Record turnout for PokerStars birthday

Last weekend Poker Stars celebrated one year of its regular weekend tournament with a generous $500 000 addition to the standard weekend Sunday Million guaranteed prizepool, creating a record response of 10 508 registered entrants who went after the $2 101 600 total pot with enthusiasm.

The giant pot ensured not only an attractive quarter million plus main prize, but a cash bubble that embraced 1 314 players and a final table bonanza guaranteeing each player a minimum five-digit reward.

In the event, the five surviving players paused to work out a five way split agreement that gave each of the players at least a $100 000 return. Winner Zeddor took $131 972 with nickym998 on $160 950 as runner up, thanks to the earlier deal. Even fifth placed francky2011 scored a six figure paycheck on $102 177.

Over at Full Tilt's $400 000 Guarantee there was a good turnout of 2 118 entrants which boosted the prizepool to $423 600 prize pool, giving 306 players a place in the cash line. DOOLfan took home the main prize of $77 942 and some change, with runner up ChuckB following on $47 866.80.

Slightly lower attendance numbers disappointed Party Poker in its weekend $300 000 guaranteed tourney with 1 342 players signed in of whom 150 cashed. With the field down to three survivors, a deal was reached that gave final winner Tilted4Ever just over $44 000, with runner up CskCsk pocketing $35 771.39.

Almost 900 players joined the Ultimate Bet $200 000 guaranteed, allocating cash to the top 90 players and a main prize of $45 000, which was ultimately claimed by player Taknapotin, with Broden4 collecting a runner up check for $27 000.

Bodog figures were not available at press time.