In this column, we deliver you the latest and most interesting online poker industry news from across the world and all platforms.
WSOP Online Main Event breaks $20 million guarantee
The biggest highlight across the online poker scene came to a close last week where the annual World Series of Poker Online awarded 33 official bracelets to its newly crowned champions. While the live festivities were a huge hit earlier this summer, the brand’s online edition similarly garnered its fair share of attention and racked up a field over the expected.
The highly anticipated Main Event especially, recorded an astounding 4,984 entries for a smashing prize pool of $23,674,000. A total of nine starting flights played through and drew over 900 more entries as compared to last year’s games, easily surpassing its listed $20M guarantee.
Out of the massive field, 500 players earned their cut with Sweden’s Simon “C.Darwin2” Mattsson bagging the biggest share of all. The Swedish online pro entered the final table with a substantial lead as being the only contender with over 100 big blinds. With chips and skills in tow, Mattsson secured the win and collected his maiden gold bracelet along with the whopping $2,793,574 top prize after defeating Thailand’s Kannapong Thanarattrakul “Sakooh” in heads up play. All in all, the festival awarded over $86.4 million in prizes across its bracelet events to close in on another successful year for the brand and its partner, GGPoker.
Partypoker boasts $1.9M in prizes for Grand Prix Autumn Edition
Online poker giant partypoker is returning to the scene this October with another Grand Prix series following its successful Summer Edition earlier this year. This season’s Grand Prix Autumn Edition is scheduled to run from October 6-24, covering a lineup of 11 featured tournaments. The knockout centered festival offers affordable buy-ins ranging from $11 through $320 for a total grand prize pool of $1,925,000 in guarantees.
Players can climb their way to a minimum payout with each starting day set to play down to 15% of the field and all Day 2 qualifiers banking a share of the prize pool. The first day schedule kicks off four multiday events beginning with the 8-Max No-Limit Hold’em PKO Opener which carries a price tag of $33. Previous summer champion of the said event saw Denmark’s Magnus Thomsen bag a $8,313 payday after topping the 2,434-entry field.
Aside from the great value tournaments, all eyes remain on the largest guaranteed $109 Main Event for a $500,000 prize pool. The brand’s latest Grand Prix Main Event saw 5,212 players churn out a $521,200 pot with Brazil’s Lucas Ferreira Alves picking up $49,693 in winnings in addition to the title. For those looking for a more modest option, the $11 Mini Main Event is also as exciting with $100,000 in prizes to be awarded. The opposite however, can turn to the festival’s highest $320 buy-ins Event #06 7-Max High Roller, and #10 6-Max High Roller for a combined $450,000 in guarantees.
2022 Grand Prix Autumn Edition Schedule
| Date | Event | Format | Buy-in | Guarantee |
| Thu 6 Oct | #01 Opener [2-Day Event] | 8-Max | $33 | $75,000 |
| #02 6-Max Championship [2-Day Event] | 6-Max | $215 | $200,000 | |
| #03 Mini 6-Max Championship [2-Day Event] | 6-Max | $22 | $75,000 | |
| #04 Main Event [2-Day Event] | 8-Max | $109 | $500,000 | |
| Sat 8 Oct | #05 Mini Main Event [2-Day Event] | 8-Max | $11 | $100,000 |
| #06 7-Max High Roller [2-Day Event] | 7-Max | $320 | $250,000 | |
| Mon 10 Oct | #07 Super 50 [2-Day Event] | 7-Max | $55 | $150,000 |
| Thu 13 Oct | #08 7-Max Championship [2-Day Event] | 7-Max | $215 | $200,000 |
| #09 Mini 7-Max Championship [2-Day Event] | 7-Max | $22 | $75,000 | |
| Mon 17 Oct | #10 6-Max High Roller [2-Day Event] | 6-Max | $320 | $200,000 |
| #11 Closer [2-Day Event] | 6-Max | $33 | $100,000 |
iPoker Network hosts €150K GTD Elite Series
Weekends are about to get even bigger with users on iPoker Network sparking things off this Sunday with its Elite Series Weekend Edition. The festival scheduled from October 3-9, sees 21 events for a total guaranteed prize pool of €150,000. Starting flights have since begun to play through but it’s not until Friday where the action starts to really kick in.
On October 7-9, all featured tournaments will run through the weekend including the anticipated WKND #20|€40K GTD Main KO for an entry fee of €40. Scheduled alongside the Main is the WKND #21| €10K GTD Mini KO for a more modest €7.5, also set to conclude Day 2 on the 9th. Buy-ins for the 21-tournament lineup ranges from €10 to its highest €300 High Roller event for a €20K guaranteed prize pool. In addition to the festivities, players can lock in seats via a multitude of satellites or score freeroll prizes by completing the site’s listed missions.
2022 Elite Series Schedule
| Date | Event | Buy-in | Guarantee |
| Fri 7 Oct | WKND #01| €3K GTD| KICKSTARTER | €30 | €3,000 |
| WKND #02|€3K GTD|LUNCHTIME REBUY | €15 | €3,000 | |
| WKND #03|€2K GTD|PLO SPECIAL | €20 | €2,000 | |
| WKND #04|€5K GTD| DAILY MINI | €10 | €5,000 | |
| WKND #05|€15K GTD| DAILYELITE | €150 | €15,000 | |
| WKND #06|€4K GTD| COOLDOWN KO | €20 | €4,000 | |
| Sat 8 Oct | WKND #07|€3K GTD|KICKSTARTER | €30 | €3,000 |
| WKND #08|€3K GTD|LUNCHTIME REBUY | €15 | €3,000 | |
| WKND #09|€2K GTD| PLO SPECIAL | €20 | €2,000 | |
| WKND#10|€5K GTD|DAILY MINI | €10 | €5,000 | |
| WKND #11|€15K GTD| DAILY ELITE | €150 | €15,000 | |
| WKND #12|€4K GTD| COOLDOWN KO | €20 | €4,000 | |
| Sun 9 Oct | WKND #13|€3K GTD| KICKSTARTER | €30 | €3,000 |
| WKND #14|€3K GTD| LUNCHTIME REBUY | €15 | €3,000 | |
| WKND #15|€2K GTD|PLO SPECIAL | €20 | €2,000 | |
| WKND #16|€20K GTD| THE HIGHROLLER | €300 | €20,000 | |
| WKND #17|€7.5K GTD| DAILY MINI | €10 | €7,500 | |
| WKND #18|€20K GTD|SUNDAY ELITE | €150 | €20,000 | |
| WKND #19|€5K GTD| COOLDOWN KO | €20 | €5,000 | |
| WKND #20|€40K GTD Main KO | €40 | €40,000 | |
| WKND #21| €10K GTD Mini KO | €7.5 | €10,000 |
