Last weekend the 2019 XL Inferno wrapped up on Sunday as 888poker. Over 34 events, the series catered to 39,378 entrants and awarded $1,695,881 in prize money. The Brits had a ball during the series capturing seven titles, while the Russian contingent was close behind with six.
Meanwhile, Brazilian players claimed four titles, while Malta and Sweden had two each. Other countries represented by an XL Inferno win were Iraq, Croatia, Latvia, Mexico, Ukraine, Romania, Denmark, Argentina, and Lithuania.
Here’s a look at the biggest stories and best highlights from the 2019 XL Inferno on 888poker.
XL Inferno Kicks Off in Style
The first day of the XL Inferno was comprised of three events. Between the trio of tournaments, 3,365 entries competed for a share of over $132,300 in prize money.
The biggest event on opening day was the $109 buy-in XL Inferno Event #1: $50,000 Opening Event, which attracted 534 players who rebought 192. That meant the guarantee was surpassed with a $72,600 prize pool on tap. The top 72 players got paid including XL Blizzard champ “IlovePickles” (51st - $290.40), “CutinuaBR” (38th - $326.70), “HowardFolder” (27th - $435.60), and Sam “sammygrinder” Grafton (24th - $435.60).
Grafton actually fired four bullets (the max allowed) in the tournament, meaning he recouped his entire investment minus $1. Others to cash were “Paradigm21” (17th - $580.80), “exPROsjak” (9th - $1,110.78), “Farrugia_1” (6th - $3,085.50), “jmsantos10” (4th - $5,590.20), and “Alex_Vol” (3rd - $7,405.20).
It took just over nine hours for a winner to emerge and happened when “sh4xuR7” defeated the UK’s “pokerdave128” in heads-up play to win the title and $13,721.40 first-place prize.
In the final hand of the tournament, “pokerdave128 jammed his last 12 big blinds with king-three suited and “sh4xuR7” called with ace-three off-suit. The former needed to get lucky but came up empty as the board ran out nine high to send him to the rail in second place for $10,055.
“Tuna_lover” Becomes Two-Time 2019 XL Inferno Champ
On the second day of the series, the UK’s “Tuna_lover” topped a 685-entry field to win Event #4: $30,000 PKO for $5,519.90 in prize money. It marked the first of two titles he’d win as he would also emerge victorious in the $55 buy-in Event #26: $30,000 DeepStack, a tournament that saw 544 players rebuy 176 times to create a $36,000 prize pool.
After nearly 10 hours of play, the tournament came to an end after a heads-up deal between the UK’s “Tuna_lover” and Brazil’s “LeoJoseCarne.” The former finished in first place for $6,581.64 while the latter took second for $5,208.36.
Moorman Just Misses Out on 8-Max Final Table
In the $109 buy-in Event #7: $30,000 8-Max, 309 players rebought 95 times to create a $40,400 prize pool. Among those in action were 888poker Ambassador and online poker’s most accomplished tournament player Chris “888Moorman” Moorman, who was looking to complement his XL Blizzard win last month with an XL Inferno title.
He came close as he navigated the tough field all the way to the final two tables. That is when he bowed out in 11th place for $808.
After 8 hours and 14 minutes in the tournament, “LucySagara70” bested “888pruha” in heads-up play to win the title and $7,878 first-place prize.
Anton "anteen" Bertilsson Claims Late High Roller Title
The $109 buy-in Event #19: $20,000 Late High Roller surpassed its guarantee by attracting 201 players who rebought 60 times. That created a $26,100 prize pool with $5,611.50 going to the winner. That ended up being Swedish poker pro Anton "anteen" Bertilsson, who took down the tournament in 6 hours and 23 minutes.
It was impressive given he also finished 14th in the regular High Roller for $1,350.
Bryan “DePittsterje” Paris the Last Bounty Hunter Standing
On Wednesday, the $109 buy-in Event #20: $50,000 PKO saw 466 players rebuy 138 times to create a $60,400 prize pool, which was split equally between the regular and bounty prize pools. The top 63 players got paid including “pokerdave128” (36th - $166.10 + $56.25 in bounties), “Stubastan” (21st - $181.20 + $125 in bounties), “V.BlomFan60” (10th - $362.40 + $1,012.90), “Swiftly113” (5th - $1,661 + $394.53 in bounties), and “cshine87” (3rd - $3,095.50 + $2,002.62 in bounties).
It took nearly nine hours of play, but eventually online poker pro Bryan “DePittsterje” Paris bested “23NoraB” in heads-up play to win the title, a $5,738 first-place prize, and the $3,418.59 progressive bounty.
“D3n1sk4PP” Wins 2019 XL Inferno Main Event
Finally, the $250 buy-in Event #32: $500,000 Main Event just snuck past its guarantee by attracting 1,634 players who rebought 502 times, which created a $501,960 prize pool paid out to the top 207 players.
Among those to cash the tournament were 888poker Ambassador Chris “888Moorman” Moorman (136th - $702.74), Nicolas “PKaiser” Fierro (72nd - $1,104.31), “23NoraB” (32nd - $1,656.46), “InJeBakkes” (21st - $1,907.44), “Drawhappy” (6th - $19,074.48), and “forza749” (4th - $32,627.40).
The last 888poker Ambassador standing fell in Level 25 (20,000/40,000/5,000) when Serbia’s “mr.Frodo91” raised to 80,000 from the hijack defended her big blind to see a 4♣Q♣A♥ flop.
Lövgren checked and “mr.Frodo91” bet 74,240. Lövgren check-raised all-in holding the 8♣5♣ for a flush draw and her opponent called with the A♣9♦. Neither the Q♦ turn nor J♥ river helped Lövgren, and she exited in 60th place for $1,205.
At the final table, the last three players worked on a deal before playing it out. That is when “lucasfalves9” got his stack in holding the K♦J♥ and failed to get there against the A♣Q♥ of Brazil’s “LuisRRRRR.”
That set up a heads-up match with the Brazilian holding a slight chip lead over Russia’s “D3n1sk4PP.” The duo would exchange the chip lead several times before the final hand took place after 14 hours and 9 minutes into the tournament.
It happened when “LuisRRRRR” moved all-in with the K♥J♥, and “D3n1sk4PP” called holding the Q♦Q♠. The board ran out 5♠9♣A♥5♦4♥, and the ladies held to give the Russian the biggest first-place prize of the 2019 XL Inferno.
