The $35 million guaranteed PokerStars New Year Series kicked off on December 24 with the first events from a 350-tournament schedule. Stellar names have packed the 63 completed events so far, and PokerStars ambassador Lex "L. Veldhuis" Veldhuis has been mixing it up with the best of them.
Veldhuis is spending the next four months in New Zealand, meaning most of the PokerStars New Year Series tournaments shuffle up and deal during the morning for him. Poker players are not usually known for their punctuality or their willingness to rise and shine early doors, but the red-eye start times seem to be working in Veldhuis' favor.
On Christmas Eve, Veldhuis came out on top of the $1,050 NLHE 8-Max PKO event, and walked away with $24,220, including bounties. As Veldhuis was riding that tournament home across the finishing line, he triumphed in the $320 NLHE 8-Max PKO, boosting his bankroll by an additional $12,863.
Two wins straight off the bat set the tone for Veldhuis, and the popular Dutch streamer seems to be going deep in more than his fair share of New Year Series events. Veldhuis found himself third in chips going into Day 2 of the $2,024 NLHE 8-Max New Year Special, and with a legitimate chance of bagging the $79,374 top prize. However, the Poker Gods had other ideas, and things didn't plan out for Veldhuis. He crashed out in 15th from 211 entrants, a finish good for $6,389.
Alejandro \"Papo MC\" Lococo
Alejandro "Papo MC" Lococo, Veldhuis' teammate, navigated his way to the final table, but ultimately had to make do with a fifth-place finish worth $26,804. This event was eventually won by Ukraine's "drew.derzh" who defeated Jonathan "x_zola25" Skovsen heads-up, securing a $79,374 payday in the process.
Biggest Payout of the Series Thus Far
One of the other New Year Specials, the $202.40 buy-in edition, awarded the largest payout of the New Year Series so far. Some 3,392 players fought it out for the lion's share of a $750,000 prize pool. First place should have paid out $107,767, but a three-way chop changed that.
"cardinals970" finished third for $74,969, a few bucks more than "99dm84" collected for their runner-up finish. Mexico-based Felix "TheDegendFund" Van De Put scooped a $90,095 top prize.
Van De Put's impressive haul will only stay the largest New Year Series score for a few days because some massive events are on the horizon.
Four Seven-Figure Prize Pools Up for Grabs
In addition the $5,200 buy-in $350,000 guaranteed Titans Event on January 7, and the $10,300 buy-in, $600,000 guaranteed Super Tuesday High Roller on January 9, there are four upcoming tournaments each with a $1 million+ guarantee on their prize pool.
This Sunday, January 7, marks the first-ever mystery bounty event PokerStars has hosted, and what better way to get off the mark than by making the Sunday Million a mystery bounty edition? $109 is the buy-in, and $1 million is the guarantee; expect some incredible mystery bounties.
January 14 sees three No-Limit Hold'em Main Events commence at 5:30 p.m. GMT. They come with buy-ins of $109, $1,050, and $5,200, with guarantees weighing in at $1 million, $1.25 million, and $1.5 million, respectively. It would not be a surprise to see Veldhuis putting together a deep run in any of the aforementioned tournaments.
PokerStars New Year Series Results So Far
Event
Entrants
Prize Pool
Champion
Prize
#2-L: $5.50 NLHE 8-Max PKO
10,758
$52,714
mike21_4life
$4,440*
#2-M: $55 NLHE 8-Max PKO
3,535
$176,750
DarkSkies21
$18,756*
#2-H: $530 NLHE 8-Max PKO
216
$108,000
dimadub93
$21,481*
#3: $109 NLHE 8-Max Big $109 Christmas Edition
993
$100,000
Foxdie999
$16,439
#4-L: $33 NLHE 8-Max PKO
4,635
$139,050
ShishuiUch1ha
$12,798*
#4-M: $215 NLHE 8-Max PKO
776
$155,200
Breno2728
$22,850*
#4-H: $1,050 NLHE 8-Max PKO
120
$125,000
Lex "L. Veldhuis" Veldhuis
$24,220*
#5-L: $11 PLO 6-Max PKO
2,382
$25,000
donkey7n2
$2,989*
#5-M: $109 PLO 6-Max PKO
346
$35,000
silage98
$5,255*
#5-H: $1,050 PLO 6-Max PKO
39
$40,000
ShipitFTW911
$17,503*
#6: $320 NLHE 8-Max PKO
226
$67,800
Lex "L. Veldhuis" Veldhuis
$12,863*
#7-L: $5.50 NLHE 7-Max Turbo PKO
7,462
$36,563
sirtenzoe
$3,480*
#7-M: $55 NLHE 7-Max Turbo PKO
2,242
$112,100
And_Blr
$10,702*
#7-H: $530 NLHE 7-Max Turbo PKO
136
$68,000
Heidegger807
$15,882*
#8-L: $3.30 NLHE 6-Max Monster Stacks
11,516
$33,857
mother68
$4,430
#8-M: $33 NLHE 6-Max Monster Stacks
4,415
$132,450
08141
$18,881
#8-H: $320 NLHE 6-Max Monster Stacks
352
$105,600
Sergey260594
$19,394
#9-L: $11 NLHE 8-Max PKO
11,524
$112,935
Mcdermutt
$8,266*
#9-M: $109 NLHE 8-Max PKO
2,414
$241,400
blaboub
$25,176*
#9-H: $1,050 NLHE 8-Max PKO
94
$125,000
Roman "RomeOpro" Romanovsky
$35,156*
#10-L: $5.50 HORSE
1,046
$5,152
GamarraFCP
$936
#10-M: $55 HORSE
204
$10,200
aDrENalin710
$2,065
#10-H: $530 HORSE
38
$20,000
Ac-King00
$7,301
#11-L: $11 NLHE 5-Max Turbo PKO
8,142
$79,791
AAligator33
$6,940*
#11-M: $109 NLHE 5-Max Turbo PKO
1,062
$106,200
VincentFirst
$13,446*
#11-H: $1,050 NLHE 5-Max Turbo PKO
69
$80,000
1obster
$20,407*
#12: $109 NLHE 8-Max Fenomeno
691
$69,100
12371237
$11,917
#13: $55 NLHE Heads-Up Turbo Total PKO Zoom
1,555
$77,750
Log_Virus
$8,478
#14: $22 NLHE 8-Max Daily Eliminator
5,458
$109,160
hatenow88
$8,951
#15-L: $5.50 NLHE 8-Max PKO
13,059
$63,989
Jojo491973
$4,698*
#15-M: $55 NLHE 8-Max PKO
4,367
$218,350
ChristianBR4
$23,087*
#15-H: $530 NLHE 8-Max PKO
268
$134,000
JackRipperJr
$25,198*
#16-L: $11 NLHE 8-Max Super Tuesday
10,467
$102,576
christi1298
$13,596
#16-M: $109 NLHE 8-Max Super Tuesday
1,843
$184,300
superskill77
$27,677
#16-H: $1,050 NLHE 8-Max Super Tuesday
189
$200,000
jpsalgadocr0
$39,729
#17-L: $2.20 PL Badugi 8-Max PKO
1,575
$3,087
Serge_rf95
$397*
#17-M: $22 PL Badugi 8-Max PKO
313
$6,260
17neffetS_BR
$1,262*
#17-H: $215 PL Badugi 8-Max PKO
32
$10,000
Dzmitry "Colisea" Urbanovich
$3,469*
#18: $11 NLHE 5-Max Win the Button
3,086
$30,242
Carokannix
$4,359
#19-L: $5.50 NLHE 6-Max Turbo PKO
9,659
$47,329
Tommescrawn
$4,286*
#19-M: $55 NLHE 6-Max Turbo PKO
2,913
$145,650
olionhysaj
$13,599*
#19-H: $530 NLHE 6-Max Turbo PKO
171
$85,500
mc1dot
$18,222*
#20: $22 NLHE 4-Max Bounty Quads
2,486
$49,720
kistomika1990
$3,755*
#21: $33 NLHE 7-Max Hyper PKO
1,967
$61,822
No_to_peszek
$6,740*
#23-L: $2.20 NLHE 8-Max
9,550
$18,718
Braidote
$2,585
#23-M: $22 NLHE 8-Max
6,361
$127,220
GOT3As
$18,082
#23-H: $215 NLHE 8-Max
591
$118,200
Ilewxa
$20,735
#24-L: $11 NLHE 5-Max PKO
8,948
$87,690
penny1701
$6,314*
#24-M: $109 NLHE 5-Max PKO
1,881
$188,100
Martboyo
$18,578*
#24-H: $1,050 NLHE 5-Max PKO
105
$105,000
Luis "luis_faria" Faria
$29,035*
#25-L: $5.50 PLO 6-Max PKO
3,111
$15,243
luizbode
$1,719*
#25-M: $55 PLO 6-Max PKO
723
$36,150
GHOSTFACE9.8
5,818*
#25-H: $530 PLO 6-Max PKO
86
$43,000
MaTitheone
$11,954*
#26-L: $3.30 NLHE 6-Max Turbo PKO
9,071
$26,668
enjoyka771
$2,191*
#26-M: $33 NLHE 6-Max Turbo PKO
4,322
$129,660
shanesc
$12,424*
#26-H: $320 NLHE 6-Max Turbo PKO
275
$82,500
gnetaren
$12,891*
#27: $55 NLHE 7-Max Hyper PKO
1,382
$72,389
jambo669
$11,106*
#28: $27 NLO8 Heads-Up Turbo Total KO Zoom
914
$22,438
belyi9
$3,338*
#29-L: $3.30 NLHE 8-Max
9,598
$28,218
Kv3l3rt4k
$3,892
#29-M: $33 NLHE 8-Max
3,667
$110,010
babyb00mer
$15,765
#29-H: $320 NLHE 8-Max
369
$110,700
Inflaatio
$15,199
#30-L: $22 NLE 8-Max PKO Thursday Thrill
9,070
$181,400
IamTABASCO
$15,629*
#30-M: $215 NLHE 8-Max PKO Thursday Thrill
1,107
$221,400
Cbotacin
$31,673*
#30-H: $2,100 NLHE 8-Max PKO Thursday Thrill
113
$226,000
Shark180599
$50,990*
#31-L: $3.30 Stud
932
$2,740
MiStErZYX
$507
#31-M: $33 Stud
195
$7,500
Leon_Javur
$1,340
#32: $55 NLHE Heads-Up Total KO
1,398
$69,900
Peshka1991
$6,975*
#33-L: $11 NLHE 6-Max Turbo PKO
9,586
$93,942
RenanLaPola
$8,361*
#33-M: $109 NLHE 6-Max Turbo PKO
1,457
$145,700
Lanket
$16,116*
#33-H: $1,050 NLHE 6-Max Turbo PKO
107
$107,000
mamamamama70
$24,866*
#34: $55 NLHE 8-Max Turbo PKO
1,283
$65,000
Zanos_Goda
$7,546*
#35: $109 NLO8 6-Max Turbo PKO
289
$30,000
Robin "Robinho" Ylitalo
$6,133*
#36-L: $2.20 NLHE 8-Max Deep Stack
10,414
$20,411
Zugolaro
$2,709
#36-M: $22 NLHE 8-Max Deep Stack
6,941
$138,820
vulturu13
$19,721
#36-H: $215 NLHE 8-Max Deep Stack
471
$94,200
PyThaGoLiX
$12,895
#37-L: $5.50 NLHE 6-Max PKO The Acai
9,894
$48,480
Moutatack2222
$4,253*
#37-M: $55 NLHE 6-Max PKO The Acai
3,720
$186,000
pushstyle777
$20,520*
#37-H: $530 NLHE 6-Max PKO The Acai
235
$117,500
iBreakU_U
$23,899*
#38-L: $2.20 8-Game 6-Max
1,838
$4,000
AlessandroBJ
$438
#38-M: $22 8-Gme 6-Max
780
$15,600
Gaisska
$2,648
#38-H: $215 8-Game 6-Max
125
$30,000
Leon_Javur
$6,744
#39-L: $5.50 NLHE The Rounder
7,241
$35,480
Ketamine2801
$5,054
#39-M: $55 NLHE The Rounder
1,285
$64,250
TarzanThorben
$10,015
#39-H: $530 NLHE The Rounder
231
$46,200
carta25
$8,913
#40: $109 NLHE 8-Max Fenomeno
693
$69,300
AngerFish425
$11,798
#41: $109 NLHE Heads-Up Turbo Total KO Zoom
878
$87,800
sanychamid
$9,001*
#42: $33 NLHE 8-Max Hyper PKO
1,557
$48,936
dholanda283
$5,989*
#43: $55 NLHE 8-Max PKO
3,400
$170,000
Tarcidio
$19,669*
#44-L: $2.20 NLHE 8-Max PKO
12,011
$23,541
DonZordon
$2,126*
#44-M: $22 NLHE 8-Max PKO
6,830
$136,600
Deobandi
$12,271*
#44-H: $215 NLHE 8-Max PKO
592
$118,400
Assad91
$16,411*
#45-L: $11 NLHE 7-Max PKO Big KO
13,517
$132,466
Jacks_Ten
$7,534*
#45-M: $109 NLHE 7-Max PKO Big KO
1,977
$197,700
starswins :)
$20,061*
#45-H: $1,050 NLHE 7-Max PKO Big KO
139
$139,000
Joker1002
$32,225*
#46-L: $11 Razz 8-Max PKO
784
$10,000
Sz4t4n
$1,358*
#46-M: $109 Razz 8-Max PKO
130
$15,000
chaka-G
$3,660*
#46-H: $1,050 Razz 8-Max PKO
30
$30,000
CMoosepower
$13,258*
#47-L: $5.50 NLHE 8-Max Turbo Copacabana
7,179
$35,177
gomsipjorn
$4,999
#47-M: $55 NLHE 8-Max Turbo Copacabana
1,445
$72,250
dougmd83
$11,085
#47-H: $530 NLHE 8-Max Turbo Copacabana
175
$87,500
Chris "ImDaNuts" Oliver
$17,628
#48-L: $2.20 NLHE 6-Max Turbo
6,752
$13,233
coucou27
$1,884
#48-M: $22 NLHE 6-Max Turbo
4,059
$81,180
Bernardo807
$11,604
#48-H: $215 NLHE 6-Max Turbo
368
$73,600
twardy666
$13,517
#49: $2 NLHE Heads-Up Turbo Total KO Zoom
2,013
$40,260
victhereaper99
$3,662*
#50-L: $5.50 NLHE 6-Max Deep Stack
11,598
$56,830
Slavik_54rus
$7,431
#50-M: $55 NLHE 6-Max Deep Stack
3,719
$185,950
Teddygram902
$22,581
#50-H: $530 NLHE 6-Max Deep Stack
320
$160,000
Jesper8
$24,241
#51-L: $20.24 NLHE 8-Max New Year Special
15,796
$300,000
Runne1
$31,385
#51-M: $202.40 NLHE 8-Max New Year Special
3,392
$750,000
Felix "TheDegendFund" Van De Put
$90,095
#51-H: $2,024 NLHE 8-Max New Year Special
211
$406,729
drew.derzh
$79,374
#52-L: $11 PLO 6-Max
2,389
$25,000
Michael Keys
$3,143
#52-M: $109 PLO 6-Max
397
$39,700
Coldiiik
$6,164
#52-H: $1,050 PLO 6-Max
78
$78,000
Nadhob
$16,760
#53-L: $5.50 NLHE 5-Max Turbo PKO
10,517
$51,533
578346
$3,961*
#53-M: $55 NLHE 5-Max Turbo PKO
3,005
$150,250
tycu112
$15,888*
#53-H: $530 NLHE 5-Max Turbo PKO
224
$112,000
chiefofxocolatl
$16,462*
#54: $109 NLHE 8-Max Turbo PKO
856
$85,600
capper95
$11,487*
#55: $22 NLHE 7-Max Hyper PKO
3,401
$71,250
Alada222
$5,240*
#56: $27 NLHE 8-Max PKO
5,335
$130,974
0wnr00
$12,763*
#57-L: $2.20 8-Max PKO
12,297
$24,102
brian pot153
$2,003*
#57-M: $22 NLHE 8-Max PKO
8,931
$178,620
b1o0m4r1n32
$16,969*
#57-H: $215 NLHE 8-Max PKO
1,033
$206,600
mindgamer
$26,845*
#58-L: $11 NLHE 8-Max Super Tuesday
10,553
$103,419
TBD
#58-M: $109 NLHE 8-Max Super Tuesday
2,197
$219,700
TBD
#58-H: $1,050 NLHE 8-Max Super Tuesday
214
$214,000
TBD
#59-L: $2.20 NL 2-7 Single Draw PKO
1,301
$2,549
Chudy_089
$319
#59-M: $22 NL 2-7 Single Draw PKO
370
$7,400
grigoriy9
$1,503*
#59-H: $215 NL 2-7 Single Draw
49
$10,000
Yuri "theNERDguy" Dzivielevski
$3,809*
#60: $109 NLHE 8-Max PKO Big KO
1,388
$138,800
magrao13
$14,266*
#61-L: $5.50 NLHE 6-max Turbo PKO
9,985
$48,926
prosky12
$4,481*
#61-M: $55 NLHE 6-Max Turbo PKO
2,973
$148,650
Seanlazdi
$14,648*
#61-H: $530 NLHE 6-Max Turbo PKO
236
$118,000
Sintoras
$27,164*
#62: NLHE 8-Max Hyper PKO
2,662
$55,768
oKiNeK
$6,522*
#63: $55 NLHE 7-Max Turbo PKO
1,552
$77,600
idar0365
$9,791*
*includes bounty payments
Head Down the Power Path to the New Year Series Main Events
Satellite for the New Year Series Main Events run around the clock, but you can also bag yourself a sweet package by heading down the PokerStars Power Path. You can redeem your Silver Pass for a $2,500 ticket bundle, and your Gold Pass for a $10,300 ticket bundle.
Exchange a Silver Pass for two $1,050 New Year Series Main Event tickets, two $19 New Year Series Main Event tickets, eight $22 New Year Series tickets, and $6 worth of tournament dollars.
Redeeming a Gold Pass grants you an awesome package of a $5,200 New Year Series Main Event tickets, four shots at the $1,050 buy-in Main Event, four $109 New Year Series Main Event tickets, six $55 New Year Series tickets, plus $134 worth of tournament dollars!
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.
