In this column, we deliver you the latest and most interesting online poker industry news from across the world and all platforms.
PokerStars’ MicroMillions guarantees over $4M in prizes
Online poker giant PokerStars is back this July with its highly popular flagship MicroMillions festival for the second time this year. The series geared for low stakes players will run through the end of the month for two full weeks of epic action and over $4.3 million in prizes to be awarded. The awaited festival features a 208-tournament lineup with buy-ins ranging from as low as $1.10 to its highest $55 High Roller $200K guaranteed event. The largest prize pool of the series remains to be its upcoming Main Event on July 31st with an advertised $500K guarantee. Its $22 entry fee costs the same as its last year’s festivities despite the prize pool being cut in half.
Aside from the festival’s affordable buy-ins, players get to try their luck across a variety of games including Omaha, Stud, Badugi, 2-7 Single, Triple draw, and 6+. If the buy-ins aren’t low enough, $20K in added value is also said to be included in the series’ satellite schedule. Listed below are this season’s MicroMillions highlights with the first one kicking off this Sunday, July 17th.
2022 PokerStars MicroMillions Highlights
MicroMillions NLHE 8-Max, Progressive KO, Main Event
Date: July 31, 2022
Buy-in: $22
Guarantee: $500,000
MicroMillions NLHE 8-Max, Progressive KO, Sunday Special
Date/s: July 17, 2022 and July 24, 2022
Buy-in: $11
Guarantee: $100,000
MicroMillions NLHE 8-Max, Progressive KO, Saturday Special
Date/s: July 23, 2022 and July 30, 2022
Buy-in: $11
Guarantee: $100,000
MicroMillions NLHE 8-Max, High Roller
Date: July 31, 2022
Buy-in: $55
Guarantee: $200,000
2022 WSOP Main Event reaches $80M prize pool
Following a few interruptions in the annual World Series of Poker over the last two years, the 2022 events have returned to see a staggering turnout for its 53rd Main Event festivities. The biggest live tournament of the year is currently playing through its final nine players for the lion’s share of the whopping $80,782,475 prize pool. The 8,663-entry field was only 110 players short of breaking the record largest 2006 Main Event. It did, however, surpass the second largest results last 2019 by a slight margin.
This year’s champion will once again take home a life-altering $10,000,000 as the event’s top payout with all remaining players as of the moment, guaranteed a seven-figure score. Left in the running are Adrian Attenborough, Matija Dobric, Michael Duek, John Eames, Jeffrey Farnes, Aaron Duczak, and Espen Jorstad for the Main Event title. The eventual winner will be determined this weekend as the tournament comes to a close.
2022 Main Event Final Table Payouts
| Place | Prize |
| 1 | $10,000,000 |
| 2 | $6,000,000 |
| 3 | $4,000,000 |
| 4 | $3,000,000 |
| 5 | $2,225,000 |
| 6 | $1,750,000 |
| 7 | $1,350,000 |
| 8 | $1,075,000 |
| 9 | $850,675 |
Natural8 – GGNet’s €25M guaranteed Battle of Malta Online underway
Europe’s largest mid-stakes online series is back again at leading site, Natural8 – GGNet for a whirlwind of action running through the 31st. The 2022 Battle of Malta Online showcases a total of 18 featured events for a combined guarantee of €25,000,000. Buy-ins for the listed events range from €50 to its highest €1,050 for the GGMasters Royal Championship happening this July 31st. Four million euro prize pools complete the schedule with the eye-catching Main Event boasting a €2,500,000 guarantee for an entry fee of €555.
Aside from the great value tournaments, players can lock in tickets to the festival’s live event scheduled for this October. 75 seats + hotel packages will be up for grabs via the platform’s special Road to Malta satellites available throughout the series. Leaderboard runners are also in for a treat where the top 25 winners will receive an entry to The Battle of Malta Main Event with hotel accommodation.
2022 Battle of Malta Online Schedule of Events
| Date | Day | Time (HKT) | Event | Buy-in | Guarantee |
| Jul 17 | Sun | 2:00 | #6 Kings of Tallinn Main Event €220 | €220.00 | €400,000 |
| Jul 17 | Sun | 4:30 | #7 Global MILLION$ European Cup, €1M GTD [Final Day] | €50.00 | €1,000,000 |
| Jul 19 | Tue | 2:00 | #8 Iron Throne Marathon €110 | €110.00 | €125,000 |
| Jul 21 | Thu | 2:00 | #9 Bounty for the Queen €315 | €315.00 | €250,000 |
| Jul 23 | Sat | 2:00 | #10 Three-Cities Challenge €330 [3-Stack] | €330.00 | €150,000 |
| Jul 24 | Sun | 2:00 | #11 Grand Harbour Superstack €550 | €550.00 | €500,000 |
| Jul 24 | Sun | 4:30 | #12 Siege of Malta Bounty MILLION$, €1M GTD [Final Stage] | €105.00 | €1,000,000 |
| Jul 26 | Tue | 2:00 | #13 Gladiator 6-Max €330 | €330.00 | €200,000 |
| Jul 28 | Thu | 2:00 | #14 Bounty for the King €525 | €525.00 | €300,000 |
| Jul 30 | Sat | 2:00 | #15 St. Julian’s Bounty Feast €105 | €105.00 | €125,000 |
| Jul 31 | Sun | 1:00 | #16 GGMasters Royal Championship €1,050 | €1,050.00 | €1,000,000 |
| Jul 31 | Sun | 2:00 | #17 Omaholic Crusaders Bounty Quest €210 | €210.00 | €100,000 |
| Jul 31 | Sun | 4:30 | #18 Main Event, €2.5M GTD [Final Day] | €555.00 | €2,500,000 |
Layne Flack inducted into Poker Hall of Fame
American pro Layne Flack has officially been inducted into the prestigious Poker Hall of Fame as its 61st member, revealed by the World Series of Poker in a press release. “Back-to-Back Flack” as he was known for, beat nine other contenders including seven-time nominee Matt Savage who was one spot shy of making the list. Looking back on Flack’s achievements, the longtime pro successfully claimed six WSOP bracelet wins and a World Poker Tour title throughout his career.
Flack, who passed away unexpectedly last July 2021 at age 52, secured his moniker after scoring back-to-back wins in the Legends of Poker series at the Bicycle Casino, California back in 1999. That same year, he captured his first WSOP gold in the $3,000 Pot Limit Hold’em event for $224,400 with five more following thereafter. His best live cash stands to be his latest bracelet victory at the 2008 summer games $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha for a notable $577,725. Overall, the respected pro and now Poker Hall of Famer has amassed an impressive $5M in total tournament cashes according to The Hendon Mob.
