zipperB wins the $100K Rakeless Opening Event at 888poker XL Autumn

The XL Autumn series has started on 888poker. In the main tournament with a $100,000 prize pool and no rake, the victory was claimed by the player with the nickname zipperB.

The long-awaited XL Autumn series kicked off on the 888poker platform this Sunday, and in just the first two days, 13 tournaments were played, including the main opening tournament — $100,000 Gtd Opening Event Rakeless Mystery Bounty . This tournament attracted attention not only with its significant prize pool but also with its unique format: the entire $109 buy-in went directly into the prize pool, with no rake taken, providing extra value for participants. As a result of 924 entries, the prize pool exceeded the guarantee and reached $100,716. Final Table: Battle for the Title and Big Bounties The tournament began on September 21, and by the time the final table of eight was set, the chip leader was a player from Brazil with the nickname "zipperb" . Among the finalists was 888poker ambassador Ian "Simpioni" Simpson , who started with the fifth largest stack. By the time the final eight were determined, the largest mystery bounties had already been claimed. The Brazilian "dineloco" won the top jackpot bounty of $10,000, while Ian Simpson opened a golden envelope worth $3,000. Finalists’ Starting Stacks "zipperb" (Brazil) — chip leader Ian "Simpioni" Simpson — 5th stack Other finalists: "wp3k77", "F_C_K", "Salvatore_G", "normannolly", "raphaperfect", "rpuxa" The first to leave the final table was "wp3k77" from Germany: with a short stack of less than two big blinds, he went all-in with K5 but lost to "zipperb", who called with pocket sixes. An ace appeared on the board, but it didn’t help "wp3k77". Ian Simpson finished in seventh place. First, he lost a significant portion of his stack in a coin flip: his KJ of hearts lost to "F_C_K"'s pocket deuces, despite having many outs after the turn. In the next hand, Simpson three-bet all-in with pocket sevens (about 13 big blinds) against "zipperb"'s open with Q10 of diamonds. "zipperb" called, hit a ten on the flop and a queen on the turn, sending Simpson to the rail. Pocket sevens also played a key role in the elimination of "Salvatore_G" in sixth place. In a hand against "normannolly" (small blind), who shoved with A6, "Salvatore_G" called off his 9.5 big blinds with sevens, but an ace appeared on the flop right away, and there was no miracle. "F_C_K" finished fifth after his stack dwindled to 6 big blinds. He went all-in with A8 from the button, and "raphaperfect" in the big blind called with a dominated A2. However, two deuces came on the flop and turn, and "raphaperfect" made trips, knocking "F_C_K" out. "raphaperfect" finished fourth, despite being chip leader at the start of 4-max. In one of the key hands, "rpuxa" min-raised from the button, "zipperb" three-bet to 8.6 big blinds, and "raphaperfect" four-bet to 18.9 big blinds. After "rpuxa" folded, "zipperb" shoved with pocket fives, forcing "raphaperfect" to fold A3. After this hand, "raphaperfect" was left with 31 big blinds, but luck turned against him. In his last hand, he called "zipperb"'s shove from the big blind with K8 against A2. The highest card on the board was an ace, and "raphaperfect" was eliminated. The Ukrainian player "normannolly" finished third. On the 90th minute of the final table, he lost a coin flip with A10 against "rpuxa"'s pocket fives, and in the very next hand, he picked up A10 again. "zipperb" opened with a min-raise, "normannolly" shoved for 31 big blinds, and "zipperb" called with AJ. On the river, "zipperb" made trip jacks, and "normannolly" finished in third place. Heads-Up: "zipperb" vs "rpuxa" In heads-up play, "zipperb" started with a chip advantage — 78 big blinds to "rpuxa"'s 37.5. From the start, "zipperb" dominated, winning most of the hands. The climax was a cooler: "zipperb" limped with A6 of diamonds, "rpuxa" checked with K7 of hearts. The flop came 6-4-A with two hearts, "rpuxa" checked, "zipperb" bet two-thirds of the pot, call. The turn was another six, "rpuxa" bet half the pot, "zipperb" called. The river was the 7 of hearts, giving "rpuxa" a flush, and he bet, "zipperb" raised, "rpuxa" went all-in, but "zipperb" showed a full house and became the champion, taking the top prize of $11,255. Final Table Results for the $100,000 Gtd Opening Event Rakeless Mystery Bounty Place Player Prize 1 zipperb $11,255 2 rpuxa — 3 normannolly — 4 raphaperfect — 5 F_C_K — 6 Salvatore_G — 7 Ian "Simpioni" Simpson — 8 wp3k77 — Note: Exact prize amounts for places 2 through 8 were not specified in the original. XL Autumn Series Midway Results: Records and Winners In the first two days of the XL Autumn Series on 888poker, 13 tournaments have concluded. Of these, 11 tournaments surpassed their guarantees, indicating high player activity and the popularity of the series. Below is the full list of winners for these events: Schedule of Remaining XL Autumn Series Tournaments The XL Autumn Series continues, with many more events ahead for players. The main highlight will be the Main Event with a $500,000 guarantee and a $250 buy-in. As with the opening tournament, the entire buy-in goes into the prize pool, with no rake. A special feature of the Main Event is the $50,000 mystery bounty, adding extra excitement and the chance for a big win regardless of final placement. Several starting days have already taken place, but there are still plenty of chances to make it to Day 2, which will be held on September 29. Currently, 1,100 players have registered, and more than half of the guarantee has already been collected. 122 players have advanced to Day 2, with the chip leader being Ukraine’s "PasHTeT25" with 292,841 chips. For players with smaller bankrolls or those wanting to try the mystery bounty format, there is the Mystery Bounty Mini Event with a $25 buy-in and a $100,000 guarantee. The starting flights for this tournament run from September 14 to 29. Mystery Bounty Tournament Format: What Is It? The Mystery Bounty format is a type of knockout tournament where part of the prize pool is allocated to special rewards for eliminating opponents. Unlike classic PKO (Progressive Knockout) tournaments, the size of the bounty is unknown in advance and is determined randomly: after a player is knocked out, their opponent opens an envelope with a prize, which can be small or a jackpot. In this tournament, the top mystery bounty was $10,000, with additional large prizes of $3,000 and other amounts awarded during the event. The rakeless format means that the entire buy-in goes into the prize pool, with the platform taking no commission. This makes such tournaments especially profitable for players, as every dollar of the buy-in contributes to the overall payout pool. Main Event XL Autumn Series Overview: Key Features The main event of the series — $500,000 Guaranteed Rakeless XL Autumn Series Main Event — stands out not only for its huge guarantee but also for its unique combination of formats. The buy-in is $250, and all of it goes into the prize pool. The top mystery bounty is $50,000, which can change any participant’s fate even without reaching the final table. At the time of publication, 1,100 players had already registered, and 122 have advanced to Day 2. "PasHTeT25" from Ukraine leads with 292,841 chips. For those who want to try their luck for less money, there is the Mystery Bounty Mini Event with a $25 buy-in and a $100,000 guarantee. Its flights run from September 14 to 29. How to Track 888poker Tournaments: A Tool for Players For player convenience, there is a free online tournament calendar on the PokerNews website. With this tool, you can track all upcoming and current multi-table tournaments on platforms like 888poker, PartyPoker, and PokerStars. Flexible filters make it easy to find the right tournament for your bankroll and preferred format. The calendar is especially useful for those who don’t want to miss important XL Autumn Series events or other major online festivals. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, the experience of the XL Autumn Series on 888poker offers several important practical lessons. First, the rakeless tournament format and mystery bounties show that today’s players value transparency and maximum return on their investment. Club series organizers can adopt similar formats to attract more participants and add extra intrigue. Second, the popularity of mystery bounties confirms that players love unexpected big prizes and elements of chance. Intra-club tournaments with similar mechanics can increase engagement and diversify the regular event schedule. Finally, the focus on convenient tournament tracking tools — like the PokerNews online calendar — highlights the importance of information and planning for players. PPPoker clubs can implement their own schedules and notification services so their members are always aware of the most interesting events and don’t miss out on profitable tournaments.