| Year: | 1998 |
| Country: | Estonia |
| Preselection: | Eurolaul 1998 |
| Preselection Date: | 24 January 1998 |
| Entrant: | Koit Toome |
| Song: | Mere lapsed |
| Final Result: | 12th, 36 points |
Estonia was represented by Koit Toome, with the song "Mere lapsed", at the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 9 May in Birmingham. "Mere lapsed" was chosen as the Estonian entry at the national final, Eurolaul, on 24 January.
The final was held at the studios of broadcaster ETV in Tallinn, hosted by Marko Reikop and Anu Välba. Ten songs took part with the winner being chosen by an "expert" international jury. Other participants included former Estonian representatives Janika Sillamaa and Ivo Linna, and the following year's Evelin Samuel. "Mere lapsed" was an unexpected winner and had never been ahead in the voting until the final juror's votes enabled it to snatch an unpredicted last minute victory.[1]
| Draw | Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) | Points | Place | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koit Toome | "Mere lapsed" | Peeter Pruuli, Maria Rahula, Tomi Rahula | 97 | 1 | |
| 2 | Kaire Vilgats and Lauri Liiv | "Kristallid" | Argo Kasela, Kalle Erm | 47 | 8 | |
| 3 | Kate | "Tulepuuhuulte luule" | Villu Kangur, Aivar Joonas | 79 | 3 | |
| 4 | Evelin Samuel | "Unistus igavesest päevast" | Kaari Sillamaa, Priit Pajusaar, Glen Pilvre | 94 | 2 | |
| 5 | Rumal Noorkuu | "Säravad tähed" | Villu Olesk, Ivar Must | 65 | 5 | |
| 6 | Tõnis Mägi | "Mõni mägi" | Tõnis Mägi | 36 | 10 | |
| 7 | Siiri Sisask | "Tagareas" | Lauri Saatpalu | 53 | 7 | |
| 8 | Janika Sillamaa | "Viimne valge kuu" | Kaari Sillamaa, Koit Toome | 69 | 4 | |
| 9 | Mona and Karl Madis | "Maailm kahele" | Sven Lõhmus | 42 | 9 | |
| 10 | Evelin Samuel and Ivo Linna | "Andesta" | Kaari Sillamaa, Priit Pajusaar, Glen Pilvre | 56 | 6 |
| Detailed International Jury Votes | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draw | Song | Total | ||||||||||||
| 1 | "Mere lapsed" | 5 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 97 | |
| 2 | "Kristallid" | 7 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 47 | |
| 3 | "Tulepuuhuulte luule" | 10 | 8 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 79 | |
| 4 | "Unistus igavesest päevast" | 3 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 94 | |
| 5 | "Säravad tähed" | 12 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 65 | |
| 6 | "Mõni mägi" | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 36 | |
| 7 | "Tagareas" | 1 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 53 | |
| 8 | "Viimne valge kuu" | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 69 | |
| 9 | "Maailm kahele" | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 42 | |
| 10 | "Andesta" | 8 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 56 | |
Heading into the final of the contest, BBC reported that bookmakers ranked the entry joint 12th out of the 25 entries.[2] On the night of the final Toome performed 23rd in the running order, following Norway and preceding Turkey. At the close of voting "Mere lapsed" had picked up 36 points, placing Estonia joint 12th (with Portugal) of the 25 entries.[3] The 12 points from the Estonian televote were awarded to Sweden.[4]