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
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)
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.
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
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
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!
I just shipped 2nd in the $55 deep stack for $4700 off an $8 satellite!!! LFG @888poker #winterxl
— Eklo (@iameklo) January 22, 2022
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 |