About the Thermal PLO Festival
The Thermal PLO Festival continued to heat up the poker scene with its PLO5 100k€ guranteed Pentagon event, drawing a field of seasoned pros and ambitious challengers from all around Europe.
The €1,100 buy-in tournament, boasting a guaranteed prize pool of €100,000, concluded on January 17, 2025, with Austrian player Florian Fuchs emerging victorious and claiming the top prize of €38,006.
The Pentagon event, true to its name, proved to be a multi-faceted challenge for the 157 total entries, comprising 95 unique players and 62 re-entries. The tournament’s popularity was evident as it surpassed it completely smashed its guarantee, generating a total prize pool of €172,700.
As the dust settled, it was Florian Fuchs who navigated the treacherous waters of 5-card Pot-Limit Omaha to claim the title. Fuchs’ victory was no small feat, considering the caliber of opponents he faced at the final table. The Austrian’s strategic prowess and card reading abilities were put to the test throughout the tournament, culminating in a performance that secured him the largest share of the prize pool.
Hot on Fuchs’ heels was Memik Sezer from Germany, who added another impressive finish to his Thermal PLO Festival run. Sezer, fresh off his victory in the €550 buy-in HeatItUp event, showcased his consistency by securing second place and €25,388 in prize money. This back-to-back final table appearance cements Sezer’s status as a formidable force in the PLO arena, both 4-card and 5-card.
Rounding out the top three was another German player, Tim Louis Heun, who took home €17,348 for his efforts. The final table was a truly international affair, featuring players from Ireland, Slovenia, Poland, Bulgaria, and Finland, among others.
Notable finishes included Carr Paul from Ireland in fourth place (€14,174), Oliver Tot from Slovenia in fifth (€11,182), and Radoslaw Piotr Kopec from Poland in sixth (€8,598). The event also saw respected players like Richard Antony Fraser Ashby from Great Britain and Kristian Erik Valdemar Kostiander from Finland making the money, finishing in 11th and 12th places respectively, each taking home €2,916.
As the Thermal PLO Festival continues, the poker community eagerly anticipates more action-packed events and stellar performances from both established pros and rising stars. The Pentagon has set a high bar for the remaining tournaments, promising more thrilling poker action in the days to come.
All payouts:
| Position | Players | Nat | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florian Fuchs | AUT | 38,006 |
| 2 | Memik Sezer | DEU | 25,388 |
| 3 | Tim Louis Heun | DEU | 17,348 |
| 4 | Carr Paul | IRL | 14,174 |
| 5 | Oliver Tot | SVN | 11,182 |
| 6 | Radoslaw Piotr Kopec | POL | 8,598 |
| 7 | Jurgen Martin Fittschen | DEU | 6,498 |
| 8 | Simeon Tsonev | BGR | 4,715 |
| 9 | Harun Tunay Ertural | DEU | 3,445 |
| 10 | Mir Saidmansur | DEU | 3,445 |
| 11 | Kristian Erik Valdemar Kostiander | FIN | 2,916 |
| 12 | Richard Antony Fraser Ashby | GBR | 2,916 |
| 13 | Brahim Hajji | DNK | 2,614 |
| 14 | Niklas Bauer | DEU | 2,614 |
| 15 | Matouš Skořepa | CZE | 2,418 |
| 16 | Saeed Rehman | DEU | 2,418 |
| 17 | Antti Henri Samuli Posio | FIN | 2,418 |
With over 12 years of Omaha Poker experience, Lebi is the Head of Content at PLO365. A dedicated PLO specialist, he bridges the gap between complex GTO theory and practical street poker. He leads our review team, stress-testing PLO solvers, HUDs, and training courses to ensure they meet the demands of the modern grinder. When he isn’t auditing poker room RNGs or writing strategy guides, you can find him grinding PLO cash games and Turbo MTTs. Check here how we review.
