United Poker Festival #4 is in the books. Held at the stunning International Hotel Casino & Tower Suites in Golden Sands, Bulgaria, the festival delivered an unforgettable week of poker featuring a blockbuster Main Event and nine exciting side events.
The Main Event alone drew 1,528 entries from players across the globe, surpassing its €250,000 guarantee with a final prize pool of €328,520.
Massive congratulations to Erik Navratil from Slovakia – he emerged victorious in the festival’s Main Event, claiming a well-deserved prize of €47,150 after a 3-way deal with David Zaltsman and Kiril Bakalov.
Erik Navratil
David Zaltsman from Israel secured second place and €37,000 – and that wasn’t his only podium finish of the week. He also claimed the €200 KO Bounty title and finished sixth in the €1,000 High Roller, making him the standout performer across the entire festival.
David Zaltsman
Kiril Bakalov from Bulgaria secured third place and €28,000, capping off an impressive run through the field. Remarkably, Kiril qualified for the Main Event through a satellite with a buy-in of just €50 – turning a minimal investment into a €28,000 payday.
Kiril Bakalov
Main Event Results:
- Erik Navratil – Slovakia – €47,150 (after deal)
- David Zaltsman – Israel – €37,000 (after deal)
- Kiril Bakalov – Bulgaria – €28,000 (after deal)
- Marius Stancescu – Romania – €16,070
- Martin Evgeniev Petkov – Bulgaria – €11,600
- Maciej Swicarz – Poland – €9,000
- Danail Balkanski – Bulgaria – €7,400
- Danylo Yermolaiev – Ukraine – €6,200
- Cristian Stancu – Romania – €5,200
- Vihren Manolov – Bulgaria – €4,300
- Stefan Ianuszewicz – Romania – €4,300
- Anton Asenov – Bulgaria – €3,500
- Eran Bachar – Israel – €3,500
- Jacob Sapir – Israel – €2,800
- Alexandru Anghel – Romania – €2,800
- Vladislav Petkov – Bulgaria – €2,800
- Dzhan Mehmed – Bulgaria – €2,800
- Goran Ivanov – Bulgaria – €2,250
- Ivaylo Opalchenski – Bulgaria – €2,250
- Eyal Abadi – Israel – €2,250
- Ofir Birenbaum – Israel – €2,250
- Zeev Bilson – Israel – €2,250
- Denis Ciobanas – Romania – €2,250
- Radoslav Radev – Bulgaria – €2,250
- Stancho Nikolov – Bulgaria – €2,250
- Vladislav Todorov – Bulgaria – €2,250
- Gil Mery – Israel – €1,750
- Miroslav Rizov – Bulgaria – €1,750
- Martin Tsankov – Bulgaria – €1,750
- Asher Segev – Israel – €1,750
- Ivan Marinov – Bulgaria – €1,750
- Constantin Iluta – Romania – €1,750
- Petru Mandru – Romania – €1,750
- Stavros Kokotsakis – Greece – €1,750
- Atanas Belchev – Bulgaria – €1,750
- Sharon Friedmann – Israel – €1,300
- Miroslav Ivanov – Bulgaria – €1,300
- Tiberiu Tirca – Romania – €1,300
- Amit Perry – Israel – €1,300
- Martin Ganchev – Bulgaria – €1,300
- Veaceslav Hariton – Romania – €1,300
- Alexandru Mitrache – Romania – €1,300
- Daniel Georgiev – Bulgaria – €1,300
- Martin Petkov – Bulgaria – €1,300
- Ivaylo Smilyanski – Bulgaria – €1,100
- Boris Jekov – Bulgaria – €1,100
- Hristo Angelov – Bulgaria – €1,100
- Ivan Ivanov – Bulgaria – €1,100
- Valentin Marius – Romania – €1,100
- Dimitar Dimitrov – Bulgaria – €1,100
- Todor Ivkovikj – North Macedonia – €1,100
- Eran Grafi – Israel – €1,100
- Jonathan Mermelstein – Israel – €1,100
- Radu Ungureanu – Romania – €900
- Valentin Ionescu – Romania – €900
- Andrei Robert – Romania – €900
- Georgi Tsachev – Bulgaria – €900
- Petar Stoichkov – Bulgaria – €900
- Nikolay Savov – Bulgaria – €900
- Nikolay Zafirov – Bulgaria – €900
- Krasimir Krastev – Bulgaria – €900
- Eduard Luca – Romania – €900
- Viktor Kostov – Bulgaria – €900
- Mihai Mocanu – Romania – €900
- Elad Amar – Israel – €900
- Nik Nikolov – Bulgaria – €900
- Ion Albu – Romania – €900
- Rumen Andonov – Bulgaria – €900
- Doychin Dochev – Bulgaria – €900
- Hristina Nikolova – Bulgaria – €900
- Yoan Asparuhov – Bulgaria – €900
- Liviu Schiopu – Romania – €750
- George Stefan – Romania – €750
- Alexandar Skobelev – Bulgaria – €750
- Constantin Stanila – Romania – €750
- Amir Ifrach – Israel – €750
- George Pletea – Romania – €750
- Mirela Penciu – Romania – €750
- Ionel Tanase – Romania – €750
- Katya Mazneova – Bulgaria – €750
- Dumitru Vlasceanu – Romania – €750
- Yordan Garov – Bulgaria – €750
- Aleksandar Stoev – Bulgaria – €750
- Bogdan Boceanu – Romania – €750
- Amir Agha – Romania – €750
- Razvan-Costinel Belea – Romania – €750
- Adi Remez – Israel – €750
- Eli Ziv – Israel – €750
- Manuel Zapf – Germany – €750
- Martin Todorov – Bulgaria – €750
- Denislav Dimitrov – Bulgaria – €750
- Ivan Andonov – Bulgaria – €750
- Armand Daneliuc – Romania – €750
- Nikolay Lozanov – Bulgaria – €750
- Sorin Ghica – Romania – €750
- Kristiyan Ivanov – Bulgaria – €750
- Eddy Nedyalkov – Bulgaria – €750
- Emil Zor – Romania – €750
- Victor Chioren – Romania – €750
- Mircea Stanescu – Romania – €750
- Timotheos Timotheou – Cyprus – €750
- Pavel Konukov – Bulgaria – €750
- Steffen Schubert – Germany – €750
- Momchil Tomov – Bulgaria – €750
- Nativ Shmueli – Israel – €750
- Ionescu Adrian – Romania – €750
- Hristo Hristov – Bulgaria – €750
- Sorin Tudor – Romania – €650
- Ionut Dumitru – Romania – €650
- Kristiyan Manchev – Bulgaria – €650
- Marius Popescu – Romania – €650
- Denis Simionel – Moldova – €650
- Viorel Constantinescu – Romania – €650
- Ivan Ivanov – Bulgaria – €650
- Patrick Bueno – France – €650
- Ravid Ihilov – Israel – €650
- Noam Hayon – Israel – €650
- Slavi Georgiev – Bulgaria – €650
- Ivan Altanov – Bulgaria – €650
- Lyubomir Velev – Bulgaria – €650
- Hasan Al-Shaer – Bulgaria – €650
- Alexander Levin – Israel – €650
- Stanislav Penchev – Bulgaria – €650
- Konstantin Gatsev – Bulgaria – €650
- Catalin Tutuianu – Romania – €650
- Nadav Shimon – Israel – €650
- Bogdan Bulea – Romania – €650
- Borislav Stoyanov – Bulgaria – €650
- Ventsislav Kolev – Bulgaria – €650
- Asher Alfassi – Israel – €650
- Lior Azoulay – Israel – €650
- Almog Avitan – Israel – €650
- Florin Brotoiu – Romania – €650
- Konstantin Iliev – Bulgaria – €650
- Ido Livshitz – Poland – €650
- Shamay Pesachov – Israel – €650
- Georgi Hadzhistoyanov – Bulgaria – €650
- Simeon Stoyanov – Bulgaria – €650
- Miroslav Kolev – Bulgaria – €650
- Barak Levkovits – Israel – €650
- Ivo Georgiev – Bulgaria – €650
- Evgheni Petrusevici – Poland – €650
- Stoyan Madzharov – Bulgaria – €650
- Levent Cadar – Romania – €650
- Adrian Constantin – Romania – €650
- Aharon Simsolo – Israel – €650
- Aleksandar Georgiev – Bulgaria – €650
- Deyan Kichukov – Bulgaria – €650
- Kiril Pisarov – Bulgaria – €650
Side Events Results
NLH – 6-Max
Simeon Todorov from Bulgaria topped the 6-Max Hold’em field of 18 entries to earn €1,550.
- Simeon Todorov – Bulgaria – €1,550
- Rosen Petkov – Bulgaria – €930
- Dimitar Kostov – Bulgaria – €616
€200 KO Bounty
David Zaltsman from Israel claimed the €200 KO Bounty title after a heads-up deal in a 141-entry field.
- David Zaltsman – Israel – €1,970 + bounty (after deal)
- Steffen Schubert – Germany – €2,060 + bounty (after deal)
- Tsvetan Gizdov – Bulgaria – €1,845 + bounty (after deal)
- Sotir Gochev – Bulgaria – €1,605 + bounty (after deal)
- Nikolay Vasilev – Bulgaria – €830 + bounty
- Dory Hadar – Israel – €670 + bounty
- Slaven Popov – Bulgaria – €540 + bounty
- Viliyana Staneva – Bulgaria – €430 + bounty
- Metodi Troharov – Bulgaria – €350 + bounty
- Mihail Hristov – Bulgaria – €276 + bounty
- Mihael Komforti – Bulgaria – €230 + bounty
- Viktor Kambov – Bulgaria – €230 + bounty
- Lyubomir Ivanov – Bulgaria – €230 + bounty
- Viktor Yordanov – Bulgaria – €230 + bounty
- Simeon Tsonev – Bulgaria – €230 + bounty
- Stancho Nikolov – Bulgaria – €200 + bounty
- Ivan Varbanov – Bulgaria – €200 + bounty
Hold’em Turbo
Zhivko Zhivkov from Bulgaria took down the Hold’em Turbo, outlasting 53 entries to collect €2,950.
- Zhivko Zhivkov – Bulgaria – €2,950
- Almog Avitan – Israel – €2,550
- Martina Pashanova – Bulgaria – €1,416
- Stancho Nikolov – Bulgaria – €1,000
- Kristian Krastev – Bulgaria – €700
- Ruben Aaland – Norway – €500
€1,000 High Roller
Congratulations to Presiyan Minchev from Bulgaria for taking down the €1,000 High Roller after a heads-up deal with Krasimir Krastev! The tournament drew 56 entries.
- Presiyan Minchev – Bulgaria – €13,500 (after deal)
- Krasimir Krastev – Bulgaria – €11,000 (after deal)
- Ion Teodor Naicu – Romania – €7,000
- Krasimir Zhekov – Bulgaria – €5,000
- Nicolae Toma – Romania – €3,760
- David Zelig Zaltsman – Israel – €3,000
- Kaloyan Karaminev – Bulgaria – €2,600
- Ivelin Pavlov – Bulgaria – €2,300
Mixed NLHE/PLO
Ivelin Pavlov from Bulgaria emerged victorious in the Mixed NLHE/PLO after a three-way deal, earning €2,000 from a 28-entry field.
- Ivelin Pavlov – Bulgaria – €2,000 (after deal)
- Sorin Pomana – Romania – €1,133 (after deal)
- Vihren Manolov – Bulgaria – €1,133 (after deal)
- Hristo Yanakov – Bulgaria – €550
€200 PLO4
Hristina Nikolova from Bulgaria topped a 69-entry field in the €200 PLO4 event after a three-way deal, with a prize pool of €11,352.
- Hristina Nikolova – Bulgaria – €2,300 (after deal)
- Vladimir Velikov – Bulgaria – €3,000 (after deal)
- Lucian Ranetescu – Romania – €2,300 (after deal)
- Simeon Tsonev – Bulgaria – €1,152
- Ran Shahar – Israel – €900
- Konstantin Gatsev – Bulgaria – €700
- Eran Dror – Israel – €550
- Ivelin Pavlov – Bulgaria – €450
€300 Mystery Bounty
Radoslav Ilchev from Bulgaria walked away with the €300 Mystery Bounty title after a heads-up deal with Todor Ivkovikj, pocketing €6,460 + €7,700 in mystery bounties from a 295-entry field.
A standout moment: Ido Lishvitz finished 12th but hit an astonishing €14,450 in mystery bounties, including the biggest single bounty prize of the event – €10,050!
Mystery Bounty Results:
- Radoslav Ilchev, Bulgaria – €6,460 + €7,700 bounty (after deal)
- Todor Ivkovikj, Macedonia – €6,460 + €2,200 bounty (after deal)
- Nik Nikolov, Bulgaria – €3,500 + €1,100 bounty
- Dror Tal, Israel – €2,600 + €5,250 bounty
- Bogdan Bulea, Romania – €1,950 + €500 bounty
- Antoan Asenov, Bulgaria – €1,500 + €1,000 bounty
- Kaloyan Karaminev, Bulgaria – €1,150 + €1,400 bounty
- Cosmin Lupu, Romania – €900
- Ivan Altanov, Bulgaria – €700 + €1,000 bounty
- Emil Eriksson, Norway – €550 + €300 bounty
- Mati Adler, Israel – €550
- Ido Lishvitz, Israel – €550 + €14,450 bounty
- Oded Ohayon, Israel – €440 + €1,300 bounty
- Raul Sidro, Spain – €440
- Hasan Al-Shaer, Bulgaria – €440
- Zhivko Zhivkov, Bulgaria – €350
- Martina Pashanova, Bulgaria – €350
- Haim Batoori, Israel – €350
- Boyan Toshev, Bulgaria – €280 + €4,900 bounty
- Pavel Konukov, Bulgaria – €280
- Steffen Schubert, Germany – €280
- Svetlin Penev, Bulgaria – €280
- Milen Todorov, Bulgaria – €280 + €1,000 bounty
- Robert Chibedi, Belgium – €280
- Deyan Kichukov, Bulgaria – €280
- Plamen Todorov, Bulgaria – €280
- Georgi Ganchev, Bulgaria – €280
- Meir Hamo, Israel – €230 + €1,000 bounty
- Ivaylo Angelov, Bulgaria – €230
- Nikolay Gadjalov, Bulgaria – €230 + €500 bounty
- Kaloyan Travlev, Bulgaria – €230
- David Yeshaya, Israel – €230
- Sharon Friedmann, Israel – €230
- Ion Naicu, Romania – €230
- George Stefan, Romania – €230
- Nativ Shmueli, Israel – €200 + €800 bounty
- Victor Chioren, Romania – €200
- Ivan Marinov, Bulgaria – €200
- Anton Markov, Bulgaria – €200
- Amit Perry, Israel – €200
- Stanislav Genev, Bulgaria – €200
- Simeon Siderov, Bulgaria – €200
- Moshe Elbaz, Israel – €200
- Chagai Davidovich, Israel – €67
- Sorin Ghica, Romania – €67
- Barak Levkovits, Israel – €66
Turbo Deepstack
Congratulations to Kristiyan Kostov for winning the Turbo Deepstack event, outlasting 98 entries to claim €5,000!
- Kristiyan Kostov – Bulgaria – €5,000
- Raul Sidro – Spain – €2,950
- Izzy Niv Hansen – Israel – €2,050
- Edgardo Wayner – Israel – €1,550
- Vasyl Kozlov – Ukraine – €1,200
- Kristiyan Zhelev – Bulgaria – €950
- Doychin Dochev – Bulgaria – €780
- Ivan Marinov – Bulgaria – €640
- Kaloyan Karaminev – Bulgaria – €530
- Konstintinos Vatseris – Greece – €450
- Shahar Hasan – Israel – €400
- Igal Azulay – Israel – €356
5-Card PLO
The final side event of the festival was won by Simeon Tsonev from Bulgaria, who defeated Nikolay Iliev heads-up to claim €3,000 from 45 entries.
- Simeon Tsonev – Bulgaria – €3,000
- Nikolay Iliev – Bulgaria – €1,940
- Kristiyan Kostov – Bulgaria – €1,200
- Krasimir Krastev – Bulgaria – €700
- Maciej Jan Swicarz – Poland – €500
- Michal Demovic – Slovakia – €400
Across all ten tournaments, UPF #4 attracted a combined total of 2,331 entries from players representing Bulgaria, Israel, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, Germany, Norway, Spain, and many more countries. The festival’s Main Event prize pool of €328,520 alone far exceeded the €250,000 guarantee – a testament to the growing appeal of the United Poker Festival brand.
The fourth edition of the United Poker Festival has once again proven to be a premier destination for the poker community, delivering high-quality competition, exciting formats, and a welcoming atmosphere at the International Hotel Casino & Tower Suites in Golden Sands.
The United Poker Festival will return in 2027 with an updated program and even more exciting surprises!