The popular Partypoker KO Series is back and this time it’s aiming to deliver a knockout blow with a $30 million guarantee.
Set to get underway on September 8, the latest incarnation of the online festival will feature 283 MTTs.
As ever, entry fees will vary with the least expensive events costing just $2.20. At the other end of the spectrum, high rollers will be able to pay $5,200 and play for prizepools topping $750,000.
Speedy Satellites for KO Contenders
In order to support the $30 million guarantee, qualifiers will start from $0.22. However, for the forthcoming KO Series, Partypoker will also be offering Spins satellites.
The three-handed lottery-style tournaments will provide a quick way into some of the top events.
| Multiplier | 1st Prize | Frequency in 1M games |
| 2 | $10 cash | 799,408 |
| 4 | $20 cash | 159,011 |
| 6.6 | $33 KO Series ticket | 25,000 |
| 11 | $55 KO Series ticket | 10,000 |
| 21.8 | $109 KO Series ticket | 5,000 |
| 64 | $320 KO Series ticket | 1,000 |
| 106 | $530 KO Series ticket | 500 |
| 210 | $1,050 KO Series ticket | 50 |
| 420 | $2,100 KO Series ticket | 30 |
| 1,040 | $5,200 KO Series ticket | 1 |
For Partypoker, the KO Series is gradually building momentum. In 2018, technical issues dogged the online series but they weren’t enough to floor its reputation.
Indeed, since then, the overall prizepool has improved 3X from $10 million to $30 million. The number of MTTs has also increased, making the KO Series one of the largest tournament festivals online.
But, while the latest figures are impressive, they still fall short of PokerStars’ forthcoming World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP). Set to get underway on September 5, WCOOP 2019 will give away at least $75 million.
It’s important to note, however, that WCOOP is a once-a-year event. So, while Partypoker may not be able to compete in terms of overall size, its KO Series does have the edge in terms of availability as it runs multiple times throughout the year.
Partypoker Series Another Positive for Poker
Regardless of which operator has the upper-hand, September is a great month for online poker players. Coming off the back of a record-breaking summer in the live arena, the virtual world is continuing the industry’s upswing.
With numbers up across the board, poker is undoubtedly on a high. Although those with long memories will be anticipating another crash, everyone is currently riding the crest of a wave.
What will be interesting to see is whether the latest boom translates into legal changes. While we may be a long way from universal online poker regulation, things are moving in the right direction.
India may still be a ring-fenced market but it’s become one of the top emerging markets over the last five years. Indeed, with breakout stars such as Sharad Rao stepping into the limelight, India is showing the game has an international appeal.
With the industry buoyant, it naturally benefits events such as Partypoker’s KO Series. However, success breeds success and the current highs should act as a catalyst for more changes around the world.
