Introduction
The European high-stakes poker circuit delivered another memorable tournament finale in Monte Carlo. Dutch player Joris Ruijs claimed the title at the 2026 EPT Monte Carlo PokerStars Open, outlasting a field of 1,634 entries and closing out the tournament via a negotiated deal during heads-up play against Leon Sturm. The result earned him €317,398, a figure that marks a significant milestone in his career. What makes this victory especially compelling is the comeback element: Ruijs did not arrive at the final table from a position of strength — he had to reverse a difficult situation before ultimately lifting the trophy. In this article we break down what happened, why this type of victory is so instructive for any player, and how the EPT Monte Carlo setting amplifies the significance of the result.
Development
The EPT Monte Carlo is one of the most iconic stops on the European live poker calendar. Held at the Casino de Monte Carlo, it combines historical prestige with competitive fields that attract both circuit regulars and recreational players looking for a premium experience. The PokerStars Open is, within the festival, the event with the broadest access in terms of relative buy-in, which explains why it drew 1,634 entries in this 2026 edition.
Joris Ruijs, from the Netherlands, put together a performance that blended technical solidity with the ability to adapt at critical moments. The comeback referenced in the headline is no minor detail: in poker, mounting a comeback means having correctly managed short-stack situations, made high-pressure decisions under significant risk, and maintained composure when the margin for error shrinks dramatically. That kind of tournament trajectory reveals more about a player's quality than a victory built from the chip lead since the middle stages of the event.
The heads-up finish also deserves attention. Ruijs and Leon Sturm reached a deal before the final hand was played — a common practice in major tournaments when both finalists determine that the equity gap does not justify the risk of continuing to play. Negotiating a deal in heads-up requires understanding your own equity based on stack sizes, the payout structure, and the perceived skill edge relative to your opponent. The fact that both players agreed to a deal suggests the situation was competitive and that neither held an overwhelming advantage at that point.
From a tactical standpoint, tournaments with fields exceeding 1,500 entries present specific challenges: blind structures tend to accelerate in the late stages, accumulated variance is higher, and reading the dynamic at the final table becomes more complex because players arrive there via very different paths through the event. Adapting to those variables is precisely what separates players who achieve consistent live results from those who rely exclusively on running well.
Ruijs's victory adds to the trend of players from northern and central Europe establishing themselves at the top of major EPT festivals — a region that has produced a growing number of circuit finalists in recent years.
Why It Matters in the Ecosystem
The EPT Monte Carlo holds a central place on the European live poker calendar. It is part of the European Poker Tour, the circuit organized by PokerStars that has been the benchmark for production quality, field composition, and prize pools since its inception. A victory in any of its flagship events carries specific weight in live results rankings and contributes to a player's international visibility. The PokerStars Open, as the festival's more budget-accessible event relative to the Main Event, gives a broader range of players entry to that stage, making it one of the best-attended tournaments of the festival. Ruijs's result comes at a moment when the European spring tournament series concentrates a large share of the global competitive poker spotlight.
Additional Context
The Netherlands has a well-established tradition in international competitive poker. Dutch players have appeared in EPT circuit event final tables and in final tables at marquee tournaments such as the WSOP Main Event throughout the past fifteen years. This base of well-trained competitors — many of them with online experience before making the transition to the live circuit — has contributed to Dutch players producing results with regularity on the European circuit. For Ruijs, winning an event of this magnitude in Monte Carlo, with over 1,600 entries and against a heads-up opponent, represents an inflection point that could project his name across the circuit with greater consistency in the months ahead.
Closing
Joris Ruijs's victory at the 2026 EPT Monte Carlo PokerStars Open is an example of how tournament poker rewards both technical skill and the ability to manage pressure at decisive moments. Understanding how comebacks work, when and how to negotiate a heads-up deal, and how to adapt to different stages of a tournament are all skills that can be developed with the right training. At ElitePro Academy you will find dedicated courses on tournament strategy, stack management, and decision-making under pressure. Take your game to the next level.