In this column, we deliver you the latest and most interesting online poker industry news from across the world and all platforms.
GGPoker Network claims majority of online poker traffic
The aggressive and highly popular GGPoker Network now proudly sits at the top rank of online poker operators with a recorded traffic way above its competitors. Only launched five years ago, the poker giant has since racked up over 45% of the market share among the current top five networks. As reported by PokerScout, GGPoker’s concurrent cash game traffic averages over about 6,800 players while next to follow, PokerStars edges roughly above the 3,700-mark.
The disparity between the top two online poker giants has widened throughout the year with efforts of now leading brand, closing in on its advantage. Partnering with major brands such as the World Series of Poker, has helped gain the operator a loyal following whilst also solidifying its reputation across the global poker community.
Chico Network hosts Bounty Hunters Poker Series
Progressive knockout events have seen its fair share of attention with players reveling the added excitement in the format’s gameplay. Giving its users what they crave, the US-friendly Chico Network is wrapping up this last week of August with a PKO-centered online festival. The Bounty Hunters Poker Series set to run from August 22-28, 2022 features $168,000 in guaranteed prizes to be awarded across 36 events.
Buy-ins for the festivities range from $5.5 to $215 with all the events following a 50/50 buy-in PKO arrangement. The highlight of the series remains to be the $22 Main Event with a generous $50,000 prize pool guarantee. Late registration for all tournaments stands to be 90 minutes long except for that of the Main Event, happening on Sunday, August 28th.
Additionally, tournament runners can also try their luck on the site’s $1,000 Nightly Bounty Hunter Shootout. The all-in lottery style freeroll instantly includes all special event runners who manage to collect a bounty, with the player’s starting stack corresponding according to the number of knockouts made during the day.
- 1 – 5 Knockouts: 1 starting chip
- 6 – 10 Knockouts: 3 starting chips
- 11 – 20 Knockouts: 5 starting chips
- 21 or more Knockouts: 10 starting chips
Bounty Hunters Poker Series Full Schedule of Events
| Date | Time (ET) | Event # | Tournament Name | Buy-in | Details | Late Registration |
| Monday, August 22nd, 2022 | 2:30 PM | 1 | $2,000 Gtd | $6.60 | 8 max | 90 min |
| 4:30 PM | 2 | $4,000 Gtd | $33.00 | 7 Max | 90 min | |
| 6:30 PM | 3 | $5,000 Gtd | $109.00 | 7 Max | 90 min | |
| 8:30 PM | 4 | $3,000 Gtd | $22.00 | 6 Max | 90 min | |
| 10:30 PM | 5 | $2,000 Gtd | $11.00 | 8 Max | 90 min | |
| Tuesday, August 23rd, 2022 | 2:30 PM | 6 | $3,500 Gtd | $11.00 | 7 Max | 90 min |
| 4:30 PM | 7 | $4,000 Gtd | $33.00 | 7 Max | 90 min | |
| 6:30 PM | 8 | $6,000 Gtd | $215.00 | 6 Max | 90 min | |
| 8:30 PM | 9 | $3,000 Gtd | $11.00 | 7 Max | 90 min | |
| 10:30 PM | 10 | $3,000 Gtd | $22.00 | 8 Max | 90 min | |
| Wednesday, August 24th, 2022 | 2:30 PM | 11 | $4,000 Gtd | $16.50 | 8 Max | 90 min |
| 4:30 PM | 12 | $1,500 Gtd | $5.50 | 7 Max | 90 min | |
| 6:30 PM | 13 | $3,000 Gtd | $11.00 | 6 Max | 90 min | |
| 8:30 PM | 14 | $3,000 Gtd | $22.00 | 7 Max | 90 min | |
| 10:30 PM | 15 | $2,500 Gtd | $11.00 | 6 Max | 90 min | |
| Thursday, August 25th, 2022 | 2:30 PM | 16 | $1,500 Gtd | $5.50 | 6 Max | 90 min |
| 4:30 PM | 17 | $2,500 Gtd | $11.00 | 7 Max | 90 min | |
| 6:30 PM | 18 | $4,000 Gtd | $33.00 | 8 Max | 90 min | |
| 8:30 PM | 19 | $3,000 Gtd | $22.00 | 8 Max | 90 min | |
| 10:30 PM | 20 | $1,000 Gtd | $5.50 | 7 Max | 90 min | |
| Friday, August 26th, 2022 | 2:30 PM | 21 | $2,500 Gtd | $109.00 | 6 Max | 90 min |
| 4:30 PM | 22 | $2,500 Gtd | $8.80 | 7 Max | 90 min | |
| 6:30 PM | 23 | $4,000 Gtd | $33.00 | 7 Max | 90 min | |
| 8:30 PM | 24 | $5,000 Gtd | $22.00 | 8 Max | 90 min | |
| 10:30 PM | 25 | $3,000 Gtd | $11.00 | 7 Max | 90 min | |
| Saturday, August 27th, 2022 | 2:30 PM | 26 | $1,500 Gtd | $5.50 | 8 Max | 90 min |
| 4:30 PM | 27 | $5,000 Gtd | $55.00 | 7 Max | 90 min | |
| 6:30 PM | 28 | $5,000 Gtd | $22.00 | 6 Max | 90 min | |
| 8:30 PM | 29 | $3,000 Gtd | $11.00 | 7 Max | 90 min | |
| 10:30 PM | 30 | $5,000 Gtd | $109.00 | 6 Max | 90 min | |
| Sunday, August 28th, 2022 | 1:00 PM | 31 | MAIN EVENT $50,000 Gtd | $22.00 | 7 Max | – |
| 2:30 PM | 32 | $2,000 Gtd | $5.50 | 7 Max | 90 min | |
| 4:30 PM | 33 | $4,000 Gtd | $11.00 | 7 Max | 90 min | |
| 6:30 PM | 34 | $7,500 Gtd | $33.00 | 8 Max | 90 min | |
| 8:30 PM | 35 | $4,000 Gtd | $22.00 | 8 max | 90 min | |
| 10:30 PM | 36 | $2,500 Gtd | $11.00 | 7 Max | 90 min |
Partypoker’s Grand Prix $500K GTD Main Event
The online version of partypoker’s live Grand Prix tour, this summer edition’s offerings cover nearly $2 million in guarantees awarded through the 29th. The ongoing festival is halfway through its three-week line up with runners battling it out on the felt and trying their luck to make Day 2’s. A total of 14 featured events complete the schedule with buy-ins ranging from $3.30 to its highest $320 entry fee for the 7-Max High Roller tournament.
The most promising prize pool remains to be that of the $109 Main Event’s, set to conclude on the festival’s final day – August 29th. Qualifying flights for both the $500,000 guaranteed Main and $100,000 guaranteed Mini Main Event run several times a day. Satellites per usual, are available throughout the schedule starting at $0.01 with multiple $2.20 and $16.50 options as well.
2022 Grand Prix KO Summer Edition Featured Events
| Date/s | Event | Buy-in | Guarantee |
| Through Aug 29, 2022 | Grand Prix KO Summer #05 Main Event [8-Max] | $109 | $500,000 |
| Grand Prix KO Summer #06 Mini Main Event [8-Max] | $11 | $100,000 | |
| Through Aug 22, 2022 | Grand Prix KO Summer #07 7-Max High Roller | $320 | $250,000 |
| Grand Prix KO Summer #08 Super 50 [7-Max] | $55 | $150,000 | |
| Grand Prix KO Summer #09 Super 5 [7-Max] | $5.50 | $30,000 | |
| Through Aug 25, 2022 | Grand Prix KO Summer #10 7-Max Championship | $215 | $200,000 |
| Grand Prix KO Summer #11 Mini 7-Max Championship | $22 | $75,000 | |
| Through Aug 29, 2022 | Grand Prix KO Summer #12 6-Max High Roller | $320 | $200,000 |
| Grand Prix KO Summer #13 Closer [6-Max] | $33 | $100,000 | |
| Grand Prix KO Summer #14 Mini Closer [6-Max] | $3.30 | $20,000 |
Phil Hellmuth and Scott Seiver HU duel canceled
Sixteen-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth has successfully proved his excellent skills in the game of poker once again after claiming nine out of the ten heads up matches he participated in the High Stakes Duel series. The popular PokerGO production which debuted in 2020, has featured Hellmuth several times, with the latest slated match supposedly Round 5 against Scott Seiver for its third season. The supposed-to-be largest High Stakes Duel episode was reared to have a massive $1,600,000 pot in contention between the two formidable pros.
However, a couple days after the dates were revealed, Seiver reportedly backed out of the rematch citing “personal reasons” for the cancellation. With each set to fork out a sizable $800,000 for the duel, it wouldn’t have been impossible for Seiver to have gotten cold feet in relation to the increased stakes. For now, Hellmuth will have to wait for another worthy opponent willing to play him for a seven-figure battle. The 58-year old pro has since beaten Antonio Esfandiari (3-0), Daniel Negreanu (3-0) and Nick Wright/ Tom Dwan/ Seiver series (3-1) throughout the course of two years.
