The latest 888poker $100,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event has wrapped up, and while Uzbekistan’s “PokerKron” claimed the title for the second time, the real story lies with Brazil’s “mr.salgado.” Despite finishing as the runner-up, “mr.salgado” walked away with a prize nearly double the champion’s winnings, thanks to a historic bounty haul.
Mystery Bounties Spark Record Interest
The event attracted 1,040 entries, comfortably surpassing its $100,000 guarantee. Day 1 saw intense action, trimming the field to just eight finalists. Brazil’s “CaioCapT” entered the final day as the chip leader, boasting 4,178,922 chips (105 big blinds). Hot on their heels was eventual champion “PokerKron” with 3,697,723 chips (92 big blinds), while the United Kingdom’s “Rors743” sat as the short stack with only 480,385 chips (12 big blinds).
Final Table Chip Counts:
| Rank | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CaioCapT | Brazil | 4,178,922 | 105 |
| 2 | PokerKron | Uzbekistan | 3,697,723 | 92 |
| 3 | makdraiv | Lithuania | 3,153,692 | 79 |
| 4 | kebberanuil | Finland | 1,498,856 | 38 |
| 5 | BrittneySpew | Romania | 970,851 | 24 |
| 6 | mr.salgado | Brazil | 824,676 | 20 |
| 7 | silentfridge | Sweden | 794,895 | 20 |
| 8 | Rors743 | United Kingdom | 480,385 | 12 |
A Slow-Burning Start to the Final Table
Contrary to the usual fireworks at 888poker final tables, the action began with surprising caution. Short stacks managed to double up multiple times, delaying the first elimination until 35 minutes into play. Sweden’s “silentfridge” became the first casualty, losing with ace-trey of diamonds against “mr.salgado,” who held ace-king of hearts.
“Silentfridge” was swiftly followed by “CaioCapT,” whose chip-leading momentum faltered. The Brazilian exited after their ace-ten of spades failed to hold against “mr.salgado’s” king-seven of hearts. A flush draw for “mr.salgado” materialized on the river, sealing the deal.
Bounties Steal the Spotlight
The tournament’s Mystery Bounty format introduced an electrifying twist. Each elimination carried the potential for massive bonus rewards, and the drama peaked when “mr.salgado” pulled a record-breaking bounty envelope. The jaw-dropping prize significantly eclipsed the $10,675 awarded to the tournament’s champion, “PokerKron.”
Key details:
- Champion’s Prize: $10,675
- Largest Mystery Bounty Pulled: Over $20,000
While “PokerKron” claimed their second title with a skilful display, it was “mr.salgado” who emerged as the event’s headline act, thanks to the unprecedented bounty.
What Makes Mystery Bounties So Exciting?
This format is redefining online poker, blending traditional tournament strategy with the adrenaline rush of high-stakes rewards. Players now compete not only for a share of the prize pool but also for bounties that can dwarf the winner’s cheque.
Key highlights of Mystery Bounty events include:
- Randomised Rewards: Players eliminate opponents without knowing the bounty’s value until envelopes are opened.
- Equalising Element: Short stacks can turn their fortunes around with a lucky bounty draw.
- Enhanced Entertainment: Fans and players alike are kept on the edge of their seats.
A Champion Repeats, But the Runner-Up Shines Brighter
“PokerKron’s” second victory in this series cemented their place as a formidable force in online poker. However, the unexpected narrative of a runner-up out-earning the winner has taken the spotlight. With “mr.salgado” banking one of the largest payouts in the event’s history, the Mystery Bounty format has proven to be a game-changer in poker entertainment.
