PokerStars Open Campione: Nuhiu tops Main Event for €200K after three-way deal
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The first PokerStars Open of the 2026 season wrapped up on Sunday night, finishing a fantastic week of poker at the Casinò di Campione.
That means we have our first 2026 champion: Swiss player Elvir Nuhiu, who topped 1,582 entries and earned himself €200,640 after a three-way deal, not to mention the top spot in the brand new PokerStars Live League.
“I’m mostly a cash-game player, but I was [at] EPT Prague and cashed some events,” Nuhiu said after his victory. “I was not planning to come here, but I had to drive a friend to Milan, and I saw this festival nearby and decided to come. It feels really special to reach this kind of final table. I wanted this victory so badly.”
Nuhiu is the first Open champ of 2026
Just 15 players started the final day, and the official final table was formed around 6 PM, right after Tanmmay Jhunjhunwala’s elimination. Eliminations followed at regular intervals, starting with the chip leader at the beginning of the day Giorgio Favotto (8th, €30,130). Italian players Thomas Olivieri (7th, €39,150) and Renzo Pedrotti (6th, €50,910) were the next ones to hit the rail.
After a quick dinner break, PLO side event winner Michele Brandes exited in fifth place for €66,170, followed by his fellow countryman Eduard Fondos (4th, €86,020). A three-way deal was then concluded, and French player Christian Stantchev joined the rail in third place for €150,634. Heads-up play began and both players held the chip lead at different stages, but Nuhiu eventually secured the win against Italian grinder Vincenzo Petruzziello (runner-up, €167,536).
Petruzziello settled for second
“I played unorthodoxly to show that you don’t always have to play by the book, but I’m strong,” Nuhiu said, laughing. “You’ll definitely see me again at EPT Paris, and I also need to take a look at the PokerStars Live League, as I should be leading the Low one now!”
Final Table Results €1,100 PokerStars Open Campione Main Event 2026
1st Elvir Nuhiu, Switzerland, €200,640 after deal*
2nd Vincenzo Petruzziello, Italy – €167,536 after deal*
3rd Christian Stantchev, France – €150,634 after deal*
4th Eduard Fondos, Italy – €86,020
5th Michele Brandes, Italy – €66,170
6th Renzo Pedrotti, Italy – €50,910
7th Thomas Olivieri, Italy – €39,150
8th Giorgio Favotto, Italy – €30,130
Reporting by PokerStars Media Coordinator Florence Mazet
MAIN EVENT SMASHES €1M GUARANTEE
Full house in Campione
For the second year in a row, the PokerStars Open Campione Main Event has smashed its €1 million guarantee, highlighting that this location–located on the stunning shores of Lake Lugano–is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s most popular.
The €1,100 Main Event registered 1,582 entries across its four starting flights and last-minute Day 2 entries. That means there’s a €1,518,720 prize pool, and 223 players will reach the cash.
The winner will take home €250,440 on Sunday night!
Former AC Milan and Italy player Andrea Conti is through
A total of 469 players bagged chips across the four Day 1s, led by Italy’s Nicola Diaco with 366,100. Former footballer Andrea Conti is also in the mix, making it through Day 1D with 26,400 chips. Conti played for AC Milan, Atalanta, and the Italian national side throughout his career.
Take a look at the start-of-Day 2 chip counts here.
MALAGA CHAMP FERRARI WINS HIGH ROLLER
The first High Roller of the year (and of the brand new Live League 2026) wrapped up in Campione yesterday (Jan 28), and saw a familiar face kick-start his league campaign.
The €2,200 PokerStars Open High Roller attracted 214 entries to build a €410,880 prize pool, and just 31 players reached the money. When it was all said and done, Italian player Manuel Ferrari took it down for €86,800, beating Dutch player Thierry Van Den Berg (€54,240) heads-up.
Ferrari took down the PokerStars Open Malaga Main Event in June last year and has become the first player in the history of the PokerStars Open to win both a Main Event and High Roller title.
Check out full results from the High Roller here.
Meanwhile, the €1,100 PokerStars Open Main Event registered 399 entrants on Day 1A and a further 134 in the rapidfire Day 1B Turbo. Just 169 of them bagged chips and made it through to Day 2.
There are two more starting flights today before everyone returns for Day 2 on Friday.
Chip count Day 1A 115 left / 399 entries
Chip count Day 1B 54 left / 134 entries
Reporting by PokerStars Media Coordinator Florence Mazet
ABOUT POKERSTARS OPEN CAMPIONE
The return of the PokerStars Open Campione can only mean one thing – the start of the PokerStars Open season. And like all great seasons, this one kicks off in style, with the Casinò di Campione hosting from the epic, “always-on” PokerStars Poker Room.
We think it’s one of the best places to experience live poker in the world, and the numbers from the inaugural event back that up. Over 2,400 people entered the PokerStars Open Campione last year, battling for a share of over €2.3 million in total. This year, we’re aiming to take these figures to the next level, with more entries, bigger prize pools and even better action at the tables.
Plus, there aren’t many better places to unwind off the table than the elegant surroundings of Campione d’Italia, an Italian commune bordering the Swiss canton of Ticino. It’s safe to say this year is going to be special for the PokerStars Open – do you really want to miss out?
POKERSTARS OPEN CAMPIONE SCHEDULE
KEY DATES:
High Roller: January 27-28 – €2,200
Main Event: January 28-February 1 – €1,100 (€1,000,000 GTD)
Second Chance Main Event: January 30-February 1 – €550
Super High Roller: January 31 – €5,000
Mystery Bounty Cup: January 31-February 1 – €400
View the full tournament schedule here.
VENUE INFORMATION
The PokerStars Open Campione takes place at Casino di Campione, the license holder and operator of this event.
Address: Piazzale Milano, 2, 22061 Campione d’Italia CO, Italy
Telephone number: +41 916401111
Dress Code: Smart casual. No sports clothing and footwear (e.g. tracksuits, shorts, shirts, trainers, etc)
Minimum Age: 18
NB: Must bring a valid government-issued passport or valid European Union Citizen ID card to participate
WHAT HAPPENED IN CAMPIONE LAST YEAR?
State became the first PokerStars Open Main Event champion in March 2025
The maiden PokerStars Open Main Event was a huge success in Campione, smashing guarantees and exceeding all expectations. Players from far and wide filled the Casino di Campione for a week of poker and a shot at becoming this exciting new tour’s first champion.
Adrian-Sorel State of Romania topped the 2,434-entry field after one of the longest final tournament days in recent memory, winning €363,000.
WHAT IS THE POKERSTARS OPEN?
A new era of live poker in Europe began in 2025 with the launch of the PokerStars Open, an exciting tour consolidating PokerStars’ popular and prestigious regional tours under one dynamic banner.
The PokerStars Open combines the best elements of the UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT), Eureka Poker Tour, Estrellas Poker Tour (ESPT), and France Poker Series (FPS) to create a schedule of unmissable events across some of Europe’s most vibrant destinations.
So far, the PokerStars Open has visited Campione, Namur, Monte Carlo, Malaga, Barcelona, Malta, Manchester and Cannes.
All events take place at established partner casinos and will feature PokerStars’ industry-leading dealers and floor staff, seamless registration processes, unmissable player activities, an informative Live app, and a fun and friendly atmosphere at every stop.
Each festival is headed by a €1,100/£1,100 (or €1,650 if at an EPT) PokerStars Open Main Event with €1M/£1M guaranteed, supported by a large side-event schedule and tons of fun activities. Players can expect the world-class live event experience PokerStars is known for.
Each stop will feature a wide range of online satellites, offering more players the chance to qualify. You can also use your Power Path Silver Passes to play PokerStars Open events.
The PokerStars client provides more information on qualifying routes.
Head to the official PokerStars Open site for more information on upcoming stops.
POKERSTARS OPEN MAIN EVENT WINNERS
Adrian-Sorel State (Romania) – €363,000 (Campione, March 2025)
Jon Kyte (Norway) – €340,000 (Monte Carlo, May 2025)
Jon Kyte
Jean-Vincent Lehut (France) – €238,000 (Namur, May 2025)
Manuel Ferrari (Italy) – €206,300 (Malaga, June 2025)
Alexis Nicolai (France) – €772,000 (Barcelona, August 2025)
Scott Margereson (UK) – €423,700 (Malta, October 2025)
Scott “Aggro Santos” Margereson
Tuan Le (United Kingdom) – £149,200 (Manchester, October 2025)
Yulian Bogdanov (Bulgaria) – €398,135 (Prague, December 2025)
Paul François Tedeschi (France) – €195,700 (Cannes, December 2025)
EVERYTHING ELSE
POKERSTARS OPEN CAMPIONE OFFICIAL SITE
The PokerStars Live official page with everything you need to know about the tournament series in Campione.
FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
The full PokerStars Open Campione schedule can be viewed here.
DOWNLOAD THE POKERSTARS LIVE APP
All the info you need on your mobile device from the Apple iStore or Google Play for Android.
POKERSTARS BLOG ON TWITTER
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Where to find everything else
You can find more information about PokerStars Live Events, and lots more, using the links below.
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