Poker players from all over the world are gearing up for what could be a record-setting day on the virtual felts. The 19th Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS) Main Event kicks off at 5:00pm ET on Sunday and is expected to at least double its $3 million guaranteed prize pool. The $640 buy-in tournament, hosted by Full Tilt pro Erick Lindgren, is a Multi-Entry event that allows players to register as many as six times.
Multi-Entry tournaments took the world by storm when introduced by Full Tilt Poker last month. Since the site ran a Double Guarantees Week featuring Multi-Entry tournaments in late January, the reaction from players has been a mixed bag, but the numbers have been eye opening. At the time of writing, more than 3,100 entries had already registered for Sunday’s Main Event with more than five hours remaining.
Based on the remarkable turnouts thus far in the FTOPS Multi-Entry events, it’s not unreasonable to think that Sunday’s Main Event could triple its guaranteed prize pool. The series has already seen one tournament surpass $3 million; a $1.5 million guaranteed $300 buy-in tournament that allowed Multi-Entries recorded 11,343 entries in all.
According to a poll at PocketFives.com, nearly 40% of 230 voters believe that the Main Event will generate a prize pool between $5 million and $7 million. Almost 30% think that the prize pool will fall between $7 million and $9 million and 3% believe it will eclipse $12 million. Only one person voted that the prize pool would hit exactly $3 million or have an overlay.
Francis “The Lab Rat” Anderson posted his preview of the FTOPS XIX Main Event on PocketFives.com, saying, “$1.2 million for first, 7 regulars at the final table; one decent player, and one dolt.” Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Matt “mattg1983” Graham responded: “Sign me up for the dolt spot please.”
The record for the largest prize pool in an online poker tournament belongs to last year’s PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) Main Event, which had a total purse of $12,215,000. That event featured a $5,200 buy-in with 2,443 entries and was won by Tyson “POTTERPOKER” Marks for $2,278,097.
While Sunday’s FTOPS XIX Main Event is unlikely to eclipse the WCOOP prize pool, the tournament will undoubtedly shatter the FTOPS record for entries in a Main Event. The current mark is 5,645 during FTOPS XV – that prize pool was $2,822,500.
Also on the docket for Sunday is a $240 No Limit Hold’em Six Max Knockout hosted by Peter Jetten. The event features a guaranteed prize pool of $1 million and gets underway at 2:00pm ET. Saturday’s Two-Day $2,000 No Limit Hold’em Six-Max event will also come to a conclusion Sunday. More than 1,000 players began the tournament and 91 will return when the event commences at 2:00pm ET. The winner will receive $432,012.
Here’s a look at Saturday’s results from FTOPS XIX:
FTOPS Event #41: $109 Rush No Limit Hold’em with Rebuys
Prize Pool: $823,600
1. zavor4ik – $133,105.60*
2. eatmybigmac – $110.791.93*
3. DONT STAKE ME – $120,957.27*
4. two9off – $65,064.40
5. Billy Ripken – $48,592.40
6. pbtol – $33,767.60
7. Stuart Paterson – $20,590
8. DallasRounder – $14,001.20
9. SirMickmack – $9,883.20
FTOPS Event #42: $535 Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool: $477,000
1. -AKwow- – $71,303*
2. Papayagirl – $61,303*
3. Kevin “-1SickDisease-” Eyster – $25,281
4. 1690 AD – $25,281
5. Isuck0nU – $13,356
6. Austin “The Quietwinner” McCormick – $13,356
7. Donnieslasko – $13.356
8. lissi stinkt – $13,356
FTOPS Event #43: $216 Badugi
Prize Pool: $59,800
1. Eppy1 – $15,847.00
2. TVC15 – $10,524.80
3. dgrfn – $7,176.00
4. School Bus – $4,544.80
5. maddog8 – $2,990.00
6. PokerZero2099 – $2,063.10
7. waterboy1015 – $1,554.80
8. kaytor888 – $1,106.30
*denotes a deal was made at final table