Second annual Mystery Bounty Series runs July 13-21 with $3M gtd

The Mystery Bounty Series is back!

July 8, 2025

Poker

by PokerStars Staff

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10 Minute Read

Even after a couple of years in existence, the entire poker world is still buzzing about Mystery Bounty tournaments.

It’s the mix of vanilla MTTs, knockout stages, and the secrecy/randomness of bounty prizes that makes them so darn compelling.

And what our players want, our players get.

Following a hugely successful debut in 2024, PokerStars has announced the second annual Mystery Bounty Series — an entire online festival dedicated to Mystery Bounty events.

The series runs from July 13 – 21 and has $3 million guaranteed in prizes across 55 events, with buy-ins ranging from $5.50 up to $215.

This series is suitable for everyone, regardless of their bankroll, and also in terms of skill sets. A variety of poker variants feature on the schedule including PLO, 8 game, no limit 2-7 single draw, PLO8, NLO8, PL badugi, and of course no limit hold’em.

KEY MYSTERY BOUNTY SERIES INFO:

Dates: July 13 – 21, 2025
Guaranteed: $3 million
Buy-in range: $5.50 – $215
No. of events: 55

Key events:

• $109 Main Event with $500K Gtd – July 20
• $11 Mini Main Event with $125K Gtd – July 20
• $75 Sunday Special with $350K Gtd — July 13

MYSTERY BOUNTY SERIES SCHEDULE

HOW DOES A MYSTERY BOUNTY TOURNAMENT WORK?

PokerStars Mystery Bounty is a type of poker tournament where players have a chance to win Mystery Bounties as part of the prize pool.

Mystery Bounty tournaments have an initial stage and a final stage:

• Initial stage – players cannot win Mystery Bounties during this stage.
• Final stage – players will win a Mystery Bounty for every player they knock out during this stage, which will usually start when the money bubble bursts. More details about when this stage will start can be seen in the tournament lobby.

A part of the tournament buy-in for Mystery Bounty events is added to the regular prize pool. Another portion contributes to the Mystery Bounty prize pool. See the tournament lobby for more information.

There can be up to nine different tiers of Mystery Bounties. The highest tier offering the top prize, and lower tiers offering lower-value prizes.

If you knock a player out during the final stage of the tournament, you will receive one of the remaining Mystery Bounties.

Players can win multiple Mystery Bounties – one each time they eliminate a player during the final stage.

Players can win multiple Mystery Bounties with one hand if they knock out more than one opponent. They will win a Mystery Bounty for each player they eliminate during the hand.

If a player is knocked out in a chop hand, all the winning players will split the Mystery Bounty equally.

Players can monitor which Mystery Bounty prizes are still available in the ‘Tournament Info’ widget.

MYSTERY BOUNTY SERIES STRATEGY

HOW TO ADJUST FOR MYSTERY BOUNTY TOURNAMENTS: DARA O’KEARNEY’S VIEW

Players at EPT Prague got to sample a “Mystery Bounty” tournament for the very first time. It’s a new format in which knocking someone out earns you the chance to pick a random bounty and a potentially huge bonus payday.

Irish poker pro – and expert in satellite and bounty tournament play – Dara O’Kearney watched it play out. Here he offers his view on how strategy should change in this format.

MYSTERY BOUNTY ADVICE FROM EPT PRAGUE’S ENVELOPE CRUSHER ELIAS GUTIERREZ 

Elias “SinKarma” Gutierrez was king of the bounties at EPT Prague in 2023, winning €200,000 in mystery prizes alone. Here, he shares his advice for the online versions you’ll play during Mystery Bounty Series.

MORE ABOUT MYSTERY BOUNTY EVENTS:

MAGIC FEELINGS AND LOTS OF JUMPING AROUND: HOW IT FEELS TO WIN THE BIGGEST MYSTERY BOUNTY PRIZE

If you’ve ever won a poker tournament, you know just how good it feels. The pride in knowing you’re the last person standing. The euphoria in knowing you’ve won big.

It’s unlike anything else.

But now, with Mystery Bounty tournaments running regularly on PokerStars AND even an entire series dedicated to the fun format, players can enjoy a similar feeling even with hundreds of players remaining.

But what’s it like to win the biggest Mystery Bounty prize? How do you celebrate while still playing? Moreover, how do you keep your composure and continue to focus on the rest of the tournament?

To find out, we spoke with several big bounty winners from the recent Mystery Bounty Series on PokerStars. Here are their stories.

MYSTERY BOUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP: WHEN SHOULD YOU PULL YOUR BOUNTIES?

When playing a live Mystery Bounty tournament, players have the choice of when they go up to the box to pull their envelopes. But when’s the best time to go up and pull your bounties? Is there a GTO strategy at all? What factors at your table do you need to consider? And what impact can the big bounties have on the players psychologically?

To find out, we asked the pros. Find out what Spraggy, Lex Veldhuis, Christoph Vogelsang, Dan Smith, Nick Walsh, and Wistern had to say in this article.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR?

The inaugural Mystery Bounty Series took place in 2024, running from June 23 – July 1 with $4 million guaranteed in prizes across the series. Here’s a look at what happened in the Main Event, all event winners, and the players who secured the biggest bounties in each event.

2024 MAIN EVENT RECAP

The massive $109 Mystery Bounty Series Main Event came to an end on Monday (July 1) with Poland’s “filipkow81′ topping the 9,483-entry field. For their efforts, they earned $54,386 after a heads-up deal, plus $1,515 in bounty prizes.

It was ‘Akhtabut’ from Malta who stole the show, however, claiming the top bounty prize of $100,000. There was only one six-figure virtual envelope up for grabs and they found it, winning more than first-place money despite finishing in 337th place!

That’s the beauty of Mystery Bounty events. Just ask PokerStars Team Pro Lasse Jagd “Wistern” Lauritsen.

Lauritsen lucked out and won the biggest bounty prize in Event #44 (a $55 NLHE 6-Max Hyper), banking $2,640 despite finishing in 22nd place.

Scroll down to check out all the event winners and biggest bounty pullers from the maiden Mystery Bounty Series!

Until next time…

2024 EVENT WINNERS

Event: 01 – $11 NLHE Deep Stacks
Entries: 7,122
Prize pool: $69,796
Winner: “Stallion3972” (UK) – $3,711 + $276 in bounties

Event: 02 – $55 NLHE
Entries: 2,784
Prize pool: $139,200
Winner: “Andypsx” (Andorra) – $8,643 + $1,268

Event: 02 – $55 NLHE
Entries: 2,784
Prize pool: $139,200
Winner: “Andypsx” (Andorra) – $8,643 + $1,268

Event: 03 – $215 NLHE Sunday Stackosaurus
Entries: 612
Prize pool: $122,400
Winner: Andreas “mrAndreeew” Berggren (Sweden) – $9,209 + $3,403

Andreas “mrAndreeew” Berggren adds a Mystery Bounty Series title to his impressive resume

Event: 04 – $5.50 NLHE Fabulous Forty
Entries: 8,683
Prize pool: $42,547
Winner: “titan2706” (Brazil) – $2,861 + $976

Event: 05 – $109 NLHE Sunday Million
Entries: 9,207
Prize pool: $1,000,000
Winner: “dejan1911” (Slovenia) – $59,322 + $11,306

Event: 06 – $22 PLO 6-Max
Entries: 1,193
Prize pool: $23,860
Winner: “Nadhob” (Ukraine) – $1,886 + $737

Event: 07 – $11 NLHE Sunday Storm
Entries: 14,586
Prize pool: $142,943
Winner: “Igdnikinho” (Brazil) – $7,249 + $279

Event: 08 – $22 NLHE Final Table Bounties
Entries: 3,561
Prize pool: $71,220
Winner: “ProveYoSkill” (Ukraine) – $6,550 + $16,321

Event: 09 – $5.50 NLHE 7-Max Turbo
Entries: 5,766
Prize pool: $28,253
Winner: “joey90111” (Ireland) – $2,012 + $107

Event: 10 – $55 NLHE 7-Max Turbo
Entries: 2,264
Prize pool: $113,200
Winner: “Reimon100” (Brazil) – $7,176 + $2,175

Event: 11 – $5.50 NLHE Hyper Goose Hunt
Entries: 3,382
Prize pool: $17,079
Winner: “ANCTIL111” (Canada) – $1,685 + $15

Event: 12 – $11 NLHE Ten Percenter
Entries: 6,741
Prize pool: $66,062
Winner: “nicodlo” (Argentina) – $4,017 + $141

Event: 13 – $55 NLHE 7-Max
Entries: 2,528
Prize pool: $126,400
Winner: “THE_K_T_T” (UK) – $6,061 + $1,005

Event: 13 – $55 NLHE 7-Max
Entries: 2,528
Prize pool: $126,400
Winner: “THE_K_T_T” (UK) – $6,061 + $1,005

Event: 14 – $22 8 Game 6-Max
Entries: 579
Prize pool: $11,580
Winner: “monisla” (Ukraine) – $1,019 + $279

Event: 15 – $22 NLHE 6-Max Total Mystery
Entries: 2,889
Prize pool: $57,780
Winner: “onraz” (Belgium) – $364

Event: 16 – $5.50 NLHE Turbo Goose Hunt
Entries: 4,459
Prize pool: $21,849
Winner: “IExample” (Belarus) – $2,124 + $24

Event: 17 – $11 NLHE Mostly Mystery
Entries: 5,983
Prize pool: $58,633
Winner: “vevaren” (Sweden) – $2,142 + $434

Event: 18 – $55 NLHE
Entries: 1,884
Prize pool: $94,200
Winner: “ImlykwagwanG” (UK) – $6,037 + $2,909

Event: 19 – $22 NL 5-Card Draw
Entries: 263
Prize pool: $5,260
Winner: “Leon_Javur” (Estonia) – $431 + $320

Event: 20 – $22 NLHE Ten Percenter
Entries: 2,661
Prize pool: $53,220
Winner: “Varle84” (Ukraine) – $3,323 + $190

Event: 21 – $5.50 NLHE 6-Max Turbo
Entries: 4,878
Prize pool: $23,902
Winner: “Richardjbf11” (Chile) – $1,707 + $88

Event: 22 – $22 NLHE Big Antes
Entries: 3,744
Prize pool: $74,880
Winner: “xadp05” (Denmark) – $3,671 + $238

Event: 23 – $55 NLHE Fabulous Forty
Entries: 1,797
Prize pool: $89,850
Winner: “josielairesd” (Brazil) – $8,799 + $6,739

Event: 24 – $22 NLO8 6-Max
Entries: 766
Prize pool: $15,320
Winner: “tratata44” (Belarus) – $1,159 + $203

Event: 25 – $11 NLHE 7-Max
Entries: 4,718
Prize pool: $46,236
Winner: “Katzer2” (Brazil) – $2,031 + $148

Event: 26 – $5.50 NLHE Heads-Up Turbo Total Mystery
Entries: 3,842
Prize pool: $18,826
Winner: Event stopped due to technical reasons

Event: 27 – $11 NLHE Mostly Mystery
Entries: 5,993
Prize pool: $58,731
Winner: “56NeverLose” (Estonia) – $2,145 + $538

Event: 28 – $55 NLHE
Entries: 2,394
Prize pool: $119,700
Winner: “GROSIBIDON7” (Malta) – $7,529 + $1,504

Event: 29 – $22 NL 2-7 Single Draw 7-Max
Entries: 370
Prize pool: $7,400
Winner: “xelera900” (Canada) – $577 + $642

Event: 30 – $22 NLHE Ten Percenter
Entries: 2,913
Prize pool: $58,260
Winner: “leonardo4486” (Brazil) – $3,604 + $692

Event: 31 – $5.50 NLHE 6-Max Turbo
Entries: 4,872
Prize pool: $23,873
Winner: “MPash22” (Canada) – $1,701 + $159

Event: 32 – $22 NLHE Fabulous Forty
Entries: 4,084
Prize pool: $81,860
Winner: “Mia2san5mia” (Argentina) – $7,485 + $8,083

Event: 33 – $22 NLHE 7-Max
Entries: 4,193
Prize pool: $83,860
Winner: “ponja_to” (Argentina) – $5,123 + $951

Event: 34 – $22 PLO8 6-Max
Entries: 833
Prize pool: $16,660
Winner: “ansuz” (Finland) – $1,387 + $401

Event: 35 – $11 NLHE
Entries: 5,624
Prize pool: $55,115
Winner: “Anunn@ki” (Argentina) – $3,355 + $194

Event: 36 – $22 NLHE 6-Max Turbo
Entries: 1,896
Prize pool: $37,920
Winner: “berndawg33” (Canada) – $2,842 + $528

Event: 37 – $11 NLHE 6-Max Hyper Goose Hunt
Entries: 2,326
Prize pool: $23,888
Winner: “G3n3sys69” (Hungary) – $2,843 + $105

Event: 38 – $22 NLHE Deep Stack
Entries: 3,082
Prize pool: $61,640
Winner: “RicochetAce” (Latvia) – $3,803 + $828

Event: 39 – $11 NLHE
Entries: 6,588
Prize pool: $64,562
Winner: “silverkingaa” (UK) – $3,931 + $329

Event: 40 – $11 NLHE
Entries: 6,588
Prize pool: $64,562
Winner: “silverkingaa” (UK) – $3,931 + $329

Event: 41 – $22 PL Badugi 6-Max
Entries: 290
Prize pool: $5,800
Winner: “Razdom90” (UK) – $407 + $566

Event: 42 – $22 NLHE Final Table Bounties
Entries: 2,762
Prize pool: $55,240
Winner: “Fusco663” (Brazil) – $5,153 + $7,998

Event: 43 – $5.50 NLHE 7-Max Turbo
Entries: 5,297
Prize pool: $25,955
Winner: “ScottJ1998” (UK) – $1,581 + $180

Event: 44 – $55 NLHE 6-Max Hyper
Entries: 672
Prize pool: $35,199
Winner: “Szolemdal_” (Vietnam) – $3,046 + $1,447

Event: 45 – $11 NLHE Deep Stack
Entries: 6,088
Prize pool: $59,662
Winner: “osmaralmeida” (Brazil) – $3,629 + $355

Event: 46 – $55 NLHE
Entries: 2,655
Prize pool: $132,750
Winner: “mandar1n” (Moldova) – $8,286 + $1,211

Event: 47 – $22 NLHE Ten Percenter
Entries: 3,757
Prize pool: $75,140
Winner: “Addicted&Old” (UK) – $4,599 + $2,930

Event: 48 – $5.50 NLHE
Entries: 7,833
Prize pool: $38,382
Winner: “Legionse” (Ukraine) – $2,320

Event: 49 – $109 NLHE Main Event
Entries: 9,483
Prize pool: $1,000,000
Winner: “filipkow81” (Poland) – $54,386 + $1,515

Event: 50 – $22 PLO 6-Max
Entries: 1,356
Prize pool: $27,120
Winner: “ociNico7” (Finland) – $2,094 + $557

Event: 51 – $11 NLHE Mini Main Event
Entries: 16,127
Prize pool: $158,045
Winner: “ipayou” (Brazil) – $7,473 + $207

Event: 52 – $22 NLHE Fabulous Forty
Entries: 4,036
Prize pool: $80,720
Winner: “calcinha92” (Brazil) – $7,401 + $2,616

Event: 53 – $5.50 NLHE 7-Max Turbo
Entries: 5,798
Prize pool: $28,410
Winner: “LuigiSanches” (Canada) – $1,732 + $59

Event: 54 – $55 NLHE 6-Max Turbo Total Mystery
Entries: 2,021
Prize pool: $101,050
Winner: “T01010011” (Brazil) – $6,432

Event: 55 – $5.50 NLHE Hyper Goose Hunt
Entries: 3,560
Prize pool: $17,978
Winner: “aminmele” (Greece) – $1,769 + $28

BIGGEST BOUNTY WINNERS (SO FAR)

Event #1 – “pcs1980” – $3,490 (finished 15th)

Event #2 – “qwertybochan” – $6,960 (finished 15th)

Event #3 – “spitz1997” – $9,180 (finished 2nd)

Event #4 – “SergusAA” – $1,589 (finished 9th)

Event #5 – “Amateur_Pl” – $100,000 (finished 31st)

Event #6 – “The Domotron” – $1,193 (finished 12th)

Event #7 – “mikk30” – $10,000 (finished 433rd)

Event #8 – “ProveYoSkill” – $7,122 (finished 1st)

Event #9 – “YeLLoWHeSus” – $1,413 (finished 56th)

Event #10 – “Raiseberg20” – $5,660 (finished 75th)

Event #11 – “denwer1994” – $2,706 (finished 209th)

Event #12 – “fmartins123” – $3,303 (finished 190th)

Event #13 – “SolidYerna” – $6,320 (finished 58th)

Event #14 – “Riso14” – $868.50 (finished 12th)

Event #15 – “josephmcleary” – $5,778 (finished 56th)

Event #16 – “julico14” – $3,121 (finished 9th)

Event #17 – “MrDim13” – $4,104 (finished 84th)

Event #18 – “FreeStyle1983” – $4,710 (finished 85th)

Event #19 – “king153246” – $394.50 (finished 4th)

Event #20 – RyderfRock – $2,661 (finished 163rd)

Event #21 – “maraki54” – $1,195 (finished 45th)

Event #22 – “CiTral6077” – $3,744 (finished 223rd)

Event #23 – “josielairesd” – $1,123 (finished 1st)

Event #24 – “tequyla10” – $766 (finished 23rd)

Event #25 – “Boogz96” – $2,312 (finsihed 116th)

Event #26 – “michalbubble” – $1,883 (event stopped due to technical reasons)

Event #27 – “HEAT” – $4,111 (finished 462nd)

Event #28 – “ENG.Brito” – $5,985 (finished 69th)

Event #29 – “snowmandoman” – $555 (finished 29th)

Event #30 – “TheCurtis14” – $2,913 (finished 5th)

Event #31 – “Yuri_Lopes” – $1,194 (finished 457th)

Event #32 – “Hayoterkinovich” – $3,063 (finished 5th)

Event #33 – “05del” – $4,193 (finished 143rd)

Event #34 – “KtheKing” – $833 (finished 17th)

Event #35 – “Justforfun38” – $2,756 (finished 147th)

Event #36 – “ronaldo22212” – $1,896 (finished 131st)

Event #37 – “MaximillianFT” – $2,326 (finished 3rd)

Event #38 – “Sch0ckyslay” – $3,082 (finished 3rd)

Event #39 – “shevadio” – $3,228 (finished 513th)

Event #40 – “ludum regem” – $4,460 (finished 167th)

Event #41 – “NEBBI..REDUX” – $435 (finished 3rd)

Event #42 – “Fis01” – $5,524 (finished 4th)

Event #43 – “BEAR 2345” – $1,298 (finished 59th)

Event #44 – Lasse Jagd “Wistern” Lauritsen – $2,640 (finished 22nd) (PokerStars Team Pro)

Lasse Jagd Lauritsen, aka “Wistern”

Event #45 – “Bech02” – $2,983 (finished 20th)

Event #46 – “Xisde-GR” – $6,638 (finished 54th)

Event #47 – “riva-poa” – $3,757 (finished 204th)

Event #48 – “Henrique” – $1,919 (finished 8th)

Event #49 – “Akhtabut” – $100,000 (finished 337th)

Event #50 – “monisla” – $1,356 (finished 8th)

Event #51 – “mr.salgado30” – $10,000 (finished 23rd)

Event #52 – “Eliseu00” – $3,027(finished 12th)

Event #53 – “ununun99” – $1,423 (finished 257th)

Event #54 – “Mrgalaxyliar” – $10,105 (finished 117th)

Event #55 – “gert_steel” – $2,492 (finished 20th)