High-Stakes Poker Drama Ends Sami Pulliainen's Run Just Short of Final Table

One bold move changed everything. With top pair holding strong, Martin Zobel crushed Pulliainen's hopes—just inches from glory.

, and Administrator

2026 February 11 . 10:41 PM

1 min read

The image shows a painting of a tavern scene with a group of people sitting around a table, playing... — The image shows a painting of a tavern scene with a group of people sitting around a table, playing cards. On the left side of the painting, there is a window, and on the right side, there are a few objects on the floor. The painting is titled "The Poker Table" by Johannes Vermeer.

High-Stakes Poker Drama Ends Sami Pulliainen's Run Just Short of Final Table

A dramatic hand at the poker table saw Sami Pulliainen eliminated just before the final table. His all-in move with a strong draw failed to hold, leaving nine players to advance. The tension peaked as Martin Zobel called with a better starting hand.

The action began when Martin Zobel raised to 160,000 from the Cut-off. Sami Pulliainen, sitting on the Button, responded by pushing all-in for 320,000. Zobel made the call, revealing A♣ Q♠, while Pulliainen showed A♦ T♠.

A flop of Q♥ 4♦ 5♦ gave Zobel top pair, leaving Pulliainen needing help. The turn and river brought 6♠ and K♠, but neither card improved his hand. With no further cards to save him, Pulliainen was knocked out in 10th place—just shy of the final table.

After the elimination, the remaining nine players were sent on a short break. Live reporting from poker.pro will continue, though updates will follow the stream delay.

Pulliainen's exit locked in the final nine competitors. The tournament now resumes with a fresh break behind them. The next round will determine who advances further in the event.