Tag: online poker

The PokerStars Stadium Series turned into quite an event for John “99rocks” Vallis. The 52-year-old was among those who cashed in. His $57,000 score didn’t come from hours and hours at the table, however. 

Instead, this recreational player turned a $22 ticket from a promotional chest into a five-figure online poker payday. That’s just one interesting story coming out of a huge Stadium Series, which wrapped up on Sunday.

From free money player to PokerStars satellite success story

At home in Surrey, United Kingdom, Vallis works as a compliance manager. Married with two daughters ages 18 and 19, poker isn’t a big part of his routine.

In fact, he usually plays with free tokens rather than real money. Occasionally Vallis might jump in a micro tournament, but real money tables aren’t a regular part of his online life. Before last week, his biggest win was around $70.

Then a $22 promotional satellite ticket popped in his inbox. If he advanced in the satellite it would then be on to another $109 qualifier.

If he advanced in that, an entry into a $2,100 Heat Deepstack was next. Vallis did just that and was primed for the biggest event of his life.

“I hadn’t played a single real money game in over four months going into the tournament,” he tells PokerScout.

The run of his life at PokerStars

Going into the event, Vallis kept his expectations low. Throughout both satellites as well as Day 1 of the tournament, an online quiz game occupied much of his time as well.

He played both qualifiers and the deepstack event, as well as the quiz, on his mobile phone. After reaching Day 2, however, Vallis shifted to playing on his computer but other duties still occupied much of his time.

“I still found time to cook the family supper, steak and chips, while we were closing in on the final table,” says Vallis, who enjoys running and cycling when not playing poker or spending time with family. “I think those distractions actually worked in my favor as I didn’t have time to think about the amount of money at stake.”

Those efforts paid big dividends. Vallis ultimately finished third for $57,229 out of a field of 234 entries. That’s a big score – all from a freeroll.

“Playing in the tournament was an amazing experience – I did not even contemplate the potential outcome until relatively late,” he says. 

How did it feel to turn his promo ticket into such a massive score?

“Extremely strange,” Vallis says. “I have absolutely no experience playing high stakes poker, so I have never really considered the money angle. I think that removed the pressure as I got deeper into the tournament, as I felt absolutely no expectation to actually convert the result into a prize.”

Ever the family man, wife and children come to mind when Vallis considers what he’ll do with the winnings.

“There’s some things I want to get done to the house,” he says, “a car for my kids to use and a spectacular holiday when COVID permits.”

Considering his massive finish, it’s fortuitous that PokerStars email didn’t land in the spam folder. For Vallis, it definitely paid to check his email.

PokerStars Stadium Series brings out plenty of competitors

Speaking of Stadium Series success, the festival came right after an unprecedented Summer Series. That scorched the $25 million guarantee by paying out $34 million.

The Stadium Series also produced plenty of bang for the buck. Wrapping up on Aug. 2, the festival brought some big numbers. The series paid out $54.3 million – more than $4 million above the guarantee.

The series attracted 698,964 entries across 102 events. In the $10,000 Grand Final, “Lena900” came out on top for a score of $230,435.

The France, Spain, and Portugal version of the series saw 228,799 entries and a prize pool of €6.6 million. Spain’s “Sick2BeatMe” won the €250 Grand Final for €66,882 plus €44,273 in bounty bucks.

In Italy, the series attracted 127,252 players and a €4 million prize pool. “NNWPT” took the €250 Grand Final for €34,792 plus €17,002 in bounties.

The action continues this week with several Stadium Series after party events. PokerStars is offering several phase tournaments featuring these buy-ins with hefty guarantees:

• $1.10 – $100,000 guaranteed
• $11 – $250,000 guaranteed
• $109 – $500,000 guaranteed
• $1,050 – $1 million guaranteed

Team PokerStars streamers score big, reach impressive Twitch numbers

Along with a massive score by a recreational player, some PokerStars ambassadors also produced during the Stadium Series.

PokerStars streamers Fintan “Easywithaces” Hand and Ben “Spragg” Spragg made deep runs in the $5,200 event on July 29.

Spragg’s stream reached more than 30,000 viewers, who saw him finish third for $70,633. That became the largest score of his career.

Hand took 10th in the event for $14,732. It’s been quite the run for these two poker streamers.

A year ago, both were streaming their play in $5, $11, $55, and $109 events on the main PokerStars channel. Spragg Tweeted his delight at the progress he’s made in his own game.

A little over 4 years ago, I started streaming 2c/5c cash games to an audience of around 10 people.

Today I took 3rd in the $5,200 Stadium Series @PokerStars for $70,633 with 30,000 + people watching.

For once, I am speechless.

Thank you! pic.twitter.com/d1qrTXAGfj

— Spraggy (@spraggy) July 29, 2020

 

In other action, Stars streamer Jens “TheRealKnossi” Knossalla broke the Twitch Poker record for concurrent viewers. His stream peaked at more than 91,000 and is part of a growing presence on the platform for streamers during the pandemic.

Knossalla wasn’t playing himself, instead calling the action as his moderator Frank “Knueppel” Stockhaus played for a Platinum Pass. He ultimately finished runner-up in the $1,000 event for more than $117,000.

The soaring online poker industry considers to crush estimates. Operators around the world are reporting massive events and PokerStars is the latest.

The site’s Summer Series ran from June 7-21 and generated a scorching $34 million prize pool. That easily topped the $25 million guarantee.

As the industry continues to explode, even more events are on the horizon with major tournament poker at a standstill.

PokerStars dives in the deep end of the pool

The Summer Series offers yet another glimpse into how many players are getting online. The festival attracted 931,000 entries across 167 events.

British pro Sam Grafton took down the $530 Main Event for more than $200,000.

“It’s an exhilarating feeling to get first in such a big tournament,” he told the Poker in the Ears podcast afterward. “I like to win in poker. It’s still a very unique and special feeling. Obviously, financially it’s very important when you’re playing so high and playing so many events.”

Germany’s Fedor Holz added yet another to his title as well. He took down the $5,200 High Roller for $156,000.

Stadium Series is next up for PokerStars

The action isn’t slowing down yet. The Stadium Series kicks off this weekend, running from July 5 to Aug. 2. The series brings yet another massive guarantee – this time $50 million.

That includes plenty of free cash. The site is awarding more than $2 million in tournament tickets. The series brings a bit of sporting dynamics to the virtual poker felt.

Players can compete in three-tiered “Heat” tournaments throughout the week. They can then qualify for weekly Sunday Finals tournament in each tier.

Buy-ins and guarantees of the finals increase weekly until the Grand Final on Aug. 2. That event features a $5,200 buy-in and $5 million guarantee.

Fast track tickets will also award five seats to the $5,200 Stadium Series Grand Final every day.

Poker fans will find plenty of coverage on PokerStars Twitch stream beginning July 13. James Hartigan, Joe Stapleton, and Grafton will all be providing commentary.

This will also be the first PokerStars online series featuring cards-up coverage. Twitch viewers will find $250,000 worth of Stadium Series tickets given away.

For a complete preview of the Stadium Series, click here. Here’s a look at the complete schedule.

Date	Stakes	Buy-In	Guarantee	PKO	Speed	Special add-on contents
5-Jul	Low	$ 5.50	$125,000	N	Regular	Top 100 receive $55
5-Jul	Medium	$ 55.00	$400,000	N	Regular	Top 50 receive $530
5-Jul	High	$530.00	$750,000	N	Slow
5-Jul	Low	$5.50	$75,000	Y	Semi-Turbo	Top 100 receive $55
5-Jul	Medium	$55.00	$300,000	Y	Semi-Turbo	Top 50 receive $530
5-Jul	High	$530.00	$500,000	Y	Semi-Turbo
6-Jul	Low	$5.50	$75,000	Y	Regular	Top 100 receive $55
6-Jul	Medium	$55.00	$200,000	Y	Regular	Top 50 receive $530
6-Jul	High	$530.00	$350,000	Y	Slow
7-Jul	Low – Freezeout	$5.50	$50,000	N	Regular	Top 100 receive $55
7-Jul	Medium – Freezeout	$55.00	$150,000	N	Regular	Top 50 receive $530
7-Jul	High – Freezeout	$530.00	$250,000	N	Slow
8-Jul	Low	$5.50	$75,000	N	Regular	Top 100 receive $55
8-Jul	Medium	$55.00	$150,000	N	Regular	Top 50 receive $530
8-Jul	High	$530.00	$250,000	N	Slow
9-Jul	Low	$5.50	$75,000	Y	Regular	Top 100 receive $55
9-Jul	Medium	$55.00	$250,000	Y	Regular	Top 50 receive $530
9-Jul	High	$530.00	$500,000	Y	Slow
10-Jul	Low – Deep Stack	$5.50	$50,000	N	Regular	Top 100 receive $55
10-Jul	Medium – Deep Stack	$55.00	$150,000	N	Regular	Top 50 receive $530
10-Jul	High – Deep Stack	$530.00	$250,000	N	Slow
11-Jul	Low	$5.50	$75,000	Y	Regular	Top 100 receive $55
11-Jul	Medium	$55.00	$200,000	Y	Regular	Top 50 receive $530
11-Jul	High	$530.00	$350,000	Y	Slow
12-Jul	Low – Freezeout Final	$5.50	$150,000	N	Regular	Top 9 receive $5,200
12-Jul	Medium – Freezeout Final	$55.00	$500,000	N	Regular	Top 9 receive $5,200
12-Jul	High – Freezeout Final	$530.00	$1,000,000	N	Slow	Top 9 receive $5,200
12-Jul	Low	$11.00	$175,000	N	Semi-Turbo	Top 100 receive $109
12-Jul	Medium	$109.00	$400,000	N	Semi-Turbo	Top 20 receive $1,050
12-Jul	High	$1,050.00	$500,000	N	Semi-Turbo
13-Jul	Low	$11.00	$175,000	Y	Regular	Top 100 receive $109
13-Jul	Medium	$109.00	$350,000	Y	Regular	Top 20 receive $1,050
13-Jul	High	$1,050.00	$500,000	Y	Slow
14-Jul	Low – Freezeout	$11.00	$125,000	N	Regular	Top 100 receive $109
14-Jul	Medium – Freezeout	$109.00	$250,000	N	Regular	Top 20 receive $1,050
14-Jul	High – Freezeout	$1,050.00	$400,000	N	Slow
15-Jul	Low	$11.00	$125,000	N	Regular	Top 100 receive $109
15-Jul	Medium	$109.00	$250,000	N	Regular	Top 20 receive $1,050
15-Jul	High	$1,050.00	$500,000	N	Slow
16-Jul	Low	$11.00	$200,000	Y	Regular	Top 100 receive $109
16-Jul	Medium	$109.00	$500,000	Y	Regular	Top 20 receive $1,050
16-Jul	High	$1,050.00	$750,000	Y	Slow
17-Jul	Low – Deep Stack	$11.00	$125,000	N	Regular	Top 100 receive $109
17-Jul	Medium – Deep Stack	$109.00	$250,000	N	Regular	Top 20 receive $1,050
17-Jul	High – Deep Stack	$1,050.00	$400,000	N	Slow
18-Jul	Low	$11.00	$200,000	Y	Regular	Top 100 receive $109
18-Jul	Medium	$109.00	$350,000	Y	Regular	Top 20 receive $1,050
18-Jul	High	$1,050.00	$500,000	Y	Slow
19-Jul	Low – Freezeout Final	$11.00	$500,000	N	Slow	Top 9 receive $5,200
19-Jul	Medium – Freezeout Final	$109.00	$ 1,500,000	N	Slow	Top 9 receive $5,200
19-Jul	High – Freezeout Final	$1,050.00	$1,500,000	N	Slow	Top 9 receive $5,200
19-Jul	Low	$22.00	$275,000	N	Semi-Turbo	Top 75 receive $215
19-Jul	Medium	$215.00	$500,000	N	Semi-Turbo	Top 10 receive $2,100
19-Jul	High	$2,100.00	$500,000	N	Semi-Turbo
20-Jul	Low	$ 22.00	$275,000	Y	Regular	Top 75 receive $215
20-Jul	Medium	$ 215.00	$500,000	Y	Regular	Top 10 receive $2,100
20-Jul	High	$ 2,100.00	$500,000	Y	Slow
21-Jul	Low – Freezeout	$22.00	$200,000	N	Regular	Top 75 receive $215
21-Jul	Medium – Freezeout	$215.00	$400,000	N	Regular	Top 10 receive $2,100
21-Jul	High – Freezeout	$2,100.00	$500,000	N	Slow
22-Jul	Low	$22.00	$200,000	N	Regular	Top 75 receive $215
22-Jul	Medium	$215.00	$400,000	N	Regular	Top 10 receive $2,100
22-Jul	High	$2,100.00	$500,000	N	Slow
23-Jul	Low	$22.00	$300,000	Y	Regular	Top 75 receive $215
23-Jul	Medium	$215.00	$750,000	Y	Regular	Top 10 receive $2,100
23-Jul	High	$2,100.00	$1,000,000	Y	Slow
24-Jul	Low – Deep Stack	$22.00	$200,000	N	Regular	Top 75 receive $215
24-Jul	Medium – Deep Stack	$215.00	$400,000	N	Regular	Top 10 receive $2,100
24-Jul	High – Deep Stack	$2,100.00	$500,000	N	Slow
25-Jul	Low	$22.00	$300,000	Y	Regular	Top 75 receive $215
25-Jul	Medium	$215.00	$500,000	Y	Regular	Top 10 receive $2,100
25-Jul	High	$2,100.00	$500,000	Y	Slow
26-Jul	Low – Freezeout Final	$22.00	$500,000	N	Slow	Top 9 receive $5,200
26-Jul	Medium – Freezeout Final	$215.00	$1,500,000	N	Slow	Top 9 receive $5,200
26-Jul	High – Freezeout Final	$2,100.00	$1,500,000	N	Slow	Top 9 receive $5,200
26-Jul	Low	$55.00	$300,000	N	Semi-Turbo	Top 50 receive $530
26-Jul	Medium	$530.00	$750,000	N	Semi-Turbo	Top 5 receive $5,200
26-Jul	High	$5,200.00	$1,000,000	N	Semi-Turbo
27-Jul	Low	$55.00	$250,000	Y	Regular	Top 50 receive $530
27-Jul	Medium	$530.00	$500,000	Y	Slow	Top 5 receive $5,200
27-Jul	High	$5,200.00	$500,000	Y	Slow
28-Jul	Low – Freezeout	$55.00	$200,000	N	Regular	Top 50 receive $530
28-Jul	Medium – Freezeout	$530.00	$500,000	N	Slow	Top 5 receive $5,200
28-Jul	High – Freezeout	$5,200.00	$500,000	N	Slow
29-Jul	Low	$55.00	$200,000	N	Regular	Top 50 receive $530
29-Jul	Medium	$530.00	$500,000	N	Slow	Top 5 receive $5,200
29-Jul	High	$5,200.00	$500,000	N	Slow
30-Jul	Low	$55.00	$400,000	Y	Regular	Top 50 receive $530
30-Jul	Medium	$530.00	$1,000,000	Y	Slow	Top 5 receive $5,200
30-Jul	High	$5,200.00	$500,000	Y	Slow
31-Jul	Low – Deep Stack	$55.00	$200,000	N	Regular	Top 50 receive $530
31-Jul	Medium – Deep Stack	$530.00	$500,000	N	Slow	Top 5 receive $5,200
31-Jul	High – Deep Stack	$5,200.00	$500,000	N	Slow
1-Aug	Low	$55.00	$250,000	Y	Regular	Top 50 receive $530
1-Aug	Medium	$530.00	$500,000	Y	Slow	Top 5 receive $5,200
1-Aug	High	$5,200.00	$500,000	Y	Slow
2-Aug	Low – Freezeout Grand Final	$55.00	$1,000,000	N	Slow
2-Aug	Medium – Freezeout Grand Final	$530.00	$2,000,000	N	Slow
2-Aug	High – Freezeout Grand Final	$5,200.00	$5,000,000	N	Slow
2-Aug	Low	$109.00	$500,000	N	Semi-Turbo
2-Aug	Medium	$1,050.00	$1,000,000	N	Semi-Turbo
2-Aug	High	$10,300.00	$1,000,000	N	Semi-Turbo

PokerStars casts new fishing lure Throwable

Throwables are one of the social-gaming aspects PokerStars recently added to its platform. These are virtual objects that can be tossed at an opponent to add some more fun to the action.

Players can already make use of fireworks, tissues, and alarm clocks.

PokerStars has now added a fishing lure feature. This Throwable is unlocked by knocking out three players from a tournament or busting three players in a cash game. Here’s a look at how the new feature works.

Want to have some fun with an opponent? Simply cast a line and reel in a fish.