The final day of the $7,500,000 XL Inferno Championships was a record-breaking one as the $1,050 Main Event achieved the largest prize pool in 888poker history! It was a fitting way to end our most profitable, longest series to date, one that encompassed 197 events over two weeks.
Among the XL Inferno’s other achievements was last Tuesday’s highest buy-in tournament ever held on 888Poker with the $5,200 buy-in High Roller, which generated an $810,000 Prize pool. Read about all the best story lines and more below.
Here’s the list for the first 14 days of the XL Inferno:
Day 1 - 16 tournaments finish and award $1,177,180.75 in prize money
Day 2 – 13 titles awarded; “V.BlomFan60” wins Event #20 Crocodile
Day 3 – Anton “anteen” Bertilsson captures second XL Inferno title
Day 4 -- “mne_d0edet1” & “FouEnculePL” win big
Day 5 -- “bananove” wins Event #62 $100,000 Quarterback for $28,240.55
Day 6 -- Brazil’s “LeoJoseCarne” captures two of those titles in one day
Day 7 -- Alexandru “alexos888” Baron finds redemption
Day 8 -- Vietnam’s “B4NKR0LL3R” claims second title
Day 9 -- Sweden’s Robin “Inho” Ylitalo wins Crocodile
Day 10 -- “spud_gun888” Wins Super High Roller for $186,300
Day 11 – Third final table’s charm for Doug “PulledPorker” Lang
Day 12 – Thomas “WushuTM” Muhlocker wins Quarterback
Day 13 -- “Dmilito22” captures second title in two days
Day 14 -- Parker “888tonkaaaa” Talbot Finishes Third in Breeze
“Alien_Army” Wins XL Inferno M.E for $291,007
The keystone event on Sunday’s schedule was the $1,500,000 Main Event, a tournament that drew 1,319 players who accounted for 436 rebuys. That meant the guarantee was surpassed by creating a $1,755,000 prize pool, the largest in 888poker history.
Among the notables to play the event but fail to cash were 2011 WSOP Main Event champ Pius “AMasta89” Heinz, November Nine Kenny “SpaceyFCB” Hallaert, Thomas “WushuTM” Muhlocker, and Mike “SirWatts” Watson.
With 162 spots paid, it was inevitable for some recognizable names to win some cash. They included Rob “RTinnion” Tinnion (87th - $3,861), Steven “SvZff” Van Zadelhoff (42nd - $5,440.50), and Doug “DougPolkPKR” Polk, who was streaming his deep run on Twitch.
Polk took a big hit after he lost A♦K♠ to A♠J♣ all in preflop, and not long after he got his remaining chip in holding the A♣10♥ against the 6♥6♣ of “TigerVincent.” The board ran out 8♥7♥Q♥7♠2♣ and Polk’ s live-streamed run came to an end.
After Simon “Isildur1337x” Matsson bubbled the final table in 10th place for $15,444, the final nine players were guaranteed $18,954 in prize money.
In the end, “Alien_Army” and “stevachenko7” struck a heads-up deal and played it out for $30,000 and the title. In what would be the final hand of the tournament, “stevachenko7” got his chips in holding the K♠K♣ against the Q♦4♦ of “Alien_Army.”
The 4♠9♠10♦ flop paired “Alien_Army,” and the 4♣ turn gave him the lead. “stevachenko7” needed a king on the river to survive, but it was not meant to be as the 8♥ bricked on the river.
Main Event Final Table Results
1 “Alien_Army” $291,007.27*
2 “stevachenko7” (N/A) $226,717.73*
3 “sngguru” (Slovakia) $166,549.50
4 “sweet_dr34ms” (Russia) $119,340
5 “PacoMonon” (UK) $86,872.50
6 “Fukuruku” (Ukraine) $69,322.50
7 “Ibeturaise2x” (Lithuania) $51,772.50
8 “p000cket000” (Canada) $34,222.50
9 “beebsterizer” (Canada) $18,954
*Denotes heads-up deal
Meanwhile, the UK’s Jono “spyver” Beck topped a field of 1,665 players to win Event #190 $250,000 Mini Main Event for $61,234.69
Super XL Superstar “Mindcrushers” Closes Out XL Inferno with Win
The last tournament on the XL Inferno schedule, Event #197 $15,000 Super Turbo Main Event, saw 159 players put up the $75 buy-in, and 99 minutes later it was Canada’s “Mindcrushers” finishing as the last player standing for $3,225.
It was just another notch on his belt as “Mindcrushers” has been on fire in 888poker tournaments this year. Back in January, he became the first two-time winner in the Super XL Series. First, he won the Opening Event for $28,224, and then he took down Event #21 $75 Super Turbo Tune Up for $4,096.39. One thing is for sure, if it’s got “XL” in the title, there’s a good chance “Mindcrushers” will win it.
Two other players at the final table were Lithuania’s “Magnf1cious,” who won the XL Inferno 31 $15,000 Breeze, and Romania’s “PokerMogo,” who the night before won his second XL Inferno title. Those two finished in third and fifth place respectively.
Event #197 Final Table Results
1 “Mindcrushers” (Canada) $3,225
2 “Flush.Gordon” (Germany) $2,325
3 “MacGyver888” (Netherlands) $1,762.50
4 “Magnf1cious” (Lithuania) $1,312.50
5 “PokerMogo” (Romania) $900
6 “sayqmyqname” (Kuwait) $750
7 Anton “toshapiter86” Vinokuro (Russia) $600
8 “weekerman” (Poland) $450
9 “titopou” (Moldova) $300
Day#15 XL Inferno Champions
Day 15 of the XL Inferno saw 17 more events come to an end with each winner locking up a seat into the XL Champion of Champions tournament. Three lucky winners in that event – which will take place on Wednesday, May 24 at 9:00 --will receive packages to the 2017 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
- Event #181 $30,000 Sunday Lightning (265 players/$40,100 prize pool) won by “unclesala” (Switzerland) for $8,822
- Event #182 $45,000 Sunday Breeze (1,000 players/$50,000 prize pool) won by “1LevelAbove” (Sweden) for $9,000
- Event #183 $30,000 Sunday Deepstack Swordfish (1,203 players/$33,082.50 prize pool) won by “anth0nypappa” (Hungary) for $5,710.03
- Event #184 $150,000 Mega Deep (913 players/$182,600 prize pool) won by “cuttyshark89” (Andorra) for $32,868
- Event #185 $60,000 Sunday Crocodile (379 players/$60,000 prize pool) won by “Juanfran1973” (UK) for $11,514
- Event #186 $40,000 Mini Mega Deep (1,743 players/$47,980 prize pool) won by “theginger45” (UK) for $8,103.82
- Event #187 $20,000 Sunday Swordfish (810 players/$22,275 prize pool) won by “cr7ttrrnetrnet” (N/A) for $4,031.77
- Event #188 $45,000 Sunday Monsoon (853 players/$45,000 prize pool) won by “HappySh00ter” (Cyprus) for $8,145
- Event #189 $1,500,000 Main Event (1,319 players/$1,755,000 prize pool) won by “Alien_Army” for $298,350
- Event #190 $250,000 Mini Main Event (1,665 players/$362,550 prize pool) won by Jono “spyver” Beck (UK) for $61,234.69
- Event #191 $50,000 Micro Main Event (1,820 players/$68,007.50 prize pool) won by “nyaaaan” (Russia) for $11,486.46
- Event #192 $100,000 Sunday Challenge 1R (759 players/$100,000 prize pool) won by “veeea” (Russia) for $18,350
- Event #193 $30,000 Sunday Tornado (227 players/$30,000 prize pool) won by “Tudlenudle” (N/A) for $6,135
- Event #194 $50,000 Turbo Mega Deep (232 players/$50,000 prize pool) won by “germaxii” (Argentina) for $10,225
- Event #195 $20,000 Mini Turbo Mega Deep (832 players/$21,120 prize pool) won by “phatshaff” (Ireland) for $3,822.72
- Event #196 $30,000 Turbo Main Event (239 players/$30,000 prize pool) won by “maladietz” (Romania) for $6,135
- Event #197 $15,000 Super Turbo Main Event (159 players/$15,000 prize pool) won by “Mindcrushers” (Canada) for $3,225
Champion of Champions Scheduled for Wednesday
The XL Inferno isn’t quite finished yet as the “Champion of Champions” won’t play out until Wednesday. That event is restricted to players who’ve won an XL Inferno Event.
Those who finish in 6th-40th place will win a $55 ticket, while the fourth and fifth place finishers will receive a $600 ticket. Meanwhile, the player that finishes in third place will win a Crazy 8 WSOP Side Event package, the runner-up a Crazy 8 WSOP Side Event package plus a $1,050 Main Event qualifier seats, and the “Champion of Champions” ultimately securing a seat into the 2017 WSOP Main Event.
Be sure to check back for a recap of that event.
