888poker 2025 XL Winter Wraps, Awarding More Than $2,000,000 in Prize Money!

888poker’s popular XL Winter Series wrapped up on Tuesday with the last of 50 events crowning a winner. The series proved to be a tremendous success catering to a combined 30,519 entrants and awarding $2,061,133 in prize money.

• Players from Brazil did the best laying claim to 10 titles.
• The Ukrainian contingent notched six victories.
• Players from Canada and Ireland had four titles for their respective countries.
• Three titles went to players from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Mexico.
• Countries on the board with two titles included Armenia, Finland, Romania, Lithuania, Denmark, and Kazakhstan.
• Malta, Sweden, and Uzbekistan all had one title apiece.

Here's a look at some of the bigger stories from the 2025 XL Winter.

Slikkelade & wellyxx - Win Six-Figures in $1M Mystery Bounty

The highlight of the series was the $888 buy-in, $1,000,000 GTD multi-flight Mystery Bounty Main Event. It hosted multiple Day 1 starting flights and attracted 1,069 players who rebought 76 times.

The 1,145-entry field meant the $1,000,000 prize pool was paid to the top 120 finishers, plus via some big bounties.

Monday’s Day 2 saw 179 players return to action and battle their way down to the final table. Among those to win big bounties were the following players –

• Canada’s “hardc0reee” (5^th place for $23,750 plus $42,724.14 in bounties)
• Lithuania’s “DominykasJ” (10^th place for $5,700 and $30,000 in bounties)
• Lithuania’s “JustAnNPC” (36^th place for $1,750 plus $30,000 in bounties)

However, it was Denmark’s “Slikkelade” who won the top $100,000 bounty. Along with $2,431.04 in other bounties plus $43,650 for finishing the tournament in third place, they earned a tournament-high score of $146,081.04.

When the tournament went on its overnight hiatus the following players were all in the seven-figure club –

• “Kellerrr69” led the final table with 3,763,872
• A good deal ahead of Finland’s “wellyxx”, who sat in second with 1,916,067
• “Slikkelade” (1,539,314)
• Armenia’s “Armeniashka” (1,442,159)
• “hardc0reee” (1,061,131)

Brazil’s “GodBleefe7” (907,552), Romania’s “Hxs87” (555,925), and Sweden’s “Kzzzon” (263,980) were all on the shorter side of things.

Despite starting with a big chip, things went south for “Kellerrr69” at the final table – which was live-streamed on the 888pokerTV Twitch channel – and they exited in sixth place.

Conversely, “Kzzzon” spun up their short stack and laddered all the way up to fourth place. In the end, it was “wellyxx” defeating “Hxs87” in heads-up play to win the tournament for $81,650, which along with $26,370.68 in bounties brought their total payout up to $108,020.68.

Mystery Bounty Main Event Final Table Results

1^st – “wellyxx” (Finland) … $81,650 + $26,370.68 in bounties = $108,020.68

2^nd – “Hxs87” (Romania) … $59,500 + $19,862.08 in bounties = $79,362.08

3^rd – “Slikkelade” (Denmark) … $43,650 + $102,431.04 in bounties = $146,081.04

4^th – “Kzzzon” (Sweden) … $32,100 + $2,586.19 in bounties = $34,686.19

5^th – “hardc0reee” (Canada) … $23,750 + $42,724.14 in bounties = $66,474.14

6^th – “Kellerrr69” (N/A) … $17,600 + $21,293.11 in bounties = $38,893.11

7^th – “Armeniashka” (Armenia) … $13,100 + $4,646.55 in bounties = $17,746.55

8^th – “GodBleefe7” (Brazil) … $9,750 + $14,862.07 in bounties = $24,612.07

Romania’s amormori Wins $100K Mystery Bounty Mini Event

The $25 buy-in Event #45: $100,000 Mystery Bounty Mini Event held multiple starting flights that attracted a combined 3,714 players who rebought 961 times. The 4,675-entry field generated a $105,187.50 prize pool that included a top bounty of $10,000.

The $10K bounty went to Mexico’s “MuyB1eN”, who finished in 63^rd place for $93.81 for a tournament-high payout of $10,093.81.

Others to win big bounties were the following players –

• Vietnam’s “she1kh” (105^th place for $71.74 plus $4,218.18 in bounties)
• German playe “DHaber” (134^th place for $66.22 plus $4,113.65 in bounties)
• Germany’s “Amup88” (5^th place for $1,699.77 plus $4,036.37 in bounties)
• Brazil’s “Naik10” (3^rd place for $3,261.58 plus $2,240.91 in bounties)

After nearly seven hours of play on Day 2, which saw 617 players return to action, it was Romania’s “amormori” defeating the UK’s “fishinbear” in heads-up play to win the tournament for $6,403.91, which along with $2,754.55 in bounties brought their payday up to $9,158.46.

Mystery Bounty Mini Event Final Table Results

1^st – “amormori” (Romania) … $6,403.91 + $2,754.55 in bounties = $9,158.46

2^nd – “fishinbear” (United Kingdom) … $4,569.52 + $54.56 in bounties = $4,624.08

3^rd – “Naik10” (Brazil) … $3,261.58 + $2,240.91 in bounties = $5,502.49

4^th – “DXforce” (Romania) … $2,345.46 + $154.55 in bounties = $2,500.01

5^th – “Amup88” (Germany) … $1,699.77 + $4,036.37 in bounties = $5,736.14

6^th – “MarioDutraJR” (Brazil) … $1,236.20 + $72.74 in bounties = $1,308.94

7^th – “IOwnU888” (N/A) … $910.59 + $181.82 in bounties = $1,092.41

8^th – “geangr” (Brazil) … $673.28 + $1,136.35 in bounties = $1,809.63

888poker Stream Teamer Makes Another Final Table

On Tuesday, January 21, the $320 buy-in, $15K GTD XL Winter Event #13: Super KO High Roller saw 46 players rebuy 9 times. The 55-entry field surpassed the guarantee by creating a $16,500 prize pool that was split between regular and bounty prize pools.

Among those to claim bounties but fail to “make the money” were the following players –

• “6plus” ($750)
• “dujoe123” ($600)
• Bubble boy “anzhei” ($750)

Some familiar names to cash were the UK’s “casual_win” (9^th place for $288.75 plus $300 in bounties), “VnilaVader” (5^th place for $635.25 plus $150 in bounties).

888poker Stream Team member Aaron “abarone68” Barone (4^th place for $849.75 plus $300 in bounties). It marked the second final table for Barone in the XL Winter as he previously had a runner-up finish.

What’s more, Barone would go on to notch a third second-place finish. It happened on the last day of the series in the last tournament – the $109 buy-in Event #50: $12,000 Daily Gems Big Shot Special – when he finished runner-up to the UK’s “Swog1993” for $2,197.80.

After 5 hours and 15 minutes of play, it was Malta’s “Kabosu69” defeating Ukraine’s “Liler” in heads-up play to win the tournament for $2,475, which along with $750 in bounties brought their total payday up to $3,225.

XL Winter Event #13 Final Table Results

1^st – “Kabosu69” (Malta) … $2,475 + $750 in bounties = $3,225

2^nd – “Liler” (Ukraine) … $1,650 + $300 in bounties = $1,950

3^rd – “Pokerluke26” (United Kingdom) … $1,163.25 + $1,650 in bounties = $2,813.25

4^th – Aaron “abarone68” Barone (Canada) … $849.75 + $300 in bounties = $1,149.75

5^th – “VnilaVader” (Sweden) … $635.25 + $150 in bounties = $785.25

6^th – “IvanMinkov” (United Kingdom) … $470.25 + $450 in bounties = $920.25

7^th – “Kidchris88” (Romania) … $379.50 + $600 in bounties = $979.50

8^th – “HmRock” (United Kingdom) … $338.25 + $0 in bounties = $338.25

Some other XL Winter tournaments to play out on Tuesday was the $55 buy-in Event #14: $15,000 Daily Gems Mystery Bounty Special, which saw Ukraine’s “UZUN94” top a 349-entry field (263 unique players plus 86 rebuys) to win $2,451.12

Likewise, Germany’s “Munich111” won $1,706.68 for besting a 121-entry field (99 unique players plus 22 rebuys) to win the $109 buy-in Event #15: $12,000 Daily Gems Super KO.

Lithuanian Pro Matas Cimbolas is a Special Big Shot

On Wednesday, January 22, the $109 buy-in Event #20: $12,000 Daily Gems Big Shot Special squeaked by its guarantee as 101 players rebought 27 times. The 128-entry field created a $12,800 prize pool that was paid out to the top 24 finishers.

Among those to earn a cash were the following players –

• Germany’s “pactamah23” (24^th place for $181.76)
• Ukraine’s “anzhei” (16^th place for $184.32)
• UK’s “WalnutPix” (12^th place for $198.40)
• Canada’s “popsnpoker” (9^th place for $211.20)
• UK’s “mariuxxx76” (3^rd place for $1,536)

After 6 hours and 44 minutes, it was Lithuania’s Matas “Matas.C” Cimbolas defeating Finland’s “niilasson” in heads-up play to win the tournament for $2,976.

XL Winter Event #20 Final Table Results

1^st – Matas “Matas.C” Cimbolas (Lithuania) … $2,976

2^nd – “niilasson” (Finland) … $2,131.20

3^rd – “mariuxxx766” (United Kingdom) … $1,536

4^th – “HmRock” (United Kingdom) … $1,099.52

5^th – “grodt83” (Finland) … $773.12

6^th – “SMCE13” (Brazil) … $556.80

7^th – “valentinkokh” (Ukraine) … $404.48

8^th – “Lamego10” (Brazil) … $300.80

A Very Busy XL Winter Sunday

Sunday, January 26 was a busy day as six XL Winter events played out. That included the $33 buy-in Event #35: $10,000 Deepstack Special, which attracted 482 entries (369 unique players plus 113 rebuys) and saw Brazil’s “Naik10” come out on top for $2,501.92.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s “Denait” topped a 1,495-entry field (1,007 unique players plus 488 rebuys) to win the $16.50 buy-in Event #36: $20,000 Mystery Bounty Mini for $2,047.01; Romania’s “MicutuP.K.R.” emerged victorious over a 711-entry field (517 unique players plus 194 rebuys) in the $55 buy-in Event #37: $35,000 Mystery Bounty for $3,849.06

Ireland’s “Sorin9Serban” prevailed over a 736-entry field (555 unique players plus 181 rebuys) to win the $22 buy-in Event #38: $12,000 MB Big or Small Special for $1,901.58.

There was also the $109 buy-in Event #39: $50,000 THE PKO Rumble, which saw 523 players rebuy 116 times. The 639-entry field cruised by the guarantee by offering up a $63,900 prize pool that was paid out to the top 80 finishers.

Among those to cash were the following players –

• “KryderURSS” (26^th place for $191.70 plus $337.50 in bounties)
• “casual_win” (19^th place for $255.60 plus $112.50 in bounties)
• “brentfeniuk” (17^th place for $255.60 plus $1,013.08 in bounties)
• “Getoverhere” (10^th place for $399.37 plus $231.25 in bounties)
• “joaozinho9” (3^rd place for $3,226.95 plus $1,414.26 in bounties)

The final two players – Denmark’s “chrisfrimodt” and Ukraine’s “OMGTHATEDGE” – each locked up $5,182.29 by virtue of making it to heads-up play but awaiting the winner was a hefty $4,981.68 PKO bounty.

After nearly nine hours of play, it was “chrisfrimodt” coming out on top for a total payday of $10,167.39.

XL Winter Event #39 Final Table Results

1^st – “chrisfrimodt” (Denmark) … $5,185.71 + $4,981.68 in bounties = $10,167.39

2^nd – “OMGTHATEDGE” (Ukraine) … $5,182.29 + $848.73 in bounties = $6,031.02

3^rd – “joaozinho9” (Brazil) … $3,226.95 + $1,414.26 in bounties = $4,641.21

4^th – “frittsson47” (Sweden) … $2,396.25 + $1,104.69 in bounties = $3,500.94

5^th – “SIMONEYESHER” (Canada) … $1,597.50 + $290.63 in bounties = $1,888.13

6^th – “Propokerplyr” (Canada) … $1,118.25 + $168.75 in bounties = $1,287

7^th – “leblond1996” (Canada) … $702.90 + $598.44 in bounties = $1,301.34

8^th – “Kellerrr69” (N/A) … $488.83 + $944.14 in bounties = $1,432.97

Finally, the last tournament on Sunday was the $525 buy-in Event #40: $30,000 Big Shot High Roller, which had 56 players rebuy 14 times to create a 70-entry field.

It took just under six hours to crown a winner, and that was Ukraine’s “OMGTHATEDGE”, who finished runner-up in Event #39, taking the title and $9,800 first-place prize.

2025 XL Winter Winners