Knockout Games Wrap Up, Awarding Over $1.1 Million in Prize Money!

888poker’s popular KO Games Series wrapped up on Tuesday, and the online festival proved to be a big success. It catered to a combined 19,141 entrants over 29 events and awarded $1,125,985 in prize money, smashing the $1 million in guarantees.

• Players from the United Kingdom accounted for seven titles.
• Brazilian players were on the board with five.
• Latvia and Ukraine had two apiece,
• Single titles were claimed by players from Malta, Moldova, Peru, Sweden, New Zealand, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Canada, Azerbaijan, and Finland.

Here's a look as some of the big winners from the last week of the series.

BLRRF and fjreis Win Big in Main Event – Overlay Edition

The series culminated with the highly anticipated $25 buy-in $200,000 GTD Mystery Bounty Main Event – Overlay Edition. Day 1s for the Main Event commenced on December 5 with Day 2 taking place on December 11.

The tournament attracted 6,682 players who rebought 1,326 times to create an 8,008-entry field.

Of those 1,459 advanced to Monday’s Day 2 with the top 760 finishers making the money. It included a top bounty prize of $20,000, which wound up going to Belarus’ “BLRRF”, who also finished in 49^th place for $150. Along with $202.16 in bounties they walked away with a tournament-high $20,352.16 in prize money.

Others to claim big bounties were the following players –

• Montenegro’s “zendayushka” (79^th place for $130 + $6,176.89 in bounties)
• Kazakhstan’s “sibata.san” (338^th place for $70 + $6,126.35 in bounties)
• Ukraine’s “Lakk5” (339^th place for $70 + $2,151.62 in bounties)
• The UK’s “EZIZBAK” (165^th place for $100 + $2,075.81 in bounties)
• Romania’s “IlovePickles” (417^th place for $70 + $2,075.81 in bounties)
• Lithuania’s “Pulgetti” (177^th place for $100 + $2,025.27 in bounties)

After “interista09” bowed out in ninth place for $900 plus $50.54 in bounties, the final table was set.

The final eight players returned on Tuesday to battle it out on a live streamed final table. At the time, Brazil’s “and_ortega” held the chip lead with 31,884,159 (159 BB) while Ukraine’s “Bkira” wasn’t far behind with 27,564,801 (138 BB).

Another Brazilian in “fjreis” wasn’t too far behind with 13,277,350 (66 BB), while the remaining players were much shorter –

• Romania’s “VAabia” (5,609,050 – 28 BB)
• Romania’s “VL1fish3BV” (5,284,948 – 26 BB)
• The UK’s “Kvick88” (5,244,668 – 26 BB)
• Cyprus’s “AELlike_it_3” (4,350,318 – 22 BB)
• The Netherlands’ “KiddPT” (2,868,706 – 14 BB)

As expected, most of the short stacks bowed out quickly, and with four players remaining “Bkira” jammed under the gun with the 9♣5♠.

“AELlike_it_3” called, who woke up with the A♥J♦ in the small blind.

The board ran out 4 ♥3♦A♠3♥J♥ and “Bkira” bowed out in fourth place $3,800 plus $1,444.38 in bounties.

Despite winning that hand, “AELlike_it_3” was the next to go after bluffing a missed open-ended straight draw, losing to the top pair of “fjreis”.

The final two players, both Brazilians, began their-heads up match nearly even in chips. But things came to a head in Level 54 (700,000/1,400,000).

That is when “fjreis” limped the button holding the 6♥3♥ and called when “and_ortega” three-bet to 4.2 million with the A♦2♥.

The 6♠K♥A♥ flop hit both players but it checked through nonetheless to the 4♥ turn.

Holding to pair, “and_ortega” bet 6,562,404 and “fjreis” called with the flush to see the K♦ river. “and_ortega” checked and “fjreis” moved all-in.

His fellow countryman thought for a bit before calling off their last 21,410,900. And like that - it was all over.

KO Games Event #29 Final Table Results

1^st – “fjreis” (Brazil) … $10,800 + $529.56 in bounties = $11,329.56

2^nd – “and_ortega” (Brazil) … $7,850 + $227.43 in bounties = $8,077.43

3^rd – “AELlike_it_3” (Cyprus) … $5,500 + $751.62 in bounties = $6,251.62

4^th – “Bkira” (Ukraine) … $3,800 + $1,444.38 in bounties = $5,244.38

5^th – “VArabia” (Romania) … $2,750 + $75.81 in bounties = $2,825.81

6^th – “Kvick88” (United Kingdom) … $2,030 + $328.51 in bounties = $2,358.51

7^th – “VL1fish3BV” (Romania) … $1,600 + $126.35 in bounties = $1,726.35

8^th – “KiddPT” (Netherlands) … $1,200 + $126.35 in bounties = $1,326.35

StreamTeam’s Josh Manley Wins Event #4 – PKO Mini

A big hand goes to the 888poker StreamTeam’s Josh Manley on his win in the KO Games Event #4 – PKO Mini for $1,130.73.

KO Games champ 🏆 @888poker

Yes I played on mobile from the comfort of my bed. pic.twitter.com/zc9htjYniF

— Josh Manley Poker (@joshmanleypoker) November 28, 2023

UK’s ElmoTuam Victorious in Event #20: $20K Super KO

On Tuesday, December 5, the $320 buy-in Event #20: $20,000 Super KO had 60 players rebuy 9 times, sneaking by the guarantee with a $20,700 prize pool.

The top 12 finishers got a piece of the regular prize pool, including the following -

• “Grindathon” (12^th place for $258.75 + $150 in bounties)
• “Phk16” (7^th place for $445.05 + $750 in bounties)
• “PotofGreed” (5^th place for $724.50 + $150 in bounties)

After 5 hours and 37 minutes of play, the United Kingdom’s “ElmoTuam” defeated Montenegro’s “StfnJvtc” heads-up to win the tournament for $2,898.01. Along with $1,500 in bounties gave them a total of $4,398.01 in prize money.

KO Games Event #20 Final Table Results

1^st – “ElmoTuam” (United Kingdom) … $2,898.01 + $1,500 in bounties = $4,398.01

2^nd – “StfnJvtc” (Montenegro) … $1,935.45 + $1,800 in bounties = $3,735.45

3^rd – “MeliJuni” (N/A) … $1,366.20 + $600 in bounties = $1,966.20

4^th – “luish64” (Brazil) … $993.60 + $150 in bounties = $1,143.60

5^th – “PotofGreed” (Malta) … $724.50 + $150 in bounties = $874.50

6^th – “Neeno1990” (N/A) … $543.37 + $150 in bounties = $693.37

7^th – “Phk16” (Sweden) … $445.05 + $750 in bounties = $1,195.05

8^th – “EggHunter1” (United Kingdom) … $367.42 + $0 in bounties = $367.42

9^th – “optimusmov” (Montenegro) … $300.15 + $900 in bounties = $1,200.15

In other Tuesday action, the $33 buy-in Event #21: $5,000 Super KO Mini drew 163 players who rebought 18 times to create a $5,430 prize pool.

Brazil’s “Ibsantana12” ultimately emerged as the last player standing for a first-place payday of $704.08.

Brazil’s uitiradent1 Nabs 2^nd KO Title

On Friday, December 1, Brazil’s “guitiradent1” topped a field of 127 entrants (104 unique players + 23 rebuys). They won the $109 buy-in Event #13: $12,000 PKO Turbo Deep 6-Max for $2,912.40.

 Less than a week later, they were back at it in the $320 buy-in Event #24: $20,000 PKO, which attracted 64 players who rebought 9 times.

The 73-entry field snuck by the guarantee with a $21,900 prize pool, split between bounties and the top 12 finishers.

Among those to cash but fall short of the final table were the following players –

• “Fackedelic” (10^th place for $301.12 + $225 in bounties)
• “DirtyPig” (11^th place for $301.12 + $150 in bounties)
• “Maxtrix159” (12^th place for $301.12 + $581.25 in bounties)

After Mexico’s “3AHYDA” exited in third place for $1,533 plus $581.25 in bounties, the final two players locked up $2,504.26 in heads-up play.

However, there was an even bigger $2,981.24 PKO bounty awaiting the winner.

After 5 hours and 32 minutes of play, “guitiradent1” defeated the UK’s “Valueie” to win $5,486.64 and become the first two-time winner of the series.

KO Games Event #24 Final Table Results

1^st – “guitiradent1” (Brazil) … $2,505.40 + $2,981.24 in bounties = $5,486.64

2^nd – “Valueie” (United Kingdom) … $2,504.26 + $1,500 in bounties = $4,004.26

3^rd – “3AHYDA” (Mexico) … $1,533 + $581.25 in bounties = $2,114.25

4^th – “iMac5” (Ireland) … $1,040.25 + $965.63 in bounties = $2,005.88

5^th – “marllonsanti” (Brazil) … $766.50 + $468.75 in bounties = $1,235.25

6^th – “rolixx” (Latvia) … $574.87 + $665.63 in bounties = $1,240.50

7^th – “danielwbr” (Brazil) … $465.37 + $75 in bounties = $540.37

8^th – “Aftale” (Denmark) … $355.87 + $581.25 in bounties = $937.12

9^th – “UGOTPOONCHED” (Canada) … $301.12 + $262.50 in bounties = $563.62

Belarus & UK Big Winners in $100K Mystery Bounty

On Sunday, December 10, the $109 buy-in, $100K GTD Event #28: Mystery Bounty saw 819 players rebuy 166 times, resulting in a 985-entry field and $100,000 prize pool. A top bounty of $10,000 was up for grabs and went to Belarus’ “frostinho”.

They also finished in seventh place for $1,195. Along with some other bounties they walked away with a tournament-high score of $11,442.62.

Others to notch big bounties were the following players –

• Brazil’s “SaintGoal” (63^rd place for $130 + $3,582.54 in bounties)
• The UK’s “Paradigm21” (48^th place for $150 + $3,330.16 in bounties)
• “KostenBerguz” (6^th place for $1,590 + $2,407.94 in bounties)
• “WakeUpBuddy” (13^th place for $415 + $1,745.24 in bounties)

After 8 hours and 38 minutes, the United Kingdom’s “Mutterrrr” defeated Romania’s “ilovefish888” to win the tournament for $7,305 plus $495.24 in bounties for a total payday of $7,800.24.

KO Games Event #28 Final Table Results

1^st – “Mutterrrr” (United Kingdom) … $7,305 + $495.24 in bounties = $7,800.24

2^nd – “ilovefish888” (Romania) … $5,340 + $1,245.24 in bounties = $6,585.24

3^rd – “katekajie” (Montenegro) … $3,925 + $1,242.86 in bounties = $5,167.86

4^th – “Mr_Anderson” (Belarus) … $2,885 + $995.24 in bounties = $3,880.24

5^th – “KITCHEN_TE9” (N/A) … $2,135 + $247.62 in bounties = $2,382.62

6^th – “KostenBerguz” (Ukraine) … $1,590 + $2,407.94 in bounties = $3,997.94

7^th – “frostinho” (Belarus) … $1,195 + $10,247.62 in bounties = $11,442.62

8^th – “Diffusar” (Brazil) … $905 + $165.08 in bounties = $1,070.08

9^th – “sasha21place” (Ukraine) … $690 + $1,166.60 in bounties = $1,856.60

Also, on Sunday, the $33 buy-in Event #27: $20,000 Super KO saw Finland’s “coldcall100” top a 551-entry field (459 unique players plus 92 rebuys)

They won the title and $2,225.67 in prize money.

KO Series Complete List of Winners