Online Poker -- Tourneys Kick Off First Sunday of 2009

The first Sunday of the 2009 Card Player Online Player of the Year race kicked off yesterday, though many of the online world’s best competitors were kicking their feet up to relax at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. Surprisingly, the number of laptops in the lobby was down yesterday as the players opted for the free drinks being served outside. Expect that number to grow throughout the week, however, as the main event gets whittled down.

For those who did enjoy the various overlays and smaller fields, here are the recaps for Sunday’s flagship events on Full Tilt, PokerStars, UltimateBet, and Bodog below:


PokerStars Sunday Million

The Sunday Million was down a bit this week from last Sunday's World Record weekend, but it still managed to beat its $1.5 million guarantee with 8,504 entrants. All those $200 buy-ins created a total prize pool of $1,700,800.

Among the notables to make a deep run at the title were Matt "All_in_at420" Stout, mendieta19, Carl "colson10" Olson (pictured at right), and Jonathan "MONSTER_DONG" Karamalikis.

With most of online poker's elite downing shots poolside, the final table featured slightly less star power than usual. After a three-handed chop, the play went fast, and stoledog came out on top of USA_20080920.

Here were the final table results:

1. stoledog — $180,793*
2. USA_20080920 — $108,182*
3. Prom Queens — $150,000*
4. jayvedo — $76,536
5. bukithepro — $59,528
6. simon1471 — $42,520
7. The Midget — $29,764
8. aceskay — $19,559
9. Fold U Phish — $11,905

* Payout reflects a three-way deal made at the final table.

Full Tilt $750,000 Guarantee

Over at Full Tilt, 3,908 players bought in, and the event narrowly avoided an overlay with a prize pool of $781,600.

A number of pros made a deep run, including Travis "TravestyFund" Rice, Chip Jett, Jon Turner, Patrick "PMJackson21" Jackson, and Kory "s00tedj0kers89" Kilpatrick.

Seated at the final table was none other than Mike "GoLeafsGoEh" Leah (pictured at right). Leah fought it out, but eventually busted in ninth. When it was all over, 007Paghman defeated WPChaser for the win and just under $140,000.

Here were the final table results:

1. 007Paghman — $138,382
2. WPChaser — $83,631
3. coach257 — $54,712
4. chickensalad — $43,144
5. BeNzitO85 — $32,358
6. king silas — $23,995
7. blackbeanbun — $17,976
8. knickadam55 — $14,068
9. Mike "GoLeafsGoEh" Leah — $10,473

UltimateBet $200,000 Guarantee

A total of 928 entrants bought in at UltimateBet, which meant that the site only had to put up $14,400 as an overlay.

Notables to finish in the money included Mike "SowersUNCC" Sowers, Tom "SBROUNDER" West, Keven "STAMDOGG3" Stammen, Tiffany Michelle, and Jonathan "M0NSTER_D0NG" Karamalikis.

According to the tournament lobby, MICHAELEAHCI and BONEZEE both chopped it heads up and split the remaining prize pool.

Here were the final table results:

1. MICHAELEAHCI — $35,680
2. BONEZEE — $35,680
3. XPOPSICLEJRX — $18,100
4. HIFOOL — $12,900
5. CHICAGOLOSER — $10,900
6. Jason "JASPUDUF" Smith — $8,900
7. CLEARMONSTER — $6,900
8. CHONG95 — $4,900
9. BILLM1313 — $3,400

Bodog $100,000 Guaranteed

After a two-week absence, Bodog's big Sunday tournament returned with 653 entrants. With the $100,000 guarantee, the site had to pony up the $34,700 overlay.

Tournament regular Joe "Dyzalot" Morneau narrowly missed the final table in 11th place. 2manybluffers defeated Jelly Hybrid heads up for the win and $23,600.

Here were the final table results:

1. 2manybluffers — $23,600
2. JellyHybrid — $13,600
3. boondock11 — $9,100
4. DonJuanPedro — $7,000
5. scottflo —$5,700
6. troutman101 — $4,500
7. GripDsNUTZ — $3,300
8. Pistol C — $2,200
9. MOBstar — $1,300

Card Player is working with several sites that continue to serve U.S. players to provide deposit bonuses to our readers. Click on the following names to receive bonuses: UltimateBet, Bodog, Absolute, and Full Tilt Poker.

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