adam Kharman – 8.3 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 1.6 million

Level 27: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 2/328

Adam Kharman jammed the button and Kurt Skimmeland called off his stack of 685,000.

Kurt Skimmeland: A 4
Adam Kharman: Q 7

An eager crowd came up to the ropes near the table after the cards being turned over.

The show goes on as Skimmeland earned a double-up after Kharman bricked the 2 3 6 3 2 double-paired board.

Adam Kharman – 8.4 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 1.4 million

Level 27: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 2/328

Adam Kharman limped from the button with J 2 before Kurt Skimmeland checked back his option with 6 5 from the big blind.

Skimmeland check-called his middle pair a bet of 60,000 by Kharman.

The 4 improved Kharman to a wheel but Skimmeland still had outs to get back ahead. Skimmeland bet 80,000 and Kharman called.

The A paired the board on the river. Skimmeland bet 80,000. Kharman raised to 400,000 and had Skimmeland on the ropes with just eight big blinds after his opponent called.

Adam Kharman – 9,400,000
Kurt Skimmeland – 475,000

Level 27: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 2/328

Kurt Skimmeland opened with A 2 from the button for 125,000 and Adam Kharman opted to call with A 3 from the big blind.

Kharman check-called a bet of 175,000 by Skimmeland after the K 5 2 came on the flop.

Both players checked on the 9 turn before Kharman improved to a better pair than his opponent once the 3 completed the board on the river.

Kharman bet 180,000 and took down a small pot after Skimmeland folded.

Adam Kharman – 8.5 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 1.4 million

Level 27: 30,000/60,000 (60,000)
Entries: 2/328

Kurt Skimmeland opened for 150,000 from the button with J J and Adam Kharman called with 2 2 to see the 8 7 5 flop.

Kharman donk-bet for 100,000. Skimmeland was going nowhere with his overpair and jammed. Kharman folded and Skimmeland was able to get some of the chips back he has lost during heads-up play.

Adam Kharman – 8.1 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 1.8 million

Level 26: 20,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 2/328

Kurt Skimmeland opened for 105,000 from the button with J 8 and was called by Adam Kharman with Q 9 from the big blind.

Both players checked the 10 Q 10 flop and Kharman checked again on the 5 turn. Skimmeland bet 150,000 and Kharman called.

Both players checked after the J river completed the board and Kharman extended his chip lead once again.

Adam Kharman – 8.6 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 1.2 million

Level 26: 20,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 2/328

Adam Kharman limped from the button with 8 3 before Kurt Skimmeland checked back his option from the big blind with K Q .

Both players checked what could have been an 2 4 Q flop with Kharman holding a flush draw and Skimmeland top pair.

Skimmeland improved to top two pair after the K came on the turn but Kharman pulled far ahead in the hand with a flush. Kharman opted to call and the Q river improved Skimmeland to a full house.

One might have expected all the chips to gone in somewhere along the way this hand. But Kharman kept pot control and simply just called a bet of 300,000 by Skimmeland to lose the minimum.

Adam Kharman – 7.7 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 2.1 million

Level 26: 20,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 2/328

Adam Kharman opened for 125,000 with J J and Kurt Skimmeland defended his big blind with K 6 .

Both players checked the A 6 10 flop before Skimmeland led out for 105,000 on the 2 turn. Kharman called and the 5 river completed the board.

Kharman bet 250,000 after his opponent checked and got additional value from his jacks after Skimmeland called.

Adam Kharman – 8.2 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 1.7 million

Level 26: 20,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 2/328

Algirdas Saveikis raised for 200,000 leaving just 180,000 behind from the button. Adam Kharman jammed from the small blind and Saveikis was far behind when he called off for the rest of his stack.

Algirdas Saveikis: K 5
Adam Kharman: A K

Saveikis didn’t get any love from the 10 8 8 3 7 board and was eliminated in third place for €35,510.

Meanwhile, the final two players have locked up €48,150 and will be playing for a bit more with the top prize valued at €64,280. In addition to at least the runner-up prize, Kurt Skimmeland won the OlyBet last longer for those that wore OlyBet patches throughout the Main Event. Skimmeland will be awarded an online ticket valued at $1,050 to the WSOP Beat the Pros on the GGPoker Network where he has a chance to win a coveted WSOP gold bracelet.

In other news, Kharman will kick off the heads-up action with nearly quadruple the chip stack of Skimmeland.

Kharman and Skimmeland both went on a 15-minute break before beginning heads-up play.

Adam Kharman – 7.8 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 2.0 million
Algirdas Saveikis – 0

Level 26: 20,000/50,000 (50,000)
Entries: 3/328

Adam Kharman opened for 200,000 from the small blind with 6 4 and Kurt Skimmeland called with A 10 from the big blind.

Kharman bet 150,000 on his flush draw after the 10 2 Q came on the flop and Skimmeland called with middle pair to see the 3 turn.

About a minute passed by before Kharman fired out an overbet of 1,000,000. Skimmeland went into the tank for a few minutes before he folded.

Adam Kharman – 7.3 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 2.2 million

Level 25: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Entries: 3/328

Kurt Skimmeland opened for 105,000 from under the gun. Vincas Tamasauskas three-bet jammed from the big blind for 660,000 and Skimmeland called.

Vincas Tamasauskas: A Q
Kurt Skimmeland: K Q

Tamasauskas was far ahead but that quickly changed after the 8 K 10 flop paired up Skimmeland’s king. Neither the 10 turn nor the 6 river saved Tamasauskas and he will collect €25,050 for fourth place after hitting the rail on a bad beat.

The final three players each locked up at least €35,510. Players went on break after the hand and blinds will be 20,000/50,000 with a big blind ante of 50,000 when the action resumes.

Level 25: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Entries: 4/328

Jordi Baixas raised to 200,000 from the button with just 50,000 behind and was called by Kurt Skimmeland from the big blind.

Skimmeland jammed the 10 Q A flop and Baixas called for the crumbs left in his stack.

Jordi Baixas: K 9
Kurt Skimmeland: K Q

Skimmeland was miles ahead and eliminated Baixas in fifth place for €18,930 after the 9 turn and the 5 river completed the board.

The final four players each received a significant pay boost as they are each guaranteed at least a €25,050 payday.

Kurt Skimmeland – 2 million
Jordi Baixas – 0

Level 25: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Entries: 5/328

Just after Vincas Tamasauskas doubled, the other Lithuanian at the final table followed suit with his short stack.

Algirdas Saveikis jammed for 300,000 from the button and was flipping for his tournament life after he was called by Adam Kharman.

Algirdas Saveikis: Q J
Adam Kharman: 3 3

Saveikis won the flip with a flush after the 9 A 6 8 10 ran out on the board to gain some breathing room.

Adam Kharman – 6,100,000
Algirdas Saveikis – 680,000

Level 25: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Entries: 5/328

Vincas Tamasauskas jammed for 450,000 from the cutoff.

“How much?” Skimmeland asked before he went into the tank. Skimmeland made the call and Tamasauskas was flipping for his tournament life.

Vincas Tamasauskas: 7 7
Kurt Skimmeland: A Q

Skimmeland bricked the 8 3 9 6 8 board and instead of hitting the rail, Tamasauskas doubled his stack for the first overall double-up at today’s final table.

Kurt Skimmeland – 1.9 million
Vincas Tamasauskas – 1 million

Level 25: 20,000/40,000 (40,000)
Entries: 5/328

Level 24: 15,000/30,000 (30,000)
Entries: 5/328

Jordi Baixas min-raised with K J from under the gun and Adam Kharman defended his big blind with Q 7 .

Kharman checked-raised his trips after the Q 9 Q came on the flop from 30,000 to 105,000. Baixas went into the tank before he folded his hand.

Kharman continues to extend his chip lead with a dreamy combination of big stack aggression and getting some cards. The Australian globetrotter also passed 6 million in chips for the first time this event.

Adam Kharman – 6,100,000
Jordi Baixas – 450,000

Level 24: 15,000/30,000 (30,000)
Entries: 5/328

Adam Kharman opened for 60,000 from under the gun with K 6 . The action folded around to Kurt Skimmeland with 5 3 and he opted to defend his big blind.

Kharman improved to top pair on the 2 7 K flop. Skimmeland checked and Kharman bet 45,000. Skimmeland attempted a move with a raise to 115,000 with air. Kharman tanked for a moment before he called.

Skimmeland took his foot off the gas and checked the A turn. Kharman bet 130,000 and Skimmeland called with a gutshot wheel draw.

Both players checked the 5 river and although this improved Skimmeland to a pair of fives, Kharman was awarded the pot with the better pair to further extend his chip lead.

Adam Kharman – 5.8 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 2.3 million

Level 24: 15,000/30,000 (30,000)
Entries: 5/328

Vincas Tamasauskas opened for 65,000 with A K from the cutoff and Adam Kharman defended with 7 6 from the big blind.

Tamasauskas improved to top pair on the 8 5 A flop and continued for 80,000. Kharman check-called with an open-ended straight draw.

Kharman led out for 85,000 after the 8 paired the board on the turn and Tamasauskas called.

Kharman completed his straight after the 9 river completed the board and jammed. Tamasauskas went into the tank before correctly deciding to fold and save the rest of his stack. 

Adam Kharman – 5,300,000
Vincas Tamasauskas – 430,000

Level 24: 15,000/30,000 (30,000)
Entries: 5/328

The final five players are on a short 15-minute break.

Level 23: 10,000/25,000 (25,000)
Entries: 5/328

Algirdas Saveikis opened for 50,000 from the cutoff with A K . Adam Kharman three-bet the button to 150,000 with A 3 and Saveikis called.

Saveikis check-called a bet of 75,000 on the 3 9 10 flop before the 4 turn gave both players a flush. Kharman held the nuts with Saveikis holding the second nuts.

Saveikis checked again. Kharman bet 175,000 and Saveikis called to see the 2 river.

Saveikis checked and Kharman bet 525,000. Saveikis had 765,000 left in his stack and somehow got away from the hand. Saveikis even showed he had the king-high flush and will be pleased to learn this was the correct fold if he watches the live stream later.

Adam Kharman – 5,000,000
Algiridas Saveikis – 765,000

Level 23: 10,000/25,000 (25,000)
Entries: 5/328

Players are deep stacked with Adam Kharman holding a substantial chip lead after the double elimination of Ilari Sahamies and Marius Olsvik.

The hand began with Sahamies opening for 50,000 from the cutoff. Kharman called from the button before Olsvik three-bet jammed for 250,000 from the big blind. Sahamies came in over the top with a four-bet jam to 930,000 and Kharman called putting two players at risk.

Marius Olsvik: A Q
Ilari Sahamies: 9 9
Adam Kharman: A A

Kharman showed up with the absolute goods and eliminated both Sahamies (sixth – €14,130) and Olsvik (seventh – €10,650) after the 4 10 4 4 J ran out on the board.

Adam Kharman – 4.5 million
Ilari Sahamies – 0
Marius Olsvik – 0

Level 23: 10,000/25,000 (25,000)
Entries: 7/328

Kurt Skimmeland opened the button for 55,000 with Q 10 before Ilari Sahamies defended his big blind with A 9 .

Sahamies check-called for 60,000 his top pair on the K A 2 flop before both players checked the 4 turn.

Sahamies bet 75,000 on the 6 river and took down the pot after Skimmeland folded.

Kurt Skimmeland – 2,600,000
Ilari Sahamies – 940,000

Level 23: 10,000/25,000 (25,000)
Entries: 7/328

Level 23: 10,000/25,000 (25,000)
Entries: 7/328

Ville Heikki Juhana Konttinen opened for a min-raise from middle position. Kurt Skimmeland three-bet to 205,000 from the cutoff. Konttinen jammed for 540,000 and Skimmeland called.

Ville Heikki Juhana Konttinen: 8 8
Kurt Skimmeland: Q Q

Konttinen needed help to get his eights ahead of queens and it appeared he got what he needed after improving to a set on the J 8 9 flop. Konttinen was still ahead after the blank 3 turn. However, the 10 spiked the river to improve Skimmeland to a set, and Konttinen was eliminated in eighth place for €7,860.

Kurt Skimmeland – 2.3 million
Ville Heikki Juhana Konttinen – 0

Level 23: 10,000/25,000 (25,000)
Entries: 8/328

Adam Kharman opened for 55,000 from early position with A 5 and was called by Kurt Skimmeland from the small blind with A J and by Algirdas Saveikis from the big blind with A 2 .

The players in the blinds checked the Q 7 K flop before Kharman bet 55,000. Skimmeland called with a gutshot Broadway draw and Saveikis folded.

Both players checked the 4 turn and the 3 river and Skimmeland chipped up a little in the first hand to make it to showdown at the final table.

Adam Kharman – 3.2 million
Kurt Skimmeland – 2.3 million
Algirdas Saveikis – 1.2 million

OlyBet Poker ran a last-longer promotion during the Kings of Tallinn Main Event. They invited all players to wear an OlyBet badge. Those that did the entire Main Event were automatically part of the contest.

The prize is a decent one with OlyBet awarding a WSOP ticket to the online $1,050 Beat the Pros event to the player that lasts the longest out of the badge-wearing players.

Five players still remain in the contest including Kurt Skimmeland, Algirdas Saveikis, Jordi Baixas, Marius Olsvik, and Vincas Tamasauskas.

Kings of Tallinn tournament director Teresa Nousiainen introduced all of the players one by one and shortly after asked the dealer to shuffle the deck for the first hand.

Our coverage will begin in about 30 minutes so we do not give away any stream spoilers.

Welcome to the final day of coverage of the Kings of Tallinn €1,100 Main Event at Olympic Park Casino and the Hilton Tallinn Park. Today will feature hour-long blind levels starting with the final two minutes of Level 22 with blinds at 10,000/20,000 before increasing to 10,000/25,000.

Australian globetrotter Adam Kharman leads a star-studded final table including the likes of WSOP gold bracelet winner Vincas Tamasauskas and old-school Finnish poker legend Ilari ‘Ziigmund’ Sahamies.

Kharman took sixth place in this same event last year and shared with PokerListings yesterday that he was hunting for a better result this time around. He is now in a prime position to walk away with the trophy and the €64,280 top prize after bagging 3,340,000 in chips.

Only two more players bagged seven-figure stacks. Kurt Skimmeland will go into tomorrow’s action with 2,255,000 in chips after making a correct hero call to eliminate Sebastian Wahl in 10th place, while Lithuania’s Algirdas Saveikis was near 2 million after a fury of eliminations with three tables left but lost some chips and will start tomorrow in third place with 1,175,000.

Meanwhile, Sahamies was nearly about to enter the final table with just crumbs but he ended the night instead by eliminating Julian Herold when his ace-deuce flopped a full house against ace-ten in a battle of the short stacks in the blinds.

Final Table Seat Draw

*Big blinds as of Level 23 (10,000/25,000) as there are just two minutes remaining in Level 22.

Final Table Payouts