partypoker Knockout Series Returns with Reduced Rake Structure
Following a successful inaugural Knockout Series that ran from Feb. 25 to March 4, partypoker is hosting its second $10 million guaranteed KO Series that will pack in 226 events across eight days from June 3-10.
As with the first version, the upcoming KO Series will feature five buy-in tiers with price tags ranging from $0.55 to $530 to accommodate a wide range of players and bankrolls. Players can take their pick of an array of Micro, Low, Medium, High and High Roller events.
Players will notice some changes from the first to the second edition. With more events on the schedule this time around — 226 versus 164 — there are also fewer Championship events. While last series featured seven Championship events offering up a total of $3.67 million in guarantees, the upcoming KO Series will have four, combining for $2 million in guarantees.
Some of the bigger events on the schedule, including the four Championship events, can be found below.
| Date | Time | Event | Buy-in | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, June 3 | 7:00 | KO Series #01-High Roller [Smooth] | $530 | $200,000 |
| Sunday, June 3 | 7:00 | KO Series #36-High Roller [Smooth] | $530.00 | $200,000 |
| Sunday, June 3 | 9:00 | KO Series #02-High Roller - Championship Event [6-Max] | $530 | $500,000 |
| Sunday, June 3 | 9:00 | KO Series #02-High [6-Max] | $109 | $200,000 |
| Sunday, June 3 | 11:00 | KO Series #03-High Roller - Championship Event [Smooth] | $1,050 | $500,000 |
| Sunday, June 3 | 11:00 | KO Series #03-High [Smooth] | $215 | $300,000 |
| Tuesday, June 5 | 11:00 | KO Series #13-High Roller [6-Max] | $1,050 | $200,000 |
| Thursday, June 7 | 11:00 | KO Series #23-High Roller [6-Max, Smooth, Freezeout] | $1,050 | $200,000 |
| Sunday, June 10 | 9:00 | KO Series #37-High Roller - Championship Event [6-Max] | $530 | $500,000 |
| Sunday, June 10 | 9:00 | KO Series #37-High [6-Max] | $109 | $200,000 |
| Sunday, June 10 | 11:00 | KO Series #38-High Roller - Championship Event [Smooth] | $1,050 | $500,000 |
| Sunday, June 10 | 11:00 | KO Series #38-High [Smooth] | $215 | $300,000 |
Rakeless Bounties
Another major change is the absence of rake in the bounty portion of all Progressive Knockout (PKO) events, following on from a new buy-in structure instated just in time for the POWERFEST series earlier this month. The change is likely to become a permanent fixture in partypoker PKO MTT structures after its six-month trial, assuming continued poker community approval.
partypoker ambassador Patrick Leonard is looking forward to another KO Series.
“After the success of the first KO Series and the feedback we got from the players, it was certain partypoker was going to run it again,” he said.
Leonard was not a believer in the new buy-in format for PKOs at first, but has come around in a big way.
“When we initially offered PKO tournaments I was generally against the format. I thought it took the ‘pureness’ out of tournament poker, but because of the insane popularity, I was forced to play because the prize pools were so big. To my pleasant surprise I loved them; people played way looser and there was a lot of action.”
Expect plenty of action once again, and players can look out for the third KO Series of the year in the fall, slated to run in October.
