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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.

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

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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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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.”

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

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Ontario Player Scores Big in 888poker BLAST Event, Turns $20 into $140,000 Payday

Short-handed, random-prize tournaments have become popular in recent years. Several online poker operators offer these quick-paced events, which can also reward players with some massive jackpots.

A player on the 888poker Ontario platform recently experienced a massive BLAST tournament winning moment. The Canadian player turned a $20 buy-in into a winning score of $140,000.

What is an 888poker BLAST Sit & Go?

A BLAST Sit & Go sees three players buy in for a certain amount, from 10 cents to $100. A random prize is then awarded in a winner-take-all format.

The biggest prizes range from $1,000 at the lowest buy-in level to $1 million at the highest level. There’s another twist in BLAST events, which gives these tournaments their name.

After a timer counts down to zero, players are then all in each hand until there’s one winner. It’s a fun twist on these popular tournaments.

One additional twist is that all players lucky enough to play in a BLAST for the largest jackpot have a chance to win some money. This means some big bucks for those who even finish runner-up or in third place.

A massive winning moment at 88poker Ontario

In Ontario, the three lucky players found themselves playing in an event with a $200,000 prize pool. These jackpots give players the opportunity to play for up to 10,000 times their buy-in.

“Starplayer50” took home the largest portion of that, scoring $140,000 for winning the Sit & Go. Second-place player “lizzyroyal11” added a nice $40,000 payout as well.

Even third-place finisher “brewerybabe1” won a nice $20,000 prize. No doubt all three players were pleased at their good fortune with five- and six-figure payouts.

Adding to recent Sit & Go winners

Many players may dream of landing that kind of payout. In 2021, a few players won even more. Three players cashed in on the ultimate payout at 888 – a $1 million jackpot.

A BLAST at that level pays out $700,000 for first, $200,000 for second, and $100,000 for third. These jackpot-style games offer players a chance at some fun and some big payouts.

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

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Poker Podium: Simon Mattson, Preben Stokkan Among Huge September Online Winners

September produced some massive winners in the international online poker market. Players saw some massive series and payouts on PokerStars, GGPoker, PartyPoker.

One major highlight included Simon Mattson taking down the World Series of Poker Online Main Event. Preben Stokkan also came up big, winning the PartyPoker Millions Online Main Event. Poker Podium takes a look at those winners as well as other action from September.

PartyPoker

The MILLIONS Online recently wrapped up at PartyPoker. In the $3,200 Main Event, Preben Stokkan (pictured in lead image, courtesy PartyPoker) found the winner’s circle for a payout of $391,731.

Originally from Norway and now living in the United Kingdom, Stokkan also earned a Party Ape NFT as part of the prize package. He took the chip lead into the final table and rode that to victory. 

Eelis Parssinen, of Finland, took runner-up for $270,213 with Austria’s Ole Schemion grabbing third for $186,168.

The win came only days after Stokkan also chalked up a victory in the $1,575 Closer PKO. That event brought in 253 players for a $379,500 prize pool. Stokkan added $73,423 for that win as well.


The $320 Min Main Event saw Franco Spitale, of Argentina, rise to the top for a payout of $100,480. Austria’s Leon Sturm finished runner-up for $68,227.

Two other players shined in the MILLIONS Online. Ricardo Arraiano, of Malta, won the Super 500 PKO for a total prize of $69,315. Emiliano Ricchini, of Argentina, won the Super 100 for a total of $31,765.

PokerStars

The World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) recently wrapped up at PokerStars, despite some hiccups. Stars has rescheduled main events and added some other tournaments for November after DDoS attacks led to some tournament cancellations.

The first running of WCOOP saw several big winners however. Well-regarded online player Renas Bruschi took the $5,000 Titans title for $173,239. Bruschi has more than $8 million in online winnings.

After two runner-up finishes in the series, Stars ambassador and Twitch streamer Patrick Leonard added a WCOOP ‘22 title by winning the $1,050 Six-Plus Hold’em event for $17,444. He also won events in this version of Short Deck in the 2021 WCOOP and in SCOOP earlier this year.

After the nice finish, Leonard then made a huge run in the $5,000 WSOP Online Main Event at GGPoker (more on that below) as well for a score of more than $91,000.

A look at other PokerStars winners

Winamax ambassador Joao Vieira also scored three WCOOP titles in the series. That included taking  down the $2,100 Deep Stack for $62,131. He also rose to the top in the $2,000 Deuce to Seven Triple Draw for an additional $32,230.

Women’s WCOOP event winner Charlotte Van Brabander. (photo courtesy PokerStars)

Brazil’s Rui Ferreira took runner-up in that Deep Stack event for $48,097 after already winning three events in the series as well.

Sweden’s Christian Jeppsson scored his third career WCOOP trophy in the $2,100 Thursday Thrill PKO for $115,695. He then added another win in the $1,000 NLHE freezeout for $47,880.

Ognjan Dimov was one of the series biggest winners, scoring three championships. That included winning the $5,200 High Roller for $160,277 and the $10,000 High Roller for $230,000.

In the first WCOOP Women’s World Championship, Belgium’s Charlotte Van Brabander (a former PokerStars ambassador) took the top spot for  $15,886. Current Stars ambassador Georgina “GJReggie” James also made a nice run, finishing seventh for $3,014.

GGPoker

Obviously much of September’s GG action focused on the WSOP Online. The series recently wrapped up and Simon Mattsson scored the biggest title of the series. He took down the $5,000 Main Event for a massive score of $2.8 million.

The WSOP Online wrapped up on Tuesday at GGPoker with Eric Mattsson winning the $5,000 Main Event for $2.8 million.
Main Event winner Simon Mattsson. (photo courtesy PokerStars/Danny Maxwell)

The championship easily topped the $20 million guarantee, bringin in 4,984 entries for a $23.7 million prize pool. That wasn’t Mattsson’s only win of the series. He also took down a $5,250 Bounty Hunters Super High Roller non-bracelet event for $23,293.

In total, the series’ 33 events produced a total prize pool of more than $66 million. Beyond the Main Event, the $1,500 Millionaire Maker saw the second-largest payout of the series. Markus Prinz scored that title for $1.2 million with the tournament attracting 4,706 entries for $6.7 million.

The $10,000 Super MILLION$ High Roller also produced hefty numbers with 593 entries for a $5.7 million prize pool. David Yan scored the win for almost $1 million.

888poker

A former WSOP Main Event champion scored a nice finish at 888 in September. Sweden’s Martin Jacobson, winner of the 2014 WSOP Main Event, came up just short of a title in the $109 Big Shot, which features a $100,000 guarantee.

The event brought in 909 total entries and Jacobson entered the final table as chip leader. However, the United Kingdom’s “Patsharpe” took the top spot for $15,480 with Jacobson as runner-up for $11,290.

In other news, 888 recently offered up some prizes for those who shared one of their best stories from the site. Numerous players submitted their memories including this winner from a recreational player.

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Going Retro: 888poker’s XL Series Returns With Throwback Vibes, $1.7M Guaranteed

The 888poker XL Retro Series returns Oct. 9-25 with 27 events, buy-ins from $11 to $2,100, and more than $1.7 million guaranteed.

Disco balls, platform shoes, and some classic poker. 888poker is making every day Throwback Thursday with the upcoming XL Retro Series, which offers up versions of 888’s classic tournaments.

The series runs Oct. 9-25, boasting 27 events with buy-ins from $11 to $2,100 and more than $1.7 million guaranteed. The $250 Main Event highlights the series and features multiple starting flights with a $500,000 guarantee. Players will find numerous other interesting events as well.

Inside the 888poker XL Retro Series

The XL Series is a regular for 888 and this fall’s version features some unique twists. The $109 Mega Deep Opening Event kicks off the series with $120,000 guaranteed. There’s also a $525 “Whale” version of that event with a $45,000 guarantee.

On Oct. 13, the $109 Hurricane offers a $20,000 guarantee. Players with bigger bankrolls can check out the $1,050 Volcano PKO on Oct. 15 with a $45,000 guarantee.

Another major highlight comes on Oct 16 with the $215  Mystery Bounty with $200,000 guaranteed. The $2,100 Super High Roller also runs on Oct. 23 and guarantees a $150,000 prize pool. Here’s a look at the complete schedule.

888poker XL Retro Series

DateEventBuy-inGuarantee
Oct. 9$120,000 XL Retro #01 – Mega Deep Opening Event$109$120,000
Oct. 9$45,000 XL Retro #02 – Whale Opening Event$525$45,000
Oct. 9$15,000 XL Retro #03 – Mini Mega Deep Opening Event$33$15,000
Oct. 10$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 10$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 10$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 10$20,000 XL Retro #04 – Tornado 8-Max$109$20,000
Oct. 10$3,000 XL Retro #05 – BlowFish 8-Max$11$3,000
Oct. 11$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 11$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 11$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 11$20,000 XL Retro #06 – Crocodile PKO$320$20,000
Oct. 11$8,000 XL Retro #07 – SwordFish PKO$33$8,000
Oct. 12$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 12$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 12$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 12$15,000 XL Retro #08 – Lightning 6-Max$109$15,000
Oct. 12$6,000 XL Retro #09 – Mini Lightning 6-Max$33$6,000
Oct. 13$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 13$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 13$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 13$20,000 XL Retro #10 – Hurricane$109$20,000
Oct. 13$4,000 XL Retro #11 – CatFish$16.50$4,000
Oct. 14$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 14$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 14$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 15$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 15$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 15$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 15$45,000 XL Retro #12 – Volcano PKO$1,050$45,000
Oct. 16$200,000 XL Retro #13 – Mystery Bounty$215$200,000
Oct. 16$45,000 XL Retro #14 – Whale 8-Max$525$45,000
Oct. 16$20,000 XL Retro #15 – Mini Mystery Bounty$33$20,000
Oct. 17$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 17$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 17$15,000 XL Retro #16 – Monsoon$55$15,000
Oct. 17$3,000 XL Retro #17 – BlowFish$11$3,000
Oct. 18$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 18$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 18$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 18$20,000 XL Retro #18 – Crocodile KO$320$20,000
Oct. 18$8,000 XL Retro #19 – Big Fish KO$33$8,000
Oct. 19$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 19$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 19$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 19$5,000 XL Retro #20 – PLO 6-Max$109$5,000
Oct. 19$1,500 XL Retro #21 – Mini PLO 6-Max$33$1,500
Oct. 20$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 20$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 20$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 20$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 20$20,000 XL Retro #22 – Crocodile PKO 8-Max$320$20,000
Oct. 20$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 20$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 20$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Hyper Turbo Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 21$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 21$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 21$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 21$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 21$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 21$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 21$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Hyper Turbo Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 22$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 22$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 22$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 22$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 22$45,000 XL Retro #23 – Volcano$1,050$45,000
Oct. 22$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 22$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 22$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Hyper Turbo Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 23$30,000 XL Retro #24 – Turbo Mega Deep PKO$109$30,000
Oct. 23$150,000 XL Retro #26 – Super High Roller 8-Max$2,100$150,000
Oct. 23$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 23$20,000 XL Retro #25 – Mini Mega Deep PKO$33$20,000
Oct. 23$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 23$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 23$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Hyper Turbo Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 24$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Turbo Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 24$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Turbo Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 24$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Hyper Turbo Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 24$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 2)– $500,000
Oct. 25$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (FT)– $500,000

Even more planned during Retro Series

Beyond the scheduled events, 888 has more planned during the Retro Series. The site is also adding retro versions of the regular PKO Rumble and Big Shot tournaments. 

888pokerTV is also a part of the series. The site will live stream the Main Event final table on Twitch on Oct. 25. Players can look for giveaways and a special freeroll.

Members of the 888poker StreamTeam and ambassadors will also stream much of their action on Twitch throughout the series. The crew will give away tournament tickets on stream.

Here’s a look at the complete series.

888poker XL Retro Series

DateEventBuy-inGuarantee
Oct. 9$120,000 XL Retro #01 – Mega Deep Opening Event$109$120,000
Oct. 9$45,000 XL Retro #02 – Whale Opening Event$525$45,000
Oct. 9$15,000 XL Retro #03 – Mini Mega Deep Opening Event$33$15,000
Oct. 10$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 10$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 10$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 10$20,000 XL Retro #04 – Tornado 8-Max$109$20,000
Oct. 10$3,000 XL Retro #05 – BlowFish 8-Max$11$3,000
Oct. 11$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 11$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 11$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 11$20,000 XL Retro #06 – Crocodile PKO$320$20,000
Oct. 11$8,000 XL Retro #07 – SwordFish PKO$33$8,000
Oct. 12$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 12$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 12$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 12$15,000 XL Retro #08 – Lightning 6-Max$109$15,000
Oct. 12$6,000 XL Retro #09 – Mini Lightning 6-Max$33$6,000
Oct. 13$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 13$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 13$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 13$20,000 XL Retro #10 – Hurricane$109$20,000
Oct. 13$4,000 XL Retro #11 – CatFish$16.50$4,000
Oct. 14$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 14$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 14$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 15$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 15$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 15$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 15$45,000 XL Retro #12 – Volcano PKO$1,050$45,000
Oct. 16$200,000 XL Retro #13 – Mystery Bounty$215$200,000
Oct. 16$45,000 XL Retro #14 – Whale 8-Max$525$45,000
Oct. 16$20,000 XL Retro #15 – Mini Mystery Bounty$33$20,000
Oct. 17$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 17$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 17$15,000 XL Retro #16 – Monsoon$55$15,000
Oct. 17$3,000 XL Retro #17 – BlowFish$11$3,000
Oct. 18$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 18$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 18$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 18$20,000 XL Retro #18 – Crocodile KO$320$20,000
Oct. 18$8,000 XL Retro #19 – Big Fish KO$33$8,000
Oct. 19$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 19$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 19$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 19$5,000 XL Retro #20 – PLO 6-Max$109$5,000
Oct. 19$1,500 XL Retro #21 – Mini PLO 6-Max$33$1,500
Oct. 20$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 20$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 20$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 20$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 20$20,000 XL Retro #22 – Crocodile PKO 8-Max$320$20,000
Oct. 20$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 20$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 20$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Hyper Turbo Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 21$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 21$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 21$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 21$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 21$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 21$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 21$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Hyper Turbo Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 22$6,000 XL Retro Big Shot 11$11$6,000
Oct. 22$12,000 XL Retro PKO Rumble 22$22$12,000
Oct. 22$12,000 XL Retro Big Shot 55$55$12,000
Oct. 22$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 22$45,000 XL Retro #23 – Volcano$1,050$45,000
Oct. 22$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 22$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 22$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Hyper Turbo Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 23$30,000 XL Retro #24 – Turbo Mega Deep PKO$109$30,000
Oct. 23$150,000 XL Retro #26 – Super High Roller 8-Max$2,100$150,000
Oct. 23$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 23$20,000 XL Retro #25 – Mini Mega Deep PKO$33$20,000
Oct. 23$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 23$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 23$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Hyper Turbo Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 24$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Turbo Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 24$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Turbo Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 24$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Hyper Turbo Main Event (Day 1)$250$500,000
Oct. 24$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (Day 2)– $500,000
Oct. 25$500,000 XL Retro #27 – Main Event (FT)– $500,000

New Mystery Bounty produces solid numbers

In other 888poker news, Sunday’s regular $109 weekly main event was altered to a Mystery Bounty Kickoff. The event featured a $100,000 guarantee, but the turnout produced much more paid out to players.

The event attracted 1,430 players and 457 rebuys for a $188,700 prize pool. The big prize was a $10,000 bounty.

That went to Brazil’s “brubsb,” who finished 89th for $291 and also scored another $99 in bounties for a total payout of $10,390. Two $3,000 bounties were also up for grabs and two Lithuanian players, “Eg1D1” and “rupuziokas,” scored those payouts.

In the end, “marllonsanti” secured the win for $16,886 in prize money, along with $596 in bounties. The winner’s payout totaled $17,482. “supppp” scored $16,249 in prize money for runner-up. He also grabbed $593 in bounties for a total of $16,842.

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888poker Signs Brazilian YouTube Star; Martin Jacobson Scores Nice Runner-up in Sunday Action

Influencer and YouTuber Cauê Moura is 888poker's latest cultural ambassador and will represent the company in online and live events.

Brazil remains a growing market for online poker and 888poker is the latest to reach out to players in the country. The company announced the signing of a new Brazilian ambassador on Tuesday.

Influencer and YouTuber Cauê Moura is the site’s latest cultural ambassador and will represent 888 in both online and live events.

Moura (pictured in lead image) is a well-known vlogger in Brazil with millions of followers on his social media channels. Poker has become more of a focus of his efforts in recent years. The 888 deal promises even more content geared toward poker players.

“I’ve been doing videos about this wonderful game for more than 10 years,” he said in a news release. “Now my dedication has been rewarded.

“I’m thrilled to be the new 888poker cultural ambassador. And, from now on, you guys will see me playing with their patch.”

In other 888 news, a World Series of Poker Main Event champion made a nice tournament score on Sunday.

888poker’s new social media star

Born in São Paulo, Moura moved to the city of Fortaleza with his family at age 13. As a child, he was very creative and loved drawing. The youngster dreamed of being a filmmaker. Those qualities seem to have served him well as a social media content producer.

One of his first media jobs was as a cameraman for a parkour channel, even taking part in the sport until injuries cut that short. Moura began his YouTube vlog in 2010 and was one of the earliest Brazilians on the site. He credits early experience as a cameraman with helping begin his YouTube channel.

After his long online presence, Moura now zeroes in on poker. He plans to immerse himself even more in the game as an 888 cultural ambassador.

On YouTube, Moura has 5.2 million subscribers and  2.7 million ​​on Twitter. He also has almost 1 million on Instagram. 888poker officials say followers can expect plenty of poker content in the coming weeks and exclusive offers. He kicked off his time with 888 on Tuesday by hosting a freeroll.

https://twitter.com/cauemoura/status/1569777336605622272?s=20&t=g1H6BmjN_zONsLTqUKIJrw

WSOP Main Event champion Martin Jacobson comes close to an 888 title

2014 WSOP Main Event Winner Martin Jacobson

Sunday’s action at 888poker included a major name coming up just short of a $109 Big Shot title. The tournament features a $100,000 guarantee and attracted 724 players with 185 rebuys for a total of 909 entries.

Sweden’s Martin “MJacobson888” Jacobson, winner of the 2014 World Series of Poker Main Event, came in as final table chip leader. He held 5.1 million followed by the United Kingdom’s “Patsharpe” with 2.2 million.

Those two big stacks ended up heads up for the title, but it was “Patsharpe” coming out on top for $15,480. Jacobson had to settle for second place and $11,290.

That wasn’t the only recent deep run for Jacobson. He also played the $525 Big Shot on Sunday and found a seventh-place finish. He grabbed another $1,700 for that final table appearance as well.

Battle of Malta qualifiers continue

In other news, 888poker is sponsoring this year’s Battle of Malta series. The festival runs Oct. 5-12 and the $525 Main Event features a $1 million guarantee.

888 is hosting satellites for the series with qualifiers starting at just one cent. Players can also buy in directly to qualifiers for $55 and $109. Those who play their cards right can score a $1,700 tournament and travel package.

The poker site is also hosting a special side tournament in Malta on Oct. 9, the €200 888 Made To Play event. For a complete preview of the series and all qualifying information, click here.

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