Battle of the World Record Fields - PokerStars and Full Tilt go to war

PokerStars broke the world record on 28th Dec 2008, with a field of 35,000 players for a $11 buy-in event.  Stan34powa won that event.

Now things are really heating up with both PokerStars and Full Tilt looking to break that record.

On Sun July 19th at 15:05 ET Full Tilt have a $5 tourney which they have added $250K to.  This is an official world record attempt, and a part of their 5th year birthday celebrations.

Not to be outdone though, PokerStars have loaded up a $1 tourney on the same day (starting at 14:10 ET) to no doubt try to crush the Full tilt record attempt, not even letting Full Tilt hold it for any length of time by starting their tournament earlier.

In preparation for the attempt Pokerstars did a $1000 Freeroll on 16th July 2009, which got 61,259 entrants, and was won by azeitegalo. Things dont seem to bode well for Full Tilt’s successes.

Remember Sunday 19th July is the day, good luck

Full Tilt Poker are doing a series which tracks the events in the World Series of Poker (WSOP).  It is called the Mini Series of Poker (MSOP).  There are 57 events in total.

Every winner, on top of obviously all the cash, also wins a limited edition Champions watch.

1 May 27th 15:20 $5+$0.50 No Limit Holdem
2 May 28th 15:20 $400+$28 No Limit Holdem
3 May 29th 15:20 $15+$1.50 Omaha Hi/Lo
4 May 30th 15:20 $10+$1 No Limit Holdem
5 June 1st 15:20 $15+$1.50 Pot Limit Omaha
6 June 1st 20:20 $100+$9 7-Stud Hi
7 June 2nd 15:20 $15+$1.50 No Limit Holdem
8 June 2nd 20:20 $25+$2.50 Razz
9 June 3rd 15:20 $15+$1.50 No Limit Holdem 6-max
10 June 3rd 20:20 $25+$2.50 PL HA
11 June 4th 15:20 $20+$2 No Limit Holdem
12 June 4th 20:20 $100+$9 Mixed Holdem
13 June 5th 15:20 $25+$2.50 No Limit Hold’em
14 June 5th 20:20 $25+$2.50 Limit Holdem 6-max
15 June 6th 15:30 $50+$5 No Limit Holdem
16 June 6th 20:20 $15+$1.50 7-Stud Hi
17 June 7th 15:20 $10+$1 No Limit Holdem
18 June 7th 20:20 $100+$9 Omaha Hi/Lo
19 June 8th 15:20 $25+$2.50 No Limit Hold’em 6-max
20 June 9th 15:20 $15+$1.50 Pot Limit Holdem
21 June 9th 20:20 $30+$3 HORSE
22 June 10th 15:20 $15+$1.50 No Limit Hold’em Shootout
23 June 10th 20:20 $100+$9 Razz
24 June 11th 15:20 $15+$1.50 No Limit Hold’em
25 June 11th 20:20 $25+$2.50 OE
26 June 12th 15:20 $15+$1.50 Limit Holdem
27 June 12th 20:20 $50+$5 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo
28 June 13th 15:20 $15+$1.50 No Limit Hold’em
29 June 13th 20:20 $100+$9 NL Hold’em Heads Up
30 June 14th 15:20 $25+$2.50 Pot Limit Omaha
31 June 14th 20:20 $15+$1.50 HORSE
32 June 15th 15:20 $20+$2 No Limit Hold’em
33 June 15th 20:20 $100+$9 Limit Hold’em 
34 June 16th 15:20 $15+$1.50 No Limit Hold’em 
35 June 17th 15:20 $50+$5 Pot Limit Omaha
36 June 18th 15:20 $20+$2 No Limit Hold’em
37 June 18th 20:20 $100+$9 7-Stud Hi/Lo 
38 June 19th 15:20 $20+$2 Limit Hold’em 
39 June 20th 15:20 $15+$1.50 No Limit Hold’em
40 June 20th 20:20 $100+$9 Pot Limit Omaha
41 June 21st 15:30 $50+$5 No Limit Hold’em Shootout
42 June 21st 20:20 $25+$2.50 HEROS
43 June 22nd 15:20 $10+$1 No Limit Hold’em
44 June 22nd 20:20 $25+$2.50 Razz
45 June 23rd 15:20 $100+$9 Pot Limit Hold’em
46 June 23rd 20:20 $25+$2.50 Omaha Hi/Lo
47 June 24th 15:20 $25+$2.50 Mixed Hold’em
48 June 25th 15:20 $15+$1.50 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo
50 June 26th 20:20 $15+$1.50 Limit Hold’em Shootout
51 June 27th 15:20 $15+$1.50 No Limit Hold’em
52 June 28th 15:20 $30+$3 No Limit Hold’em (Triple Chance)
53 June 28th 20:20 $15+$1.50 Stud Hi/Lo $
49 June 28th 21:30 $500+$35 HORSE 
54 June 29th 15:20 $15+$1.50 No Limit Hold’em 
55 June 30th 20:20 $25+$2.50 Razz
56 June 30th 15:30 $50+$5 No Limit Hold’em 6-max
57 (Main Event) July 5th 15:00 $100+$9 No Limit Hold’em

Phil Ivey, widely regarded as quite possibly the best poker player on the planet, has won his 6th and 7th WSOP Bracelets.  Yes, a second player to get 2 bracelets this year!  Phil Ivey is a Full Tilt pro, and he cements what is looking to be a great year for the Full Tilt pros, with Vitaly Lunkin, Nick Schulman, and Roland de Wolfe all also picking up bracelets

Event 8 - $2500 NL 2-7 Draw

1 $ 96,361 Phil Ivey  
2 $ 59,587 John Monnette  
3 $ 38,892 Yan Chen  
4 $ 26,757 Eric Kesselman  
5 $ 19,346 Rodeen Talebi  
6 $ 14,663 Raphael Zimmerman  
7 $ 11,627 Elia Ahmadian  
8 $ 8,453 Layne Flack

Event 25 - $2500 Omaha Hi-Lo/Stud Hi-Lo

1 $ 220,538 Phil Ivey  
2 $ 136,292 Ming Lee  
3 $ 89,342 Carlos Mortensen  
4 $ 61,919 Dutch Boyd  
5 $ 45,237 Jon Turner  
6 $ 34,747 Eric Buchman  
7 $ 27,993 Tom Koral  
8 $ 23,600 Peter Gelencser

The twelth FTOPS series is starting on Full Tilt in a couple of weeks time.   There is a very interesting schedule of events.   There are $18 million in guarantees, including $1 million for the first event and $2.5 million for the main event.  Here is the full schedule below: 

FTOPS XII Event #1
Wednesday May 6th 21:00 ET
$200 + $16 NL Holdem 6-max

FTOPS XII Event #2
Thursday May 7th 14:00 ET
$240 + $16 PL Omaha Knockout
 
FTOPS XII Event #3
Thursday May 7th 21:00 ET
$500 + $35 NL Holdem 3xShootout
 
FTOPS XII Event #4
Friday May 8th 14:00 ET
$200 + $16 NL Holdem 1 rebuy and 1 add-on  

FTOPS XII Event #5
Friday May 8th 21:00 ET
$200 + $16 Stud/8  

FTOPS XII Event #6
Saturday May 9th 14:00 ET
$500 + $35 PL Omaha 6-Max

FTOPS XII Event #7
Saturday May 9th 16:00 ET
$100 + $9 NL Holdem Rebuy

FTOPS XII Event #8
Sunday May 10th 14:00 ET
$240 + $16 NL Holdem Knockout 6-max

FTOPS XII Event #9
Sunday May 10th 16:00 ET
$500 + $35 NL Holdem Heads-Up $500,000
 
FTOPS XII Event #10
Sunday May 10th 18:00 ET
$300 + $22 NL Holdem  

FTOPS XII Event #11
Monday May 11th 14:00 ET
$200 + $16 PL Omaha Hi-Lo
 
FTOPS XII Event #12
Monday May 11th 21:00 ET
$1,000 + $60 NL Holdem 6-max Ante From Blind Lvl 1

FTOPS XII Event #13
Tuesday May 12th 14:00 ET
$300 + $22 NL Holdem  4xShootout 6-max
 
FTOPS XII Event #14
Tuesday May 12th 21:00 ET
$500 + $35 HEROS 

FTOPS XII Event #15
Tuesday May 12th 21:00 ET
$200 + $16 NL Holdem Turbo
 
FTOPS XII Event #16
Wednesday May 13th 14:00 ET
$200 + $16 HA (half PL Holdem, half PL Omaha) 

FTOPS XII Event #17
Wednesday May 13th 21:00 ET
$300 + $22 NL Holdem 6-max Rebuy 

FTOPS XII Event #18
Thursday May 14th 14:00 ET
$200 + $16 PL Omaha Heads Up  

FTOPS XII Event #19
Thursday May 14th 21:00 ET
$300 + $22 Razz
 
FTOPS XII Event #20
Friday May 15th 14:00 ET
$200 + $16 NL Holdem 

FTOPS XII Event #21
Friday May 15th 21:00 ET
$200 + $16 Mixed Holdem 6-max

FTOPS XII Event #22
Saturday May 16th 14:00 ET
$2,500 + $120 NL Holdem 2-Day Event

FTOPS XII Event #23
Saturday May 16th 16:00 ET
$100 + $9 PL Omaha Rebuy 

FTOPS XII Event #24
Sunday May 17th 14:00 ET
$120 + $9 NL Holdem Knockout 

FTOPS XII Main Event
Sunday May 17th 18:00 ET
$500 + $35 NL Holdem

5225 players turned up for the main event in the 10th FTOPS on Full Tilt.  The buy-in was $535, and there was no shortage on talent on display.  Online legend Nordberg finished in 17th, and hoodini10 finished 32nd.   After the dust had settled following a very entertaining first hour of the final table, Julian Verse emerged the winner.

Here is the top 27, with the winnings of each
1 Julian Verse $450,708.50
2 sckilla $273,006.25
3 Hummelhintern $175,560.00
4 ilovepoka $137,156.25
5 bazeman $103,193.75
6 Kraag $77,068.75
7 sinrake $60,087.50
8 RollinHand1 $45,718.75
9 sd bum $33,962.50
10 SPIRITSLAYER $24,688.13
11 TRIPPYTUCKER $24,688.13
12 mossified84 $24,688.13
13 KingKenneth $18,156.88
14 supervorot $18,156.88
15 mazelucky13 $18,156.88
16 TankCleaner $12,801.25
17 Nordberg $12,801.25
18 badfish_40 $12,801.25
19 Pokerace 87 $9,405.00
20 David Byrne $9,405.00
21 airblaise $9,405.00
22 jorgeezy $9,405.00
23 Pot Odds 3 $9,405.00
24 Kanzzo $9,405.00
25 papham34 $9,405.00
26 head2782 $9,405.00
27 VLAD-VTX $9,405.00

DuckU has picked up yet another major in the 10th Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS)

He bested a field of 897 entrants in Event 21, the $535 NL Holdem Heads-up event

Hear are the final 16, and the prize money won

1 DuckU $87,000.00
2 mendieta19 $52,000.00
3 PLAYM0NEYPR0 $26,500.00
4 JBlaze20 $26,500.00
5 DayDough $14,000.00
6 masjo93 $14,000.00
7 blackjack9 $14,000.00
8 molgul $14,000.00
9 SPIRITSLAYER $7,500.00
10 KudelyKQ $7,500.00
11 JROBB $7,500.00
12 IfloatU $7,500.00
13 SirWatts $7,500.00
14 p2ryan2003 $7,500.00
15 edub707 $7,500.00
16 Lance84 $7,500.00

Full Tilt has reached a landmark in their online tournament series.   They are now at FTOPS Ten!  That sure seems to have flown by.  

Here is the schedule for series:

 Event #1
Wednesday Nov 5th 21:00 ET
$200 + $16
NL Hold ‘em
6-Max $1M
 
Event #2
Thursday Nov 6th 14:00 ET
$240 + $16
PL Omaha
Knockout $200K
 
Event #3
Thursday Nov 6th 21:00 ET
$500 + $35
NL Holdem
3 x Shootout $300K
 
Event #4
Friday Nov 7th 14:00 ET
$300 + $22
NL Holdem
1 rebuy and 1 add-on $600K

Event #5
Friday Nov 7th 21:00 ET
$200 + $16
Limit Holdem
6-Max $150K 
 
Event #6
Saturady Nov 8th 14:00 ET
$500 + $35
PL Omaha
6-Max $350K
 
Event #7
Saturday Nov 8th 16:00 ET
$100 + $9
NL Holdem
Rebuy $600K
 
Event #8
Sunday Nov 9th 14:00 ET
$240 + $16
NL Hold ‘em
Knockout
6-Max $600K

Event #9
Sunday Nov 9th 18:00 ET
$300 + $22
NL Hold ‘em $1.5M

Event #10
Monday Nov 10th 14:00 ET
$300 + $22
Mixed Hold ‘em $250K
 
Event #11
Monday Nov 10th 21:00 ET
$1,000 + $60
NL Hold ‘em $1.5M  

Event #12
Tuesday Nov 11th 14:00 ET
$200 + $16
HA (half PL Hold ‘em, half PL Omaha) $150K 

Event #13
Tuesday Nov 11th 21:00 ET
$500 + $35
HORSE $300K

Event #14
Tuesday Nov 11th 21:00 ET
$200 + $16
NL Hold ‘em
Turbo $500K

Event #15
Wednesday Nov 12th 14:00 ET
$200 + $16
PL Omaha/8 $150K 

Event #16
Wednesday Nov 12th 21:00 ET
$300 + $22
NL Holdem 6-Max
Rebuy $1M
 
Event #17
Thursday Nov 13th 14:00 ET
$200 + $16
NL Hold ‘em
4 x Shootout
6-Max $250K

Event #18
Thursday Nov 13th 21:00 ET
$300 + $22
Razz $150K 
 
Event #19
Friday Nov 14th 14:00 ET
$200 + $16
NL Hold ‘em $400K

Event #20
Friday Nov 14th 21:00 ET
$200 + $16
Stud/8 $100K 

Event #21
Saturday Nov 15th 14:00 ET
$500 + $35
NL Hold ‘em
Heads Up $500K
 
Event #22
Saturday Nov 15th 14:00 ET
$5,000 + $200
NL Hold ‘em
Two Day Event
6-Max $2M

Event #23
Saturday Nov 15th 16:00 ET
$100 + $9
PL Omaha
Rebuy $400K

Event #24
Sunday Nov 16th 14:00 ET
$120 + $9
NL Hold ‘em
Knockout $500K  

Main Event
Sunday Nov 16th 18:00 ET
$500 + $35
NL Hold ‘em $2.5M

 4880 players showed up for the Main Event of FTOPS IX on Full Tilt, each paying $535 for the privaledge.   12 hours of top class poker saw dubbeemin take down over $400K and the title

1. dubbeemin - $432,400
2. valleyho - $262,500
3. TheTotalPkg - $170,000
4. Pokerguru19 - $132,500
5. sckilla - $100,000
6. hemlock1313 - $75,000
7. tvcsa - $57,500
8. aaaFRANCESCOzzz - $43,750
9. TiltinShoes - $32,500

Notable finish for B_O_K_E in 23rd

Full Tilt Poker - Sunday Mulligan Result ($750K Guaranteed)

1st syzygy-1-1-1-1 — $143,285
2nd govshark2 — $86,739
3rd Babooyah — $56,798
4th blizair — $44,627
5th thekellster89 — $33,511
6th Brundaddy — $24,829
7th IndianRope — $18,662
8th Capax Infiniti — $14,605
9th EricaSchoenberg — $10,873

The Full Tilt Sunday Mulligan, hit a million prizepool this week.  Top online player AJKHoosier1 had an impressive result in 2nd place

1st GulahPapyrus — $219,773
2nd AJKHoosier1 — $134,895 (Alex Kamberis)
3rd hurikane3 — $88,293
4th A__theKevlar__2 — $70,442 (Kevin Schulz)
5th SitAndStack — $53,311
6th Chipleader56 — $38,336
7th Nom Sayin — $28,153
8th acatlover — $22,043
9th ILIKEPONIES — $16,772