The XL Winter Series on 888poker is right around the corner and there is more than $1.5 million up for grabs across 44 events. The series, which runs from January 16-31, has several of tournaments with affordable buy-ins so all players can get involved in the action regardless of the size of their bankrolls.
Each event will have a main, mini and late version meaning that there are plenty of tournaments that fall within in the $16.50 to $55 buy-in range, all of which come with bumper guarantees.
So, if that has peaked your interest, PokerNews has gone through the series' schedule to find out the events which offer players the best value for money. Five tournaments have been selected which offer players more bang for their buck so continue reading to find out more information about these events:
| DATE | TIME (GMT) | EVENT | BUY-IN | GUARANTEE |
| Sun, January 16 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #2 - $20,000 Mini Opening | $16.50 | $20,000 |
| Fri, January 21 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #16 - $30,000 DeepStack | $55 | $30,000 |
| Sun, January 23 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #23 - $20,000 Mini Tune Up | $16.50 | $20,000 |
| Wed, January 26 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #32 - $15,000 Mini PKO 8-Max | $16.50 | $15,000 |
| Sun, January 30 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #44 - $50,000 Mini Main Event | $33 | $50,000 |
1. XL Winter #2 - $20,000 Mini Opening
Date: Sunday, January 16
Time: 7 p.m GMT
Buy-in: $16.50
The first event on this list also coincides with the first day of the series. The XL Winter #2 - $20,000 Mini Opening comes with a $16.50 buy-in and $20,000 guarantee. Players get a 20,000 starting stack which is good for 250 big blinds.
Blinds increase every ten minutes with late registration closing after three hours of play, in that time players are allowed three rebuys should they bust. Direct satellites are currently running on the platform's client and are only $1 to enter.
2. XL Winter #16 - $30,000 DeepStack
Date: Friday, January 21
Time: 6 p.m. GMT
Buy-in: $55
Moving on to the most-expensive buy-in on this list, this $55 event also gives players the biggest stack to play with. The first-place prize from the XL Winter #16 - $30,000 DeepStack will likely be one of the biggest, other than the Mini Main Event, from the affordable tournaments which makes this a must play.
In this event, tables will be nine-handed with blinds going up every 12 minutes. The late registration period lasts for four hours and again players are permitted three rebuys. Entrants will be able to have plenty of play from their buy-in as the starting stack is a whopping 30,000 chips (375 big binds).
There are direct freeroll satellites to this event as well as regular $5.50 satellites so if that $55 is out of your budget, fear not there are multiple ways to get into the tournament for a fraction of the cost. Before the event begins, brush up on your deepstack poker skills with these tips and tricks.
3. XL Winter #23 - $20,000 Mini Tune Up
Date: Sunday, January 23
Time: 7 p.m. GMT
Buy-in: $16.50
Mirroring the Mini Opening event, the XL Winter #23 - $20,000 Mini Tune Up comes with a $16.50 buy-in, $20,000 guarantee and a stack of 20,000 (250 big blinds). The Mini Tune Up also has ten minute blinds, three hours of late registration and allows three rebuys.
4. XL Winter #32 - $15,000 Mini PKO 8-Max
Date: Wednesday, January 26
Time: 7 p.m. GMT
Buy-in: $16.50
Variety truly is the spice of life so why not mix it up by hopping into the XL Winter #32 - $15,000 Mini PKO 8-Max event. Progressive knockout tournaments have soared in popularity in recent years and offer players the chance to make some cash even if they fail to make the money.
The structure follows the previous $16.50 buy-in tournaments, direct satellites to the event start at $1 and for those who are uninitiated with this poker format, make sure to check out this quick guide to progressive knockout tournaments.
5. XL Winter #44 - $50,000 Mini Main Event
Date: Sunday, January 16
Time: 7 p.m GMT
The XL Winter #44 - $50,000 Mini Main Event is the final tournament on this list also has the biggest guarantee and will likely be the best attended. In 2020, the Mini Main Event had 1,983 entries which smashed the guarantee creating a final prize pool of $59,490.
Playing this tournament costs $33 which gets you a 20,000 starting stack (250 big blinds). Each level last 12 minutes and the event's late registration period lasts for two hours and 35 minutes. As per, three rebuys are available for each participant and there are a plethora of satellites ongoing to get into the event.
How to Get Your XL Winter Series Tickets for Free
Even if some of the events discussed are out your reach for the time being there are host of satellite tournaments available for each event, starting from just one cent! Also, depositing players can even qualify to some certain events for free.
There are a few ways to get into selected tournaments on the cheap and you can get you hands on tickets via:
- XL Winter Series Freerolls
- Social Media and 888pokerTV competitions
- Satellites from 1¢
XL Winter Series Full Schedule
| Date | Time (GMT) | Event | Buy-in | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, January 16 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #1 - $100,000 Opening Event | $55 | $100,000 |
| Sun, January 16 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #2 - $20,000 Mini Opening | $16.50 | $20,000 |
| Sun, January 16 | 8 p.m. | XL Winter #3 - $15,000 Late Opening | $33 | $15,000 |
| Mon, January 17 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #4 - $30,000 PKO 6-Max | $88 | $30,000 |
| Mon, January 17 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #5 - $20,000 Mini PKO 6-Max | $44 | $20,000 |
| Mon, January 17 | 8 p.m. | XL Winter #6 - $10,000 Late PKO 6-Max | $22 | $10,000 |
| Tue, January 18 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #7 - $30,000 Freezeout | $215 | $30,000 |
| Tue, January 18 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #8 - $15,000 Mini Freezeout | $55 | $15,000 |
| Tue, January 18 | 8 p.m. | XL Winter #9 - $10,000 Late Freezeout | $109 | $10,000 |
| Wed, January 19 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #10 - $30,000 PKO | $109 | $30,000 |
| Wed, January 19 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #11 - $15,000 Mini PKO | $16.50 | $15,000 |
| Wed, January 19 | 8 p.m. | XL Winter #12 - $10,000 Late PKO | $33 | $10,000 |
| Thu, January 20 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #13 - $40,000 PKO 8-Max | $160 | $40,000 |
| Thu, January 20 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #14 - $20,000 Mini PKO 8-Max | $55 | $20,000 |
| Thu, January 20 | 8 p.m. | XL Winter #15 - $10,000 Late PKO 8-Max | $22 | $10,000 |
| Fri, January 21 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #16 - $30,000 DeepStack | $55 | $30,000 |
| Fri, January 21 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #17 - $15,000 Mini DeepStack | $16.50 | $15,000 |
| Fri, January 21 | 8 p.m. | XL Winter #18 - $10,000 Late DeepStack | $33 | $10,000 |
| Sat, January 22 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #19 - $30,000 6-Max | $109 | $30,000 |
| Sat, January 22 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #20 - $15,000 Mini 6-Max | $16.50 | $15,000 |
| Sat, January 22 | 8 p.m. | XL Winter #21 - $15,000 Late 6-Max | $55 | $15,000 |
| Sun, January 23 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #22 - $200,000 Tune Up | $109 | $200,000 |
| Sun, January 23 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #23 - $20,000 Mini Tune Up | $16.50 | $20,000 |
| Sun, January 23 | 8 p.m. | XL Winter #24 - $15,000 Late Tune Up | $33 | $15,000 |
| Mon, January 24 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #25 - $25,000 8-Max | $88 | $25,000 |
| Mon, January 24 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #26 - $15,000 Mini 8-Max | $44 | $15,000 |
| Mon, January 24 | 8 p.m. | XL Winter #27 - $10,000 Late 8-Max | $22 | $10,000 |
| Tue, January 25 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #28 - $50,000 PKO | $320 | $50,000 |
| Tue, January 25 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #29 - $25,000 Mini PKO | $55 | $25,000 |
| Tue, January 25 | 8 p.m. | XL Winter #30 - $20,000 Late PKO | $109 | $20,000 |
| Wed, January 26 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #31 - $30,000 PKO 8-Max | $109 | $30,000 |
| Wed, January 26 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #32 - $15,000 Mini PKO 8-Max | $16.50 | $15,000 |
| Wed, January 26 | 8 p.m. | XL Winter #33 - $10,000 Late PKO 8-Max | $33 | $10,000 |
| Thu, January 27 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #34 - $40,000 PKO 6-Max | $215 | $40,000 |
| Thu, January 27 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #35 - $20,000 Mini PKO 6-Max | $55 | $20,000 |
| Thu, January 27 | 8 p.m. | XL Winter #36 - $10,000 Late PKO 6-Max | $22 | $10,000 |
| Fri, January 28 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #37 - $30,000 DeepStack | $55 | $30,000 |
| Fri, January 28 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #38 - $15,000 Mini DeepStack | $16.50 | $15,000 |
| Fri, January 28 | 8 p.m. | XL Winter #39 - $10,000 Late DeepStack | $33 | $10,000 |
| Sat, January 29 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #40 - $40,000 Knockout | $109 | $40,000 |
| Sat, January 29 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #41 - $15,000 Mini Knockout | $16.50 | $15,000 |
| Sat, January 29 | 8 p.m. | XL Winter #42 - $15,000 Late Knockout | $55 | $15,000 |
| Sun, January 30 | 6 p.m. | XL Winter #43 - $500,000 Main Event | $250 | $500,000 |
| Sun, January 30 | 7 p.m. | XL Winter #44 - $50,000 Mini Main Event | $33 | $50,000 |
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