PokerStars Sunday Million celebrates its 6th Anniversary in style

This past Sunday PokerStars was swarmed with players as registration for the $6 million guaranteed 6^th Anniversary of the Sunday Million swelled to a staggering 33,732 entrants, with over 50 of those entrants being Team PokerStars Pros. The tournament handily broke the guaranteed prize-pool amount, topping off at $6,760,400, with first place worth a cool $1,064,737.08 –never forget the eight cents!

However, the top prize actually awarded in the tournament was half of that amount, as an 8-way deal was struck at the final table, giving each player a minimum payday of $187,355.63, and the chance to play for $120,000 more which went to the winner. If you’re curious why the players would agree to such a deal look no further than the payout the 9^th place finisher received ($53,296.56) and the $187,355.63 (the smallest payout to any of the remaining players) that went to the 6^th place finisher.

Here is a look at the complete final table payouts from the 6^th anniversary Sunday Million at PokerStars:

• slyfox151 (Netherlands) $480,761.38*
• blodders03 (United Kingdom) $481,724.56*
• HesBluffingx (New Zealand) $552,972.89*
• Paars_Wit (Netherlands) $254,827.49*
• lalex-79 (Russia) $225,028.27*
• SASHA 2908 (Russia) $187,355.63*
• toode (Finland) $590,482.92*
• baadger (Finland) $239,269.62*
• orange6 (Israel) $53,296.56

*= reflects the results of an eight-way deal that left $120,000 in play for first place

Team PokerStars Pro didn’t fair overly well in the event, with the best showing coming from Leo Fernandez, who finished the tournament in 789^th place. Other Team PokerStars Pros who cashed in the tournament included  Randy “nanonoko” Lew (4,252nd), Fredy “sirfreddy83″ Torres (3,997th), Martin Hruby (3,355th), Chad Brown (1,500th), and Joao “jomane” Nunes (933rd).

While the 6^th Anniversary Sunday Million was a massive event, it pales in comparison to two other Sunday Million tournaments:

• The 10^th Anniversary Celebration Sunday Million PokerStars ran in December, where 62,116 players registered for the tournament with a $10 million guarantee and a $2 million first place prize.
• The 5^th Anniversary Sunday Million where 59,128 players competed for a first-place prize of $1,655,629.38.

Here is a look at the final table payouts from those two events for comparison:

PokerStars 10^th Anniversary Celebration:

1.       Kyle “First-Eagle” Weir – $1,146,574.65*

2.       Unstoffable – $580,724.34*

3.       BLAABAR – $709,896.78*

4.       tunafish919 – $627,317.26*

5.       Dimedroll – $995,996.85*

6.       SkunDen – $758,986.42*

7.       fireballdio – $182,406.00

8.       kaalen – $119,866.80

9.       yokouno1980 – $86,512.56

5^th Anniversary Sunday Million:

1.       Luke “Bdbeatslayer” Vrabel ($671,093.81 & Lamborghini Gallardo)*

2.       sheppyshape ($465,647.02)*

3.       wrzr123 ($844,209.87)*

4.       guccyka ($411,090.13)*

5.       Syndrome1977 ($799,842.09)*

6.       zeurrr ($518,402.33)*

7.       nhar818 ($441,541.06)*

8.       Jan10004 ($311,023.33)*

9.       Battmeister ($263,888.06)*

Both of these tournaments saw deals cut at the final table: The 10^th Anniversary saw a 6-handed deal while the 5^th Anniversary Sunday Million saw a 9-handed deal struck.