A Belarusian won the anniversary Sunday Million 2024 on PokerStars

A player from Belarus with the nickname AHTOCb became the winner of the 20th anniversary Sunday Million series on PokerStars, beating more than 55,000 participants and winning the main prize.

The 20th anniversary edition of PokerStars’ largest weekly online tournament, the Sunday Million, ended in triumph for the Belarusian player AHTOCb . This year, the event attracted a record number of entries — 55,444 , resulting in a massive prize pool of $5,544,400 , far exceeding the guaranteed amount set by the organizers. Anniversary Sunday Million: Quick Overview The Sunday Million is PokerStars’ flagship Sunday tournament, held for 20 years and considered one of the most prestigious regular events in online poker. To celebrate the anniversary, organizers increased the prize pool and expanded qualification opportunities through satellites, Power Path, and Ticket Machine, allowing many players to enter the tournament for a symbolic amount. The tournament was played in a Progressive Knockout (PKO) format, where players received additional cash rewards — bounties — for eliminating opponents. This adds dynamism and strategic depth: at every stage, it’s important not only to build your stack but also to choose profitable spots to knock out opponents. The Road to the Final Day: The Battle for Big Prizes On the first day of the tournament, 1,763 players advanced to the final stage, where they fought for a spot in the top 49. All participants who made it to Day 2 were already guaranteed at least $924 from the main prize pool, not counting accumulated bounties. Heading into Day 2, the chip leader was Finnish player RageReaperf , while the future champion AHTOCb was second in chips. Notably, out of the 49 finalists, eight qualified through various satellites, Power Path, or Ticket Machine, and one of them paid just $1.50 for entry. Satellite Players and Their Incredible Stories Special attention was drawn to the story of British player Paul "jim5432" Romain , who began his journey to the Sunday Million with just $1.50 in the second step of Power Path. His deep run ended in 14th place, earning him $2,039 including bounties — an excellent result for such a modest investment. The final table featured two players who qualified through $11 satellites: makassip and Aleshek . Their success clearly demonstrates that even with minimal investment, it’s possible to compete for significant prizes in major online events. Final Table: Key Eliminations Timeline Armenian player Karat221 finished in tenth place, setting the final table. Each of the nine finalists was already guaranteed at least a five-figure payout, with two of them having qualified through $11 satellites. The first finalist to leave the tournament was Ukrainian player grid 92 , who received $12,999 . Next out was Swedish pro Niklas "Lena900" Astedt — he took home $25,538 . Astedt is one of the most recognizable figures in global online poker, and his early exit certainly made things easier for the remaining players. Finnish chip leader RageReaperf finished in seventh place, earning $32,712 . Sixth place went to makassip , one of the $11 satellite qualifiers, with a prize of $31,578 . Fifth place and $55,198 went to another $11 ticket holder — Aleshek . His ROI (return on investment) was an impressive 501,700% . Regular PokerStars player 234241234214432 finished fourth, boosting their bankroll by $93,793 . Hungarian SCOOP champion Marton "komarcus" Kokai made the top three, finishing third with the first six-figure prize — $144,167 . Sunday Million 20th Anniversary Final Table Payouts Place Player Country Prize (including bounties) 1 AHTOCb Belarus $255,336 2 Charlie "JIZOINT" Combes United Kingdom $186,255 3 Marton "komarcus" Kokai Hungary $144,167 4 234241234214432 — $93,793 5 Aleshek — $55,198 6 makassip — $31,578 7 RageReaperf Finland $32,712 8 Niklas "Lena900" Astedt Sweden $25,538 9 grid 92 Ukraine $12,999 Heads-Up: The Decisive Duel for the Title The final showdown for the title was between AHTOCb from Belarus and Charlie "JIZOINT" Combes from the United Kingdom. Both players were already guaranteed at least $176,300 from the main prize pool, with the final bounties still up for grabs. Combes already had experience with deep runs in the Sunday Million: in 2019, he made a deal in a similar tournament. This time, he once again fell just one step short of victory — second place earned him $186,255 , the biggest online win of his career. The winner, AHTOCb , took the top prize — $255,336 — and etched his name in PokerStars history as the champion of the anniversary Sunday Million. For the Belarusian player, this is undoubtedly a new personal record. Satellites and Power Path: A Chance for Everyone This year, PokerStars actively promoted alternative qualification routes for the Sunday Million. Eight of the top 49 participants qualified through satellites, Power Path, or Ticket Machine, with some investing as little as $1.50 or $11 for their ticket. This proves that even players with a minimal bankroll can compete for six-figure prizes. This was especially evident in the case of Aleshek , whose $55,198 win from an $11 investment became one of the most impressive ROIs in the tournament’s history. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For members of PPPoker clubs, this story is clear proof that even the world’s biggest tournaments are accessible not only to professionals with large bankrolls, but also to those willing to persevere in satellites and qualifiers. Similar formats are regularly offered in PPPoker clubs, where you can enter major events through multi-step qualifiers with minimal investment. It’s also worth noting the growing popularity of progressive knockouts (PKO), both on PokerStars and in PPPoker clubs. This format allows players to profit not only from final placements but also from actively knocking out opponents, making strategy more flexible and engaging. The inspiring stories of satellite players who turned a few dollars into tens of thousands prove that regular participation in qualifiers and smart tournament selection can lead to real success. PPPoker club members can use this experience to build their careers step by step, starting with accessible qualifiers and gradually moving up to higher levels.