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
John Vallis
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.
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 Shooting Stars for Charity will be held across two days, July 29-30. The tournament features a $500,000 guarantee with a minimum $50,000 of that going to the 1Day Sooner. Several well-known faces from poker and beyond are getting involved.
1Day Sooner advocates on behalf of human trial challenges to speed up the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. The charity has gained the support of 32,000 volunteers in 140 countries.
The charity event features a $1,100 buy-in with $100 of each buy-in going to the charity donation. There will be some nice opportunities for players to score some bounties during the event.
Those sending a “Shooting Star” to the rail will earn an extra $500. Several recognizable poker pros are already planning to play, according to partypoker. Some of those include:
Sam Trickett – Partypoker ambassador from the United Kingdom with $21.8 million in winnings.
Ryan Riess – A WPT champion and 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event winner.
Darren Elias – The WPT’s winningest player with four Main Tour titles.
Liv Boeree – English poker pro with $4 million in live tournament earnings.
Kenny Hallaert – One of Belgium’s winningest poker players with $4.3 million.
Mike McDonald – This Canadian won the 2017 partypoker MILLIONS High Roller.
“I’m dusting off the ol’ clicker, my gaming mouse, to play some online poker again for the first time in ages,” Boeree said. “Who knows, maybe I’ll nail that triple crown at last.”
Celebs adding something extra to partypoker Shooting Stars
Beyond the world of poker, there are also plenty of celebrities in the action – all also $500 bounties. That list includes pro athletes, models, and actors.
Luke Mabbott may not have won on Love Island, but he’ll be hoping for better results on the poker table.
Actress and model Aylar Lie, who has also won six live poker titles, will also be participating. No stranger to poker, she has more than $362,000 in live tournament winnings.
In his day job, Barry Hearn is chairman of World Snooker and promotes other sporting events. He’s also a regular poker player with more than $115,000 in live poker winnings.
Actor Patrick Murray will also be participating. Many might know him as Mickey Pearce from sitcom Only Fools and Horses. He’s also a regular at the poker table.
Additionally, Manchester United football players Wes Brown and Darren Fletcher will move from the pitch to the poker felt.
Both are accustomed to winning trophies, including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, and more. Now they’ll be seeking a partypoker WPT title.
Following the partypoker Shooting Stars action
Like all of the WPT Online World Championships, the Shooting Stars will be live-streamed on the partypoker Twitch channel. Commentary will be provided in English by James Dempsey and Henry Kilbane.
Russian commentary will also be provided by Dmitry Shakov and Andrey Budykin. Stefan Hachmeister and Christophe Gross will be behind the mic for German viewers.
$100 million on the line in WPT World Online Championships
The WPT festivities continue at partypoker through Sept. 9 with a $100 million guarantee. The series is designed to replicate an authentic live poker experience.
Part of that is the use of players’ real names at the tables. There will also be a maximum of two Day 1s for the 12 championship events in the series with only one re-entry allowed.
Five of the 12 championship event winners will be added to the WPT Champions Club. Beyond those signature events, there are also numerous side events for players of all bankrolls.
For a complete series preview including insight from Team Partypoker ambassador Jason Koon, click here. Here’s a look at the entire series.
The Coronavirus pandemic has not only brought an explosion in online poker but also the elevation of streaming coverage. PokerStars has now added even more punch to the Stadium Series after partnering with a lineup of well-known content creators.
TheUnited Kingdom-based Sidemen YouTube collective stream on a multi-channel network. The group is creating a series of videos on the YouTube channels as well as the PokerStars Twitch channel.
The Sidemen will also battle PokerStars ambassadors Ben “Spraggy” Spragg, Lex Veldhuis, and Fintan Hand. The whole group will play in an eight-person stream on the PokerStars Twitch channel.
Additionally, British YouTube podcaster Brian “True Geordie” Davis will also join in the events. Davis also participated in the Stars Call for Action charity tournament for COVID-19 relief.
When the Sunday Freezeout Grand Finals, Davis will be playing on his YouTube channel. UK poker pro Charlie Carrel will be coaching him throughout the event.
Twitch streaming playing a major role
The Stadium Series runs through Aug. 2 with more than $50 million guaranteed. PokerStars is also giving away more than $2 million worth of events tickets throughout the series.
The series offers something for every bankroll with buy-ins ranging from $5.50 to $10,300. In addition to the YouTubers’ involvement, plenty of action will be streamed on Twitch.
The later stages of most Stadium Series tournaments will be streamed with James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton providing commentary.
Players accustomed to watching televised poker will enjoy some added enhancements to the stream. The Stadium Series will be the first PokerStars online series to feature cards-up coverage. Viewers can see players’ hole cards on a short delay.
Find complete Stadium Series schedules below.
PokerStars drops another ‘unique’ Throwable
After introducing Throwables to the platform in May, PokerStars has been adding to the collection. Players can now throw virtual “poo” at their opponents with the launch of the latest Throwable.
The scatological animation is unlocked by losing a hand holding pocket Aces or Kings. The feature is only available for a limited time and comes with its own TP.
Players can also add to their Throwables collection as well with exclusive Stadium Series animations. These include the ability to throw a gold bar at an opponent.
Unlock these Throwables by finishing in the money, making a final table, or winning a tournament in the Stadium Series.
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’sFedor 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.
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.
Another week, another major online poker series. That’s the trend during the Coronavirus pandemic and PokerStars announced the launch of its new Stadium Series on Monday.
The series features 102 events, three different buy-in levels, and daily opportunities to get in the action for free. The Stadium Series runs July 5 to Aug. 2 with $50 million guaranteed.
As the name implies, PokerStars has given the series a bit of a sporting twist. Players can compete in various events with a shot at even bigger tournaments, depending on their results.
Another major highlight? PokerStars is awarding more than $2 million worth of Stadium Series tickets.
What to expect from PokerStars Stadium Series
Unlike traditional poker festivals, the Stadium Series functions somewhat like a track and field competition or other type of race. Players can choose to take part in a “Heat tournament” for each buy-in tier (Low, Medium, or High) every day of the week for four weeks.
Each week will conclude with a Sunday Final for each tier. The Week 4 High Sunday final becomes the Grand Final main event.
As the series progresses, buy-ins and guarantees also increase week by week. Sunday Final tickets are also added to daily heats, and Grand Final tickets added to Sunday Finals.
Players can also “Fast Track” to the Grand Final via a special promotion. Fast Track tickets will be given away for free though Stars Rewards Spin and Go’s and in daily freerolls.
All events are in No Limit Hold’em with buy-ins starting at only $5.50.
Following the action and cards-up streaming coverage on Twitch Poker
Along with plenty of competition, players can also expect plenty of Twitch coverage of the Stadium Series. Beginning July 13, most tournaments will be streamed with commentary by James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton.
The series will be the first PokerStars stream featuring cards-up coverage, allowing viewers to see hole cards. The company has made efforts to beef up its Twitch offerings and promotions. Stadium Series becomes the latest in those efforts.
“We wanted to give our players something they all could enjoy and take part in, and to create stories and opportunities by giving away millions in free seats and tickets,” said Severin Rasset, PokerStars managing director and commercial officer for poker, product and innovation.
“It’s a unique summer and we know many of our players like ourselves miss live poker. So we wanted to bring the entertainment and flair of a live event with our cards-up coverage and really put our players at the heart of all the action. There’s truly something for everyone with Stadium Series: big opportunities, mega thrills, and incredible value. We’re very excited about seeing this one unfold.”
Opportunities to win from PokerStars
With $2 million to give away in free entries, there is no shortage on promotional opportunities during the series.
Players can already win Stadium Series tickets via the following:
Fast Track promotion
High Stakes Poker Challenge
Special Twitch community giveaways
Stadium Series Spin and Go’s
Big daily tournaments already on the regular PokerStars schedule
Look for the Stadium Series on the international .COM site. Southern Europe and Italy will also host their own version of the festival.
For France, Spain, and Portugal, the series guarantee is €5 million with €1 million guaranteed in the €250 Grand Final.
The Italian series includes a €3 million guarantee and €500,000 guarantee in the €250 Grand Final. Here’s a look at the complete schedules.
2020 PokerStars Stadium Series – .COM
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
2020 PokerStars Stadium Series – Spain, France, Portugal
Casinos may be opening, but live poker is slow to return. That means huge events continue for online poker players. PokerScout once again brings you a complete guide to this weekend’s action.
International players have fewer series than in past week, but look for even more next week. Americans have quite a bit of action this weekend and those events have been included as well. Here’s your guide for June 18-21.
888poker– The Freezeout Series kicks off this weekend for all bankrolls.
Partypoker– The Poker Masters PLO series kicks off on Sunday.
PokerStars– Players in the US have plenty of action during the Summer Series.
GGPoker – Look for big Sunday majors paying out millions of dollars.
Weekend Poker Events June 18-22, 2020
Date
Site
Event
Buy-in
Guarantee
Thursday, June 18 – Sunday, June 21
888poker
Freezeout Series #24 - Main Event Day 1
** starting flights (daily)
$109
$200,000
Thursday, June 18
PokerStars US (Pennsylvania)
Summer Series NLHE Kick-Off [8-Max]
$100
$30,000
Thursday, June 18
PokerStars US (Pennsylvania)
Summer Series Mini Kick-Off [8-Max]
$20
$7,500
Thursday, June 18
PokerStars US (Pennsylvania)
Summer Series Thursday Thrill SE [Progressive KO]
$200
$25,000
Thursday, June 18
PokerStars US (Pennsylvania)
Summer Series Mini Thrill [Progressive KO]
$30
$12,500
Thursday, June 18
PokerStars US (Pennsylvania)
Summer Series NLHE 8-Max
$75
$10,000
Thursday, June 18
PokerStars US (New Jersey)
Summer Series NLHE Kick-Off [8-Max]
$100
$15,000
Thursday, June 18
PokerStars US (New Jersey)
Summer Series Mini Kick-Off [8-Max]
$20
$5,000
Thursday, June 18
PokerStars US (New Jersey)
Summer Series Thursday Thrill SE [Progressive KO]
$200
$15,000
Thursday, June 18
PokerStars US (New Jersey)
Summer Series Mini Thrill [Progressive KO]
$20
$6,000
Thursday, June 18
PokerStars US (New Jersey)
Summer Series NLHE Turbo
$75
$5,000
Friday, June 19
PokerStars US (Pennsylvania)
Summer Series Escalating Antes
$50
$10,000
Friday, June 19
PokerStars US (Pennsylvania)
Summer Series NLHE 6-Max
$20
$6,000
Friday, June 19
PokerStars US (New Jersey)
Summer Series Escalating Antes
$150
$10,000
Friday, June 19
PokerStars US (New Jersey)
Summer Series NLHE 6-Max
$50
$ 7,000
Saturday, June 20
PokerStars US (Pennsylvania)
Summer Series NLHE 6-Max
$100
$20,000
Saturday, June 20
PokerStars US (Pennsylvania)
Summer Series PLO 6-Max
$50
$5,000
Saturday, June 20
PokerStars US (Pennsylvania)
Summer Series Progressive KO [8-Max]
$75
$7,500
Saturday, June 20
PokerStars US (New Jersey)
Summer Series Deepstack
$150
$12,500
Saturday, June 20
PokerStars US (New Jersey)
Summer Series Saturday Speedway
$50
$6,000
Saturday, June 20
PokerStars US (New Jersey)
Summer Series Hyper PKO
$100
$6,000
Sunday, June 21
partypoker
Poker Masters Event #1 – PLO High Roller Online [2 Day Event]
$10,300
$500,000
Sunday, June 21
partypoker
Poker Masters Event #1 – High Roller Mini Online [2 Day Event]
$1,050
$50,000
Sunday, June 21
partypoker
Poker Masters Event #2 – PLO High Roller Online
$5,200
$250,000
Sunday, June 21
partypoker
Poker Masters Event #2 – PLO High Roller Knockout Mini Online
$530
$25,000
Sunday, June 21
888poker
Freezeout Series #1 - Tune Up
$55
$50,000
Sunday, June 21
888poker
Freezeout Series #2 - Mini Tune Up
$16.50
$20,000
Sunday, June 21
888poker
Freezeout Series #3 - Late Tune Up
$33
$15,000
Sunday, June 21
GGPoker
Global Millions
$100
$1 million
Sunday, June 21
GGPoker
High Roller Global Millions
$500
$2 million
Sunday, June 21
PokerStars
Sunday Million
$109
$1 million
Sunday, June 21
partypoker US (New Jersey
SATELLITE: WPT ONLINE POKER OPEN - 10 seats guaranteed NLHE
The online poker world continues to thrive in the wake of the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. Operators continue to ramp up tournament series and product offerings.
PokerStars got in the act this week with the release of its new and improved mobile gaming app. The mobile offering is now available on iOS and company officials promise a “next generation” experience.
The additions come as the company has also made major improvements to its “Home Games” feature.
Adding simplicity to the overall PokerStars mobile experience
A quick scan of the new app and players will find improvements – especially locating games and tournaments. Some of those improved elements include:
navigation
back-to-lobby functionality
tournament text search
dynamic filters
improved game information
Overall, players will find a simplified and more convenient experience. Bold graphics and color coding various features add significantly to the platform.
The company plans to roll out the new app even further and encourages player feedback. PokerStars notes it has even incorporated an easy feedback feature in the app’s new design.
“PokerStars’ focus remains on developing an app that is completely user-focused so players can easily find the games and products they want to playand have a smoother, richer and more enjoyable gaming experience,” the site noted in a news release.
The updates combine features used in the app’s earlier launch in the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Pennsylvania in the US. Player feedback also played a major role, the company notes.
The new mobile app is available everywhere on the .COM site, excluding Brazil. Android users will have to wait a bit. The new app isn’t yet available on that platform, but is expected to be later in the year.
PokerStars also unveils major updates to Home Games feature
With so many players at home during the pandemic, many players have shifted their home games online. PokerStars own “Home Games” feature has been a popular way for friends hoping to still battle it out at the tables.
The site has now added to that experience with some updates to the feature this week. Those will soon even include playing with friends on mobile devices.
The new Home Games also now hosts games and formats found throughout the PokerStars platform. Those include:
Progressive Knock-Out
Total Progressive Knock-Out
Five- and Six-Card Omaha
6+ Hold’em
Showtime Hold’em
Split Hold’em
Fusion
Swap Hold’em
These games are expected to be added to Home Games cash games within the coming week as well.
PokerStars has also refined the process of creating games and tournaments. Some settings have been grouped to make functionality simpler for Home Game club managers.
Late registration can also now offer a window of up to 90 minutes.
“The changes build on PokerStars’ goal to enable players to better connect with friends, provide them with good value entertainment and a great experience overall,” the company noted in announcing the changes.
Initial Home Games updates are being rolled out for desktop and Android users (self-hosted currently, Google Play to follow shortly). These changes are expected to be available on iOS devices soon.
The updates were part of a planned development strategy, which was recently accelerated in response to player feedback. Playing with friends online remains popular and now players can get in the game even easier.
For a complete PokerStars review including an exclusive PokerStars signup bonus, click here.
A big part of growing the poker world is bringing new players into the game. Twitch has been a part of that as well as efforts to reach more female players. PokerStars is hoping its new free poker-training app helps in those efforts to become a black belt on the poker felt.
Poker Dojo offers players of all levels the chance to learn, test, and perfect their skills. Players can work to perfect their online game or for battling at the live tables.
“We wanted to provide an entry point for new players to have fun while improving their confidence in their own skills,” PokerStars associate director of public relationsRebecca McAdam Willetts told PokerScout.
“Poker Dojo can help players develop some important poker skills quickly. It also provides an opportunity to introduce poker to new players or help more experienced players stay sharp and improve in an entertaining, gamified format at home or on the go.”
Those entering the dojo will find three fast, engaging mini-games. They’re designed to help learn the game or just have fun with a training app.
The app was created to feel like a mobile game, with score history and leveling systems to challenge users. There are also leaderboards allowing players to challenge each other.
The app teaches players to quickly recognize strong hands and make decisions under pressure. Players can also learn when to go all in when appropriate. Available games include:
Grid Poker – Trainees select five cards on a grid to make a poker hand. The goal is to score as many points as possible before time runs out. The stronger the hand, the more points scored.
Strongest Hand – Players pick the best hand out of three or rate their hand to earn points.
All-in or Fold – Dojo students fold until they’re confident enough in a hand to go all in against an unseen hand.
App timed well with growing online poker market
Online poker has seen a boom during the Coronavirus pandemic. New players have gone online as more players begin hitting the virtual tables.
Initially, the Poker Dojo app is only available in the United States and United Kingdom. Users can download the free app at the App Store and Google Play Store for mobile phones and tablets.
In the US, PokerStars is available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. March and April produced record revenue numbers for online poker in those states as well as Nevada and Delaware.
Poker Dojo’s appeal to mobile gamers comes as operators tweak their apps to appeal to social players. Throughout the design process, a simple game that could help players was the goal.
“Poker Dojo was named after a space for immersive learning, which informed the creative process throughout,” Willetts said. “Our dedicated innovation team, with the support of others across the business, took the project from concept to roll-out.
“Once we’d developed an iteration we were happy with, we rolled out a beta product and invited everyone in the company to join in and compete for prizes while sending feedback. That final stage was vital and provided us with invaluable feedback and insights. It meant we could hone in on what makes the app genuinely useful to players of all levels.”
Fighting it out on the PokerStars felt
Those looking to win some money on Poker Dojo will be out of luck. The app only offers training. A quick test drive of the app by PokerScout finds a fun social game that new players may enjoy.
Along with learning traditional poker game play, players can fine tune their speed in recognizing hands. The All-in or Fold feature is nice at working on speed calculating at strength and draws.
Grid Poker mimics puzzle games and allows players new to the game to focus on making hands. As they create hands, poker recognition skills become easier and faster.
While players won’t win any cash via Poker Dojo, users can earn a free PokerStars Sit and Go voucher. The goal is to battle it out in the dojo then put that poker black belt to work.
“Poker Dojo is a very engaging poker mini game app that helps users develop key skill sets that any poker savvy player should know, like hand rankings, hand strength, and how to assess an all-in decision,” Willetts said. “As a bonus, the game-like format of the app makes it fun and accessible for all levels.”
For complete PokerStars review and exclusive PokerScout bonus, click here. For PokerStars New Jersey and Pennsylvania reviews and bonus codes, click here
As more online pokeroperators announced massive turnouts, PokerStars also trumpeted its own gargantuan numbers last week. The Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) remains one of the platform’s most popular events and 2020 proved the biggest yet.
With players around the globe at home during the Coronavirus pandemic, many headed to PokerStars. This year SCOOP awarded more than $185 million, the biggest total prize pool in the history of online poker.
Record prize pool reached after PokerStars adds to series
After early SCOOP success, PokerStars bumped up the schedule with 44 additional events. The company also moved the $85 million guarantee to $135 million.
That proved to be a wise decision and produced more than 2.9 million player entries over 124 events. The schedule actually included three separate tournaments for each event: Low, Medium, and High.
All three Main Events surpassed guarantees. The $109 buy-in Low edition produced 46,238 entries for a $4.6 million prize pool. The winner, “auercan,” took home $371,750.
The $1,050 Medium buy-in Main Event awarded $6.5 million with 6,475 entries. “HayashiJoão” earned a huge $920,066 for first place.
A player named “Alexgirs” won the biggest prize of the entire series in the $10,300 Main Event High. The tournament awarded $6.1 million with 609 entries and the winner secured a nice $920,595.
The United Kingdom topped the country leaderboard with 46 wins. Brazil followed in second with 45 wins.
UK players “raidalot” and “pads1161” secured more than 90 cashes, taking home $519,276 and $258,584 respectively.
PokerStars SCOOP success stories
Beyond those main event wins, several other players produced some nice stories during the series. PokerStars ambassador Lex Veldhuis smashed his own and the Twitch Pokerrecord after reaching 58,543 concurrent viewers during Day 3 of the High Main Event.
At one point, Veldhuis even had the most-watched channel on Twitch, topping 128,000 other streams. Other interesting notes include:
Rui “RuiNF” Ferreira was crowned Player of the Series. This comes after some massive live scores for this Portuguese player in 2019 on the European Poker Tour.
Connor “blanconegro” Drinan broke records after winning the most events in a single SCOOP series. The American won five events for a total of more than $550,000 in prize money.
PokerStars Ambassador Fintan Hand earned the biggest cash of his career. The Twitch streamer from Ireland won a $1,050 Six-Max Turbo Shootout for a $73,652 payday.
Satellite qualifiers scored big in SCOOP
With plenty of satellites throughout SCOOP, there were plenty of nice success stories. Here’s a look at a few of those:
“neGREENu” produced one of the biggest satellite scores. This player turned $11 into $37,008 after finishing in fourth place in the $109 NLHE Progressive KO event.
“alexandro156” turned a $1.45 satellite into $21,612 after placing second in a $11 NLHE Progressive KO event.
“chikitin099” earned $27,009 after qualifying for $5.50 after coming second in a $22 PLO Six-Max.
Another SCOOP may be in the books, but live poker is still not available for many. With so many players around the world still at home there’s a good chance more big series will continue.
Several online poker tournament series have wrapped up but players still have some action to look forward to. Here’s a look at all the big events and promotions for June 1-7.
The WSOP Online Circuit Super Series wrapped up over the weekend. While no new tournament series hasn’t been added recently, players will still find several big daily and weekly tournaments.
On Sundays, GG offers 174 different events with a total of $2 million guaranteed. Buy-ins range from $2 to $5,000 and include high rollers, bounties, freezeouts, turbos, and more.
One of the highlights is the $150 GGMasters Freezeout with a $500,000 guarantee. Also, look for a total of four $5,000 buy-in events and three $1,000 tournaments. Here’s a look at the complete weekly schedule at GGPoker:
GGPoker 2020 Daily and Weekly Tournaments
Event
Day
Buy-in
Guarantee
Daily Special $55
Monday – Saturday
$55.00
$10,000
Daily Monster Stack $50
Monday – Saturday
$50.00
$10,000
Daily Monster Stack $5
Monday – Saturday
$5.00
$2,500
Daily Special $22
Monday – Saturday
$22.00
$20,000
Daily Monster Stack $200
Monday – Saturday
$200.00
$30,000
Daily Monster Stack $20
Monday – Saturday
$20.00
$20,000
Daily Special $33
Monday – Saturday
$33.00
$30,000
Daily Special $55
Monday – Saturday
$55.00
$50,000
Daily Special $5.50
Monday – Saturday
$5.50
$5,000
Daily Special $88
Monday – Saturday
$88.00
$80,000
Daily Special $125
Monday – Saturday
$125.00
$50,000
Daily Special $10
Monday – Saturday
$10.00
$10,000
Daily Main Event $50
Monday – Saturday
$50.00
$60,000
Daily Mini Main Event $5
Monday – Saturday
$5.00
$10,000
Daily Special $250
Monday – Saturday
$250.00
$50,000
Daily Special $25
Monday – Saturday
$25.00
$15,000
Sundayday Special $55
Sunday
$55.00
$10,000
Sundayday Monster Stack $50
Sunday
$50.00
$10,000
Sundayday Monster Stack $5
Sunday
$5.00
$2,500
Sundayday Special $22
Sunday
$22.00
$30,000
Sundayday Monster Stack $200
Sunday
$200.00
$75,000
Sundayday Monster Stack $20
Sunday
$20.00
$30,000
Sundayday Special $33
Sunday
$33.00
$60,000
Sundayday Special $55
Sunday
$55.00
$75,000
Sundayday Special $5.50
Sunday
$5.50
$7,500
Sundayday Special $88
Sunday
$88.00
$100,000
Sundayday Special $10
Sunday
$10.00
$10,000
Sundayday Special $125
Sunday
$125.00
$50,000
Sundayday Main Event $50
Sunday
$50.00
$100,000
Sundayday Mini Main Event $5
Sunday
$5.00
$12,500
Sundayday Special $250
Sunday
$250.00
$150,000
Sundayday Special $25
Sunday
$25.00
$25,000
For a complete GGPoker poker review and an exclusive deposit bonus up to $1,000, click here.
Partypoker
WPT World Online Championships coming soon
The WPT and partypoker continue building on the two companies’ growing partnership. The Online Series finished up last week and the WPT World Online Championships will run July 1 to Aug. 9.
The new series features 15 championship events. The action is highlighted by the $10,300 buy-in Season XVIII WPT World Championship Online, running Aug. 1-8.
Partypoker promises some special prizes for the overall series winner. That includes a $15,000 seat into the Season XVIII WPT Tournament of Champions presented by Baccarat Crystal.
“With the live poker schedule likely to be empty over the traditionally hectic summer months, we have been working on plans for a huge online festival to provide an alternative for players that would normally migrate to Vegas,” partypoker managing director Tom Waters said.
“I’m delighted that we have been able to partner with WPT to revive the WPT World Championships and bring the series online for the first time.”
A full schedule for the WPT World Online Championships hasn’t been released yet. Here’s a look at just a couple events already released that are expected to cap the series. More will be posted as additional events are announced.
2020 WPT partypoker WPT World Online Championships
Event and Date
Tournament
Buy-in
Saturday, August 1, 2020
#1
World Championship Main Event Day 1A [Freezeout, 4-Day Event]
$10,300
#2
Mini World Championship Day 1A [Freezeout, 4-Day Event]
$1,100
Sunday, August 2, 2020
#1
World Championship Main Event Day 1B [Freezeout, 4-Day Event]
$10,300
#2
Mini World Championship Day 1B [Freezeout, 4-Day Event]
$1,100
Monday, August 3, 2020
#1
World Championship Main Event Day 2 [4-Day Event]
#2
Mini World Championship Day 2 [4-Day Event]
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
#1
World Championship Main Event Day 3 [Play to Final, 4-Day Event]
#2
Mini World Championship Day 3 [Play to Final, 4-Day Event]
Partypoker recently launched its new Club Games feature, available for cash games with multiple stakes options. This allows a player to set up a game and accept and remove players, with stakes available up to $5/$10.
Club Games will be available on desktop and mobile. There is no limit to the number of clubs a player can join, and can create up to five clubs per person. The rake remains the same as a standard cash game.
The addition comes as more players asked for an option to play with friends during the Coronavirus pandemic.
“Partypoker used to offer private games and it’s been on our roadmap to bring in a new home games offering for a long time now,” partypoker managing director Tom Waters said.
“In recent months, we have been inundated with requests from players who wanted their own home games, so we decided to accelerate the rollout of our new Club Games interface. Initially, players will be able to create their own private cash games for friends to join using either a PC/Mac or mobile device, with the ability to create tournaments to follow.”
For a complete partypoker review including an exclusive deposit bonus up to $1,000, click here.
888poker
A look at weekly and daily events
The XL Inferno Series closed out last week but plenty of daily tournament action remains. 888 offers players a nice opportunity to get in the game. Here’s a complete schedule of events throughout the week.
Everyone enjoys free money and 888poker is giving players plenty of opportunities. The site’s Galaxy of Freerolls promotion runs through June 7 and features more than $500,000 in guaranteed giveaways.
888 offers two daily $2,000 Venus Freerolls Monday through Saturday. On Sunday, a $10,000 Neptune Freeroll will be run with one happy astronaut/champion.
The final freeroll on June 7, aka the Super-Saturn Freeroll, will feature a $100,000 prize pool. Additional surprises, rewards, bonuses, and exclusive freerolls will also be on tap during the Galaxy of Freerolls.
Those looking to earn tickets in the $2,000 Venus need to complete “Space Missions.” Some of those challenges include:
The Tournament Voyager – Simply play tournaments with buy-ins of $3 and earn a pair of tickets.
Ace-King Apollo Landing – Win a hand holding Ace-King in a cash game and earn two tickets.
Casino and Sports Atlantis Orbiter – Place bets totalling $5 or more on any casino game or sports bet and claim but two tickets.
Those hoping to land in a $10,000 Neptune need to complete two or more Space Missions in one week. Players can complete one Space Mission per day and will need at least one more during the week.
How do you play in the $100,000 Super-Saturn Freeroll on June 7? Simply become an 888 astronaut by completing 14 or more Space Missions.
Players can also enjoy a “Daily Spin” to win a ticket to a $1,000 Space BLAST Freeroll.
For a complete 888poker review including an exclusive new player bonus of $88, click here.
PokerStars
SCOOP may be over, but major tournaments continue
A massive SCOOP is now in the books, but players still have plenty to look forward to the on site’s multiple platforms. That includes big Sunday events and daily guarantees.
That includes bringing some flavor of the Tour de France to your poker game as part of the PokerStars Grand Tour. The series brings the worlds of poker and cycling together in a unique new format.
Events feature rich graphics and buy-ins from as little as $1. Players can sprint along the race track eliminating opponents in dynamic tournaments that combine progressive knockout, sit and go, and shootout formats.
Players can win more than $100,000 in prizes and bounties in a race toward the Grand Tour finish line.
Grand Tour is now available on the .COM platform and will launch on real money soon. The game is expected to launch on .EU and .UK soon. Here are some features and how to play:
Buy-ins range from $1 to $60. The higher the buy-in, the closer to the finish line players start.
Players at the same buy-in level compete in “sprints.” These are four-player progressive knockout sit and go tournaments that last about five minutes.
As players knock each other out, their own bounty values increase. They then move to the next sprint, where they will be matched with players of similar bounty values.
When someone is eliminated, his value is split two ways. A percentage is added to the winner’s value and a percentage is awarded as cash directly into his account.
This cash prize can be multiplied, meaning players could win more than $100,000 at higher stakes.
Eliminated players keep any winnings from knockouts.
When a player wins a sprint, they can jump right into the next one or save it for later. Every completed sprint gets players closer to the finish line, where they can be crowned a Grand Tour champion.
For a complete PokerStars review including an exclusive deposit bonus up to $500, click here.
The Unibet Online Series 8 (UOS8) concluded on May 24 but there are plenty of fun daily and weekly tournaments. Here’s a look at some big events that play out each day on the platform:
Event
Day
Buy-in
€1,000 MoonWalk
Daily
€5
€600 Omaha Deep Space
Daily
€5
€30 Deep Impact Nano
Daily
€0.25
€500 Sirius Banzai Bounty
Daily
€5
€2,000 Deep Space
Daily
€25
€6,500 Leaderboard High Re-Enter
Daily
€25
€1,000 Dark Matter
Daily
€10
Private - MaltnHops Monday Game
Daily
€25
€250 Unibet UK Tour Online Final
Daily
€10
€1,500 Abyss
Daily
€25
€2,000 Comet
Daily
€50
€8,000 Neptune Rebuy
Daily
€50
€1,500 Boba Bounty
Daily
€50
€2,000 Sputnik
Daily
€50
€5,000 Big Bang
2020-06-02
€200
€1,500 Unibet UK Tour Online Final
June 13
€50
For a complete Unibet review including an exclusive deposit bonus of $30 and playthrough bonus of up to $1,000, click here.
*** Those playing online poker in the US can find a complete list of online poker sites and events for the week of June 1-7 by clicking here. ***
add some more fun to the action.
Initially, the Poker Dojo app is only available in the 
Along with learning 
