There are records that are broken by a narrow margin. And there are records that are shattered with a running start and a lot of momentum. The $5 Ocean KO Opener on GGPoker clearly falls into the second category: With an incredible 420,084 entries, it is the largest poker tournament of all time. The previous record of 253,692 players from 2015 was utterly outclassed. This isn’t just a new record—it’s a new era.
One Cent, $10,000, and a Legend
The old record stood for 11 years. In October 2015, a quarter of a million players flocked to the virtual tables for the “Common Cents” tournament. In the end, an Austrian came out on top: Simon “DaDumon” Grabenschweiger turned a single cent into a whopping $10,000. A return that would make even seasoned financial advisors pale. But from now on, this story is just another chapter in the history books.
Tonight, it’s all or nothing!
Through dozens of starting flights, 24,134 players qualified for the second day of the tournament—more people than fit into many a Bundesliga stadium. The $1 million guarantee was also easily surpassed: The prize pool climbed to over $1.9 million, with more than a million of that in bounties alone.
Tonight at 8:30 p.m., the final nine players will battle it out at the final table for the title. The winner alone will take home $43,938 in regular prize money.
Poker with a Lottery Factor
What makes the Ocean KO special is the combination of Progressive Knockout and a jackpot feature. Anyone who knocks an opponent out of the tournament not only collects a bounty but can also land a random multiplier. Multipliers of up to 400 times the bounty are possible. A regular knockout can suddenly turn into a six-figure win.
Of course, there’s also some criticism. Some players fear that such jackpot multipliers are turning poker into more of a lottery. That’s not entirely unfounded. Anyone who plays perfect poker for hours on end only to be financially outpaced many times over by a lucky player with a 400x bounty has every right to be annoyed.
Still, I take it in stride. Classic tournament poker is here to stay; no one is forced to play Ocean KOs. At the same time, formats like these attract many new players to the tables. A chance at a jackpot for five dollars—and the opportunity to become part of poker history along the way? That certainly has its appeal. And ultimately, the regulars are happy to see some fresh faces, too.
My prediction: Jackpot PKOs are here to stay. And the next record is sure to come. The only question is when the 500,000 mark will be broken.
Bounty Hunters Series
Dates: October 4–27, 2026
Buy-ins: $5–$1,500
Tournaments: 1,300+
Prize pool: $100,000,000 GTD
–> Bounty Hunters Series Schedule