An overlay is usually not good news for an online poker operator. This means a tournament didn’t meet the guarantee and the site running the event forks over some of its own money to make up for the loss.
Now GGPoker is putting a new spin on the scenario with the $150 GGMasters Overlay Edition. The special tournament is set for March 20 and boasts a guaranteed prize pool of $5 million.
The unique event celebrates two years of the GGMasters, the poker world’s richest weekly freezeout tournament. The site is also launching the Short Deck Series this weekend as well.
What to expect from GGPoker’s Overlay Edition
GG launched the Masters tournaments in early 2020. The events have grown to become the industry’s richest weekly freezeouts.
Players jumping in the Overlay Edition will find three starting flights based on a player’s location:
- 1 – Asia flight (12:00 UTC/20:00 CST)
- 2 – Europe flight (17:00 UTC)
- 3 – Americas flight (22:00 UTC/19:00 BST)
Those who advance in each starting flight return for Day 2 on March 21 at 17:00 UTC. With such a low buy-in, GGPoker ambassador Daniel Negreanu believes an overlay is likely. A freezeout at that price point will require a massive field to meet the guarantee.
“$150 buy-in. $5 million guaranteed. No rebuys. There’s no way this tournament is not going to have an overlay!” Negreanu said in a news release. “This is GGPoker’s flagship freezeout tournament and you won’t want to miss out on the value this March 20.”
Kid Poker even offered his own guarantee regarding the guarantee for the event.
“I’ll shave my head if this thing goes over $5 million,” Negreanu noted in the GG video promoting the tournament (see below). “I’ll shave it all off.”
That might add some extra hype around the event as well.
I can't believe what @GGPoker is doing!!! Make sure you don't miss out on this one: pic.twitter.com/TsX1H9v9sh
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) February 14, 2022
Qualifying opportunities get underway this week
Those looking to grab a seat in the GGMasters Overlay Edition will find numerous opportunities. Satellites kick off on the site on Feb. 16 and run daily, with qualifiers starting at just $2.
New GGPoker players can also claim the poker room’s Welcome Bonus. New players can earn even more with the Honeymoon for Newcomers promotion. They also automatically join GGPoker’s Fish Buffet loyalty program, with regular cash prizes available.
All GG players can also win free entry into the Daily $100,000 #ThanksGG Flipouts via the integrated GGCare and GGCheers promotions. See more on earning these using exclusive PokerScout bonus offers below.
Short Deck Series kicks off Sunday
In other GG news, players who enjoy Short Deck are in luck this month. GG is hosting the second Short Deck Series from Feb. 20-27 with $1 million guaranteed.
The game is a bit different than traditional Texas Hold’em and played with a “shorter” deck, hence the name. Deuces through Fives are removed and the game then follows the traditional Hold’em gameplay.
The lack of those cards makes for only a 36-card deck and brings plenty of action. The new deck even changes the math of the game and ranking of hands as well.
Straights rank higher than flushes in Short Deck. With so many higher cards, the odds of making much stronger hands increase. Some players say the game brings a bit more gamble than traditional Hold’em.
GG players will find a hefty schedule featuring $52.50 and $525 Bounty Main Events. Numerous starting flights are available throughout the series with the final stage set for Feb. 27.
The festival is designed for players of all skill levels and bankrolls. The GGPoker Short Deck Squad will also stream the action throughout the series. Here’s a look at the complete schedule.
2022 GGPoker Short Deck Series
Date Tournament Buy-in Guarantee
Feb. 20 Asia High Roller $888 [3-Stack] $888 $20,000
Feb. 20 Asia Special $88 [3-Stack] $88 $10,000
Feb. 20 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 20 Bounty $52.50 $52.50 $5,000
Feb. 20 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 20 Sunday Special $125 [3-Stack] $125 $8,000
Feb. 20 Bounty High Roller $1,050 $1,050 $25,000
Feb. 20 Bounty $105 $105 $8,000
Feb. 20 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 20 Sunday High Roller $1,500 [3-Stack] $1,500 $30,000
Feb. 20 Sunday Main $250 [3-Stack] $250 $15,000
Feb. 20 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 20 Bounty Turbo $210 $210 $8,000
Feb. 20 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 20 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 20 Super High Roller $10,300 [3-Stack] $10,300 $100,000
Feb. 20 Bounty Super High Roller $5,250 $5,250 $75,000
Feb. 21 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 21 Asia Special $88 [3-Stack] $88 $6,000
Feb. 21 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 21 Bounty $52.50 $52.50 $4,000
Feb. 21 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 21 Daily Special $125 [3-Stack] $125 $5,000
Feb. 21 Bounty High Roller $1,050 $1,050 $20,000
Feb. 21 Bounty $105 $105 $5,000
Feb. 21 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 21 High Roller $1,500 [3-Stack] $1,500 $25,000
Feb. 21 Daily Main $250 [3-Stack] $250 $8,000
Feb. 21 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 21 Bounty Closer $210 $210 $4,000
Feb. 21 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 21 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 22 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 22 Asia Special $88 [3-Stack] $88 $6,000
Feb. 22 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 22 Bounty $52.50 $52.50 $4,000
Feb. 22 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 22 Daily Special $125 [3-Stack] $125 $5,000
Feb. 22 Bounty High Roller $1,050 $1,050 $20,000
Feb. 22 Bounty $105 $105 $5,000
Feb. 22 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 22 High Roller $1,500 [3-Stack] $1,500 $25,000
Feb. 22 Daily Main $250 [3-Stack] $250 $8,000
Feb. 22 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 22 Bounty Closer $210 $210 $4,000
Feb. 22 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 22 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 23 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 23 Asia Special $88 [3-Stack] $88 $6,000
Feb. 23 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 23 Bounty $52.50 $52.50 $4,000
Feb. 23 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 23 Daily Special $125 [3-Stack] $125 $5,000
Feb. 23 Bounty High Roller $1,050 $1,050 $20,000
Feb. 23 Bounty $105 $105 $5,000
Feb. 23 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 23 High Roller $1,500 [3-Stack] $1,500 $25,000
Feb. 23 Daily Main $250 [3-Stack] $250 $8,000
Feb. 23 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 23 Bounty Closer $210 $210 $4,000
Feb. 23 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 23 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 24 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 24 Asia Special $88 [3-Stack] $88 $6,000
Feb. 24 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 24 Bounty $52.50 $52.50 $4,000
Feb. 24 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 24 Daily Special $125 [3-Stack] $125 $5,000
Feb. 24 Bounty High Roller $1,050 $1,050 $20,000
Feb. 24 Bounty $105 $105 $5,000
Feb. 24 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 24 High Roller $1,500 [3-Stack] $1,500 $25,000
Feb. 24 Daily Main $250 [3-Stack] $250 $8,000
Feb. 24 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 24 Bounty Closer $210 $210 $4,000
Feb. 24 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 24 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 25 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 25 Asia Special $88 [3-Stack] $88 $5,000
Feb. 25 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 25 Bounty $52.50 $52.50 $3,500
Feb. 25 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 25 Daily Special $125 [3-Stack] $125 $5,000
Feb. 25 Bounty High Roller $1,050 $1,050 $20,000
Feb. 25 Bounty $105 $105 $4,000
Feb. 25 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 25 High Roller $1,500 [3-Stack] $1,500 $25,000
Feb. 25 Daily Main $250 [3-Stack] $250 $6,000
Feb. 25 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 25 Bounty Closer $210 $210 $3,000
Feb. 25 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 26 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 26 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 26 Asia Special $88 [3-Stack] $88 $5,000
Feb. 26 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 26 Bounty $52.50 $52.50 $3,500
Feb. 26 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 26 Daily Special $125 [3-Stack] $125 $5,000
Feb. 26 Bounty High Roller $1,050 $1,050 $20,000
Feb. 26 Bounty $105 $105 $4,000
Feb. 26 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 26 High Roller $1,500 [3-Stack] $1,500 $25,000
Feb. 26 Daily Main $250 [3-Stack] $250 $6,000
Feb. 26 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 26 Bounty Closer $210 $210 $3,000
Feb. 26 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 26 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 27 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 27 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 27 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 27 Asia High Roller $888 [3-Stack] $888 $20,000
Feb. 27 Asia Special $88 [3-Stack] $88 $10,000
Feb. 27 Bounty Main Event $525 [Stage 1] $525 $200,000
Feb. 27 Bounty $52.50 $52.50 $5,000
Feb. 27 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Stage 1] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 27 Sunday Special $125 [3-Stack] $125 $8,000
Feb. 27 Bounty High Roller $1,050 $1,050 $25,000
Feb. 27 Bounty $105 $105 $8,000
Feb. 27 Bounty Main Event $525 [Last Chance] $525 $200,000
Feb. 27 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Last Chance] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 27 Sunday High Roller $1,500 [3-Stack] $1,500 $30,000
Feb. 27 Sunday Main $250 [3-Stack] $250 $15,000
Feb. 27 Bounty Turbo $210 $210 $8,000
Feb. 27 Bounty Main Event $525 [Last Minute] $525 $200,000
Feb. 27 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Last Minute] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 27 Bounty Main Event $525 [Final Stage] $525 $200,000
Feb. 27 Bounty Mini Main $52.50 [Final Stage] $52.50 $100,000
Feb. 27 Super High Roller $10,300 [3-Stack] $10,300 $100,000
Feb. 27 Bounty Super High Roller $5,250 $5,250 $75,000