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WSOPE Weekly: High Roller Paul Phua Captures First Bracelet, Anson Tsang Grabs His Third

The WSOP Europe reached full throttle over the last week with several players cashing in, including high stakes regular Paul Phua.

The World Series of Poker Europe reached full throttle over the last week with several players cashing in for their first bracelets. That included well-known high stakes player Paul Phua, who took down a high roller event this week.

The last week also saw Anson Tsang score his third WSOP bracelet as well. With the Main Event starting Nov. 11, here’s a look at the last week of action.

Event 8: €25,000 Platinum High Roller

Longtime high stakes regular Paul Phua (pictured in lead image, courtesy WSOP) grabbed the first bracelet of his career in this high roller. He topped a 34-player field for a €482,433 payday.

“It’s a very different kind of feeling,” he said after the win. “You don’t get to do this all the time. Not often. I didn’t expect to win because there are so many players around. But the structure at the end is very short which suits players like me.”

Phua now has more than $26 million in live tournament winnings. The Platinum High Roller drew a hefty €1.6 million prize pool with South Korea’s Gab Yong Kim scoring runner-up for €298,163.

Some other big names made final table appearances as well. Shaun Deeb finished third for €205,566 and Daniel Negreanu took fourth for €146,370. WSOP Main Event winner Espen Jorstad finished ninth for €45,242.

Negreanu has continued his popular vlog series while playing in the Czech Republic.

Event 7: €1,650 No Limit Hold’em Six-Handed

Some short-handed NLHE action proved popular, bringing in 413 entries for a €588,525 prize pool. The action continued on Wednesday and will be included in next week’s WSOP Weekly updates.

Event 6: €5,000 Pot Limit Omaha

The big buy-in PLO action saw Ukraine’s Roman Verenko score the title for €247,288. The win gives him more than $573,000 in live tournament earnings and the biggest score of his career.

The tournament attracted 223 entries for a $1 million prize pool. Sweden’s Omar Huang took runner-up for €152,827.

PLO seems to be quite the game for Verenko. Just a few days earlier, he also won the €5,0000 PLO High Roller side event for €49,637

Event 5: €550 Colossus

The Colossus delivered a fitting field with 2,982 entries and a $1.4 million prize pool. In the end, Slovakia’s Lubos Laska scored his first bracelet for €170,568. This was also the first major tournament win of the part-time poker player’s career.

“I was really lucky today,”  he said. “I am really happy. Probably some professionals would be so much more happy because they would feel like they accomplished something, but I play just for fun.”

After learning to play poker in a bar years ago, Laska picked up the game again just a bit over a year ago. This was the biggest buy-in of his career and he’d simply hoped to get in the money. Nino Junior Pansier, of the Netherlands, took runner-up for €105,241.

Anson Tsang celebrates after his winning his third WSOP bracelet. (photo courtesy WSOP)

Event 4: €2,000 Pot Limit Omaha

Hong Kong’s Yan Shing “Anson” Tsang scored his third bracelet in this four-card action. He scored  €388,407 and won the exact same event in 2018. Tsang has now made three final table appearances in the same event.

His first bracelet came in the WSOP Online at GGPoker in 2020, when he took down a $500 Deepstack for $150,460.

Poland Tomasz Gluszko finished runner-up €58,988. 888poker ambassador Vivian Saliba, of Brazil, finished sixth for €14,959. The event saw 221 entries for a €388,407 prize pool.

Event 3: €1,350 Mini Main Event

This may not be “the” Main Event, but this smaller version packed in the players. The Mini Main Event garnered 1,431 entries for a $1.6 million prize pool.

Macedonia’s Ilija Savevski, 34, came out on top for €245,319 and his first bracelet. Germany’s Stefan Schoss finished runner-up for €151,554.

A part-time player, Savevski works for a ​​software development company and has $631,000 in live tournament winnings.

“It means a lot,” Savevski said of winning his first WSOP title. “A bracelet is every player’s dream and I’ve wanted it ever since I learned about the WSOP and finally to win one after many years feels amazing.”

Upcoming events

Plenty of action continues in the coming week. That includes the final table of Event 10: €2,000 Eight-Game Mix. Shaun Deeb held the chip lead with 12 players left on Wednesday.

The €50,000 Diamond High Roller kicks off on Thursday with the €10,350 getting underway on Friday. Here’s a look at the remaining events.

2022 WSOP Europe

DateEventTournamentBuy-inGuarantee
Nov. 1011Diamond High Roller€50,000€1,000,000
Nov. 1112Main Event€10,350€100,000
Nov. 1313PLO/NLHE Mixed€1,650€40,000
Nov. 1414Turbo Bounty Hunter€1,100€30,000
Nov. 1515Turboa Freezeout€1,000€30,000

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Match Poker Online Launches First Major Event; World Cup Coming in December, Cash Prizes for Winners

The inaugural Match Poker Online World Cup recently concluded with top-tier players from around the world competing.

The official Match Poker Online app launched earlier this year and now takes the platform to the next level. The World Cup international competition is now on the horizon for the online poker app and set for December.

The event allows players to represent their country and take on the best players in the game. Cash prizes will also be up for grabs.

“From the start, we’ve wanted to be much more than an app, we’ve wanted to be a sport – albeit one that is played via an app,” head of customer relations Jake Colman says. “Being a sport necessarily involves holding championship events, world cups, and other big events to determine the best players in the sport of poker. So this is the first time we are offering the pinnacle of our sport.”

Qualifying for the Match Poker World Cup

To get in the action, players must meet the eligibility requirement by downloading and playing on the app. Competitors must have achieved at least one of the following by Nov. 27:

  • reached an IFMP (International Federation of Match Poker) rating of 1,200 or above
  • be in the top 15% of the Ivory, Sapphire, or Emerald tiers of IFMP Ratings
  • be among the top 15% of eligible players in any Premiership season
  • won a weekly challenge 
  • won a special event, such as the May Cup or Battle Weekend

About 400 players are in the World Cup pool so far, but players can still qualify. Eligible players will be notified via email.

How does Match Poker work?

Launched in February, the free poker app features a “Battle Royale” game. The app is much different than a traditional free-to-play poker app. Match Poker turns the game into a sporting competition without having to risk your own bankroll. 

Players get a chance to test their skills against players all over the world. All players are tested in a poker situation that includes 36 contestants.

Each seat is dealt the same hand across tables. Whoever scores best in each situation moves on and is awarded points. 

This helps take luck out of the game and focuses on particular hand situations. The app can be a nice training tool, helping players see different scenarios in real time. It also is continually improving as well. 

“We’re going to start analyzing everything from how often you make it to showdown, win at showdown, three-bet or fold to a three-bet, continuation bet, or move all in,” Colman says. “Each statistic tells the player where they are, and where they should be.”

A look at the World Cup

The World Cup features a playoff series and concludes with a finals consisting of players of the same rating tier. Tournament play showcases Match Poker Online’s new “Triple Battle” format, which sees players compete in one Battle Royale each hour for three consecutive hours.

The top 36 players then advance in the finals. The series comes after months of planning and continuous growth on the app.

“What’s been wonderful to see has been the enthusiasm from our players,” Colman says. “Each of our matches goes for 30-45 minutes, and heaps of players play 20 or so matches each week, which is a wonderful commitment of time and effort.

“There are some players who have played more than 100 matches a month! Adding even more players at all skill levels gets us closer to our goal of running matches almost instantaneously. Happily, we’re getting closer.”

The playoffs take place Dec. 3-4 for most players with the finals playing out on Dec. 10-11. For US players, those dates are Dec. 2-3 with the finals on Dec. 9-10.

The winner of the Ruby division, the top competition, is crowned the overall World Cup champion. And even though it’s a free app, Match Poker Online is awarding cash prizes. Players can compete for a share of more than $2,000 and here’s a look at the payouts:

Ranking category1st place2nd place3rd place
Ruby$625$250$125
Ivory$450$175$75
Sapphire$200$100$50
Emerald$100$50$25

Ramping up the Match Poker app

Besides the World Cup, the company is looking to expand the app’s statistical analyses. This will give more and faster players feedback regarding their own play.

After years of development, players can now test their skills by using real-time updated data.

The company is also expanding the digital platform into other parts of Asia, Europe and the Americas. 

Future highlights include country-specific events set to launch in 2023. Players will then also be able to create private clubs and expand to make their own competitions. The moves come as Match Poker Online continues to “sportify” poker.

“Even though it’s played in an app, Match Poker is a sport,” Colman says. “We’re working hard to see it become as widespread as basketball, tennis, or chess, with communities in every part of the world, at every level – from suburban leagues to national titles. The World Cup is the most important step forward we’ve ever taken in getting there.”

Match Poker Online is now available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

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Irish Poker Open Joins Forces With PokerStars, Paddy Power for 2023 Series; Online Events Planned

Irish Poker Open organizers announced a new deal with PokerStars and Paddy Power on Monday for the upcoming series.

The Irish Poker Open has a new online poker operator for 2023. Festival organizers announced a new deal with PokerStars and Paddy Power on Monday for the upcoming series.

Both brands are part of Flutter Entertainment and the new official sponsors for the series. The Irish Open is set for April 3-10 in the RDS Ballsbridge in Dublin.

Plans call for both brands promoting the event and offering online satellites on PokerStars and Paddy Power. The live events will also be streamed as part of the partnership.

“We are very proud to announce PokerStars and Paddy Power as the official sponsors of the Irish Poker Open and we are looking forward to bringing our players another epic festival, while welcoming new players from around the globe!” festival CEOs Paul O’Reilly and JP McCann said in a news release.

“We have exciting plans in place for the growth of the Irish Poker Open, Europe’s longest-running poker festival, and we believe, with PokerStars and Paddy Power as the new sponsors, this aligns perfectly with our vision for the growth over the coming years. This can only be a great thing for players.”

What to expect at the Irish Poker Open

Those heading to the Emerald Isle are again in store for some major poker action. The highlight is the €1 million guaranteed Main Event.

Organizers will release more event details in the coming weeks. Stars promises plenty of activities on and off the felt in Dublin.

The Irish Poker Open is one of the most-anticipated series each year on the European card-playing calendar. The festival is the longest-running No Limit Hold’em tournament outside Las Vegas. The series has a history going back more than 42 years.

The Open received some extra publicity in 1984 when a group of about 25 American players traveled to Ireland to play the tournament at Killiney Castle.

The group included then-reigning World Series of Poker champion Tom McEvoy. Poker Hall of Fame members Stu Ungar, Chip Reese, and Doyle Brunson also made the trip. The €1,000 Main Event attracted widespread television and press coverage in Ireland, putting the Irish Poker Open on the map.

Most recently, well-regarded poker pro Steve O’Dwyer topped a field of 2,040 entries earlier this year for the title and €318,700. O’Dwyer has lived in Dublin for the last 10 years and scored the title in his hometown.

The Main Event saw a €2 million prize pool, doubling the €1 million guarantee. The 2023 event features the same guarantee and organizers are hoping for similar results.

“Ireland is the home of Flutter and we are truly delighted to partner with the already well-loved Open and work with our colleagues at Paddy Power and the Irish Poker Open to make this a very special event for all our players, not only for those in Ireland but for players from around the world,” PokerStars chief commercial officer Kevin Harrington said in a news release.

Online opportunities

As in previous series during the COVID pandemic, players will also find online options before and during the series. Online qualifiers should be part of the mix at PokerStars and Paddy Power.

Stars will also run an online Irish Poker Open series ahead of the event and with more details coming soon. Paddy Poker is expected to hold online events and promotions as well.

The new partnership pleased company executives, who are happy to be back in the fold as a sponsor of the series.

“Paddy Power has over a decade of heritage as former sponsors of the Irish Poker Open, so the opportunity to make a comeback bigger than Boris Johnson (former prime minister of the United Kingdom) by going all in with our colleagues in Flutter made us royally flush with excitement,” a Paddy Power spokesman said.

“By the very nature of its warm hospitality, Dublin – which bears a remarkable resemblance to Vegas if you crank up the central heating – always attracts a full house. And we’re at full tilt with plans to ensure the 2023 Irish Poker Open is the greatest poker tournament Europe has ever witnessed. On a more personal note, I’ve vowed to brush up on my poker puns before we return to the table.”

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Power Couple: PokerStars, Poker Power Group Team Up for Female Player-Focused Boot Camps

PokerStars announced a partnership with the women-led organization Poker Power with the goal of bringing more female players into the game.

The goal of getting more women into poker continues as a major goal for PokerStars. On Thursday, the company announced another addition to those efforts, a partnership with the women-led organization Poker Power.

The group offers training and events geared toward female players. The first initiative between Stars and Poker Power is a boot camp to strengthen their skills. More co-branded events are also planned.

“We’re incredibly excited to join forces with such a progressive organization like Poker Power,” PokerStars director of partnerships, public relations, and consumer engagement Rebecca McAdam Willetts said in a news release.

“They are the perfect partner to collaborate with on this project as the work they do with women in poker transcends the gaming table – their programs teach skills of strategy and leadership that can be applied to the board room and beyond.”

PokerStars looks to grow women in the game

The initiative is part of the company’s commitment to the growth of the game and to supporting women in poker. Stars hopes to bring the fun to more women while ensuring a comfortable and safe place to play, live or online.

The news follows recent Poker Power research that a major gender gap exists within the game. Female players check in at just 4% of the estimated 100 million poker players worldwide.

What to expect from PokerStars/Poker Power

The four-week boot camps are part of the overall Stars effort to address that disparity, company officials say. The Poker Power aim to add confidence and skills by:

  • highlighting women in poker
  • presenting more opportunities for women who already play and for those who would like to learn
  • learning gameplay skills that translate to real-world success including negotiation, strategic decision-making, and capital allocation

The curriculum includes practice sessions on Power’s teaching app, Poker Power Play. Those attending can also expect specialized tournaments and home games on PokerStars.

Modules feature themes like confidence, boldness, determination, perception, and discipline. The site notes that input from women players was a big part of the planning process.

“Despite some great progress over the years, we know there’s still a long road ahead to make poker more inclusive, but a lot can be done when we row in the same direction together,” McAdam Willetts said. “We also know women-only events and activities are not for everyone, but we’ve listened to players and this is one of many activities we have planned that comes from direct feedback.

“These boot camps are an essential first opportunity to pique interest in women who have never played the game before and to motivate those that play poker, to continue to evolve their skills and gain confidence at the tables. We’re committed to making poker as inclusive and accessible for everyone and it’s our mission to create equal opportunities and a safe space for the poker community.”

Stars ambassadors part of the mix

Beyond the training elements of the sessions, PokerStars ambassadors will also take part. The events include one-on-one tutorials with company representatives like Jennifer Shahade, GJ Reggie and Lali Tournier.

The women hope to prepare students to play at the tables. Those participating will even have a chance to win a spot in a special event at European Poker Tour (EPT) Prague series.

Stars selected participants via an anonymous survey. Those surveyed had limited poker ability, but an interest in furthering their skills and learning more.

The partnership comes after PokerStars recently held its first Road to PSPC (PokerStars Players Championship) women’s event. Rishva Iyer (pictured in lead image courtesy PokerStars) came out on top, scoring a Platinum Pass.

Officials with the company and Poker Power now hope their partnership adds to the momentum.

“We are honored to be working with PokerStars on this milestone project,” Poker Power managing director  and general manager Erin Lydon said. “PokerStars shares our strategic mission and vision for the future of women in poker – and it’s thrilling to curate a special boot camp that will encourage more women to join this amazing sport. Our mission at Poker Power is to teach one million women business and life skills through the game of poker.

“Our four-week course will not just teach women about poker but equip them with important life skills that can be applied to business, parenthood, and general life. I hope through this partnership, we can create more opportunities for women, and that perceptions of poker will begin to shift and more women will feel empowered and safe to step up to the gaming table.”

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Poker Podium: Ian Hamilton, Adrian Mateos, Hannes Jeschka Among Online Poker’s October Winners

Poker Podium offers another look at some online and live poker winners over the last month from online poker operators.

There was plenty of action from the major online poker operators in October. From big winners on the European Poker Tour to a million-dollar score at GGPoker, players cashed in right up through Halloween in both the live and online arenas.

The month also brought some interesting online challenges with GGPoker’s Kevin Martin now facing an interesting athletic feat. Once again Poker Podium takes a look at some of online poker winners and headlines from the last month.

PokerStars

The European Poker Tour stop in London was a huge part of the PokerStars action in October. The £5,300 Main Event highlighted the series from Oct. 22-28.

After surviving several all-in situations at the final table, the United Kingdom’s Ian Hamilton took the title for £664,400. Jack Sinclair, also from the UK, finished runner-up for £414,650 in a tournament that saw 749 entries.

Former Deliveroo executive Adam Miller also proved to be a success at EPT London. The company offers restaurant delivery services in the UK and Miller served as the company’s chief financial officer.

Adam Miller battles at the EPT London. (photo courtesy PokerStars)

At EPT London, Miller delivered some nice finishes. After winning a £530 online satellite, he scored a Main Event package valued at £9,200. He then went on to finish 56th for £11,200.

Next, Miller took seventh in the £550 Eight-Game mix for £2,370. He battled PokerStars ambassadors Georgina “GJReggie” James and Parker “Tonkaaaa” Talbot at the final table. 

Miller’s run in the series got even better in the £10,300 High Roller. He took the top spot for £358,550. With his recent success, more poker tournaments look to be in his future.

“Yeah, I’m going to start traveling around a bit more to play more of these bigger buy-in events,” he said. “I haven’t decided between EPT Prague and another event in December, but I’ll play in the Bahamas and then play a full World Series of Poker schedule next year.”

Mystery Bounty rewards Platinum Pass 

The £3,000 Mystery Bounty was a major part of the action in London with a Platinum Pass as one of the bounties up for grabs. Germany’s Hannes Jeschka added to a nice year, bagging the pass and a trip to the $25,000 PokerStars Players Championship in January.

Hannes Jeschka accepts his new Platinum Pass. (photo courtesy PokerStars)

The win came after Jeschka won a $5,300 tournament in Cyprus in August for $542,000. Adding one of poker’s biggest prizes wasn’t on his mind when the action got underway.

“When I entered this tournament I didn’t know there was a Platinum Pass,” he told the PokerStars blog. He added: “I was disappointed to bust the tournament and I have mixed feelings right now, but this is overwhelming.”

WCOOP 2022: Take 2 is next up at PokerStars, running Nov. 5-9 with 66 events and total guaranteed prize pools of almost $28 million.

PartyPoker

The Grand Prix KO Autumn Edition was in the spotlight at Party in October. The $109 Main Event featured a $500,000 guarantee and Sweden’s Emil Sjogren grabbed the title for a total payout of $47,569.

The tournament topped the guarantee, bringing in 5,123 entries for a $512,300 prize pool. The Czech Republic’s Jiri Havlena took runner-up for $36,451.

The $320 Six-Max High Roller was another major event in the series and saw Brazil’s Gabriel De Melo come out on top. The tournament easily topped the $200,000 guarantee, attracting 773 entries for a $231,900 prize pool.

De Melo won $30,383 for the title with Canada’s Philippe D’Auteuil taking runner-up for $18,150.

The MILLIONS Online series is also now underway at PartyPoker. The series kicked off on Oct. 27 and runs through Nov. 15. The action started with Brazil’s William Barbosa becoming the series’ first champion.

He topped a field of 912 opponents in the $162 Opener for a score of $17,225. The event featured a $125,000 guarantee and Austria’s Tomas Patka finished runner-up for $9,568.

Adrian Mateos was another early winner, taking the title in the $530 Eight-Max for $12,461. The Spanish poker pro also has more than $30 million in live tournament winnings and is an ambassador for Winamax. He’ll also be part of an upcoming training session as part of the Winamax Poker Tour.

GGPoker

Much of the action over the last month at GG focused on the Bounty Hunters Series, which runs through Nov. 7 with $50 million guaranteed.

One of the big winners so far is Philippe D’Auteuil, fresh off his nice runner-up at PartyPoker. He took down the $525 Bounty Hunters High Roller Main Event on Sunday for more than $105,000.

GG also partners with WSOP.com in Canada for a new Ontario platform. The site recently ran a WSOP Online mini series with three bracelets up for grabs.

Toronto’s David Cowling won the final event, the $1,050 GGMasters Online Championship. He scored $50,992 and his first WSOP bracelet. For a complete look at the series results, click here.

In other action, GGPoker ambassador Kevin Martin conducted a unique challenge in late October. With $20,000 in his online account, the Twitch streamer had to play 60 hours with the hopes of ending up in the black. If not, the challenge came with an interesting punishment.

The result? He dipped below the initial amount and will now be readying his scooter for a marathon. On the other end of the spectrum, one player recently cashed in via a Bounty Jackpot event for a cool $1 million.

888poker

The XL Retro Series was a huge part of the 888 action in October with more than two weeks of tournaments. The 27-event series saw 10,951 entries and awarded $1.5 million.

Brazilians performed particularly well, winning seven titles. Canada was just behind with players winning six events. Players from Sweden, Germany, Malta, Finland, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Lithuania, Mexico, the Netherlands, Montenegro, Ireland, and the United Kingdom won titles as well. 

The series saw seven five-figure payouts for first place. The largest came in the $250 Main Event, with “raw_dawg” winning for $70,164. The championship topped the $500,000 guarantee, attracting 2,162 entries for a $508,070 prize pool.

Some of the 888poker ambassador team found nice runs as well. Vivian Saliba and StreamTeam members Nick Eastwood and Josh Manley all made it in the money.

Another StreamTeam member found the winner’s circle. Jordan Banfield took down the $320 Crocodile KO for a $5,418 top prize plus $375 in bounties. The Canadian player collected a total payout of $5,793.

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888poker Announces Live Madrid Festival, Online Qualifiers Offer Complete Tournament Package

The 20th-anniversary celebration festivities continue at 888poker. The site announced on Thursday the CNP888 LIVE Festival heads to Madrid, Spain, next week.

888 is partnering with CNP (Circuito Nacional de Poker) to present the LIVE Madrid Festival at Casino Gran Madrid – Torrelodones. The series runs Nov. 10-20 and features a €1,100 Main Event.

Along with plenty of live tournament action, the series also allows players to qualify online at 888poker.

What to expect from 888poker in Madrid

Players heading to Madrid will find plenty of poker action. Those looking to grab a tournament package at a bargain price can check out the online satellite options at 888.

Complete $2,000 luxury tournament packages for the Main Event are up for grabs. Qualifiers start at just one cent. Players can also register directly into a $109 satellite with a chance to win a package which includes:

  • €1,100 Main Event buy-in
  • $500 for hotel accommodations from Nov. 14-18
  • $400 travel money for expenses (paid into player’s 888poker account)
  • 888poker LIVE kit

The entire 888poker ambassador crew will attend along with some of the 888 Twitch StreamTeam. Site officials will also announce a new ambassador at the festival as well.

The 888poker ambassadors will be out in force at the Madrid series.

888, which was recently named Poker Operator of the Year by EGaming Review, will stream the Main Event live on the 888pokerTV Twitch channel on Nov. 16-17. Here are details on the 888poker LIVE Madrid 20th Anniversary Main Event structure:

  • Starting stack – 80,000 chips
  • Level time – 45 minutes (60 minutes on final day)
  • Unlimited re-entries

An trip to historic Spain 

Madrid is the third-largest European city and offers plenty of great options for a Spanish getaway. The Casino Gran Madrid is located on the outskirts of the city and combines gaming with food and entertainment. The virtual reality room is one of the casino’s most unique features.

Players and online qualifiers are in store for plenty of history and activities while in Spain. Madrid is located almost in the center of the country and has been the country’s capital since 1461.

Many of the area’s historic buildings date from the Spanish Golden Age, including the famous Plaza Mayor and Royal Palace of Madrid. The city is packed with museums and brilliant architecture. Some of the historic and unique landmarks include:

  • Royal Palace of Madrid
  • Royal Theatre with its restored 1850 Opera House
  • Buen Retiro Park (founded in 1631)
  • 19th-century National Library building (founded in 1712)
  • The Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado, comprises three art museums: Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía Museum, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
  • Cibeles Palace and Fountain

The entire festival offers a great opportunity to experience some rich Spanish history. Online poker players can take a shot at grabbing a tournament package with qualifiers now underway.

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WSOP Weekly: European Series Underway With Two Bracelet Winners, Negreanu Joining Action

The WSOP Europe is now underway and two players have secured their first bracelets in the first week of action.

The online bracelet hunting may have concluded, but the live action returned last week with the World Series of Poker Europe now underway at King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic.

After a week, two players have secured their first bracelets. The series runs through Nov. 16 and features 15 bracelet events.

The €10,350 Main Event highlights the festival and kicks off on Nov. 11. As events play out, another well-known player will soon join the mix. Six-time bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu plans on jumping in the action this week. Here’s a look at some of the headlines from the series so far.

Event 2: €550 Pot Limit Omaha Eight-Max

The Omaha action featured the second-straight bargain buy-in, bringing in 566 entries for a €268,850 prize pool. Germany’s Helmut Phung, 30, took the chip lead into the final table and never relinquished that. He scored his first bracelet and a top prize of €55,132.

“My plan was to win the tournament and to put a lot of pressure on the other players,” he said afterward. “I played with them on all the different tables and knew what to expect.”

Helmut Phung shows off his bracelet after winning the opening event at the World Serief of Polker Europe. (photo courtesy WSOP)

This was only Phung’s third career series cash, all coming in WSOPE events. The win greatly ballooned his live tournament record, which now stands at more than $84,000.

Norway’s Martin Almaas finished runner-up for €34,051, the largest score of his career.

Event 1: €350 No Limit Hold’em Opener

Some classic Hold’em action kicked off the series at the lowest buy-in level on the schedule. That brought in 2,454 entries for a €734,359 prize pool.

When the action reached heads-up play, a pair of Italians battled for the top spot. Fabio Peluso (pictured in lead image, courtesy WSOP) ultimately found the winner’s circle for €95,670. His only previous WSOP cash came in the same event in 2021.

The win comes after another big finish earlier this year. In April, Peluso took runner-up in the PokerStars European Poker Tour €1,100 Main Event in Monte Carlo for €217,340. Some recent focus on his game has apparently paid off.

“I have been studying a lot and discussing spots with my poker friends,” he said. “And of course the run-good helps too.”

Carlo Savinelli took runner-up for €59,032 and now has more than $274,000 in WSOP winnings. The Italian now has almost $1.4 million in live tournament winnings overall.

Daniel Negreanu heading to Rozvadov

With his eyes on another bracelet, Daniel Negreanu announced last week that he’d be heading to King’s as well. He even listed a staking package online for players to back the Canadian-born poker pro.

Look for Negreanu to debut in a Rozvadov field this week.

“Come and get it!” he noted on Twitter on Oct. 29. “I’m heading to WSOP Europe next week and here’s your chance to get a piece and have a sweat.”

On the Brandon Adams Podcast recently, the GGPoker ambassador discussed his own preparation for massive series like the WSOP. That includes some changes to his workout routine during the series.

Fresh off a win in the Super High Roller Bowl, he’ll be looking for another win in Europe. That turned around a year that was set to be his biggest losing year in poker. Negreanu now has almost $50 million in live tournament winnings.

Upcoming events

Plenty of big tournaments await players in the coming weeks. After three starting flights, the €1,350 Mini Main Event reaches Day 2 on Thursday.

The €550 Colossus also kicks off on Thursday and should bring in a huge field as seen at the annual live series in Las Vegas and in the recent WSOP Online at GGPoker.

For those with much bigger bankrolls, the €25,000 Platinum High Roller also gets underway on Monday. Here’s a look at the remaining schedule.

2022 WSOP Europe

DateEventTournamentBuy-inGuarantee
Nov. 1011Diamond High Roller€50,000€1,000,000
Nov. 1112Main Event€10,350€100,000
Nov. 1313PLO/NLHE Mixed€1,650€40,000
Nov. 1414Turbo Bounty Hunter€1,100€30,000
Nov. 1515Turboa Freezeout€1,000€30,000
 

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KNOCKOUT: 888poker Rings Bell on KO Games Mystery Bounty Series With $2 Million Guaranteed

888poker is launching the Knockout Games Mystery Bounty Edition Nov. 6-22 and the entire series includes more than $2 million guaranteed.

Fans of bounty tournaments are in luck at 888poker in November. The company is launching the Knockout Games Mystery Bounty Edition from Nov. 6-22 and the entire series includes more than $2 million guaranteed.

Players will find a wide variety of buy-ins for every level of player. The festival also includes some major guarantees.

That includes a $250 Main Event with $500,000 guaranteed and numerous other daily tournaments. The action promises some great poker action for players around the world.

Knockout Games Mystery Bounty Edition up next for 888poker

Along with the seven-figure guarantee, the Knockout Games Mystery Bounty Edition offers 44 events featuring knockout, progressive knockouts (PKO), and mystery bounty tournaments.

The $250 multi-flight Main Event highlights the action and comes with a $50,000 top bounty. Starting flights begin Nov. 16 and run through Nov. 21 with Day 2 also playing out on Nov. 21. Those with less time can also find several turbo and hyper turbo qualifiers.

Another bullet point on the schedule is the $2,100 Super High Roller, featuring a $100,000 guarantee. Mystery Bounty tournaments are the primary focus of the series as well and feature several satellites.

As the name implies, mystery bounties award a random prize when a player eliminates an opponent rather than a standard amount. One of those will reward a lucky player with a cool $50,000 in the championship event.

Knockout Games live streaming schedule

Those jumping in the action have a shot to be featured on 888pokerTV. The Twitch channel will stream four final tables and also hand out plenty of prizes throughout the action.

The 888poker StreamTeam and ambassador Twitch channels will also award prizes during the series. The 888pokerTV streaming events include:

  • Nov. 7 – $120,000 Opening Event Mystery Bounty
  • Nov. 14 – $150,000 Mystery Bounty
  • Nov. 21 – $100,000 Super High Roller PKO
  • Nov. 22 – $500,000 KO Games MB Main Event

Here’s a look at the entire Knockout Games schedule.

888poker Knockout Games Mystery Bounty Edition 2022

DateEventBuy-inGuarantee
Nov. 6$40,000 Sunday - Mystery Bounty 55$55$40,000
Nov. 6$25,000 Sunday - Mystery Bounty 22$22$25,000
Nov. 6$10,000 Sunday - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$10,000
Nov. 6$120,000 - Opening Event Mystery Bounty$109$120,000
Nov. 6$50,000 - High Roller Mystery Bounty$525$50,000
Nov. 7$25,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 55$55$25,000
Nov. 7$20,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 22$22$20,000
Nov. 7$8,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$8,000
Nov. 7$20,000 PKO$109$20,000
Nov. 7$4,000 Mini PKO$11$4,000
Nov. 8$25,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 55$55$25,000
Nov. 8$20,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 22$22$20,000
Nov. 8$8,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$8,000
Nov. 8$20,000 Super KO$320$20,000
Nov. 8$8,000 Mini Super KO$33$8,000
Nov. 9$25,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 55$55$25,000
Nov. 9$20,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 22$22$20,000
Nov. 9$8,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$8,000
Nov. 9$15,000 KO$109$15,000
Nov. 9$6,000 Mini KO$33$6,000
Nov. 10$25,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 55$55$25,000
Nov. 10$20,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 22$22$20,000
Nov. 10$8,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$8,000
Nov. 10$30,000 Mystery Bounty 8-Max$109$30,000
Nov. 10$15,000 Mini Mystery Bounty 8-Max$16.50$15,000
Nov. 11$25,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 55$55$25,000
Nov. 11$20,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 22$22$20,000
Nov. 11$8,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$8,000
Nov. 12$25,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 55$55$25,000
Nov. 12$20,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 22$22$20,000
Nov. 12$8,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$8,000
Nov. 12$40,000 PKO 8-Max$1,050$40,000
Nov. 13$40,000 Sunday - Mystery Bounty 55$55$40,000
Nov. 13$25,000 Sunday - Mystery Bounty 22$22$25,000
Nov. 13$10,000 Sunday - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$10,000
Nov. 13$150,000 Mystery Bounty$215$150,000
Nov. 13$50,000 High Roller Mystery Bounty$525$50,000
Nov. 14$25,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 55$55$25,000
Nov. 14$20,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 22$22$20,000
Nov. 14$8,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$8,000
Nov. 14$15,000 PKO 6-Max$55$15,000
Nov. 14$3,000 - Mini PKO 6-Max$11$3,000
Nov. 15$25,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 55$55$25,000
Nov. 15$20,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 22$22$20,000
Nov. 15$8,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$8,000
Nov. 15$20,000 Super KO 8-Max$320$20,000
Nov. 15$8,000 Super KO 8-Max$33$8,000
Nov. 16$25,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 55$55$25,000
Nov. 16$20,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 22$22$20,000
Nov. 16$8,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$8,000
Nov. 16$5,000 PKOmaha 6-Max$109$5,000
Nov. 16$500,000 - Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 16$1,500 - Mini PKOmaha 6-Max$33$1,500
Nov. 16$500,000 - Turbo Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 17$25,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 55$55$25,000
Nov. 17$20,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 22$22$20,000
Nov. 17$8,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$8,000
Nov. 17$500,000 - Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 17$20,000 PKO$320$20,000
Nov. 17$500,000 - Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 17$500,000 - Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 18$25,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 55$55$25,000
Nov. 18$20,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 22$22$20,000
Nov. 18$8,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$8,000
Nov. 18$500,000 - Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 18$500,000 - Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 18$500,000 - Turbo Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 18$500,000 - Hyper Turbo Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 19$25,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 55$55$25,000
Nov. 19$20,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 22$22$20,000
Nov. 19$500,000 - Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 19$8,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$8,000
Nov. 19$40,000 PKO 6-Max$1,050$40,000
Nov. 19$500,000 - Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 19$500,000 - Turbo Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 19$500,000 - Hyper Turbo Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 20$500,000 - Hyper Turbo Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)--
Nov. 20$40,000 Sunday - Mystery Bounty 55$55$40,000
Nov. 20$25,000 Sunday - Mystery Bounty 22$22$25,000
Nov. 20$8,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$10,000
Nov. 20$30,000 - Mystery Bounty 6-Max$109$30,000
Nov. 20$100,000 - Super High Roller PKO$2,100$100,000
Nov. 20$500,000 - Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 20$20,000 Super KO$33$20,000
Nov. 20$500,000 - Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 20$500,000 - Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 21$500,000 - Hyper Turbo Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 21$500,000 - Turbo Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 21$500,000 - Turbo Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 21$500,000 - Hyper Turbo Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 1)$250-
Nov. 21$40,000 Sunday - Mystery Bounty 55$55$25,000
Nov. 21$25,000 Sunday - Mystery Bounty 22$22$20,000
Nov. 21$8,000 Daily - Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$8,000
Nov. 21$500,000 - Mystery Bounty Main Event (Day 2)-$500,000
Nov. 22$500,000 - Mystery Bounty Main Event (final table)-

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WSOP Online: Action Concludes in Ontario with Toronto Player Scoring Championship Finale

WSOP.ca and GGPoker are hosting the WSOP Winter Circuit Ontario from Dec. 4 – Jan. 9 with $5 million guaranteed.

Two World Series of Poker Online events wrapped up at WSOP.ca over the weekend in Ontario with David Cowling taking down the championship finale.

The events bring to a close the three-event series on the Canadian platform. The Ontario site is a partnership between the WSOP and GGPoker. GG officials were pleased with the popularity of the series in Ontario.

“We were very happy to bring real WSOP bracelet action to Ontario, and were thrilled by the participation and enthusiasm shown by players right across the province,” GG head of public relations Paul Burke tells PokerScout.

Event 3: $1,050 GGMasters Online Championship

David “Edeskie” Cowling, of Toronto, found the winner’s circle in this championship event that came with a (CAD)$250,000 prize pool. He scored $50,992 and his first WSOP bracelet in the process.

The final hand saw Cowling catch two pair on the flop with his 8♥2♣. His opponent, “Funky Kong,” moved all in on the river when a third spade hit the board.

Cowling ultimately called, picking off his opponent’s bluff. Funky Kong showed K♣9♦ for just King high. Cowling earned a nice payday and some WSOP hardware for his efforts.

The win adds to Cowling’s poker record that includes $225,218 in live tournament winnings. This marked the largest score of his career with the previous coming in May. In a €3,000 Mystery Bounty event on the PokerStars European Poker Tour, Cowling took fifth for €45,950.

The WSOP.ca win marked the first major tournament win of his career as well.

Event 2: $210 Pot Limit Omaha Bounty MILLION$ 

This event brought some Omaha action to the mini-series and featured a $100,000 guarantee. The tournament saw a considerable boost, however, with the prize pool ballooning to $130,200.

When the action concluded, Xing “Mai_K_4_Life” He, of Scarborough, grabbed the bracelet and a payday of $8,239.

That total doesn’t include a deal made between the final two players. The amount also doesn’t include bounties, which made up half of the prize pool.

He’s poker record includes $35,468 in live tournament winnings. In the recent WSOP Online at GGPoker, he also scored 56th in the $5,000 Main Event for $52,807.

More action coming to GGPoker

The first WSOP Online event in Ontario played out a week earlier with Tristan Schneider grabbing the gold for $28,968 in the $150 BIG 150 Ontario MILLION$.

Ontario players looking for more action should be in luck in the coming days. Like the WSOP platform in the US, the Ontario site is expected to run a regular Online Circuit Series as the site did in October.

On the international GGPoker platform, the Bounty Hunters Series, which runs through Nov. 7 with $50 million guaranteed.

The company also recently partnered with Dusk Till Dawn casino for the United Kingdom Poker Championships, which are set for January 7-11. Online qualifiers for the series are already underway.

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BIG YEAR: 888poker Named Poker Operator of the Year by EGR

As the company celebrates its 20th anniversary through the year, 888poker was recently recognized by EGaming Review (EGR) as the 2022 Poker Operator of the Year.

EGR is the benchmark of excellence in the online gaming industry. The site’s annual awards recognize longevity and commitment in the industry. 888 won the award for casino operator as well.

The award comes after 888 officials worked throughout the year to upgrade and improve the platform. Company officials are pleased to see some of this work paying off with the EGR award.

“We are proud to have won this award,” 888’s announcement of the achievement says, “and accept it with grace as we commit to continuing future improvements to the software and player experience.”

 

An award-winning year at 888poker

Adding the EGR award comes after two decades in the online poker industry. The judging process involves a team of independent, external judges bringing their impartial, in-depth expertise to the process.

In 2022, 888poker made additional software upgrades to the site’s platform. The software offers a more intuitive user interface and is powered by proprietary technology.

The site’s tournament schedule received major improvements this year. That included making the schedule more player friendly, with affordable buy-ins and higher guarantees.

“Our online and live poker series were wildly successful in 2022, with millions in prize money awarded across various events,” 888poker also noted in a news release.

March’s Retro Week Series in March paid homage to the site’s iconic tournaments over the past 20 years. The series easily topped the $888,000 guarantee, awarding over $1 million.

Also as part of the 20th-anniversary, 888 sent 34 qualifiers and ambassadors to play in the World Series of Poker Main Event. Twenty of their stories were documented in the site’s “20 Years, 20 Stories” feature.

More bullet points from 2022

In 2022, 888 also expanded the company’s global reach, particularly focusing on Brazil and Ontario, Canada. More influencers and personalities also came on board as ambassadors.

That included boxing champion Chris Eubank Jr., YouTube personality Jack “JaackMaate” Dean, and Brazilian YouTuber Cauê Moura.

Social media also became a bigger emphasis for the site. The company888poker has relaunched its Twitch channel and signed five streamers to rep the brand and PokerScout spoke with then about their new roles. introduced the 888 StreamTeam and relaunched the 888pokerTV Twitch channel. The channel grew considerably over the last year and offers streaming coverage of online and live events, poker strategy, and hand analysis content.

Some key highlights for the social media efforts include the Play with Friends weekly Sit & Go on Twitch and Focus Fridays on YouTube. Game integrity also became an even bigger concern, according to 888. 

“We have further strengthened our efforts to create a fairer and more balanced playing experience,” the company notes. “Implementing new technology and growing our dedicated Fair Gaming team has expedited this process.”

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