The $2 million guaranteed XL Spring Series kicked off at 888poker on May 21 with the festival’s trio of opening events. Those tournaments came with buy-ins of $55, $109, and $530, with guarantees tipping the scales at $35,000, $120,000, and $40,000, respectively.
The $120,000 guaranteed Mystery Bounty Opening event attracted 1,061 entrants, which resulted in a sizeable $13,900 overlay. Thirteen 888poker players took home at least $1,000 worth of mystery bounties, but nobody took home more than Sweden’s “Dynamon.”
The Swede busted in 23rd place and collected $306 for their efforts. However, they pulled out $13,360 from the golden mystery bounty envelopes for a total haul worth $13,666; only the champion secured a larger payout.
That champion was “Iroquois” of Montenegro. They captured the $9,288 top prize, which was boosted by a juicy bounty haul worth $5,857, meaning they took home $15,145. Iroquois now has plenty of ammunition for the rest of the XL Spring Series.
$120,000 XL Spring #02 – Mystery Bounty Opening Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Bounties | Prize | Total Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iroquois | Montenegro | $5,857 | $9,288 | $15,145 |
| 2 | Vraaa | Brazil | $1,636 | $6,774 | $8,410 |
| 3 | DnkDdb | Romania | $184 | $4,980 | $5,164 |
| 4 | BuOnAparte | Thailand | $2,444 | $3,690 | $6,134 |
| 5 | LucaDoncic | Armenia | $1,292 | $2,730 | $4,022 |
| 6 | kremen89 | Ukraine | $300 | $2,040 | $2,340 |
| 7 | joaof6 | Malta | $484 | $1,536 | $2,020 |
| 8 | stantheman89 | Ireland | $552 | $1,164 | $1,716 |
| 9 | BrownBrit | United Kingdom | $4,153 | $888 | $5,041 |
888poker Guarantees $2 Million for the XL Spring Series; Starts May 21
High Roller Champion Cleans Out the Mystery Bounties
Germany’s “riclam02” ran super-hot in the $530 buy-in Mystery Bounty HR Opening event. Not only did riclam02 outlast all of their 75 opponents but they also captured most of the mystery bounties in play.
First place came with a $6,000 payday, but the champion won an additional $10,880 from the mystery bounty prize pool, which included the $4,000 top bounty amount and both of the $2,000 bounties!
Sometimes, the stars align, and it is your day. riclam02 certainly took full advantage of variance being on their side, and it one to watch for the rest of the XL Spring Series.
$40,000 XL Spring #03 – Mystery Bounty HR Opening Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Bounties | Prize | Total Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | riclam02 | Germany | $10,880 | $6,000 | $16,880 |
| 2 | Scholomance | Montenegro | $3,680 | $4,000 | $7,680 |
| 3 | d5t6y7 | United Kingdom | $2,820 | $2,820 | |
| 4 | tehnats | $3,160 | $2,060 | $5,220 | |
| 5 | R2Rka | Ukraine | $1,540 | $1,540 | |
| 6 | Sly_81 | Germany | $1,140 | $1,140 | |
| 7 | yyrvyyn | Mexico | $920 | $920 | |
| 8 | KeepItSecret | Montenegro | $800 | $800 | |
| 9 | SpielerKind | Ukraine | $1,200 | $720 | $1,920 |
Incredible: Second $10K Mystery Bounty for the Same Player in a Month at 888poker
British Grinders Dominate the $35,000 Gtd Mini Opening Event
Some 779 players bought into the Mini Opening Event for $55 and created a guarantee-busting $38,950 prize pool. It was players from the United Kingdom that shone the brightest in the tournament, with four of them navigating their way to the nine-handed final table.
“WalnutPix” bowed out in eighth for $649, leaving a trio of Union Jacks in the hunt for the title. Those three British stars ultimately finished in the top three finishing positions, taking home the bulk of the prize money.
“splors2” finished in third for $2,135 before “Geebotics” defeated “zecheese” heads-up to reel in a $4,249 score and resign the runner-up to a $3,271 consolation prize.
$35,000 XL Spring #01 – Mystery Bounty Mini Opening Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Bounties | Prize | Total Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geebotics | United Kingdom | $538 | $3,711 | $4,249 |
| 2 | zecheese | United Kingdom | $564 | $2,706 | $3,271 |
| 3 | splors2 | United Kingdom | $157 | $1,977 | $2,135 |
| 4 | HayashiJoao | Brazil | $625 | $1,443 | $2,069 |
| 5 | WinTheGame15 | Germany | $503 | $1,061 | $1,565 |
| 6 | stayperfect | Ukraine | $118 | $787 | $905 |
| 7 | Team4BetLit | Canada | $538 | $583 | $1,121 |
| 8 | WalnutPix | United Kingdom | $214 | $435 | $649 |
| 9 | CRAIBaby | Canada | $157 | $326 | $483 |
$200,000 Gtd and $500,000 Gtd Main On the Horizon
There are two other XL Spring Series events that have guaranteed prize pools worth six-figure amounts. Event #19 is a $160 buy-in 8-Max Mystery Bounty affair that has a cool $200,000 guaranteed to be won. The first of this event’s Day 1s start on May 24 and runs through to May 29.
The XL Spring Series Main Event commands a $250 buy-in unless you win your seat via one of the many satellites. For your $250 investment, you get a shot at a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool, which includes a top mystery bounty of a cool $50,000! Day 1s run May 31 through June 5.