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Satellites Begin at PokerStars for Irish Poker Open; Players Can Win A Seat, Tournament Packages

Poker players now have the chance to secure a seat or travel package for the Irish Poker Open via PokerStars with qualifiers now underway.

PokerStars announced a deal to sponsor the Irish Poker Open in November and is now launching online qualifiers as well. The live poker series is sponsored by PokerStars and Paddy Power, and returns to Dublin April 3-10 at The Royal Dublin Society.

Online poker players now have the chance to secure a seat or a travel package with expense money at PokerStars. Online satellites are currently running on both the PokerStars and Paddy Power platforms.

PokerStars Irish Poker Open online qualifying 

Stars and Paddy Power are part of Flutter Entertainment and serve as the new official sponsors for the Irish series. Players will find at least 23 entries to the event guaranteed weekly as the Open approaches.

Every week Stars is running four direct satellites with buy-ins of €55 and €109. Players advancing in those move on to the €1,150 Main Event, which features a €1 million guarantee.

Competitors can get in the action starting at an even lower buy-in. Feeder satellite buy-ins begin with freebuys, so players can potentially win a seat for nothing. Those successful in those events advance to €1.10, €5.50, €11, and €16.50 satellites.

A player who then finishes in the top spots in those events earns either a €55 or €109 direct satellite seat.

A look at the satellite schedule

Players hoping for a trip to the Emerald Isle have numerous opportunities to secure a seat in the coming months. Here’s a look at the weekly schedule of direct satellites:

  • Monday – five seats guaranteed
  • Wednesday – five seats and expense packages guaranteed
  • Friday – five seats guaranteed
  • Sunday – eight seats and expense packages guaranteed

Additionally, PokerStars is also running a mega satellite event on March 19. This event offers 20 seats along with travel expenses.

About the Irish Poker Open & complete tournament schedule

Those heading to Ireland for the series will find one of Europe’s most-anticipated annual series. The festival features the longest-running No Limit Hold’em tournament outside Las Vegas, dating back more than 42 years.

In 1984, the tournament grew after a group of 25 American players played in the tournament at Killiney Castle. That included ‘84 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Tom McEvoy.

Others on the trip included Poker Hall of Fame members Stu Ungar, Chip Reese, and Doyle Brunson. The addition of these pros  in the Main Event helped draw television and press coverage in Ireland, adding to the series’ recognition and prestige.

In 2022, poker pro Steve O’Dwyer took the title after besting a field of 2,040 entries for the title and €318,700. O’Dwyer has lived in Dublin for the last 10 years and was pleased to win in his hometown. The Main Event saw a €2 million prize pool, twice the €1 million guarantee.

“Ireland is the home of Flutter and we are truly delighted to partner with the already well-loved Open,” PokerStars chief commercial officer Kevin Harrington said in a news release, “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.”

Players heading to this year’s series will find plenty of interesting events beyond the Main Event. Here’s a look at the complete schedule.

2023 Irish Poker Open

April 3Event 1: Championship Event – €350 NLH 6-Max
April 3Event 2: €150 NLH
April 3Event 3: €115 Main Event Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 3Event 4: €530 Satellite to €5,000 High Roller Satellite
April 4Event 5: Championship Event €350 NLH Heads-Up (64 CAP) Round 1
April 4Event 5: Championship Event €350 NLH Heads-Up (64 CAP) Round 2
April 4Event 6: €530 Satellite to €5,000 High Roller Satellite
April 4Event 7: €250 “THMC” The Hendon Mob Championship
April 4Event 8: €150 PLO Deepstack
April 4Event 7: Championship Event €350 NLH Head’s-Up (64 CAP) Round 3
April 4Event 9: Irish Open €115 Main Event Satellite – 10 Seats Guaranteed
April 4Event 10: Championship Event €5,000 High Roller Day 1
April 5Event 5: Championship Event €350 NLH Head’s-Up (64 CAP) 1/4 FINAL
April 5Event 11: Irish Open €1 Million Guaranteed MAIN EVENT €1,150 Day 1A
April 5Event 12: €115 Main Event Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 5Event 10: Championship Event €5,000 High Roller Final Day
April 5Event 13: Championship Event €350 America’s Cup
April 5Event 5: Championship Event €350 NLH Head’s-Up (64 CAP) Semi FINAL
April 5Event 14: €115 Main Event Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 5Event 5: Championship Event €350 NLH Head’s-Up (64 CAP) FINAL
April 5Event 15: €150 NLH Deepstack
April 5Event 16: €115 Main Event Satellite – 20 Seats Guaranteed
April 6Event 11: Irish Open €1 Million Guaranteed MAIN EVENT €1,150 Day 1B
April 6Event 17: €115 Main Event Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 6Event 18: Championship Event €250 Irish Open Ladies
April 6Event 19: Championship Event €250 Irish Open Shortdeck
April 6Event 20: €115 Main Event Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 6Event 21: €150 PLO Deepstack
April 6Event 22: €115 Main Event Satellite – 20 Seats Guaranteed
April 7Event 11: Irish Open €1 Million Guaranteed MAIN EVENT €1,150 Day 1C
April 7Event 23: €115 Main Event Turbo Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 7Event 24: €115 Main Event Turbo Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 7Event 25: €115 Main Event Turbo Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 7Event 26: €150 NLH Deepstack
April 7Event 11: Irish Open €1 Million Guaranteed MAIN EVENT €1,150 Day 1C
April 8Event 11: Irish Open MAIN EVENT €1,150 Day 2
April 8Event 27 Championship Event – JP Poker Masters Day 1
April 8Event 28 NLH (€25 Scalps) Bounty
April 8Event 29: Championship Event Irish Open PLO 6-Max Day 1
April 9Event 30: Championship Event Irish Open €2,000 High Roller 8-Max Day 1
April 9Event 11: Irish Open MAIN EVENT €1,150 Day 3
April 9Event 27 Championship Event – JP Poker Masters Final Day
April 9Event 29: Championship Event Irish Open PLO 6-Max Final Day
April 9Event 30: Championship Event Irish Open €2,000 High Roller 8-Max Final Day
April 9Event 31: Championship Event Mini Irish Open Day 1
April 9Event 32: €1,100 NLH Mystery Bounty 8-Max Day 1
April 9Event 33: Championship Event Liam Flood Memorial Turbo
April 9Event 34: NLH Deepstack Turbo
April 10Event 31: Championship Event Mini Irish Open Final Day
April 10Event 35: Championship Event – Irish Open Seniors (50 Years Young)
April 10Event 11: Irish Open MAIN EVENT €1,150 Final Day
April 10Event 32: €1,100 NLH Mystery Bounty 8-Max Final Day
April 10Event 36: NLH 6-Max Turbo
April 10Event 37: €1,100 PLO 8-Max
April 10Event 38: NLH 6-Max Deepstack Turbo
April 10Event 39: NLH Deepstack Turbo

★★★ Ready to get in the action at PokerStars? Click here for a complete site review with exclusive PokerScout bonus offers. ★★★

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888poker XL Winter Series Offers Mystery Bounty Fun; Qualify Online for Madrid Live Packages

With colder weather here, 888poker is ramping up the  XL Winter Series with more than $2.5 million guaranteed and action running Jan. 15-21.

With colder weather here, 888poker is fittingly ramping up the  XL Winter Series with more than $2.5 million guaranteed and action running Jan. 15-21.

Online poker players who are fans of mystery bounty events are in luck with this festival. The XL Series features many events in this popular format. The $250 Main Event features multiple starting flights with $500,000 guaranteed.

“We’re bringing the heat to the 888poker tables this winter season with another massive XL Winter Series,” the site noted in a news release. “We are focused on what our players want – bargain buy-ins and value for money.”

Action also kicks off this week in the 888poker Live MadridFestival soon and online qualifiers are still underway.

Inside the 888poker XL Winter Series

888 is hoping to appeal to players of every bankroll in the XL Winter Series. Buy-ins range from $5.50 to $55 for most events. The Main Event action begins on Jan. 25 with daily starting flights running through Jan. 30. Day 2 also begins on the same day. The final table then wraps up on Jan. 31.

Players will find several other tournaments each day throughout the series. The $2,100 Super High Roller Six-Max is one of the schedule’s marquee events and is set for Jan. 29 with $100,000 guaranteed.

The $109 Opening kicks off the series on Jan. 15 with $120,000 guaranteed. Players will also find a $525 high roller version with $50,0000 guaranteed and a $55 mini version also with $50,000 guaranteed.

Most days also feature the following several regular tournaments with a few special add-ons:

TournamentBuy–inGuarantee
$7,500 XL Winter – Big Shot 33$33$7,500
$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11$10,000
$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
$15,000 XL Winter Mystery Bounty 55$55$15,000
$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22$12,000
$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 5.50$5.50$6,000

Streaming plans, winning seats for free

Those looking to grab a seat in the series for free have a few options. Players can buy in directly to the Main Event or play XL Winter Series freerolls, which are already underway. These events run through the series finale.

The 888poker Discord channel will also offer free tournament tickets as well as the latest 888poker news. Free tickets are also up for grabs on 888poker’s social media channels and during live streams of the upcoming 888 Live Madrid Festival (more on that series below).

The XL Winter Series offers several live streaming with series tickets giveaways and exclusive freerolls. The 888poker StreamTeam will host events on members’ Twitch.TV channels with more ticket giveaways. Here’s the 888pokerTV live stream schedule:

  • Jan. 16 – opening event live stream plus giveaways
  • Jan. 20-23 – 888poker LIVE Madrid Live streams plus XL Winter Series giveaways
  • Jan. 31 – XL Winter final table live stream

Check out the complete tournament schedule below.

888poker XL Winter Series 2023

DateEventBuy-inGTD
Jan. 15$12,000 XL Winter – Sunday Big Shot 33$33$12,000
Jan. 15$15,000 XL Winter – Sunday Mystery Bounty 11$11$15,000
Jan. 15$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 15$50,000 XL Winter #01 – Mystery Bounty Mini Opening$55$50,000
Jan. 15$25,000 XL Winter – Sunday Mystery Bounty 22$22$25,000
Jan. 15$10,000 XL Winter – Sunday Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$10,000
Jan. 15$120,000 XL Winter #02 – Mystery Bounty Opening$109$120,000
Jan. 15$50,000 XL Winter #03 – Mystery Bounty HR Opening$525$50,000
Jan. 16$7,500 XL Winter – Big Shot 33$33$7,500
Jan. 16$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11$10,000
Jan. 16$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 16$15,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55$15,000
Jan. 16$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22$12,000
Jan. 16$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 5.50$5.50$6,000
Jan. 16$20,000 XL Winter #04 – PKO 8-Max$109$20,000
Jan. 16$5,000 XL Winter #05 – PKO 8-Max Mini$11$5,000
Jan. 17$7,500 XL Winter – Big Shot 33$33$7,500
Jan. 17$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11$10,000
Jan. 17$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 17$15,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55$15,000
Jan. 17$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22$12,000
Jan. 17$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 5.50$5.50$6,000
Jan. 17$30,000 XL Winter #06 – Mystery Bounty Turbo Deep$320$30,000
Jan. 17$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 109$109$12,000
Jan. 17$12,000 XL Winter #07 – Mystery Bounty Turbo Deep Mini$33$12,000
Jan. 18$7,500 XL Winter – Big Shot 33$33$7,500
Jan. 18$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11$10,000
Jan. 18$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 18$15,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55$15,000
Jan. 18$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22$12,000
Jan. 18$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 5.50$5.50$6,000
Jan. 18$15,000 XL Winter #08 – 6-Max$109$15,000
Jan. 18$7,500 XL Winter #09 – 6-Max Mini$33$7,500
Jan. 19$7,500 XL Winter – Big Shot 33$33$7,500
Jan. 19$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11$10,000
Jan. 19$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 19$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22$12,000
Jan. 19$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 5.50$5.50$6,000
Jan. 19$20,000 XL Winter #10 – Mystery Bounty$55$20,000
Jan. 19$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 109$109$12,000
Jan. 19$5,000 XL Winter #11 – Mystery Bounty Mini$5.50$5,000
Jan. 19$200,000 XL Winter #19 – Mystery Bounty 8-Max Day 1$160-
Jan. 20$7,500 XL Winter – Big Shot 33$33$7,500
Jan. 20$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11$10,000
Jan. 20$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 20$15,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55$15,000
Jan. 20$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 5.50$5.50$6,000
Jan. 20$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22$12,000
Jan. 20$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 109$109$12,000
Jan. 20$200,000 XL Winter #19 – Mystery Bounty 8-Max Day 1$160-
Jan. 21$7,500 XL Winter – Big Shot 33$33$7,500
Jan. 21$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11$10,000
Jan. 21$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 21$15,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55$15,000
Jan. 21$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22$12,000
Jan. 21$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 5.50$5.50$6,000
Jan. 21$35,000 XL Winter #12 – High Roller$1,050$35,000
Jan. 21$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 109$109$12,000
Jan. 21$200,000 XL Winter #19 – Mystery Bounty 8-Max Day 1$160-
Jan. 22$12,000 XL Winter – Sunday Big Shot 33$33$12,000
Jan. 22$15,000 XL Winter – Sunday Mystery Bounty 11$11$15,000
Jan. 22$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 22$40,000 XL Winter – Sunday Mystery Bounty 55$55$40,000
Jan. 22$20,000 XL Winter #13 – Mystery Bounty Mini 8-Max$11$20,000
Jan. 22$25,000 XL Winter – Sunday Mystery Bounty 22$22$25,000
Jan. 22$10,000 XL Winter – Sunday Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$10,000
Jan. 22$45,000 XL Winter #14 – Mystery Bounty HR 8-Max$525$45,000
Jan. 22$200,000 XL Winter #19 – Mystery Bounty 8-Max Day 1$160-
Jan. 23$7,500 XL Winter – Big Shot 33$33$7,500
Jan. 23$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11$10,000
Jan. 23$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 23$15,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55$15,000
Jan. 23$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22$12,000
Jan. 23$6,000 XL Winter - Mystery Bounty 5.50$5.50$6,000
Jan. 23$20,000 XL Winter #15 – PKO$109$20,000
Jan. 23$5,000 XL Winter #16 – PKO Mini$11$5,000
Jan. 23$200,000 XL Winter #17 – Mystery Bounty 8-Max (Day 2)-$200,000
Jan. 24$7,500 XL Winter – Big Shot 33$33$7,500
Jan. 24$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11$10,000
Jan. 24$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 24$15,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55$15,000
Jan. 24$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22$12,000
Jan. 24$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 5.50$5.50$6,000
Jan. 24$30,000 XL Winter #18 – Mystery Bounty$320$30,000
Jan. 24$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 109$109$12,000
Jan. 24$12,000 XL Winter #19 – Mystery Bounty Mini$33$12,000
Jan. 25$7,500 XL Winter – Big Shot 33$33$7,500
Jan. 25$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11$10,000
Jan. 25$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 25$15,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55$15,000
Jan. 25$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22$12,000
Jan. 25$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 5.50$5.50$6,000
Jan. 25$15,000 XL Winter #20 – Super KO 8-Max$109$15,000
Jan. 25$7,500 XL Winter #21 – Super KO 8-Max Mini$33$7,500
Jan. 25$500,000 XL Winter #28 Main Event Day 1$250-
Jan. 26$7,500 XL Winter – Big Shot 33$33$7,500
Jan. 26$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11$10,000
Jan. 26$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 26$15,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55$15,000
Jan. 26$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22$12,000
Jan. 26$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 5.50$5.50$6,000
Jan. 26$20,000 XL Winter #22 – PKO 6-Max$320$20,000
Jan. 26$20,000 XL Winter #23 – PKO 6-Max Mini$33$7,500
Jan. 26$500,000 XL Winter #28 Main Event Day 1$250-
Jan. 27$7,500 XL Winter – Big Shot 33$33$7,500
Jan. 27$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11$10,000
Jan. 27$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 27$15,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55$15,000
Jan. 27$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22$12,000
Jan. 27$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 5.50$5.50$6,000
Jan. 27$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 109$109$12,000
Jan. 27$500,000 XL Winter #28 Main Event Day 1$250-
Jan. 28$7,500 XL Winter – Big Shot 33$33$7,500
Jan. 28$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11$10,000
Jan. 28$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 28$15,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55$15,000
Jan. 28$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22$12,000
Jan. 28$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 5.50$5.50$6,000
Jan. 28$35,000 XL Winter #24 – High Roller 8-Max$1,050$35,000
Jan. 28$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 109$109$12,000
Jan. 28$500,000 XL Winter #28 Main Event Day 1$250-
Jan. 29$12,000 XL Winter – Sunday Big Shot 33$33$12,000
Jan. 29$15,000 XL Winter – Sunday Mystery Bounty 11$11$15,000
Jan. 29$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 29$50,000 XL Winter #25 – Mystery Bounty 8-Max$55$50,000
Jan. 29$25,000 XL Winter – Sunday Mystery Bounty 22$22$25,000
Jan. 29$10,000 XL Winter – Sunday Mystery Bounty 5.5$5.50$10,000
Jan. 29$100,000 XL Winter #26 – Super High Roller 6-Max$2,100$100,000
Jan. 29$25,000 XL Winter #27 – Mystery Bounty 8-Max Mini$22$25,000
Jan. 29$500,000 XL Winter #28 Main Event Day 1$250-
Jan. 30$7,500 XL Winter – Big Shot 33$33$7,500
Jan. 30$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11$10,000
Jan. 30$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 8.80$8.80$6,000
Jan. 30$15,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55$15,000
Jan. 30$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22$12,000
Jan. 30$6,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 5.50$5.50$6,000
Jan. 30$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 109$109$12,000
Jan. 30$500,000 XL Winter #28 – Main Event Day 1$250-
Jan. 30$500,000 XL Winter #28 Main Event (Day 2)-$500,000
Jan. 31$500,000 XL Winter #28 Main Event (final table)--

888 action heads to Madrid this week, online qualifiers continue

Along with the XL Winter Series, the site kicks off its live poker season this with 888poker Live Madrid running Jan. 13-23 at Casino Gran Via.

The €888 Main Event highlights the series with €300,000 guaranteed. Players can still qualify for the event online including via 888’s one-cent satellites.

Players can also jump in $109 direct qualifiers for a chance to win a luxury Madrid package worth €1,600. Each package includes: 

  • €888 Main Event buy-in
  • €400 for accommodations from Jan. 19-23
  • €312 in travel money
  • 888poker Live kit

888poker team ambassadors will represent the brand and support the player community during the series. Kara Scott, Ian Simpson, Vivian Saliba, and Alexandre “Cavalito” Mantovani will also be in attendance. The group’s newest member, Lucia Navarro, will also be part of the team on site.

888 will stream the Main Event from Jan. 20-23 with freerolls and giveaways part of the fun during the live coverage. Here are more details on the Main Event.

  • Starting stack – 88,000 chips
  • Day 1 and forward – 50-minute levels
  • Day 1D turbo – 20-minute levels
  • Final day – 60-minute levels
  • Unlimited re-entry

★★★ Ready to get in the action at 888poker? Click here for a complete site review with exclusive PokerScout bonus offers. ★★★

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Chad Eveslage Rises to the Top in WPT Player of the Year Race After Massive Five Diamond Win

With the WPT's 20th anniversary coming to a conclusion in December, Chad Eveslage emerged as Season XX player of the year this week.

With the World Poker Tour’s 20th anniversary coming to a conclusion in December, Chad Eveslage emerged as Season XX player of the year this week.

The Champions Club member from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, topped the points leaderboard to earn the title. In 2022, Eveslage produced four cashes including a win and a third-place finish. He’s already looking ahead to jumping in the action this year.

“I’m honored to add my name to the list of players who have won WPT Player of the Year,” Eveslage said in a news release. “2022 was an amazing run for me and to add the player of the year to my WPT title just made the year even more special. I can’t wait to get back in action and try to defend this title.”

An impressive year on the WPT

Eveslage was already a tour champion coming into 2022 after taking down the WPT Venetian a year earlier for $910,370. The poker pro secured his second WPT win at the Five Diamond World Poker Classic in October, taking home just over $1 million.

In November, he added the third-place finish at the Seminole Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open for $390,000. In total, Eveslage collected almost $1.5 million during the 20th season.

“Chad put on an impressive performance throughout the course of Season XX,” WPT CEO Adam Pliska said of his performance. “His player of the year title is well deserved. It was a momentous 20th anniversary season for WPT, and Chad’s accomplishment will live on as a part of that legacy, as will the effort of all players throughout 2022.”

Rounding out the standings, looking ahead

WPT player of the year runner-up Steve Buckner. (photos courtesy WPT)

Eveslage finished with a total of 2,325 points and  the Indiana native also collected the tour POY trophy and a WPT Passport worth $15,000. The prize can be used to enter any Season XXI event. 

Steve Buckner, who finished the season with two runner-up finishes and just 50 points behind Eveslage, earned a $10,000 Passport.

Josh Kay, who scored a runner-up and fifth-place finish last season, scored a $5,000 Passport.

Season XXI of the WPT begins in late January with a Prime series in Paris, France. The first Main Tour stop, WPT Rolling Thunder at the Thunder Valley Casino in California, is set for April 1-4.

Here’s a look at the WPT’s early schedule including several international stops.

EventDateLocation
Prime ParisJan. 31– Feb. 5Club Circus Paris, France
Prime Gold CoastMarch 2-6The Star Gold Coast, Australia
Prime CambodiaMarch 16-20Naga World Integrated Resort, Cambodia
Prime AmsterdamMarch 29 – April 1Holland Casino, Netherlands)
Rolling ThunderApril 1-4Thunder Valley Casino, California
Prime IndiaApril 13-17Deltin Royale Casino, India
Seminole Hard Rock Poker ShowdownApril 28 – May 2Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida
ChoctawMay 5-8Choctaw Casino Resort, Durant, Oklahoma
Prime SlovakiaMay 11-15Card Casino Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
Gardens Poker ChampionshipMay 21-25The Gardens Casino, Hawaiian Gardens, California)
Prime VietnamMay 25-29Crown Poker Club, Vietnam
Prime SanremoJun 7-11Casinò di Sanremo, Sanremo, Italy
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Luck of the Irish: GGPoker Teams Up With Dublin Poker Festival, Online Qualifiers Begin Soon

GGPoker announced a partnership with the Dublin Poker Festival on Wednesday with online satellites allowing players to grab a seat online.

Those looking for a poker getaway to Ireland are in luck with GGPoker. The site announced a partnership with the Dublin Poker Festival on Wednesday and the site will offer online satellites to grab a seat in the series.

The deal allows online poker players to qualify for the festival’s marquee tournament, the European Deepstack Poker Championship, as well as the Amateur Championship of Poker. The Bonnington Hotel in Dublin hosts the series from Feb. 16-26.

“We are delighted to announce this partnership with the Dublin Poker Festival and give all GGPoker players the opportunity to win their seats in some of Ireland’s best-loved poker events,” GG’s head of marketing for the United Kingdom and Ireland Angela Martin said in a news release.

“With hundreds of thousands in guaranteed prizes to be won and satellites starting from just €1, Dublin will be the place to be in February and we want as many GGPoker players there as possible!”

Details on the Dublin Poker Festival

The European Deepstack, now in its 15th year, features a €570 buy-in and a €200,000 guarantee. The tournament features two starting flights on Feb. 23 and 24 with Day 2 set for Feb. 25. The final day then plays out on Feb. 26.

Players start with a deep stack of 100,000 chips, allowing players plenty of play and deeper strategy considerations.

The €300 Amateur Championship of Poker runs Feb. 16-19 with a €100,000 guarantee. Dublin Poker Festival organizers were pleased to bring GGPoker on board as the series’ official online partner.

“This is a fantastic partnership for Dublin Poker Festival and we look forward to working with GGPoker, giving a wider player base the opportunity to play in this fantastic poker festival,” series organizer Brian Lannon said. “We look forward to building a close partnership with GGPoker and growing our event.”

Qualifying online with GGPoker

Those looking to head to Ireland for the series have a few options with GG. Qualifiers for the European Deepstack Poker Championship begin on Jan. 9.

These events start at just €1 and Road to Dublin direct satellites start at €50. Here’s a look at the complete qualifying schedule:

  • €50 direct satellite – Saturdays
  • €5 feeder qualifier – Monday through Saturday
  • €1 feeder qualifier – Saturdays

GG may additional ways to win a seat may in the coming weeks. Players looking to grab a seat in the Amateur Championship of Poker are also in luck. 

Qualifying opportunities run from Jan. 2-30 with one seat guaranteed in every satellite. The site is running a €30 satellite each Monday. Bargain qualifying opportunities are also available with €3 feeder satellites running from Monday to Saturday.

GGPoker players taking part in the European Deepstack can also make use of the site’s bubble insurance feature. Players can also look for live mystery bounties as well as GGPoker merchandise and ticket giveaways.

★★★ Looking to get in the action at GGPoker? Click here for a complete site review and exclusive PokerScout bonus offers. ★★★

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Poker Podium: Chris Klodnicki, Christian Rudolph Among Major December Online Winners

The holiday season brought plenty of gifts and treats for online poker players and Poker Podium looks at big December winners.

The holiday season brought plenty of gifts and treats for online poker players. A few bigger names found the winner’s podium during a hefty international online poker schedule.

PokerStars, GGPoker, and 888poker all held major series with big scores coming from players like Chris Klodnicki, Christian Rudolph, and Dan Wilson all finding some nice wins.

Poker Podium once again takes a look at some big online poker winners from December.

PokerStars

The New Year Series kicked off at PokerStars on Dec. 25 and runs through Jan. 17. The festival features 140 winter- and holiday-themed tournaments with $40 million guaranteed.

AS of Tuesday, the series had already produced big numbers including:

  • Tournaments completed – 119
  • Entries – 467,648 
  • Prize pool total – $16 million
  • First-place payouts – $2.3 million

The New Year’s Day Sunday Million was one of the marquee events so far and came with a special buy-in of $202.30. The normal $1 million guarantee remained intact.

The tournament saw 5,362 entries with Switzerland’s “Scoops 2022” scooping the first-place payout of $143,479, Scoops locked up the largest score of the series so far.

In other action, Dan “NukeTheFish!” Wilson topped the field in the $530 NLHE Six-Max for $32,659. This player from Ireland has $1.5 million in live tournament winnings as well as a doctorate in astrophysics.

The $530 NLHE Six-Max Deep Stack saw Christian “WATnlos” Rudolph, of Austria, rise to the top for $39,298. He has more than $5 million in live tournament winnings and also now another online score to add to his poker resumé.

In 2020 Rudolph grabbed a World Series of Poker bracelet online at GGPoker as well. He took down the $25,000 Poker Players Championship for $1.8 million.

Brazil’s Bruno “great dant” Volkmann Event took down a $320 NLHE event for $26,897. The New Year Series continues this month. For a complete preview, click here.

PSPC next up for PokerStars

The Stars action next heads to the Bahamas for the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, which runs from Jan. 22 – Feb. 3 at the Baha Mar Resort.

The $25,000 PokerStars Players Championship is also part of the festivities. The company has awarded numerous Platinum Passes over the last year, which includes a complete tournament and travel package.

Stars ambassador Nicholas Walsh recently awarded a pass to one lucky winner – quite a Christmas gift.

GGPoker

Plenty of World Series of Poker championship ring action was underway at GGPoker in December. The Winter Circuit awards 18 championship rings and offers $150 million guaranteed throughout the series, which runs through Jan. 9.

Nick Maimone was already on a roll last month. He bagged a $1,050 Sunday Main Event High Roller for $80,332 and then took the title in the $1,500 Sunday Saver High Roller Hyper Turbo for another $34,090.

If that weren’t enough, he then came out on top in the $1,050 Naughty or Nice Bounty, which was part of the Winter Circuit. The tournament saw 1,399 players for a $1.4 million guarantee. Maimone pocketed $157,755 and his first WSOP Circuit ring. He has more than $2 million in live tournament winnings to go along with plenty of cashes online.

He wasn’t the only big name grabbing gold in December. Chris Klodnicki vanquished the competition in the $320 GGMasters Bounty Winter Freezeout. The event saw 1,421 players for a $422,037 prize pool.

Klodnicki picked up $40,590 for his efforts, adding to a deep poker record. In a career stretching back to 2005, Klodnicki has $10.1 million in live tournament winnings. That now includes two circuit rings and a WSOP bracelet as well.

Plenty of action remains in the Winter Circuit at GGPoker. Click here for a complete preview and click here for the WSOP.ca/GGPoker series in Ontario, Canada.

888poker

This site got in the spirit of the season in December with the Happy Holidays Sale series. The festival was a thank you to players and offered half off the tournament buy-in with the same normal guarantees.

888 awarded more than $300,000 in the series with players from the United Kingdom topping the leaderboard with three titles. Brazilian players grabbed two titles and the other event victories went to those in Malta, Ireland, Finland, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Belarus, and Montenegro.

All tournaments saw a total of 9,410 entries with $301,755 paid out. The $55 Mystery Bounty Main Event kicked off on Christmas Day and guaranteed $100,000. The tournament saw 1,618 players with 485 rebuys, topping the guarantee for a $105,150 prize pool.

In the end, “Laszlo_Szucs” took the top spot for $7,192 plus $258 in bounties for a total of $7,450.

The tournament also featured a top bounty of $10,000. Canada’s “Josieviolet” scooped that prize, finishing 113th for a total of $10,094.

In the $265 Mystery Bounty High Roller, Montenegro’s “Ognian1988” found the win for $12,034. The tournament produced 148 players, 37 rebuys, and a $46,250 prize pool, easily topping the $40,000 guarantee.

The tournament also features a $4,000 top bounty prize up for grabs, which went to Finland’s “Inflaatio.” The bounty winner finished sixth for a total payout of $8,957.

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Tournament Trail: A Preview of International Poker Series Scheduled for This Winter

PokerScout previews international live poker series running over the next few months from the PSPC to WSOP Circuit and more.

For poker players looking to travel this winter, many tournaments are on the horizon this winter. Major series like the World Series of Poker, European Poker Tour, 888poker Live, and the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour are showcasing hot events throughout the colder months.

Big player pools and large guarantees await at many of these tournament stops. The PokerStars Players Championship also kicks off in January and promises to be one of the biggest events of the year. 

PokerScout takes a look at some of the international live poker series running over the next few months.

WSOP International Circuit

The World Series of Poker hosts multiple international circuit stops in early 2023. All events feature championship rings up for grabs.

Each winner is also granted a spot in the $1 million Tournament of Champions freeroll, set for this summer in Las Vegas. The announced 2023 stops on the schedule include:

  • Jan. 4-24  – King’s Resort (Rozvadov, Czech Republic)
  • Jan. 11-23 – Deerfoot Inn & Casino (Calgary, Canada)
  • Jan. 14-22 – Es Saadi Gardens Resort (Marrakech, Morocco)
  • Feb. 3-13 – Casino Plaza (Dakar, Senegal)
  • Mar. 22- Apr. 3 – Casino Royale (St. Maarten)

WSOP Circuit schedule in Czech Republic

King’s Resort in Rozvadov, Czech Republic, will be the first international WSOP Circuit stop of 2023. The series offers multiple events and highlights include the €1,700 Main Event with a €1 million guarantee.

With 160 poker tables, King’s is the largest poker room in Europe and one of the biggest in the world. Players have a nice mix of options to pick from including No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha. Besides the Main Event. A few standout tournaments include:

  • €250 Mini Main (Event 1, Jan. 4-8) – €500,000 guaranteed
  • €550 Monster Stack (Event 6, Jan. 12-15) – €500,000 guaranteed
  • €440 Pot Limit Omaha (Event 8, Jan. 16) – €50,000 guaranteed
  • €1,100 Bounty Hunter (Event 12, Jan. 22) – €100,000 guaranteed

PokerStars Caribbean Adventure is back

The major poker action once again returns to the Bahamas this year with the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) at the Baha Mar resort from Jan. 22 – Feb. 3.

The Road to the PSPC (PokerStars Players Championship) is wrapping up and players are headed to the Caribbean for this massive event.

Platinum Pass winners won seats into the $25,000 buy-in tournament, scheduled for Jan. 30. A Platinum Pass includes a tournament and travel package worth more than $30,000. Some other events at the PCA festival include:

  • $100,000 Super High Roller – Jan. 22
  • $30,000 Mystery Bounty  – Jan. 26
  • $25,000 PLO High Roller – Jan. 27
  • $10,000 NLHE Warm Up – Jan. 28

PokerStars offers even more beyond the PCA

After the PCA is over, PokerStars international events start right back up. Players can expect big fields in tournaments around the world.

Here’s a look at confirmed events in the coming months:

  • Feb. 15-26 – European Poker Tour (Paris, France)
  • Mar. 2-6 – Latin American Poker Tour (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil)
  • Mar. 29 to Apr. 4 – Brazilian Series of Poker (São Paulo, Brazil)
  • Apr. 26- May 6 – EPT (Monte Carlo)

Stars offers online qualifiers for many live events in the coming months. Players have a chance to win tournament packages at a bargain price.

888poker winter events approaching

Live tournament players also have a couple of events to look forward to from 888poker. The company recently released a full slate of events for 2023 with action planned all around the world. 

Players looking for some winter action can check out two upcoming events. That includes the Madrid stop from Jan. 13-23 and 888poker Live London from Feb. 9-13.

Online players have the opportunity to win a seat into the action throughout the year. 888 Live Passports are up for grabs for players completing a certain set of challenges.

888 awards exclusive packages to the live event of a player’s choice. More details on qualifying will be released in the coming weeks.

WPT plans for 2023

The World Poker Tour also has a few international tournaments planned for the winter months as well. From Jan. 22 – Feb. 5, the tour is hosting WPT Prime series in Paris, France at Club Circus casino.

Players kicking off the new year chasing player of the year points will find a mix of tournaments. The €1,100 main event starts on Jan. 31 and highlights the series.

WPT Prime then heads to Amsterdam with the main event running March 29 – Apr. 1. More events are in store for international players later in the year as well.

Grosvenor UK Poker Tour

In the United Kingdom, the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) has a full schedule set for 2023. The tour has more major events planned out the entire year and some of those winter tournaments include: 

  • Jan. 12-22 – London, The Vic (£1,250 Main Event)
  • Feb. 2-12 – Manchester, Bury New Road  (£1,250 Main Event)
  • Feb. 25 to March 5 – UK Poker Open – Coventry (£1,500 Main Event)
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Rebate Reward: 888poker Offers a Chance for Players to Win Their Tournament Buy-ins Back

The “Tweet for Your Seat” promotion at 888poker runs Dec. 29 – Feb. 1 and allows players to potentially receive their tournament buy-in back.

The 20th anniversary celebration may be coming to a close at 888poker, but the site has one big event left for online poker players.

The “Tweet for Your Seat” promotion runs Dec. 29 – Feb. 1 and allows players to potentially receive their tournament buy-ins back. That could be a nice way for players to ring in the new year.

“At 888poker, we’re giving players even more reason to play hard and go deep in our online poker tournaments,” the company noted in announcing the event. “It’s our special, exclusive event, capping off a fantastic 20th anniversary and  kicking off an even more exciting 2023 – where we reward our loyal patrons. This is one January offer you don’t want to miss!”

How to get an 888poker buy-in returned

Trying to see some of that buy-in money returned for a tournament is a fairly simple process. Players must first follow 888poker on Twitter.

Players who then finish in the top three of a tournament qualify for receiving their buy-in back. Those players can simply post a screenshot of their finish on Twitter while also tagging @888poker and using the hashtag #tweet4seat.

The minimum ticket buy-in for the promotion is $1 with a maximum of $33. For example, Team888 ambassador Ian Simpson could have been rewarded with his buy-in returned for this recent win.

Players already posting their wins

The “tweet4seat” offers players a nice way to ring in the new year with a virtual freeroll for those finishing in the top three. The promotion is now underway and players have already been posting their wins on Twitter.

One player already posted his runner-up finish and was looking for that buy-in sent back to his account. No doubt even more are looking for their own ways to win on the felt and post to get that buy-in returned.

https://twitter.com/chad_stordy/status/1608494232095825923?s=20&t=Bkz38MYnpXuXopQMaAaq9Q

★★★ Looking to get in the action at 888poker? Click here for a complete site review and exclusive PokerScout bonus offers. ★★★

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Big Year at 888poker as 20th Anniversary Celebration Concludes After Numerous Special Events

888poker celebrated the company’s 20th anniversary throughout 2022 and offered plenty of opportunities for players over the last 12 months.

888poker celebrated the company’s 20th anniversary throughout 2022 and offered plenty of opportunities for players over the last 12 months.

The company was awarded with the Operator of the Year recognition by EGaming Review in October. Company officials looked back on the 2022 events recently as the anniversary celebration came to a close.

“It’s been a year where we, as a company, have focused even more on player satisfaction,” 888 officials noted in a news release. “We have endeavored to provide a safe and happy environment where everyone can enjoy the game we all love and respect.”

Adding to the 888poker ambassador ranks

888 was busy on the ambassador front in 2022. The site added a team of cultural ambassadors, including boxer Chris Eubank Jr., YouTuber Jack “JaackMaate” Dean, and Brazilian influencer Caue Moura.

“These new faces instantly gave the 888poker ambassador team a massive boost with their millions of followers across multiple social media platforms,” 888 officials noted.

The site also added some top performers on the poker felt as new site ambassadors. The roster now includes Ian Simpson, Lucia Navarro, and Alexandre “Cavalito” Mantovani.

All three new members have strengthened the team strategically, 888 officials noted, and increased the site’s diversity and appeal to a broader range of poker enthusiasts.

888poker also brought back some favorite events as part of the Retro Week Series. The festival awarded almost $1 million in 26 events.]

888poker continues adding to the site’s ambassador roster and announced the signing of Spanish poker pro Lucia Navarro on Tuesday.
888poker added to the site’s ambassador roster in 2023 including the signing of Spanish poker pro Lucia Navarro.

888poker Live also returns

Live poker also returned in a big way in 2022.  888poker Live offered players a complete full-year schedule. That included successful events in London, Madrid, Barcelona, and Bucharest.

888 also ramped up promotions for the World Series of Poker. Multiple online qualifiers and team members earned trips to play in the series in Las Vegas.

Nick “eastyyy22” Eastwood ran the deepest among StreamTeam members, finding a min-cash finish. Ambassador Alexandre “Cavalito” Mantovani put together the best 888 team finish, reaching 266th for $46,800.

Of the online qualifiers, Brazil’s Thiago Pirani bagged a WSOP package in a $22 online qualifier. He then went on to finish 157th, grabbing a payout of $62,500.

888 Live also recently announced a full slate of live events for 2023. That included stops in Madrid, London, Barcelona, and more.

Mystery bounty tournaments take the spotlight

The site’s 20th anniversary year saw mystery bounty tournaments become a regular part of the 888poker action. Unlike regular knockout tournaments, the amounts on opponents’ heads are initially hidden in mystery bounty events.

The bounty is revealed only after that player has been eliminated. 888 hosted the Knockout Games – Mystery Bounty Edition in 2022 with a $50,000 bounty highlighting the action in the Main Event.

A look at what’s ahead in 2023

Players can expect more from 888 in 2023. That includes the addition of a new Discord channel. 888 officials hope to use the platform as a way to keep players updated on the latest news from the site.

Numerous live and online series are also planned for the upcoming poker year. The new year offers plenty of events for online poker players to check out.

★★★ Looking to get in the action at 888poker? Click here for a complete site review and exclusive PokerScout bonus offers. ★★★

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Israel’s Shachar Zvang Wins First Match Poker Online World Cup, Matt Matros Takes Runner-up

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

The inaugural Match Poker Online World Cup recently concluded with top-tier players from around the world competing for bragging rights and cash prizes.

The tournament was held over the course of two weeks in December with hundreds of online poker players taking part. Israeli player Shachar “OctopuSZ” Zvang emerged as the winner and tournament organizers were pleased with the results.

“We were thrilled with the turnout and good sportsmanship of all involved in the competition – many sending congratulations and expressing how fun and close the final results were,” said Jake Colman, Match Poker Online head of customer relations.

World Cup action and a look at winners

Shachar “OctopuSZ” Zvang

Players qualified for the World Cup by participating on the app throughout the year. Competitors were placed into one of two categories. The “Ruby” division featured the game’s best players and the “Ivory” division included the game’s second tier.

After two weekends of playoffs, the field was narrowed down to 36 finalists in each category for the finals, held on Dec. 17-18. At the end of the event, Zvang emerged as the winner, taking home $625, a digital certificate, and a trophy.

After his big win, Zvang took to Twitter to thank the organizers for the “amazing experience.” American poker player and writer Matt Matros finished runner-up. He shared his own World Cup story on Twitter. He’d hoped to “come full circle” and win the tournament, but settled for the silver medal.

German player Daniel “Zealot” Eylenfeldt finished third, winning $125. Eylenfeldt is a regular in live match poker events. His team, Piranhas Hamburg, previously won the German National Live Match Poker competition.

In the Ivory division, German player “MacHarry” came out on top for $450. “AndyLai” from Hong Kong took second place for $175. “NutsHK,” also from Hong Kong, came in third for $75.

A total of 632 players qualified for the Ruby and Ivory divisions. Match Poker Online officials are looking forward to an even bigger and better tournament in 2023.

What is Match Poker and how does it work?

Released in February, the free Match Poker app highlights a “battle royale” game mode. In this structure, 36 players are dealt the same hand across tables and compete to see who can score the best in each round.

The goal is to eliminate luck as the app focuses on player results and offers tips on how to play the hand for the best possible outcomes. 

Additionally, the app collects statistics on player behavior, allowing users to see if they are playing too aggressively, passively, loose, or tight. The app also includes various statistics, graphs, and other enjoyable gameplay features.

“This makes it a pure test of skill – a sport – an official mind sport,” Colman says. “And, for the first time in the history of poker, you can obtain an official world ranking. No other poker experience gives you this.”

Colman recently appeared on the Nerdthusiast Poker Podcast and discussed the game and its future. 

Match Poker introduces a new twist on traditional poker by allowing players to compete not only against those at their own table, but also against players seated at other tables in the same seat as them.

In this format, all players in the same seat are dealt the same two hole cards and see the same flop, turn, and river. This adds an extra layer of strategy to the game and allows for more detailed statistical analysis.]

Developers have announced that more game features and statistical options will be added in 2023.

After years of development, players can now test their skills by using real-time updated data. Match Poker Online is now available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

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PokerStars Founder Isai Scheinberg Named as Recipient of WPT Honors

The World Poker Tour is honoring PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg as one of the latest recipients of the WPT Honors Award.

When Isai Scheinberg launched PokerStars in 2001, online poker was in its infancy. Early platforms often suffered from outages, poor software, and other user unfriendly issues.

Scheinberg set out to change that. When the site went live, players found a much-improved software experience. That helped pave the way for the company to become one of the biggest online poker operators in the world.

The World Poker Tour recently announced that Scheinberg would be recognized as part of the tour’s WPT Honors, along with commentator Vince Van Patten.

“These two men have both made transformational contributions to the poker community, Isai as a pioneer with his incredible ingenuity and boldness, and Vince with his love and dedication to expanding the game of poker,” WPT CEO Adam Pliska said in a news release. “Both honorees are truly deserving of the award.”

Recognizing an industry titan

When it comes to the world of online poker, not many people have meant more to the industry than Scheinberg. Stars was a key player in the poker boom era and helped increase interest in poker worldwide. The company’s efforts helped grow the game all around the world.

“I am very honored,” Shceinberg, 74, said of the award. “The World Poker Tour is a very important poker company which made major contributions to the game. The first TV advertising PokerStars did was on WPT programming on the Travel Channel. It had a major impact that led to millions of players joining us.”

Born in Lithuania before immigrating to Israel, the former programmer later moved to Toronto and worked for IBM Canada. His site resonated with players and the WPT noted that many “still consider Scheinberg to be the standard bearer for how online players should be treated.”

The WPT Honors Award launched in 2017 as the highest achievement from the company. The award is granted every year, honoring members of the poker industry who have made exceptional contributions to the WPT and the poker community as a whole.

WPT Honors recognizes those who distinguish themselves through “excellence and dedication beyond expectations.” These are the previous WPT Honors recipients:

  • 2017 – Bruno Fitoussi, Linda Johnson, Mike Sexton
  • 2018 – Lyle Berman, Steve Lipscomb
  • 2019 – Deb Giardina, Matt Savage
PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg (right) with his son Mark.

Schainberg was an online poker pioneer

The poker boom of the 2000s was a heady time for the industry. Live tournaments saw massive fields as televised poker helped the game gain even more fans and players.

When Chris Moneymaker won the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event, he’d won his seat via an $86 online qualifier at PokerStars. That helped launch the poker boom of the 2000s with PokerStars right at the forefront.

The site offered online tournaments and cash games for players around the world. Scheinberg was a poker player himself and understood the game.

The gifted computer programmer helped fine-tune software that was user friendly. The site also offered a fair game and played similarly to what a player might find at a live poker game.

“It was the tournaments that made PokerStars a hit with players,” Forbes noted of the company founder. “For a small amount of money – often less than $25 – players could buy into a single-elimination tournament and have a chance at winning a huge payday without the fear of incurring big losses.”

Rescuing Full Tilt players, selling the company

When the US government cracked down on online poker in 2011, Scheinberg and PokerStars agreed to purchase Full Tilt Poker. That company faced economic insolvency and without the deal, millions of dollars in player funds would have been lost.

Stars eventually agreed to a $731 million settlement with federal prosecutors and shifted to catering to players outside the US. 

Ironically, the company later entered back into the American market in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

Scheinberg and his family sold PokerStars in 2014 for $4.9 billion. In 2019, Paddy Power Betfair (now known as Flutter Entertainment) acquired the company, creating the largest online gaming company in the world.

The Stars founder now spends much of his time working in philanthropy and spending time with his family.