Aaron Barone wins the first PokerNews Online Championship tournament on 888

The PokerNews Online Championship 2026 series kicked off on 888 with ambassador Aaron Barone winning the Mystery Bounty tournament. Find out the details of the first day!

888's Aaron Barone wins the first PokerNews Online Championship tournament PokerNews Online Championship 2026 kicks off on 888: first winners On October 18, 2026, the highly anticipated PokerNews Online Championship series began on the 888 platform, featuring 40 numbered tournaments. On the very first day, 888 ambassador Aaron "abarone68" Barone claimed victory in the debut event of the series — the $16.50 Mystery Bounty . The tournament attracted 1,060 entries, with a total prize pool of $15,900. Barone took home the top prize of $1,375, becoming the first champion of the series. This win further confirmed Barone's high level of play. Recently, he completed a bankroll challenge, growing his roll from $2,000 to $10,000 in just six days, which drew extra attention from the community. In the Mystery Bounty, he spent over seven hours at the tables to overcome a tough international field. In heads-up, Barone faced Germany's "MRTHSCHEL" and came out on top, securing the title and $1,375 in prize money. Interestingly, only the player who finished 27th — "JohnnyOther" — won more than Barone, thanks to hitting the jackpot Mystery Bounty of $1,500 before busting from the tournament. This highlights the unique aspect of the Mystery Bounty format: part of the prize pool is distributed randomly among players who knock out opponents, so even without making the top 10, you can score a big payout. #01: $16.50 Mystery Bounty — final table results 1. Aaron "abarone68" Barone — $1,375 2. MRTHSCHEL — amount not specified 3. — data not provided 27. JohnnyOther — $1,500 (Mystery Bounty jackpot) The full payout table and other final table participants are not listed in the original. $525 High Roller: new champion and 888 regulars' success Although 888 is rarely associated with high roller tournaments, the PokerNews Online Championship featured a $525 High Roller that drew 52 entries and created a $26,000 prize pool, surpassing the guaranteed minimum. Several well-known 888 players made the final table in this event. Ian "Simpioni" Simpson, also an 888 ambassador, finished in seventh place. 888 regular "Reggie_Degen" took fifth. Ultimately, the championship title and top prize of $7,787 went to "CPU0r", who had already won the XL Spring Series RAKELESS Mystery Bounty Main Event in May, where he took home $41,775. In heads-up, "CPU0r" defeated "MorayEEEEEL". #07: $525 High Roller — final table results 1. CPU0r — $7,787 2. MorayEEEEEL — amount not specified 5. Reggie_Degen — amount not specified 7. Ian "Simpioni" Simpson — amount not specified Detailed payout amounts for all finalists are not disclosed in the original. Other PokerNews Online Championship results: the first six champions At the time of publication, six tournaments of the PokerNews Online Championship series had already concluded, and their winners were determined. The original article includes a table with the players' names and their winnings, but detailed data is only available for the two tournaments discussed above. Final table of the $80,000 Mystery Opening Event: the intrigue continues One of the most anticipated tournaments of the series — the $109 PokerNews Mystery Opening Event with an $80,000 guarantee — attracted 730 entries. After the first day of play, the final eight were set to continue the battle for the top prize. The final table will start on October 19 at 18:00 UK time, with a live broadcast beginning an hour later on the official 888 Twitch channel. Heading into the final table, "Lurich28" leads — one of three Brazilians among the final eight. His stack is 91 big blinds, nearly double that of his closest competitor, Denmark's "otteotteotte" with 48 big blinds. In fourth position is "C3H5NO33" (the chemical formula for nitroglycerin), who will start the final with 42 big blinds and may well deliver an explosive performance. Chip counts for the $80,000 PokerNews Mystery Opening Event final table Lurich28 (Brazil) — 91 BB otteotteotte (Denmark) — 48 BB Another Brazilian — data not specified C3H5NO33 — 42 BB Other participants — information not provided The full list of finalists and their stacks is not included in the original. PokerNews Online Championship 2026 schedule: what's ahead The PokerNews Online Championship 2026 series on 888 continues. On October 19, three more tournaments will take place, running alongside the final table of the Mystery Opening Event. This gives players a chance to check the schedule in advance and plan their participation in the events that interest them. The original notes that the full series schedule is available on the official website, where you can choose suitable tournaments and try to become the next PokerNews Online Championship winner. What this means for PPPoker club players For PPPoker club members, the results of the first PokerNews Online Championship 2026 tournaments on 888 offer several practical takeaways. First, even tournaments with small buy-ins, like the $16.50 Mystery Bounty, can deliver significant prizes — and thanks to the Mystery Bounty format, big payouts are available not only to finalists but also to those who knock out opponents. This proves that taking part in such events can be profitable even with relatively modest investments. Second, the success of 888 ambassadors and well-known regulars like Aaron Barone and CPU0r shows that discipline, smart bankroll management, and active participation in the series can lead to great results. For PPPoker club players, this is a signal to pay attention not only to major tournaments but also to regular events with different formats, to build experience and grow your bankroll. Finally, the dynamic nature of such series — with a packed schedule, variety of formats, and the chance to watch final tables live — can inspire club players to join online tournaments of all levels. Stay tuned for updates, study the schedules, and don't miss your chance to shine in major online series, just like the heroes of the PokerNews Online Championship on 888.