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888poker is one of the oldest online poker sites, meaning thousands of players already have an account. Mexico’s “El_hombre” didn’t have an 888poker account, but decided to change that fact three days ago. Perhaps the lure of the PokerNews Online Championship (PNOC) was strong enough to have them sign up for an account?

One of “El_hombre”’s first tasks as an 888poker player was to enter the $109 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed PNOC Opening Event PKO. They navigated to the final table with 65 big blinds, enough for third place at the restart. Less than two-and-a-half hours later, the Mexico-based star emerged victoriously from the final table, with $13,823 in tow, marking an incredible start to their 888poker career.

PokerNews Online Championship Opening Event PKO Final Table Chip Counts

The first elimination was confirmed ten minutes after play resumed. “FishNight” min-raised from early position with pocket kings before instantly calling the 14 big blind three-bet shove from Denmark’s “MyWa7.” Those kings held against the at-risk player’s ace-jack, and “MyWa7” was gone.

Start-of-the-day chip leader “Hxs89” endured a torrid time from the get-go and was put out of their misery a few minutes after “MyWa7” had fallen. The Romanian’s final participation in this $100,000 guaranteed tournament saw him four-bet shove from the big blind with ace-king for 34 big blinds after “Madarasszabi” had min-raised on the button, and “FishNight” had three-bet in the small blind. The initial raiser folded their king-eight of clubs, but “FishNight” called the shove with pocket queens. The community cards provided no help to “Hxs89” and they were out in seventh place.

“TOMA188288” was short-stacked with only six big blinds but doubled through “Madarasszabi” to give themselves some breathing room. However, any epic comeback was halted when they raised from the cutoff with king-jack, leaving less than five big blinds behind. “El_hombre” moved all-in from the big blind with pocket fives, and “TOMA188288” called all-in. A five on the flop left “TOMA188288” drawing thin, and they were drawing dead on the turn. The PokerNews Online Championship Opening Event PKO final table was down to only five players within the first 22 minutes of action.

Those five became four with the untimely demise of the aggressive “Madarasszabi.” They open-jammed for a shade under 11 big blinds from the cutoff with ace-six, and “DJoKerKJ” called in the big blind with the dominated ace-trey. The ace-trey came from behind courtesy of a three on the turn and another on the river.

The eliminations slowed down following the blistering start, with four-handed play spanning an hour. Germany’s “KRNKKFURTER” lost a huge flip against “FishNight” to break the deadlock. “FishNight” min-raised under the gun with pocket tens, “KRNKKFURTER” three-bet all-in for 31 big blinds with king-queen of spades, and “FishNight” went into the tank. They eventually called, possibly due to “KRNKKFURTER” having over $1,430 on their head. The call was rewarded with a safe board for pocket tens, sending “KRNKKFUTER” to the showers in fourth and “FishNight” to second in chips.

“DJoKerKJ” busted in third after limping in with queen-ten from the small blind with an 11-big blind stack. “El_hombre” checked their jack-nine of hearts in the big blind, and it was off to an ace-high flop. A queen on the turn improved “DJoKerKJ” to the best hand, but both players checked. A ten on the river gave “DJoKerKJ” two pair, but it also improved “El_hombre” to a queen-high straight. The chips went piling in, and “DJoKerKJ” was done and dusted.

“El_hombre” held a 92.3 to 47 big blind advantage over “FishNight” going into heads-up, but it still took another 40 minutes for the final had to occur. “El_hombre2 would grind their opponent down, only for “FishNight” to claw their way back.

The final hand started with a limp from “FishNight” in the small blind, a raise from “El_hombre” in the big blind, and a 22.4 big blind shove from “FishNight.” “El_hombre” called the jam and turned over pocket nines, which were way ahead of the all-in player’s pocket sevens. A nine on the flop allowed “El_hombre” to put one hand on the victory, with a full house-completing ten on the turn locking in the title for the Mexican.

The champion banked $13,823 for their impressive win, achieved only three days after joining 888poker! “FishNight” should be commended for their valiant efforts. Their runner-up finish awarded them $10,865 and plenty of ammunition for the rest o the PokerNews Online Championship at 888poker.

PokerNews Online Championship Opening Event PKO Final Table Results

PokerNews Online Championship Results

Ten PNOC events have now crowned their worthy champions. “El_hombre” has collected the largest single prize so far, one worth $13,823. “CoCoMic” helped themselves to a $9,555 prize after being the last player standing in the $525 Opening Event High Roller.

Upcoming PokerNews Online Championship Events

The PNOC action continues to come thick and fast, with another 12 events running between February 18 and 20. With buy-ins ranging from $11 to $109, there is a PNOC for everyone.

$300,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event Update

The PokerNews #41 – Mystery Bounty Main Event costs $215 to enter and boasts a $300,000 guarantee on its prize pool. A handful of Day 1s are already in the bag. Some 497 players have bought in, with 57 punching their Day 2 tickets.

Montenegro’s “K1llGriffith” leads the way right now; they have 217,469 chips, or 87 big blinds when Day 2 shuffles up and deals at 9:30 p.m. GMT on February 24. 888poker ambassador, Ian “Simpioni” Simpson, who won the recent 888poker LIVE Madrid Main Event, currently finds himself in 17th place with 112,328 chips.

Check the PokerNews filter in the 888poker tournament lobby to discover the remaining Mystery Bounty Main Event Day 1s.

Matthew Pitt hails from Leeds, West Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom, and has worked in the poker industry since 2008, and worked for PokerNews since 2010. In September 2010, he became the editor of PokerNews. Matthew stepped away from live reporting duties in 2015, and now concentrates on his role of Senior Editor for the PokerNews.

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