The XL Winter Series kicked off on January 16 and will run through January 31. It features 44 events, more than $1.5 million in guarantees, and buy-ins ranging from $16.50 up to $320.

At its halfway point, the series has catered to a combined 20,249 entries and awarded $910,200 in prize money through 24 events.

The series will culminate with a $250 buy-in, $500,000 GTD Main Event on Sunday, January 30 with a live-streamed final table. Commentary will be provided by David Tuchman and Nick Wealthall on Monday, January 31.

PokerNews will also offer live updates from both days of the tournament.

Russian players lead with four titles, while players from the United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil, and Belarus each have three for their respective countries.

Sweden and Ukraine are on the board with two each, while Malta, Canada, Finland, and Turkmenistan

Event #22: $200,000 Tune Up Ends in 3-Way Deal

XL Winter Event #22: $200,000 Tune Up Ends in 3-Way Deal

On Sunday, January 23, the $109 buy-in Event #22: $200,000 Tune Up saw 1,424 players rebuy 435 times. So, a $200,000 prize pool was reserved for the top 240 finishers. 888poker Stream Team member Jordan “BanfieldJ” Banfield was in action but failed to cash, as did bubble boy “BRAKPOKER”.

Among those to earn a cash were the following players:

  • 888poker Ambassador Vivian “888.” Saliba (165th - $320)
  • “cherrywine” (142nd - $340), “BrunoZika1” (106th - $380)
  • “23NoraB” (92nd - $420), “Likat” (58th - $480)
  • “matokr” (39th - $520), “Nemesis_25” (21st - $840)
  • “Paulo_Pedros” (10th - $2,040)

XL Winter - 888poker Ambassador Vivian “888.” Saliba (165th - $320)

After eight and a half hours of play on Sunday, the final table was set with Germany’s “kellerassel0” leading the way. The final nine players, who were each guaranteed a minimum $2,620 payday, returned on Monday to play to a winner. It took about four hours of action for things to play out.

Kevin “kevlar1991” Frame was at the final table, which was both live-streamed on 888pokerTV and live reported by PokerNews. His demise came in Level 45 (150,000/300,000/37,500).

  • He raised to 2.1 million under the gun with the 10♦10♥.
  • “PrincKrason” three-bet from the small blind holding the K♠K♣.
  • Canada’s “Gaby2008” was short-stacked in the big and called off their last two big blinds with the 8♠6♦
  • Frame called to see a flop of 3♣3♥2♦.

Frame called a 4-big-blind bet and then both players checked the 8♥ turn.

When the 2♠ completed the board on the river, “PrincKrason” moved all-in, and Frame hit the tank before calling off.

“Gaby2008” had the smallest stack so was eliminated in fifth place for $8,120 while Frame took fourth for $10,980.

XL Winter Event #22 Final Table Results

 

Not long into three-handed play, the trio of remaining players stuck a deal to end the tournament.

“PrincKrason” took third for $19,988 and Germany’s “kellerassel0” second for $20,534

Malta’s “Farrugia_1” claimed the title and $22,078 in prize money.

XL Winter Event #22 Final Table Results

1st – “Farrugia_1” (Malta) … $22,078*

2nd – “kellerassel0” (Germany) … $20,534*

3rd – “PrincKrason” (N/A) … $19,988*

4th – Kevin “kevlar1991” Frame (Brazil) … $10,980

5th – “Gaby2008” (Canada) … $8,120

6th – “dima_dub” (Belarus) … $6,060

7th – “J0nSn0wShow” (Denmark) … $4,540

8th – “petitetete” (Canada) … $3,440

9th – “Smithstudent” (Russia) … $2,620

*Indicated three-handed deal.

Also, on Sunday, Brazil’s “ttizovaca” topped a 1,475-entry field (1,133 unique + 342 re-entries) to win the $16.50 buy-in Event #23: $20,000 Mini Tune Up.

Russia’s “madoAligator” came out on top of a 635-entry field (507 unique + 128 re-entries) to claim victory in the $33 buy-in Event #24: $15,000 Late Tune Up for $3,295.94.

Russian Domination in Wednesday Action

XL Winter - Russian Domination in Wednesday Action

On Wednesday, January 19, three more tournaments played out with Russian players doing quite well. For instance, in the $16.50 buy-in Event #11: $15,000 Mini PKO, 1,102 players rebought 344 times resulting in a $21,690 prize pool.

Five of the final nine players at the final table hailed from Russia, and none of them finished worse than sixth place.

Romania’s “Dynamis.077” managed to make it to heads-up play against “AgroValeron”. But after 7 hours and 43 minutes of play the Russia came out on top

H claimed $1,372.79 in prize money plus a $1,504.16 PKO bounty for a total payday of $2,876.95.

XL Winter Event #11 Final Table Results

1st – “AgroValeron” (Russia) … $2,876.95

2nd – “Dynamis.077” (Romania) … $1,741.92

3rd – “AlMinthon888” (Russia) … $1,036.78

4th – “globor.11” (Russia) … $767.77

5th – “andrekos0095” (Russia) … $537.50

6th – “togepi” (Russia) … $478.74

7th – “RedHead80” (Germany) … $462.69

8th – “pleasegowin” (Ukraine) … $317.03

9th – “savindapipi” (Brazil) … $233.58

Similarly, the $33 buy-in Event #12: $10,000 Late PKO had 472 players rebuy 129 times.The 601-entry field resulted in a $18,030 prize pool. A pair of Russians made it to heads-up play with “shtirlits93” ultimately besting “IcsmHS” in heads-up play to claim the title and $2,579.65 in prize money.

Finally, the $109 buy-in Event #10: $30,000 PKO saw “Mrothdeel” of Belarus best a 472-entry field (373 unique + 99 re-entries) to claim a top prize of $7,538.09.

Ilikepugs & kazan4ik Claim Titles for Sweden

XL Winter - Ilikepugs & kazan4ik Claim Titles for Sweden

On Friday, January 21, the $55 buy-in Event #16: $30,000 DeepStack had 560 players rebuy 185 times to surpass the guarantee by creating a $37,250 prize pool.

That was paid out to the top 96 finishers including the following:

  • “WalnutPix” (65th - $141.55)
  • “888samantha” (44th - $149)
  • “rivertrust” (20th - $197.42)
  • “casual_win” (11th - $428.37),
  • One of the hottest players on 888poker right now in Denmark’s “Likat” (7th - $1,013.20)

After 9 hours and 32 minutes, it was 888poker regular “Ilikepugs” out of Sweden besting Canada’s “iam_Eklo” in heads-up play to win the title and $6,444.54 in prize money.

“iam_Eklo” is a member of the 888poker StreamTeam and couldn’t hide his excitement at coming second – turning an $8 satellite into a $4,700.95 payday!

XL Winter Event #16 Final Table Results

1st – “Ilikepugs” (Sweden) … $6,444.54

2nd – “iam_Eklo” (Canada) … $4,700.95

3rd – “Valle1993” (Denmark) … $3,434.45

4th – “Greatbanana” (Finland) … $2,506.92

5th – “1PPeneus1” (United Kingdom) … $1,843.87

6th – “MindaugasKR” (Lithuania) … $1,367.07

7th – “Likat” (Denmark) … $1,013.20

8th – “Pbustos14” (Argentina) … $756.17

9th – “NarizinhODzi” (Brazil) … $566.20

Another Swede was victorious on Friday is “kazan4ik”. They topped a 1,315-entry field (1,035 unique plus 280 re-entries) to win the $16.50 buy-in Event #17: $15,000 Mini DeepStack for $2,882.32.

The final tournament in Friday action was the $33 buy-in Event #18: $10,000 Late Deepstack. It attracted 356 players who rebought 79 times.

Germany’s “Stothekyo” bested the 435-entry field to walk away with a top prize of $2,517.50.

What’s Coming Up?

There are plenty of great events coming up in 888poker’s XL Winter Series including the following:

  • $320 buy-in Event #28: $50,000 PKO at 6 p.m. GMT on Tuesday, January 25
  • $215 buy-in Event #34: $40,000 PKO 6-Max at 6 p.m. GMT on Thursday, January 27
  • $109 buy-in Event #40: $40,000 Knockout at the same time on Saturday, January 29

Also don’t forget that this Sunday, January 30, the $250 buy-in, $500,000 GTD Main Event will get underway at 18:00 GMT.

Click here for a look at the complete XL Winter schedule.

H2: Tune into the XL Winter Live Streams

888poker will entertain fans by airing several final tables on 888pokerTV. We’ll also give them the opportunity to win their way into the XL Winter Series with ticket giveaways and other prizes during the live stream.

Here’s a look at the 888poker XL Winter Series tournaments that will get the live stream treatment:

DATE

TIME (GMT

LIVE STREAM EVENT

Wednesday, 26/1

19:35 GMT

XL Winter #28 $50,000 PKO

Monday, 31/1

19:35 GMT

XL Winter #43 $200,000 Main Event

If you’re looking for more XL Winter live stream action, check out the highlights video below from Event #1 $100,000 Opening Event:

H2: XL Winter Series Winners So Far…

Date

Tournament

Buy-In

Total

Entries

Prize Pool

Winner

Country

Prize

Sunday,

January 16

Event #1: $100,000

Opening Event

$55

2,311

$115,550

Ildar0365

Turkmenistan

$15,068

Sunday,

January 16

Event #2: $20,000

Mini Opening Event

$16.50

1,459

$21,885

Pavanatto23

Brazil

$3,198.21

Sunday,

January 16

Event #3: $15,000

Late Opening

$33

667

$20,010

geniuspoker

Germany

$3,462.23

Monday,

January 17

Event #4: $30,000

PKO 6-Max

$88

613

$49,040

barabanrapan

Ukraine

$8,439.43

Monday,

January 17

Event #5: $20,000

Mini PKO 6-Max

$44

762

$30,480

GrbmBDPzzY

Germany

$5,215.34

Monday, J

anuary 17

Event #6: $10,000

Late PKO 6-Max

$22

784

$15,680

Alboz83

United

Kingdom

$2,338.66

Tuesday,

January 18

Event #7: $30,000

Freezeout

$215

188

$37,600

KemperEd

Belarus

$7,982.48

Tuesday,

January 18

Event #8: $20,000

Mini Freezeout

$55

492

$24,600

SleekFathr

Belarus

$4,255.80

Tuesday,

January 18

Event #9: $15,000

Late Freezeout

$109

136

$13,600

_zarkou_

Finland

$3,162

Wednesday,

January 19

Event #10: $30,000

PKO

$109

472

$47,200

Mrothdeel

Belarus

$7,538.09

Wednesday,

January 19

Event #11: $15,000

Mini PKO

$16.50

1446

$21,690

ArgoValeron

Russia

$2,876.95

Wednesday,

January 19

Event #12: $10,000

Late PKO

$33

601

$18,030

shtirlits93

Russia

$2,579.65

Thursday,

January 20

Event #13: $40,000

PKO 8-Max

$160

382

$57,300

esicer

Russia

$9,172.41

Thursday,

January 20

Event #14: $20,000

Mini PKO 8-Max

$55

640

$32,000

V.F.A

Brazil

$4,667.30

Thursday,

January 20

Event #15: $10,000

Late PKO 8-Max

$22

739

$14,780

obwan77

United

Kingdom

$1,786.55

Friday,

January 21

Event #16: $30,000 DeepStack

$55

745

$37,250

Ilikepugs

Sweden

$6,444.54

Friday,

January 21

Event #17: $15,000

Mini DeepStack

$16.50

1315

$19,725

kazan4ik

Sweden

$2,882.32

Friday,

January 21

Event #18: $10,000

Late DeepStack

$33

435

$13,050

Stothekyo

Germany

$2,517.50

Saturday,

January 22

Event #19: $30,000

6-Max

$109

420

$42,000

Ishortl

Ukraine

$9,240

Saturday,

January 22

Event #20: $15,000

Mini 6-Max

$16.50

1317

$19,755

anonymous.R

Canada

$2,926.08

Saturday,

January 22

Event #21: $15,000

Late 6-Max

$55

356

$17,800

AlexRita1

United

Kingdom

$3,916

Sunday,

January 23

Event #22: $200,000

Tune Up

$109

1859

$200,000

Farrugia_1

Malta

$22,077.83

Sunday,

January 23

Event #23: $20,000

Mini Tune Up

$16.50

1,475

$22,125

ttizovaca

Brazil

$3,232.96

Sunday,

January 23

Event #24: $15,000

Late Tune Up

$33

635

$19,050

madoAligator

Russia

$3,295.94