Now in its third week at GGPoker, the WSOP Online now takes the spotlight with WSOP.com events wrapped up. The series has already awarded 18 bracelets with 36 more to go.
As expected, with players around the world now involved, the series has seen a nice increase in prize pools. That includes massive numbers in some of the smaller buy-in events.
Here’s a look at some bracelet-hunting news from the last week at GGPoker.
Quest for bracelets drives big numbers at GGPoker WSOP Online
A quick look at the numbers shows players have responded well to the GG events. The series runs through Sept. 16 and has already attracted 67,673 entries.
That more than doubles the entries from the WSOP.com side, which was available only in New Jersey and Nevada. The average winner payout has been about $100,000 more per event at GGPoker.
There has been $29.7 million paid out so far with a total of $4.6 million to winners. Here’s a comparison of the averages from the GGPoker series so far compared to WSOP.com.
GGPoker
- Total entries – 3,754
- Prize pool – $1.7 million
- Winner payout – $255,429
WSOP.com
- Total entries – 1,427
- Prize pool – $866,809
- Winner payout – $152,208
* averages as of Aug. 5
Those trends should continue in the coming days. Here’s a look at statistics and winners so far.
For complete facts and information about the WSOP Online, including Twitch streams, click here.
| Tournament | Buy-in | Entries | Prize pool | Winner payout | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #32: The Opener NLHE | $100 | 29,306 | $2,696,152 | $265,880 | Marcelo Jakovljevic Pudla |
| #33: Every 1 for Covid Relief | $1,111 | 2,323 | $2,580,853 | $343,204 | Alek Stasiak |
| #34: Super Turbo Bounty NLHE 6-Handed | $525 | 2,214 | $1,107,000 | $117,650 | Shoma Ishikawa |
| #35 Pot Limit Omaha Championship | $5,000 | 328 | $1,558,000 | $306,622 | Juha Helppi |
| #36 FIFTY STACK NLHE | $1,500 | 1,342 | $1,912,350 | $297,496 | Michael Clacher |
| #37 Bounty Pot Limit Omaha | $1,050 | 971 | $971,000 | $161,887 | Hun Wei Lee |
| #38 Monster Stack NLHE 6-Handed [Asia Time Zone] | $600 | 2,007 | $1,143,990 | $171,389 | Aaron Wijaya |
| #39: NLHE [Asia Time Zone] | $1,500 | 922 | $1,313,850 | $216,213 | Roberto Romanello |
| #40: Pot Limit Omaha | $2,500 | 532 | $1,263,500 | $224,493 | Klas Lofberg |
| #41: COLOSSUS | $400 | 12,757 | $4,796,632 | $595,930 | Ranno Sootla |
| #42: PLOSSUS | $400 | 4,356 | $1,637,856 | $221,557 | Yuri Dzivielevski |
| #43: Short Deck NLHE Championship | $10,000 | 301 | $812,700 | $276,393 | Lev "LevMeAlone" Gottlieb |
| #44: NLHE 6-Handed | $2,500 | 892 | $2,118,500 | $356,412 | Kristen Bicknell |
| #45: Bounty NLHE | $840 | 2,382 | $1,906,500 | $245,448 | Patrick "Muddington" Kennedy |
| #46: Deepstack NLHE | $500 | 2,307 | $1,095,825 | $189,098 | Sung Joo "ArtePokerTV" Hyun |
| #47: Short Deck NLHE | $1,000 | 487 | $462,560 | $88,202 | Paul Teoh |
| #48 MILLIONAIRE MAKER | $1,500 | NA | NA | NA | event not completed |
| #49 Turbo Deepstack | $500 | 2,978 | $1,414,550 | $192,523 | Vladas "apuokos" Burneikis |
| #50: Bounty Championship | $2,100 | 1,168 | $2,336,000 | $327,319 | Enrico "GTOExploiter" Camosci |
| TOTALS | 67,573 | $31,127,818 | $4,597,716 | ||
| AVERAGES | 3,754 | $1,729,323 | $255,429 |
Shah, Watson chalk up nice scores; Hellmuth’s wife not happy
Several big US-based players, such as Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth, are heading to Mexico to play the series. However, a lesser-known American player has already made some waves at GG.
Michelle Shah, from Delray Beach, Florida, has already recorded nine cashes. That includes runner-up in the $1,000 Short Deck for $60,254 and a 10th-place finish in $525 Super Turbo Bounty.
Canada’s Mike Watson took third ($44,166) in that short deck event and is also having a nice series. In total, Watson has five cashes which includes a fourth-place finish in the $5,000 PLO Championship for $115,117.
In a career dating to 2005, Watson has more than $12 million in live tournament winnings including a WPT title. However, he’s still looking for that first bracelet.
Hellmuth is looking for his 16th bracelet. He couldn’t wrangle one while playing in Las Vegas, but is hoping for better results while playing in Mexico.
He’s also fresh off a $50,000 buy-in heads-up battle with Antonio Esfandiari on PokerGO. However, so much time away from home may have Hellmuth in the dog house with his wife.
Home sweet home! I did not see Wifey for even one single minute during the whole MONTH of July! I believe it’s the longest we have ever been apart. Unusual times…Planning on hitting Cabo in a few days for another month w/out my baby, to play more @WSOP Tourneys #WifeNOTHappy pic.twitter.com/tZBko7IlJI
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) August 2, 2020
Colossal turnouts in massive-field events
Two of the bargain buy-in events stood out recently just as at the live WSOP in Las Vegas. Massive-field tournaments like Colossus have become a major part of the annual series.
That’s carried over to the online events at GGPoker and began with the $100 Opener. That event produced 29,306 entries for a $2.7 million prize pool. Brazil’s Marcelo Jakovljevic Pudla took the title for $265,880.
That is easily the largest number of entries so far. But two other events also produced big fields. The $400 COLOSSUS drew 12,757 entries and a prize pool of $4.8 million.
The event smashed the $3 million guarantee with Estonia’s Ranno Sootla earning his first bracelet and $595,530.
In the $400 PLOSSUS, another Brazilian scored a big win. Yuri Dzivielevski topped a field of 4,356 entries for $221,557.
This becomes his second bracelet after winning one in 2019. The event drew a $1.6 million prize pool, easily topping the $1 million guarantee.
A look at the WSOP Online leaderboard
Sootla and Dzivielevski now sit atop the WSOP Online Leaderboard after big wins in the COLOSSUS and PLOSSUS. Two other Brazilians are also among the top five. Here’s a look at the complete standings.
- 1st – Ranno Sootla, 4,719.82
- 2nd – Yuri Dzivielevski, 4,018.81
- 3rd – Belarmino De Souza, 3,579.84
- 4th – Enrico Camosci, 3,539.22
- 5th – Marcelo Jakovljevic, 3,283.99
Some big upcoming events at GGPoker
GGPoker is offering several WSOP Online events in Asian time zone to cater to its large player pool there. The highlight of that is set for Sunday, Aug. 9.
The HK$8,000 ($1,032) NLHE Asia Championship features a HK$8 million ($1.02 million) guarantee.
Also on Sunday, players looking for a bargain buy-in and big payday should check out the $150 GGMasters Special Edition. The freezeout comes with a $1 million guarantee.
One the same day, plenty of high-stakes players should jump in the $10,000 Heads-up Championship. A regular part of the WSOP in Las Vegas, there should be plenty of big names in the mix.
Here’s a look at the complete schedule.
2020 WSOP Online GGPoker Schedule
| Date | Event Number | Tournament | Buy-in | Prize Guarantee | Notes |
| Wednesday, September 02, 2020 | 48 | People's Choice Event [Pros Vote] | TBA | TBA | TBA by Vote |
| Thursday, September 03, 2020 | 49 | People's Choice Event [Spin the Wheel] | TBA | TBA | TBA by Vote |
| Saturday, September 05, 2020 | 50 | People's Choice Event [Most Popular] | TBA | TBA | Asia Time Zone, TBA by Vote |
| Saturday, September 05, 2020 | 51 | $1,050 Beat the Pros [Bounty] | $1,050 | ||
| Sunday, September 06, 2020 | 52 | $10K WSOP Super MILLION$, $5M GTD | $10,000 | $5,000,000 | 2-Day Event |
| Sunday, September 06, 2020 | 53 | $100 WSOP MILLION$ [Final Day], $2M GTD | $100 | $2,000,000 | 2-Day Event, 1-RE Flights |
| Sunday, September 06, 2020 | 54 | $500 The Closer [LAST CHANCE] | $500 |