Ossi "Monarch" Ketola Detained by Police at Helsinki Protest

When a Peaceful March Is Too Boring

It all began on Saturday afternoon in central Helsinki, where tensions ran high. The city was hosting two rival political marches: an anti-fascist demonstration (Antifa) with approximately 600 participants and a march by the nationalist movement Sinimustaliike (Blue-Black) with about 300 people. The police had to mobilize significant forces to keep the two camps apart.

For 29-year-old Ketola and his group, however, the peaceful proceedings were too dull. With viewers on his Kick stream demanding a real show, Ketola put on a costume and, along with his private security team, headed straight to Dallapenpuisto Park to the Antifa demonstrators.

A Full-Sprint Escape

The response to the provocation didn't take long. As soon as the yellow mascot appeared in the park, the anti-fascist crowd reacted. The conflict could have quickly escalated into physical violence, but fortunately, it avoided any serious incidents.

The serious situation suddenly turned into a bizarre and even comical scene. The millionaire, in an oversized SpongeBob costume, sprinted across the park lawn, chased by dozens of enraged people, until he managed to hop into a car.

Ketola Detained by Special Units

The car escape didn't last long. About twenty minutes later, a Finnish police special unit blocked Ketola's vehicle. Officers forced the crew to exit and escorted them into police vans.

News quickly spread online that the founder of Duel Casino had been arrested. However, two hours later, an official statement from the Finnish police clarified the situation. Ketola and his team were not charged with any criminal acts. The police had detained them temporarily to protect them from further violence and prevent the conflict from escalating.

Ketola later sharply criticized the police on his stream for chasing him and his team instead of the aggressive attackers. He declared he would bring 200 bodyguards and tanks to the next protest to ensure his team's safety.

Who is Ossi "Monarch" Ketola?

For those who aren't familiar with this eccentric Finn, he's one of the most peculiar figures in modern poker. He built his immense wealth at just 18 by taking a loan of 11,000 euros and launching the wildly successful skin-gambling site CSGOEmpire, which reportedly earns him around 4 million dollars per month. In 2025, he launched the crypto casino Duel.

In the poker world, he's known as a fearlessly aggressive (and some would say reckless) cash game player. While he's won over 5 million dollars in live tournaments, on streamed high-stakes tables, he's estimated to have lost over 21 million dollars!

His behavior constantly sparks controversy. Ketola faces harsh criticism for using racist language on social media, leading to the permanent suspension of his personal accounts and the profiles of his companies Duel and CSGOEmpire from the platform X in October 2025.

Ketola Heads to Triton $200K Invitational

Though Helsinki's streets haven't yet cooled down, Ketola is already heading to a luxurious poker stop. From September 12 to 14, 2026, the exclusive $200K Triton Invitational will take place at Les A Casino on Jeju Island in South Korea.

This unique tournament operates on an invitation basis. Wealthy business VIPs can select one elite poker professional to join them in the game. As an invited VIP player, Ossi Ketola will participate in the event, choosing Finnish poker legend Patrik Antonius, who is also an investor and figurehead of his Duel Casino, as his professional partner in the tournament.

We'll see if Ketola brings the same chaos and drama to the prestigious Triton series tables as he did on Helsinki's streets, or if he'll behave like a true poker gentleman in the company of the world's elite.

Sources: X, Triton Poker