Pauli Kariniemi from the Ministry of Finance is the new Helsinki Fintech Open champion. He beat last year’s winner Kaj Keinänen from Santander in the final, and got the perpetual trophy from him right after.
The venue was again the Bank of Finland’s estate in Ramsinniemi. Two clay courts, the sea next to them, and a sunny day in early September. This was already the sixth event with the Bank of Finland and the fourth tennis tournament.
Sixteen players and around sixty people in total. People from banks, fintechs, authorities and service providers, from all over Finland and even from Malta.
The tournament was played in the usual 2 vs 2 Americano format. It keeps the pace up and gives everyone more time on court. The final was played one on one, which was the right call. Kariniemi and Keinänen settled it in front of everyone.
The persistence award was given out for the second time. It went to Tuomas Autero, who has been there every year and has now played under three different company names. The prize was the same as last year, a Patagonia vest with the Fintech Open logo. At this point it is basically the uniform of Nordic finance.
Then sauna and swimming. Sea at 17 degrees, which was this summer’s default temperature. People went in anyway. A lot of the best talk happened after the last point was played.
People come for the tennis, but that is not really why this works. Four tournaments in, there are not many days in the year where bankers, fintech people, regulators and vendors spend a whole day together with no stage and no slides.
Thanks to the Bank of Finland for hosting again.
See you in 2027.
