PokerNews Online Championship 2026 Final: Battle for $250,000 on 888 Poker

Discover everything about the main event of the PokerNews Online Championship 2026 on 888poker: results, chip leaders, and chances for PPPoker players.

The PokerNews Online Championship 2026 series on the 888 Poker platform is entering its final stretch: on October 27, the champion of the Main Event with a $250,000 guarantee will be determined. In this article, we’ll give you a detailed update on the tournament’s progress, current chip leaders, results of completed events, and what opportunities are available for PPPoker club players. $250,000 PokerNews Mystery Main Event: Battle for the Main Trophy The Main Event of the PokerNews Online Championship 2026 — the Mystery Main Event with a $250 buy-in and a $250,000 guarantee — has attracted hundreds of players. The Mystery Bounty format means that part of the prize pool is allocated to random bounties, which are awarded to players who knock out opponents in the later stages of the tournament. The top Mystery Bounty jackpot in this event is $25,000. At the time of publication, several starting flights (Day 1) had already taken place, but there are still seven more chances to qualify for the next stage. So far, 466 players have taken part, either paying the $250 buy-in or winning tickets through numerous satellites running around the clock. Of these, only 54 players have made it to Day 2, where they will continue to compete for the main prize and a shot at the jackpot bounty. The chip leader after the starting days is the player with the nickname milikie11 . He increased his starting stack of 10,000 chips to 202,465, the best result among all players advancing to the next stage. Only milikie11 returns to the tables on October 26 with a stack of over 200,000 chips. Some well-known players also made the top 10 by chip count. Hungarian pro Peter "kiskutya23" Traply finished his starting day with 159,477 chips, which currently puts him in sixth place overall. Right behind him is 888 Poker ambassador Aaron "abrone68" Barone , who already won the first tournament of the series last weekend. Now Barone is in a great position to contend for a significant prize from the $250,000 guaranteed pool. Top 10 Chip Counts in the $250,000 PokerNews Mystery Main Event 1. milikie11 — 202,465 2. [name not specified in the original] 3. [name not specified in the original] 4. [name not specified in the original] 5. [name not specified in the original] 6. Peter "kiskutya23" Traply — 159,477 7. Aaron "abrone68" Barone — [chip count not specified] 8. [name not specified in the original] 9. [name not specified in the original] 10. [name not specified in the original] The full list of participants and their chip counts can be found on the official tournament page at 888 Poker. Mini Main Event: Your Chance to Win Part of $50,000 for $25 Running alongside the main tournament is the Mystery Mini Main with a buy-in of just $25 and a $50,000 guarantee. The tournament format is the same: players go through several starting flights to reach Day 2 and compete for prizes and mystery bounties. So far, 665 players have registered, with 80 already securing a spot in Day 2. To meet the guarantee, organizers need to reach 2,222 entries, so the remaining six starting flights promise to be especially busy. The current chip leader is the German player Xiaoleidui , who has amassed 251,781 chips — equivalent to 101 big blinds at the current levels. He is followed by HammHammm (205,455) and LiHao (200,978), both of whom have also turned their starting stack of 10,000 chips into more than 200,000. Ninth place is held by IOwnU888 , a regular at 888 Poker tournaments. In 2023, he finished second in the XL Autumn Series Main Event and won $27,630. In addition, IOwnU888 has already won the weekly Mystery Bounty Main Event, where he managed to pull the golden envelope with the largest bounty. Top 10 Chip Counts in the $50,000 PokerNews Mystery Mini Main 1. Xiaoleidui — 251,781 2. HammHammm — 205,455 3. LiHao — 200,978 4. [name not specified in the original] 5. [name not specified in the original] 6. [name not specified in the original] 7. [name not specified in the original] 8. [name not specified in the original] 9. IOwnU888 — [chip count not specified] 10. [name not specified in the original] Exact figures and the full list of finalists are available on the 888 Poker website. Results of Completed PokerNews Online Championship Tournaments So far, the PokerNews Online Championship series has crowned winners in sixteen tournaments. Each of these events had its own buy-in, structure, and prize pool. The table below lists the winners, event names, and prize amounts: You can find the full list of winners and prize breakdowns on the official series website. Remaining Series Tournaments: Schedule and Formats On October 22, three more PokerNews Online Championship tournaments will take place, all in the DeepStack format. This format means a larger starting stack, giving players more room for maneuver and tactical decisions. The buy-ins for these events are $8.80, $109, and $320 (High Roller), with guaranteed prize pools of $4,000, $10,000, and $10,000 respectively. This is a great opportunity for players with different bankrolls to try their hand at major online tournaments. The full schedule of remaining tournaments is published on the 888 Poker website. We recommend checking it in advance to plan your participation and aim for a spot among the series champions. Context: About the Series and Organizers The PokerNews Online Championship is an annual series of online tournaments held on the 888 Poker platform. The series attracts both professionals and amateurs thanks to its variety of formats, generous guarantees, and the chance to win big mystery bounties. The series is organized by the well-known poker media outlet PokerNews, whose editor since 2010 has been Matthew Pitt. He has worked in the industry since 2008 and has focused on editorial work at PokerNews since 2015. The series traditionally draws a strong field, including 888 Poker ambassadors, well-known regulars, and players who have already found success in previous series such as the XL Autumn Series. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, news about major online series like the PokerNews Online Championship is not only a reason to follow the pros’ successes, but also a source of valuable ideas for their own game. First, the Mystery Bounty format is becoming increasingly popular: its elements can be introduced into club tournaments to add excitement and boost player engagement. Second, a schedule packed with satellites and tournaments at various buy-in levels shows that even with a small bankroll, you can make it into major events. This is a great example for club players: don’t underestimate the value of qualifiers and regular events with affordable entry fees. Finally, by analyzing the successes of players like Peter "kiskutya23" Traply, Aaron "abrone68" Barone, or IOwnU888, you can learn from their approach to bankroll management and tournament strategy at different stages. Keep up with the news, study the formats, and apply best practices in your PPPoker clubs — this will help you grow as a player and achieve new successes.