The 2019 XL Eclipse is in the books and it proved to be a successful affair. In fact, more than $1.7 million in prize money – $1,729,210 to be exact – was awarded over 34 events, which catered to 40,003 entrants.
Here are some facts and figures from the latest XL Eclipse:
A Very International Affair
There were 33 different winners – Finland’s “dmg34” was the only double winner – who hailed from 16 different countries. Brazil had the most titles with four, while Canada and Finland accounted for three titles each.
Coming in with two titles each were Germany, Russia, Serbia Ukraine, and Romania, while Belarus, Peru, Lithuania, Costa Rica, Ireland, UK and Zimbabwe all had one apiece.
Biggest Prizes and Winners
Francisco "chiconogue" Nogueira topped a 2,164-entry field to win the 888poker $250 XL Eclipse Main Event – $508,540 prize pool – for $57,826.45. That was the largest first-place prize awarded during the series.
Other five-figure top prizes went to Lithuania’s “Mr.Donk69” (Event #20: $50,000 PKO for $11,835), “kiskutya23” (Event #17: $100,000 High Roller for $20,450), Sweden’s Robin “Inho” Ylitalo (Event #10: $100,000 Tune Up for $21,709), and Canada’s “JonnyJamz” (Event #1: $50,000 Opening Event for $12,965).
Biggest Event Turnout
The most popular tournament of the series turned out to be the $16.50 buy-in Event #11: $50,000 Mini Tune Up, which attracted 3,065 runners who rebought 920 times, making the 3,985-entry field the biggest of the series.
That created a $59,775 prize pool and it was Russia’s “kolbasyan” coming out on top to the tune of $8,908.
Meeting the Guarantees
Of the 34 tournaments on the schedule, all but one met their advertised guarantees. The lone exception was the $320 buy-in Event #17: $100,000 High Roller, which drew 223 runners who re-bought 84 times.
That meant players enjoyed an overlay, and it was “kiskutya23” taking advantage by winning the title for $20,450.
Two Final Tables, One Day
On the final day of the 2019 XL Eclipse, the $250 Main Event took centre stage. However, there were two other “Main Events” playing out, and one man found himself at both.
The first was the $33 buy-in Event #33: $50,000 Mini Main Event, which crushed its guarantee by drawing 1,901 players who rebought 720 times. The 2,621-entry field resulted in a $78,630 prize pool and the tournament ended in a three-way deal that saw Ukraine’s “SpielerKind” take the title for $10,886.69, while Russia’s “1sharb” and Belarus’ “k29mario” finished in second and third for $9,552.49 and $8,065.18 respectively.
Finally, the series closed out with the $5.50 buy-in Event #34: $15,000 Micro Main Event, which drew 2,536 players who rebought 1,037 times. The 3,573-entry field created a $17,865 prize pool. The aforementioned “k29mario,” who placed third in the Mini Main Event, finished as the last player standing after 9 hours and 16 minutes. The $2,664.26 top prize meant he had a 484% return on investment.
2019 XL Eclipse Two-Time Winner
One of the biggest stories to come out of the XL Eclipse was that of Finland’s “dmg34,” who became the only two-time winner of the series.
On the first day of this year’s XL Eclipse, he topped a 504-entry field to win the $55 buy-in Event #3: $20,000 Late Opening Event for $4,835.88. One week later, he followed it up with a victory over 468 runners in the $160 buy-in Event #23: $50,000 PKO 8-Max for $6,756.75 and a big bounty prize.
Biggest Return on Investment
The biggest ROI of the series came in the $5.50 buy-in Event #34: $15,000 Micro Main Event, which was won by “k29mario” for $2,664.26. That was a staggering 484% return on investment.
Not surprisingly, the other two big ROIs came from the $5.50 buy-ins, which goes to show you just how much value is in the smaller buy-ins during XL festivals. In Event #15: $10,000 Mini R&A, Ukraine’s “kostia0105” turn $5.50 into a $2,013.42 payday (366% ROI), and in Event #12: $10,000 Micro Tune Up it was Serbia’s “3ptAmin” coming out on top of a 2,950-entry field to win the title for $2,331.27 (424% ROI).
2019 XL Eclipse Winners
Here’s a look at all those who’ve captured 2019 XL Eclipse titles…
Event #1: $50,000 Opening Event … 686 entries … JonnyJamz (Canada) $12,965.40
Event #2: $20,000 Mini Opening Event … 1,684 entries … maltzitT (Germany) $4,294.86
Event #3: $20,000 Late Opening Event … 504 entries … dmg34 (Finland) $4,835.88
Event #4: $30,000 PKO … 732 entries … andrey59 (Brazil) $5,989.67
Event #5: $20,000 Mini PKO … 1,251 entries … TheMightyGur (Zimbabwe) $3,492.65
Event #6: $10,000 Late PKO … 486 entries … Barto7907 (UK) $2,672.09
Event #7: $30,000 8-Max … 443 entries … saudades123 (N/A) $8,638.50
Event #8: $10,000 Mini 8-Max … 1,735 entries … bybababy (Canada) $2,499
Event #9: $15,000 Late 8-Max … 375 entries … Fshayne (Canada) $3,656.29
Event #10: $100,000 Tune Up … 834 entries … Robin “Inho” Ylitalo (Sweden) $21,708.74
Event #11: $50,000 Mini Tune Up … 3,985 entries … kolbasyan (Russia) $8,908.02
Event #12: $10,000 Micro Tune Up … 2,950 entries … 3ptAmin (Serbia) $2,331.27
Event #13: $20,000 Late Tune Up … 568 entries … 1_uPu1_eAc (Romania) $5,449.96
Event #14: $20,000 R&A Event … 735 entries … heroes333 (N/A) $5,664.89
Event #15: $10,000 Mini R&A … 1,821 entries … kostia0105 (Ukraine) $2,013.42
Event #16: $15,000 Late R&A … 798 entries … Chuckyryan31 (Ireland) $2,961.40
Event #17: $100,000 High Roller … 307 entries … kiskutya23 (N/A) $20,450
Event #18: $30,000 Mini High Roller … 919 entries … Dred_Rednose (Brazil) $8,680.15
Event #19: $20,000 Late High Roller … 289 entries … IHaveNoBoss (Costa Rica) $6,213.50
Event #20: $50,000 PKO … 612 entries … Mr.Donk69 (Lithuania) $11,834.84
Event #21: $20,000 Mini PKO … 1,543 entries … Dfrancis1995 (UK) $3,660.80
Event #22: $10,000 Late PKO … 574 entries … vladimir8551 (Finland) $3,047.29
Event #23: $50,000 PKO 8-Max … 468 entries … dmg34 (Finland) $6,756.75
Event #24: $20,000 Mini PKO 8-Max … 1,399 entries … mateuszek115 (N/A) $2,578.89
Event #25: $20,000 Late PKO 8-Max … 533 entries … Roma3Pari (Russia) $2,531.97
Event #26: $30,000 Deepstack … 706 entries … killakolor (Germany) $6,196.95
Event #27: $20,000 Mini Deepstack … 1,670 entries … loveU2baby (Ukraine) $4,068.77
Event #28: $15,000 Late Deepstack … 600 entries … SunComeUp (Peru) $3,420
Event #29: $30,000 6-Max … 432 entries … CharlesUlman (Brazil) $9,504
Event #30: $20,000 Mini 6-Max … 1,593 entries … robertpirvu (Romania) $3,909.92
Event #31: $15,000 Late 6-Max … 413 entries … gdesupare (Serbia) $4,543.08
Event #32: $500,000 Main Event … 2,164 entries … chiconogue (Brazil) $57,826.45
Event #33: $50,000 Mini Main Event … 2,621 entries … SpielerKind (Ukraine) $10,886.69
Event #34: $15,000 Micro Main Event … 3,573 entries … k29mario (Belarus) $2,664.26
