The $200K Gtd XL Series Mystery Bounty at 888poker Looks Incredible Value

Matthew Pitt
Senior Editor
6 min read
888poker

The second largest guaranteed event of the 888poker XL Winter Series crowns is shaping up to be the tournament for value hunters. XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty is a $162 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed affair that requires 1,333 entrants to hit the ambitious guarantee. At the time of writing, only 347 players have bought in, and time is rapidly running out to get in on the action.

Fifteen Day 1s for the $200,000 guaranteed Mystery Bounty event run between January 19-22, which seems like ample opportunity to garner enough players to break through the guaranteed amount. However, each of the completed flights so far has averaged only 52 players, meaning everything points towards a substantial overlay for 888poker, and that means more value for the players.

At least two, and up to five, flights run daily up to and including January 22, which is also when Day 2 commences. Each of those Day 1s sees 888poker players sit down armed with 12,000 chips (200 big blinds) and play to a 12-minute clock where the blinds start at only 30/60/7a.

Late registration is available for 180 minutes, with unlimited re-entries permitted. Day 1s conclude after the completion of the 17th level or when only 13% of the field remains, whichever occurs sooner. Surviving players progress to Day 2 at 9:00 p.m. GMT on January 22, where they will play down to the final table. That grand finale shuffles up and deals at 7:00 p.m. GMT on January 23 under the watchful eyes of the popular 888poker Twitch stream team.

The mystery bounties come into play from Day 2 onwards, and there are some juicy prizes waiting to be pulled out of their respective golden envelopes. At least six bounties are worth $2,000, and there are a couple worth $6,000. However, one lucky player will bust an opponent, open their mystery bounty envelope, and reveal a $20,000 cash haul!

Current $200,000 Mystery Bounty Chip Leaders

Aaron Barone
888poker's Aaron Barone is sixth in chips

Fifty-three of the 347 entrants had punched their Day 2 tickets when PokerNews published this article on the morning of January 19. Argentina's "Kuperbb1" fired two bullets, and that second bite of the cherry went well. The Argentinian turned their 12,000 stack into a tournament-leading 201,755, or 126 big blinds in old money.

Talented 888poker ambassador Aaron "abarone68" Barone finds himself sixth in chips right now with 140,829 chips (88 big blinds). Expect luminaries including Ian Simpson, Vivian Saliba, Alexandre Mantovani to take a shot at glory in this event over the weekend.

RankPlayerCountryChipsBig Blinds
1Kuperbb1Argentina201,755126
2InaliEstonia198,765124
31luha11Moldova179,357112
4Birnherd 144,26190
5AndreiCozRomania141,63289
6Aaron "abarone68" BaroneCanada140,82988
7HecticMulkUnited Kingdom133,26283
89salute46Ireland108,21968
9MaxOn123Ukraine104,34665
10LookAroundKazahkstan103,19665

888poker XL Winter Series Results

"ddaubar" is the biggest individual winner of the XL Winter Series so far. They took down the $525 High Roller Opening event for $12,320.

EventBuy-inEntrantsPrize PoolChampionPrize
#01 – Mini Opening Event$55793$40,000BrittneySpew$6,192*
#02 – Opening Event$1091,179$120,000optimusmov$10,441*
#03 – High Roller Opening Event$52591$50,000ddaubar$12,320*
#04 – PKO Mini$22580$11,600PMBogdan$2,165*
#05 – PKO$109185$18,500thechronic99$3,706*
#06 – Mystery Bounty Mini High Roller$55356$17,800marclatt$3,715*
#07 – Mystery Bounty High Roller$32092$27,600wowkit$9,136*
#08 – 6-Max Mini$22453$10,000Etrom33$2,000
#09 – 6-Max$109139$13,900lovelydonk$3,614
#10 – Super KO Mini$55$266$13,300sjae98$1,623*
#11 – Super KO$32070$21,000dkfdyulr$4,590*

*includes bounty payments

888poker 2024 XL Winter Series Schedule

It is not only the $200,000 guaranteed Mystery Bounty that has captured the online poker community's imagination but the entire bustling 888poker XL Winter Series schedule! Check out the remaining event by expanding the table below.

DateTime (GMT)EventBuy-in
Fri 19 Jan4:00 p.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty Day 1$162
 5:00 p.m.$8,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11
 6:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 6:30 p.m.$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55
 7:00 p.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bunty Day 1$162
 7:00 p.m.$10,000 XL Winter #12 – PKO Turbo Deep Mini$22
 7:30 p.m.$12,000 XL Winter #13 – PKO Turbo Deep$109
 10:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
Sat 20 Jan4:00 p.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty Day 1$162
 5:00 p.m.$8,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11
 6:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 6:30 p.m.$12,000 XL Winter -Mystery Bounty 55$55
 7:00 p.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty Day 1$162
 10:00 p.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty Day 1$162
 10:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
Sun 21 Jan11:00 a.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty Day 1$162
 1:30 p.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty Day 1$162
 4:00 p.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty Day 1$162
 5:00 p.m.$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11
 6:00 p.m.$10,000 XL Winter – PKO Rumble 215$215
 6:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 6:30 p.m.$35,000 XL Winter #14 – Mystery Bounty Mini$55
 7:00 p.m.$15,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22
 7:00 p.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty Day 1$162
 7:00 p.m.$10,000 XL Winter #15 – Mystery Bounty Micro$11
 7:30 p.m.$50,000 XL Winter #16 – Mystery Bounty High Roller$525
 7:30 p.m.$30,000 XL Winter #17 – Mystery Bounty$109
 10:00 p.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty$162
 10:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
Mon 22 Jan1:00 a.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 1:00 p.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty Turbo Day 1$162
 3:00 p.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty Turbo Day 1$162
 5:00 p.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty Turbo Day 1$162
 5:00 p.m.$8,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11
 6:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 6:30 p.m.$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55
 7:00 p.m.$10,000 XL Winter #18 – Big Shot Mini$22
 7:00 p.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty Hyper Day 1$162
 7:30 p.m.$12,000 XL Winter #19 – Big Shot$109
 9:00 p.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty Day 2 
 10:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
Tue 23 Jan2:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 5:00 p.m.$8,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11
 6:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 7:00 p.m.$200,000 XL Winter #20 – Mystery Bounty Final Table 
 7:00 p.m.$8,000 X Winter Mystery Bounty 22$22
 7:00 p.m.$12,000 XL Winter #21 – Turbo Deep Mini High Roller$55
 7:30 p.m.$20,000 XL Winter #22 – Turbo Deep High Roller$320
 10:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
Wed 24 Jan2:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 5:00 p.m.$8,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11
 6:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 6:30 p.m.$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Biunty 55$55
 7:00 p.m.$10,000 XL Winter #23 – KO Mini$22
 7:30 p.m.$12,000 XL Winter #24 – KO$109
 10:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
Thu 25 Jan2:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 5:00 p.m.$8,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11
 6:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 6:30 p.m.$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55
 7:00 p.m.$12,000 XL Winter #25 – PKO Mini$55
 7:30 p.m.$20,000 XL Winter #26 – PKO$320
 10:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
Fri 26 Jan2:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 5:00 p.m.$8,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11
 6:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 6:30 p.m.$12,000 XL Winter - Mystery Bounty 55$55
 7:00 p.m.$10,000 XL Winter #27 – Big Shot 6-Max Mini$22
 7:30 p.m.$12,000 XL Winter #28 – Big Shot 6-Max$109
 10:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
Sat 27 Jan2:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 6:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 10:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
Sun 28 Jan1:00 a.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 12:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 2:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 5:00 p.m.$10,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11
 6:00 p.m.$10,000 XL Winter – PKO Rumble 215$215
 6:30 p.m.$40,000 XL Winter #29 – Mystery Bounty$55
 7:00 p.m.$25,000 XL Winter #30 – Mystery Bounty Mini$22
 7:00 p.m.$15,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 22$22
 7:30 p.m.$50,000 XL Winter #31 – Mystery Bounty High Roller$525
 7:30 p.m.$50,000 XL Winter #32 – Mystery Bounty$109
 8:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 10:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
Mon 29 Jan1:00 a.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 1$25
 1:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Turbo Day 1$25
 3:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Turbo Day 1$25
 5:00 p.m.$8,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 11$11
 5:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Turbo Day 1$25
 6:30 p.m.$12,000 XL Winter – Mystery Bounty 55$55
 7:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Hyper Day 1$25
 7:30 p.m.$15,000 XL Winter #33 – After Party$109
 9:00 p.m.$100,000 XL Winter #35 Mystery Bounty Mini Main Event Day 2$25
 9:00 p.m.$1,000,000 XL Winter #34 – Mystery Bounty Main Event Day 2 
Tue 30 Jan7:00 p.m.$1,000,000 XL Winter #34 – Mystery Bounty Main Event Final Table 
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Matthew Pitt
Senior Editor

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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