PokerStars Spooky Season has produced its biggest score so far, with Bulgaria's "viko042" winning the $75 NLHE Spooky Season Sunday Special PKO (Episode 02-M) for $29,069. The event drew 3,805 entrants and created a $259,424 prize pool. With 11 events complete and 83 still to come between October 15 and November 9, the series is only getting started, and the Sunday Million Season Finale on November 8 carries a $1 million guarantee.
This article looks at the results so far, how the progressive knockout (PKO) format shaped the winner's payout, and what players can do to get more from the remaining schedule.
The Biggest Win So Far: viko042
The $75 Sunday Special PKO attracted 3,805 players and awarded viko042 a total of $29,069, of which $13,602 came from bounties and $15,467 from the regular prize pool. Runner-up Rexilionex of Argentina took $16,436, which included $973 in bounties.
| Place | Player | Country | Bounties | Prize | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | viko042 | Bulgaria | $13,602 | $15,467 | $29,069 |
| 2 | Rexilionex | Argentina | $973 | $15,463 | $16,436 |
| 3 | VakioAssa | Finland | $3,401 | $9,174 | $12,575 |
| 4 | Persedon1 | Belarus | $815 | $6,540 | $7,355 |
| 5 | JulianWang92 | Belgium | $1,022 | $4,662 | $5,684 |
| 6 | vse0k | Ukraine | $1,376 | $3,323 | $4,699 |
| 7 | EddyTrey | United Kingdom | $59 | $2,368 | $2,427 |
| 8 | antonismad | Greece | $357 | $1,688 | $2,045 |
| 9 | Robin "Robinho" Ylitalo | Sweden | $1,563 | $1,203 | $2,766 |
Look closely at the heads-up numbers. Viko042 and Rexilionex each had a regular prize of at least $15,463, which was effectively a near-equal split of the pool. What separated them was the bounty money: more than $13,000 in progressive bounties gave the winner a much larger payday. That is the essence of the PKO format. In a PKO, half of each buy-in funds a bounty on your head, and when you knock someone out you collect half of their bounty and add the other half to your own.
Viko042 is not new to big online scores. The article reports that the player previously won $28,932 in the $55 NLHE 7-Max Midweek Freeze at SCOOP 2022, which had 4,048 competitors. Winning twice at this level for similar amounts across years suggests a consistent skill set in large-field tournaments.
Another notable name at the final table was Robin Ylitalo, the 2013 EPT London champion, who was the first player eliminated from the nine-handed table and collected $2,766 including bounties.
Results So Far
With 11 events played, the winners' prizes range from just over $1,300 at the micro-stakes to more than $29,000 at the $75 tier:
| Event | Entrants | Prize Pool | Champion | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #00-L $11 Prologue | 3,061 | $29,997 | Taracus195 | $4,335 |
| #00-M $55 Prologue | 762 | $38,100 | Pked3edge | $6,458 |
| #01-L $3.30 PKO | 4,093 | $12,500 | jesuipro12 | $1,307 |
| #01-M $33 PKO | 3,644 | $109,320 | modituah | $10,593 |
| #01-H $215 PKO | 455 | $91,000 | moertelmu | $15,101 |
| #02-L $7.50 PKO | 4,844 | $32,406 | foult777 | $3,218 |
| #02-M $75 PKO | 3,805 | $259,424 | viko042 | $29,069 |
| #03-L $11 Mystic Monday | 4,018 | $39,376 | XITAOZINHO | $2,030 |
| #03-M $82 Mystic Monday | 643 | $48,225 | jvieiradias8 | $4,057 |
| #04-L $7.50 PKO | 2,435 | $16,290 | XxJoaoFeraxX | $1,675 |
| #04-M $75 PKO | 615 | $41,930 | azevedo45 | $6,103 |
Three winners have cleared $10,000: modituah ($10,593 in the $33 PKO), moertelmu ($15,101 in the $215 PKO) and viko042. Field sizes at the lowest buy-ins are impressive: the $7.50 PKO drew 4,844 entrants, and the $3.30 PKO drew 4,093.
What the Numbers Tell Us
Two patterns jump out. First, the Sunday-timed PKOs attract the biggest fields. The $75 Sunday Special had 3,805 entries, while a $75 PKO on a different day (Episode 04-M) attracted only 615. Sunday remains the most popular day for online poker tournaments, and recreational players tend to cluster there.
Second, the winner's share is heavily influenced by bounties. In the Sunday Special, bounty money accounted for nearly half of viko042's total. For that reason, PKO winners often have a "hunter" profile: they accumulate knockouts steadily throughout the tournament rather than relying only on a final-table run.
The Schedule Ahead
The remaining 83 events run through November 9. The highlights include:
- Episode 45, November 8: $109 NLHE Season Finale (Sunday Million), $1 million guaranteed.
- Episode 11-M, October 18: $75 NLHE Mystery Bounty Super Sunday, $200,000 guaranteed.
- Episode 22-M, October 25: $75 Spooky Sunday Special, $250,000 guaranteed.
- Episode 35-M, November 1: $55 Spooky Sunday Special, $250,000 guaranteed.
- Episode 46, November 8: $11 Zombie Parade Phase 2, $150,000 guaranteed.
- Episode 13, October 18: $5.50 Vampire Parade Phase 2, $100,000 guaranteed.
- Episode 21-M, October 25: $55 Secret Sunday, $100,000 guaranteed.
PokerStars is also promoting free $109 Sunday Million tickets during the series, which provides a low-cost route into the $1 million guaranteed finale.
PKO Strategy: Four Tips for the Remaining Events
PKOs reward a different mindset than standard freezeouts. Here is how to adapt.
1. Widen Your Calling Ranges When Bounties Are Big
When a short stack with a large bounty shoves, your call is worth more than the chips alone. Use pot odds and your equity to adjust. Our poker odds calculator can help you build intuition for how much equity you need.
2. Do Not Overvalue Bounties Early
At the beginning of a PKO, most bounties are small. Do not take large risks for small prizes. The real value of bounties emerges in the middle stages when stacks and bounties have grown.
3. Mind the ICM Near the Bubble
Bounties do not eliminate ICM pressure. Near the money, survival still matters, and bounty considerations should be balanced with your tournament life.
4. Manage Your Bankroll
A field of 3,000+ players means high variance. Following good bankroll management principles will protect you from the inevitable downswings.
Online Alternatives
PokerStars is not the only place to find PKOs. If you are in the United States, offshore sites such as Americas Cardroom and BetOnline offer regular bounty tournaments, and our tournaments page lists more options. Crypto-friendly players may also want to read about crypto poker sites and BC Poker.
Key Takeaways
- viko042 won $29,069 in the $75 Spooky Season Sunday Special PKO, with $13,602 coming from bounties.
- Eleven events are complete, with 83 remaining between October 15 and November 9.
- The finale on November 8 is a $109 Sunday Million with a $1 million guarantee.
- Sunday events draw the biggest fields, and bounty accumulation can nearly double a winner's payout.
Keep an eye on the schedule and take advantage of free tickets and satellite routes where possible.