The XL Spring Series kicked off on May 22 and is slated to run through June 7. The 37-event series is jampacked with affordable buy-in tournaments, starting as low as $11 with the majority ranging between $16.50 and $55.
The series culminates with a $500,000 GTD Multiflight Main Event, which costs just $250 to enter.
Through the first 20 events of the series, 10,924 entrants have competed and $647,500 in prize money has been awarded.
- Thus far German players lead the pack with three titles.
- Malta, Argentina, Canada, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Montenegro each have a pair of titles.
- Romania, New Zealand, Azerbaijan, and the United Kingdom are all on the board with one apiece.
Below is a look at some of the big winners and stories from the early goings of the 2022 XL Spring Series on 888poker.
Lithuania’s R3li_able Wins Event #11: $30K PKO 8-Max
On Thursday, May 26 the $160 buy-in Event #11: $30,000 PKO 8-Max attracted 264 players. They rebought 62 times, which crushed the guarantee by generating a $48,900 prize pool. That was split between the regular and bounty pools with the top 40 finishers getting a piece of the former.
Among those to cash were the following players –
- “Hodor83” (37th place for $141.81 plus $187.50 in bounties)
- “Farrugia_1” (30th place for $163.81 plus $365.63 in bounties)
- “popsnpoker” (20th place for $244.50 plus $56.25 in bounties)
- “Ilikepugs” (12th place for $489 plus $848.42 in bounties)
- “dmg34” (6th place for $978 plus $806.26 in bounties)
- “ChipsFool” (4th place for $1,956 plus $1,463.66 in bounties)
Brazil’s “zacaa_tb” bowed out in third place for $2,689.50 plus $446.48 in bounties. The final two players each locked up $4,156.50 but battled for a $4,245.35 PKO bounty.
After 7 hours and 34 minutes of play it was Lithuania’s “R3li_able” besting Canada’s “Gat0rbl00d” in heads-up play to earn a total payday of $8,401.89.
XL Spring Event #11: $30,000 PKO 8-Max Final Table Results
1st – “R3li_able” (Lithuania) … $8,401.89
2nd – “Gat0rbl00d” (Canada) … $5,156.98
3rd – “zacaa_tb” (Brazil) … $3,135.98
4th – “ChipsFool” (United Kingdom) … $3,419.66
5th – “binkachu” (New Zealand) … $2,064.87
6th – “dmg34” (Finland) … $1,784.26
7th – “Kostya_jock” (Ukraine) … $1,785.85
8th – “brudii030” (N/A) … $676.88
In other Thursday action, Azerbaijan’s “Mucuxito” topped a 574-entry field to win the $55 buy-in Event #12: $20,000 Mini PKO 8-Max for $4,167.21
Ukraine’s “11011983vb” bested 762 runners to win the $22 buy-in Event #13: $15,000 Late PKO 8-Max for $2,410.60.
Germans Perform Strong in Friday DeepStacks
Friday was DeepStack day on 888poker with a trio of XL Spring Series events. The highlight was the $55 buy-in Event #14: $25,000 DeepStack, a tournament that attracted 365 players who rebought 130 times.
The 495-entry field meant the $25,000 prize pool was reserved for the top 72 finishers including the following –
- “leon_dies10” (56th place for $127.50)
- “QuietMike” (47th place for $130)
- “ryguy12345” (34th place for $132.50)
- “Clay_Born” (26th place for $135)
- “crzbrn” (16th place for $175)
- “creature94” (10th place for $295)
- “cherrywine” (6th place for $950)
- “Tighterinho” (3rd place for $2,402.50)
After 9 hours and 29 minutes of play, it was Germany’s “Aragorn92” defeating Canada’s “Dobfen” in heads-up play to claim the title and accompanying $4,243.13 first-place prize.
Event #14: $25,000 DeepStack Final Table Results
1st – “Aragorn92” (Germany) … $4,243.13
2nd – “Dobfen” (Canada) … $3,644.37
3rd – “Tighterinho” (Latvia) … $2,402.50
4th – “Nzol888” (Ukraine) … $1,755
5th – “ybird1721” (United Kingdom) … $1,292.50
6th – “cherrywine” (Pakistan) … $950
7th – “pavel717171” (Belarus) … $702.50
8th – “marcelot2015” (Uruguay) … $522.50
9th – “ahahaoh” (Montenegro) … $390
Another German had success on Friday as “EvilJens2.0” topped a 317-entry field to win the $33 buy-in Event #16: $10,000 Late DeepStack for $2,027.
The other winner on Friday was Canada’s “ryguy2345”, who prevailed over an 832-entry field to take down the $16.50 buy-in Event #15: $12,000 Mini DeepStack.
Speaking of Event #15, 888poker StreamTeam member Josh “Josh_Manley” Manley finished in third place for $1,089!
Argentina’s “BeGamble888” Wins Event #17: Tune Up
On Sunday, May 29 the $109 buy-in Event #17: $120,000 Tune Up saw 892 players rebuy 263 times. So, the $120,000 prize pool was paid out to the top 144 finishers.
Among those to cash werethe following –
- “MorayEEEEEL” (105th place for $312)
- “IHaveAsthma” (79th place for $324)
- “Dr.BOOM” (39th place for $372)
- “IlovePickles” (34th place for $408)
- Martin “MJacobson888” Jacobson (23rd place for $612)
- “cherrywine” (18th place for $804)
- Final table bubble boy “Zapya57” (10th place for $1,368)
The final table of nine players took a break before returning on Monday, May 30 to play down to a winner. Brazil’s Sander “s.totuli” Totuli made a deep run finishing in third place for $9,960.
That left Argentina’s “BeGamble888” to battle against established pro Tom “sheeeeeeeeet” Hall in heads-up play. The South American player ultimately prevailed in the heads-up match to claim the title and $18,576 top prize.
Event #17: $25,000 DeepStack Final Table Results
1st – “BeGamble888” (Argentina) … $18,576
2nd – Tom “sheeeeeeeeet” Hall (United Kingdom) … $13,548
3rd – Sander “s.totuli” Totuli (Brazil) … $9,960
4th – “gingermainy” (United Kingdom) … $7,380
5th – “toilet22” (New Zealand) … $5,460
6th – “goatshooting” (Armenia) … $4,080
7th – “vireiadulto7” (Brazil) … $3,072
8th – “Killuckkk” (Malta) … $2,328
9th – “Bromista” (Mexico) … $1,776
888poker’s Newest Ambassador Gets 2nd in Event #21
In Event #21: $50,000 PKO, 888poker ambassador Ian Simpson made a very deep run - getting to heads-up play. The tournament attracted 137 players who rebought 38 times for a total prize pool of $52,500.
After 7 hours and 14 minutes of play, it was Lithuania's “MoKr93” who came out on top for $12,383, including $7,146.07 in bounties. Ian took home a respectable $8,323.59, including $3,086.72 in KOs.
XL Spring 888pokerTV Action
Highlighting the series is the $500,000 GTD Main Event, which will be live-streamed on our Twitch 888pokerTV channel, where viewers can watch the action as it happens:
Tue 6/7 XL Spring 37 - $500,000 Main Event Final Table
What’s Coming Up?
There are plenty of great tournaments remaining on the schedule. Among those coming up in the next week are the following events –
- $215 buy-in Event #27: $25,000 PKO 6-Max at 18:00 GMT on Thursday, June 2
- $55 buy-in Event #30: $25,000 DeepStack at 17:00 GMT on Friday, June 3
- $525 buy-in Event #36: $50,000 High Roller at 20:00 GMT on Sunday, June 5
For full information and schedule click here
2022 XL Spring Series Winners Thus Far…
Date |
Tournament |
Buy-In |
Total Entries |
Prize Pool |
Winner |
Country |
Prize |
Sunday, May 22 |
Event #1: $120,000 Opening Event |
$109 |
1205 |
$120,500 |
Sxmon |
Germany |
$17,605.05 |
Monday, May 23 |
Event #2: $25,000 PKO 6-Max |
$88 |
453 |
$36,240 |
popsnpoker |
Canada |
$5,515.95 |
Monday, May 23 |
Event #3: $15,000 Mini PKO 6-Max |
$44 |
434 |
$17,360 |
MaxOn123 |
Ukraine |
$3,238.49 |
Monday, May 23 |
Event #4: $10,000 Late PKO 6-Max |
$22 |
472 |
$10,000 |
ItsOkay |
Malta |
$1,739.82 |
Tuesday, May 24 |
Event #5: $25,000 Freezeout |
$215 |
170 |
$34,000 |
cretzzuu93 |
Romania |
$7,622.80 |
Tuesday, May 24 |
Event #6: $10,000 Mini Freezeout |
$55 |
307 |
$15,350 |
leon_dies10 |
Argentina |
$2,961.17 |
Tuesday, May 24 |
Event #7: $10,000 Late Freezeout |
$109 |
140 |
$14,000 |
pivnoypuzec |
Montenegro |
$3,255 |
Wednesday, May 25 |
Event #8: $30,000 PKO |
$109 |
508 |
$50,800 |
DEADyshka |
Montenegro |
$9,293.59 |
Wednesday, May 25 |
Event #9: $12,000 Mini PKO |
$16.50 |
914 |
$13,710 |
YeaPizza |
New Zealand |
$1,571.26 |
Wednesday, May 25 |
Event #10: $10,000 Late PKO |
$33 |
466 |
$13,980 |
GodSama |
Lithuania |
$2,182.41 |
Thursday, May 26 |
Event #11: $30,000 PKO 8-Max |
$160 |
326 |
$48,900 |
R3li_able |
Lithuania |
$8,401.89 |
Thursday, May 26 |
Event #12: $20,000 Mini PKO 8-Max |
$55 |
574 |
$28,700 |
Mucuxito |
Azerbaijan |
$4,167.21 |
Thursday, May 26 |
Event #13: $15,000 Late PKO 8-Max |
$22 |
762 |
$15,240 |
11011983vb |
Ukraine |
$2,410.60 |
Friday, May 27 |
Event #14: $25,000 DeepStack |
$55 |
495 |
$25,000 |
Aragorn92 |
Germany |
$4,243.13 |
Friday, May 27 |
Event #15: $12,000 Mini DeepStack |
$16.50 |
832 |
$12,480 |
ryguy2345 |
Canada |
$2,038.46 |
Friday, May 27 |
Event #16: $10,000 Late DeepStack |
$33 |
317 |
$10,000 |
EvilJens2.0 |
Germany |
$2,027 |
Sunday, May 29 |
Event #17: $120,000 Tune Up |
$109 |
1155 |
$120,000 |
BeGamble888 |
Argentina |
$18,576 |
Monday, May 30 |
Event #18: $25,000 8-Max |
$88 |
417 |
$33,360 |
LikeaZ0mbY |
N/A |
$6,421.96 |
Monday, May 30 |
Event #19: $15,000 Mini 8-Max |
$44 |
417 |
$16,680 |
Its0kay |
Malta |
$3,252.68 |
Monday, May 30 |
Event #20: $10,000 Late 8-Max |
$22 |
560 |
$11,200 |
jamesc127 |
United Kingdom |
$2,128 |
The Royal Quest Begins Here!
From 31 May through 31 August, 888poker is giving players the royal treatment.
The newest promotion – The Royal Quest – is jampacked with freerolls awarding over $500,000 in prizes.
Here’s what’s on the regal table for our players:
- Three daily $500 freerolls
- One weekly $5,000 freeroll (running every Sunday)
- One monthly $50,000 freeroll (running once a month)