PokerStars, the world’s leading online poker site, once again generated the largest turnouts Sunday, as its major events extended well beyond their guarantees. The site, which is preparing for its World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) this week, drew nearly 9,000 players to its flagship Sunday Million tournament. Five players struck a deal and each received a six-figure payday.
PokerStars Sunday Million
A massive field of 8,993 turned out for the Sunday Million on August 30, creating a prize pool of $1,798,600, the largest in months. Last week saw 7,431 participants in the weekend’s largest tournament on the internet, but the site added $300 bounties on each of its sponsored players this week to add some flavor.
Daniel “KidPoker” Negreanu, J.C. Alvarado, Jason Mercier, and Victor Ramdin were among the Team PokerStars Pro players in attendance. Railbirds flooded the chat boxes late into the night as online stars Steve “gboro780” Gross and David “BodogMaven” Chicotsky made deep runs, but Chicotsky was eliminated in 10th place when he moved his short stack in with 7-4 and found himself up against an opponent’s pocket tens. Gross was taken out in sixth place when his A-K couldn’t hold up against BigBradley’s A-Q and the remaining five players agreed to a deal. The big winner was CesarSPA, who added $208,845.93 to his account, while Georgia’s angiebug4 went on to win the tournament and $126,921.72.
1. angiebug4 – $126,921.72
2. CesarSPA – $208,845.93
3. BigBradley – $173,454.74
4. siggen001 – $131,719.96
5. suckabig1 – $100,530.55
6. Steve “gboro780” Gross – $53,958.01
7. SebiXXXX – $35,972.01
8. Whitfield74 – $19,784.61
9. Spoli4tor – $12,590.21
Full Tilt Poker $750,000 Guaranteed
The Full Tilt $750,000 Guarantee attracted 4,144 entrants to build a prize pool of $828,800. Costa Rican pro Felipe “clotilda” Montenegro was the biggest name at the final table and settled on a four-way chop to walk away with $72,000. Montenegro ultimately took fourth place in the tournament, while ADCampbell collected $104,929.51 after earning the win.
1. ADCampbell – $104,929.51
2. ypma – $62,660
3. mich_alumni – $98,967
4. Felipe “clotilda” Montenegro – $72,000
5. zsunset – $34,229.44
6. kenneoin – $25,361.28
7. quivan96 – $19,062.40
8. shhhant – $14,918.40
9. PatrickJ89 – $11,105.92
PokerStars Sunday 500
A handful of online professionals reached the final table of PokerStars Sunday 500, which drew 1,029 entrants this week. Nick “CPT CRUX” Stowell took seventh place for just over $15,000, while Thayer “THAY3R” Rasmussen finished sixth for $20,322.75. In the end, Laurence “rivermanl” Houghton of the United Kingdom got the best of long-time online tournament specialist faithless to take home a prize of $88,802.70.
1. Laurence “rivermanl” Houghton – $88,802.70
2. faithless – $64,312.50
3. omgfml – $48,877.50
4. WARN-YOU – $35,809.20
5. DeuceBuster – $25,467.75
6. Thayer “THAY3R” Rasmussen – $20,322.75
7. Nick “CPT CRUX” Stowell – $15,177.75
8. sharam_nuts – $10,032.75
9. MisterJJW – $5,659.50
Full Tilt Poker Sunday Brawl
New Jersey’s Jims619, who took fifth in the Full Tilt $750,000 Guarantee last week, one-upped himself on Sunday with a runner-up effort in the Sunday Brawl for $63,201.60. PoutsoKefalos bested 2,393 competitors to win the tournament for $97,651.26. Full-time pros kennl and Bryn “OneUponAStar” Kenney also reached the final table.
1. PoutsoKefalos – $97,651.26
2. Jims619 – $63,201.60
3. HellaStacks_ – $46,922.40
4. white_chocko – $35,431.20
5. Javatinii – $24,897.60
6. kennl – $16,279.20
7. mightyscv – $11,012.40
8. blackjustin77 – $7,660.80
9. Bryn “OneUponAStar” Kenney – $5,745.60
Ultimate Bet $200,000 Guaranteed
Ultimate Bet’s Sunday major didn’t quite make its guarantee, as 994 runners played for a prize pool of $200,000. When it was all said and done, MAKE_IT_RAIN and BELANDATOR forged a two-way deal, although the final figures are unknown. They split up the remaining $71,300. Up-and-coming online whiz kid Michael “ROCK3656” Rocco finished third for $18,100 and Eric “SHEETSWORLD” Haber made $4,900 for his eighth-place result.
1. MAKE_IT_RAIN
1. BELANDATOR
3. Michael “ROCK3656” Rocco – $18,100
4. YOD0UG623 – $12,900
5. ANALPROBE – $10,900
6. MSUJENNY – $8,900
7. C00KEMONSTER – $6,900
8. Eric “SHEETSWORLD” Haber – $4,900
9. MAHI-MAHI – $3,400
