For the first time ever, 888poker Ontario hosted a series in which every tournament was a Mystery Bounty Event! The series, which was comprised of 30 tournaments, ran from February 19-March 6 and wound up catering to over 5,000 entrants – 5,029 to be exact – and awarded $283,652 in prize money!
The series offered buy-ins ranging from micros to high rollers, and there was something for players of all levels and bankrolls. Interestingly, there were no two-time winners in the Mystery Bounty Festival, meaning there were 30 different winners crowned in Ontario!
Here’s a look at some of the bigger storylines to come out of 888poker Ontario’s Mystery Bounty Festival!
“jadedjason” Wins Biggest Prize on Opening Day
On February 19, one tournament to play out was the $109 buy-in Event #2: $35,000 Mystery Bounty Opening Ceremony, which had 248 players rebuy 59 times. With a $35,000 prize pool up for grabs, there was a top bounty of $3,500. That wound up going to “Midnite89”, who also finished in 18th place for $138.25. Along with $51.30 in other bounties, they left the tournament with $3,689.55 in prize money.
Another player who did well was “iamEklo” who finished in third place for $1,863.75 plus had $2,291.29 in bounties for a total payday of $4,155.04. The only player to do better than that was “jadedjason”, who after 7 hours and 16 minutes of play beat “peekers22” in heads-up play. The victor claimed a $3,547.25 top prize to go along with $965.52 in bounties for a total payout of $4,512.77.
Mystery Bounty Festival Event #2 Final Table Results
1st – “jadedjason” … $3,547.25 + $965.52 in bounties = $4,512.77
2nd – “peekers22” … $2,563.75 + $452.58 in bounties = $3,016.33
3rd – “iamEklo” … $1,863.75 + $2,291.29 = $4,155.04
4th – “SutedAces” … $1,349.25 + $1,992.58 in bounties = $3,341.83
5th – “AAsFullovQQs” … $978.25 + $452.58 in bounties = $1,430.83
6th – “PokerAce28” … $714 + $153.88 in bounties = $867.88
7th – “BaconGrease” … $521.50 + $396.47 in bounties = $917.97
8th – “Bigbabyjezus” … $383.25 + $242.58 in bounties = $625.83
9th – “zenchenchen” … $281.75 + $242.58 in bounties = $524.33
“Josh_Degen” Victorious in Event #18: $40,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event Warmup
For the $109 buy-in, Event #18: $40,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event Warmup, there were multiple Day 1 flights feeding into Day 2, which played out on Monday, February 27. With 341 players rebuying 62 times, the tournament snuck by its guarantee as a $40,300 prize pool was created.
Among those to make the money were “PesevereDrin” (10th place for $255.78 plus $1,307.15 in bounties), “TerryD17” (14th place for $200.97 + $253.57 in bounties), “Jeffismyhero” (16th place for $198.94 plus $514.28 in bounties), “stevenfilipo” (21st place for $196.91 plus $660.72 in bounties), and “JhobPoker” (25th place for $194.88 plus $1,553.57 in bounties).
The top bounty of $4,000 went to “Rykin671”, who also finished in 11th place for $255.78 plus banked some other bounties for a total payday of $4,509.35. That was second only to “Josh_Degen”, who won the tournament for $4,309.69 plus $3,507.14 in bounties for a total of $7,816.83 in prize money.
Mystery Bounty Festival Event #18 Final Table Results
1st – “Josh_Degen” … $4,309.69 + $3,507.14 in bounties = $7,816.83
2nd – “mgray3727” … $3,105.90 + $674.99 in bounties = $3,780.98
3rd – “iamEklo” … $2,269.54 + $321.44 in bounties = $2,590.98
4th – “InWAAAVES” … $1,644.30 + $567.85 in bounties = $2,212.15
5th – “IronMyJacket” … $1,187.55 + $253.58 in bounties = $1,441.13
6th – “BanhkemN” … $866.81 + $560.71 in bounties = $1,427.52
7th – “Toddiep41” … $631.33 + $400 in bounties = $1,031.33
8th – “tcavallin” … $466.90 + $507.14 in bounties = $974.04
9th – “DyckensCider” … $343.07 + $714.29 in bounties = $1,057.36
“Jefffrr8” Takes Down Mystery Bounty Main Event; “SKnolimit” Claims $10,000 Bounty
The series culminated with the CAD $250 buy-in, $100K GTD Main Event, which had multiple starting flights from March 1-6). With 355 players rebuying 42 times, the $100,000 prize pool was reserved for the top 36 finishers and a $10,000 top bounty was available.
Day 2 took place on March 6 and it was “SKnolimit” claiming the top bounty. They also finished in 13th place for $495 plus had some other bounties for a total payday of $10,772.78. Others to cash the tournament but fall short of the final table were “BaconGrease” (11th place for $630 + $2,305.56 in bounties), “JhobPoker” (14th place for $495 + $2,527.77 in bounties), “PokerAce28” (17th place for $490 + $2,777.78 in bounties), and “Madmarlin” (22nd place for $485 + $2,638.89 in bounties).
After nearly four hours of play, it was “Jefffrr8” claiming victory for $10,615 plus $4,333.34 in bounties for a tournament-high payday of $14,948.34.
Mystery Bounty Festival Main Event Final Table Results
1st – “Jefffrr8” … $10,615 + $4,333.34 in bounties = $14,948.34
2nd – “footstuff” … $7,650 + $416.67 in bounties = $8,066.67
3rd – “Mammamiaa” … $5,590 + $3,805.56 in bounties = $9,395.56
4th – “stevenfilipo” … $4,050 + $2,083.33 in bounties = $6,133.33
5th – “Vincent_142” … $2,925 + $555.56 in bounties = $3,480.56
6th – “Jeffismyhero” … $2,135 + $2,833.32 in bounties = $4,968.32
7th – “sirius17..” … $1,555 + $0 in bounties = $1,555
8th – “phinearts” … $1,150 + $750 in bounties = $1,900
9th – “cuse555” … $845 + $4,138.89 in bounties = $4,983.89
Another tournament to wrap on the final day was the $22 buy-in Event #29: $10,000 Mystery Bounty MINI Main Event, which saw 322 players rebuy 94 times. After 4 hours and 17 minutes of play, it was “choon106” taking it down for $1,061.50 plus $603.13 in bounties. However, their $1,664.63 payday was second-best as runner-up “brufan1” claimed $765 in prize money plus $1,665.63 in bounties for a total payout of $2,430.63.
Date | Tournament | Buy-In | Players | Rebuys | Total Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Prize |
Sunday, Feb 19 | Event #1: $1,500 Micro Mystery Bounty Opening Ceremony | $11 | 116 | 55 | 171 | $1,710 | "abbyjax22" | $398.23 |
Sunday, Feb 19 | Event #2: $35,000 Mystery Bounty Opening Ceremony | $109 | 248 | 59 | 307 | $35,000 | "jadedjason" | $4,512.77 |
Sunday, Feb 19 | Event #3: $6,000 Mini Mystery Bounty Opening Ceremony | $55 | 114 | 32 | 146 | $7,300 | "Ayvah1" | $1,445.23 |
Monday, Feb 20 | Event #4: $2,500 Mystery Bounty 6-Max | $22 | 80 | 46 | 126 | $2,520 | "Dominiol" | $1,075.11 |
Monday, Feb 20 | Event #5: $600 Mystery Bounty 6-Max | $5.50 | 100 | 37 | 137 | $685 | "LifetimeAwe" | $251.08 |
Tuesday, Feb. 21 | Event #6: $1,200 Mystery Bounty 11 | $11 | 93 | 45 | 138 | $1,380 | "Talon22" | $317.04 |
Tuesday, Feb. 21 | Event #7: $12,000 Mystery Bounty 109 | $109 | 90 | 32 | 122 | $12,200 | "bob.sacamano" | $2,698.10 |
Wednesday, Feb. 22 | Event #8: $2,500 Mystery Bounty 8-Max | $22 | 89 | 70 | 159 | $3,180 | "BanhkemN" | $731.51 |
Wednesday, Feb. 22 | Event #9: $800 Mystery Bounty 8-Max | $8.80 | 63 | 40 | 103 | $824 | "reba50" | $280.34 |
Thursday, Feb. 23 | Event #10: $1,200 Mystery Bounty 11 | $11 | 88 | 48 | 136 | $1,360 | "varmitator" | $295.56 |
Thursday, Feb. 23 | Event #11: $12,000 Mystery Bounty 109 | $109 | 91 | 33 | 124 | $12,400 | "710jog69420" | $2,206.96 |
Friday, Feb. 24 | Event #12: $600 Mini Mystery Bounty Deepstack | $5.50 | 103 | 43 | 146 | $730 | "mountain28" | $194.84 |
Friday, Feb. 24 | Event #13: $1,500 Mystery Bounty Deepstack 16.5 | $16.50 | 69 | 35 | 104 | $1,560 | "remgbv" | $348.18 |
Sunday, Feb. 26 | Event #14: $1,500 Mini Mystery Bounty Sunday Special | $11 | 123 | 64 | 187 | $1,870 | "astroidbs" | $403.50 |
Sunday, Feb. 26 | Event #15: $6,000 Mystery Bounty Sunday Special | $55 | 86 | 20 | 106 | $6,000 | "FearedPush" | $1,826.50 |
Monday, Feb. 27 | Event #16: $2,500 Mystery Bounty 22 | $22 | 87 | 56 | 143 | $2,860 | "19Wingnut" | $764.30 |
Monday, Feb. 27 | Event #17: $600 Mystery Bounty 5.5 | $5.50 | 83 | 45 | 128 | $640 | "WANTUCHIPS" | $162.81 |
Monday, Feb. 27 | Event #18: $40,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event Warmup | $109 | 341 | 62 | 403 | $40,300 | "Josh_Degen" | $7,816.83 |
Tuesday, Feb. 28 | Event #19: $1,200 Mystery Bounty 8-Max | $11 | 97 | 70 | 167 | $1,670 | "ndmaz" | $435.71 |
Tuesday, Feb. 28 | Event #20: $12,000 Mystery Bounty 8-Max | $109 | 91 | 32 | 123 | $12,300 | "WalmartCNXN" | $3,852.75 |
Wednesday, March 1 | Event #21: $2,500 Mystery Bounty 6-Max | $22 | 81 | 61 | 142 | $2,840 | "FilthyMan" | $649.06 |
Wednesday, March 1 | Event #22: $800 Mystery Bounty 6-Max | $8.80 | 69 | 42 | 111 | $888 | "HunterTahu" | $223.73 |
Thursday, March 2 | Event #23: $1,200 Mystery Bounty 11 | $11 | 93 | 48 | 141 | $1,410 | "DaVoss" | $330.73 |
Thursday, March 2 | Event #24: $12,000 Mystery Bounty 109 | $109 | 87 | 25 | 112 | $12,000 | "RowanD2" | $2,655.86 |
Friday, March 3 | Event #25: $600 Mini Mystery Bounty Deepstack 5.5 | $5.50 | 96 | 37 | 133 | $665 | "Chaos7981" | $137.50 |
Friday, March 3 | Event #26: $1,500 Mystery Bounty Deepstack 16.5 | $16.50 | 73 | 35 | 108 | $1,620 | "znjxl122" | $390.61 |
Sunday, March 5 | Event #27: $1,500 Mini Mystery Bounty Closing Ceremony | $11 | 113 | 61 | 174 | $1,740 | "Benoit1111" | $631.36 |
Sunday, March 5 | Event #28: $6,000 Mystery Bounty Closing Ceremony | $55 | 78 | 41 | 119 | $6,000 | "dinosour" | $1,637.92 |
Monday, March 6 | Event #29: $10,000 Mystery Bounty MINI Main Event | $22 | 322 | 94 | 416 | $10,000 | "choon106" | $1,664.63 |
Monday, March 6 | Event #30: $100,000 Mystery Bounty MAIN EVENT | $250 | 355 | 42 | 397 | $100,000 | "Jefffrr8" | $14,948.34 |