The XL Eclipse is returning to 888poker from September 13-23 offering 34 exciting events!
The online festival will kick off on Thursday, September 13 at 18:00 with the $109 buy-in Event #1: Opening Event and will culminate with a $1,050 buy-in Main Event at 18:00 on Sunday, September 23.
Players are excited including 888poker Ambassadors Chris Moorman, Dominik Nitsche and Martin Jacobson.
“I will be playing most of it from Mexico,” said Moorman, who recently relocated to Las Vegas. “It’s a good time zone to play which gives you a chance to go out in the morning for a workout as well as being able to go for dinner at the end of the day. I usually travel with a monitor, which helps me to be able to play more tables. I will be studying in the next few weeks to feel better prepared as well.”
As for Jacobson, he has the luxury of playing from his home in London.
“I never travel for online series simply because if I did, I would never be home,” he said with a laugh. “I have a pretty good setup at my house with a gym and office all in the same room. My routine will be strategic for long days/nights behind the screen and consist of meditation, running, moving, meal prepping, supplementation, and recovery techniques.”
As for Nitsche, he’ll have to do some multitasking during the XL Eclipse.
“My preparation for will be a bit different this year,” admitted the four-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner. “I have at least one live tournament stop on the schedule, the Poker Masters in Las Vegas, that I absolutely need to play.”
The 2018 Poker Masters takes place September 7-13, which means Nitsche is likely to miss some of the early events.
“I'll try to play as much as I can, but I don't have a schedule yet as I’m quite busy,” he said. “I will most likely play all the higher buy-ins though, and I'd love to take down the Main Event this time. I chopped it before, and I really want to do better.”
Indeed, back in September 2016, Nitsche chopped the $1,050 buy-in Main Event – which was called the Super XL Series IV back then – for $206,400.
Full Schedule of Events
Other tournaments on the schedule include the $88 buy-in Event #6: Crazy 8 (Saturday, Sept. 15 at 18:00); $160 buy-in Event #10: Tune Up (Sunday, Sept. 16 at 18:00); $215 buy-in Event #22: Quarterback (Thursday, Sept. 20 at 18:00); and the $160 buy-in Event #28: 6-Max (Saturday, Sept. 22 at 18:00).
“I play almost all the XL events,” said Moorman, who recently captured his 29th online poker Triple Crown. “You will definitely find me in the range of buy-ins from $30 up to the $2,600 High Roller.”
The High Roller he speaks of is Event #16 on the schedule.
“I think the High Roller is the most prestigious,” Moorman continued. “You are battling against the best of the best, so whoever wins this will have earned it.”
Jacobson echoed those sentiments: “Definitely the High Roller as the higher buy-in brings the tougher competition. I play all the events with a buy-in of $100 or higher. I have downscaled on the number of tables and found that my sweet spot is between six and nine.”
All Business During the XL Eclipse
Playing in front of a computer screen offers all sorts of distractions in between poker hands, from video games to YouTube. However, the 888 Ambassadors aren’t about to let anything interfere with their quest for an XL Eclipse title.
“When I’m playing I have all my focus on the tournaments,” Moorman explained. “Off the felt, I enjoy getting a workout in, in the morning, and going for a nice breakfast. In the evenings I’m likely to go for dinner and have a cocktail to unwind.”
Jacobson, who is renowned for his focus and discipline, will also have tunnel vision come XL Eclipse time.
“I devote all my attention to poker while I play,” he said. “I like to exercise before I play in order to activate my CNS (Central Nervous System) and relieve my body from stress and also release dopamine naturally to the brain. After a session, just as after exercise, it's important to gradually cool down. Reading fiction or mindlessly watching something light combined with stretching can be good methods to get out of the flickering work mode and wake up somewhat fresh the next morning.”
Qualifiers and Bonuses
You can qualify for the XL Eclipse in our online satellites for as little as 1¢ or even for FREE by playing in our daily qualifiers running now! Lucky winners will nab a seat in the XL Mini Tune-up Tournament or the XL Main Event Tournament!
In addition to some great tournaments, we’re excited to offer players a chance at additional prizes. For instance, anyone who wins two events will get a $1,000 bonus. If someone can take down three, there’s $10,000 waiting for them, while anyone lucky enough to capture four XL Eclipse titles will earn $100,000. Finally, a $1,000,000 bonus awaits any player who is able to capture five XL Eclipse titles!
But, that’s not all! Reach the final table in three or more events, and you’ll get a $600 tournament ticket, and if you make the money in eight or more events, you’ll get a $215 tournament ticket.
Good Luck, everyone!
