Astedt Among Leaders Heading into $5M GTD Sunday Million Finale
Niklas Astedt and 'RageReaperf' lead the final 49 players in PokerStars' 20th Anniversary Sunday Million, set for a grand conclusion on September 7.
Key Takeaways
- Niklas Astedt enters the Sunday Million 20th Anniversary finale in 6th place with 19.6 million chips.
- Finland’s 'RageReaperf' leads the final 49 players with 28.3 million chips.
- The tournament offers a $5M guarantee, with the winner earning $176K plus cumulative bounties.
- Astedt has accumulated approximately $50 million in online winnings, making him a leading figure in online poker.
The $5 million guaranteed Sunday Million 20th Anniversary on PokerStars is set for its final session with 49 players remaining. Notable names at the top include Niklas Astedt and Finland's 'RageReaperf,' both of whom are in strong position to claim the $176,310 top payout plus sizable progressive bounties when play resumes Monday night.
Final 49 Set for Sunday Million Showdown
After a summer of $109 Phase 1 tournaments that began in late June, the Sunday Million’s Phase 2 united 1,763 players on September 6. Only 49 advanced to the deciding day. ‘RageReaperf’, a former Spring Championship Of Online Poker (SCOOP) winner from Finland, leads with 28.3 million chips. Play resumes at blinds 175,000/350,000 with a 45,000 ante.
Astedt, one of online poker history’s most successful players, enters the finale in 6th place, holding a stack of 19.6 million chips. He also boasts the fourth largest bounty collected so far, at $6,700.
Sunday Million 20th Anniversary: Structure and Prizes
The Sunday Million 20th Anniversary tournament offers a $5M guarantee with a progressive knockout format. A large portion of this prize pool has already been distributed as bounties. Here’s how the bounty structure works:
- 50% of any player's bounty is awarded to the player who eliminates them
- The remaining 50% gets added to the eliminator’s own bounty
- The last elimination, in particular, carries a large cumulative bounty on top of the main prize
At the start of the final session, the largest bounty is $8,400, held by Ukrainian player '234241234214432'. Prize pool payouts before bounties for the final table are as follows:
- 1st: $176,310
- 2nd: $176,310
- 3rd: $109,853
- 4th: $68,980
- 5th: $44,028
- 6th: $25,833
- 7th: $16,711
- 8th: $10,834
- 9th: $6,802
The 49th-place finisher receives $924 before bounties. The winner’s total payout will rise significantly due to final bounty accumulation, effectively determining the difference between first and second place since both receive the same base prize from the standard pool.
Astedt’s Online and Live Poker Achievements
Niklas Astedt of Sweden is considered possibly the most successful online poker player to date, with approximately $50 million in online tournament winnings. His career includes multiple SCOOP and World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) titles, often winning more than one in a single series.
Astedt’s performances extend far beyond the virtual felt. In 2024, he made an impressive live run at the World Series of Poker Main Event, finishing 3rd for $3 million and boosting his live career earnings to almost $10 million. His 2026 live highlights include:
- Winning the Super High Roller at EPT Paris (€625,000)
- Making the final table in WSOP Europe’s Super High Roller (€245,000)
- Finishing second in the EPT Barcelona Super High Roller (€522,000)
Astedt’s consistency and versatility reinforce his reputation as one of the game’s elite across both online and live tournament circuits.
Next Steps and Tournament Outlook
The Sunday Million 20th Anniversary final table is scheduled to begin at 9:05pm CEST, Monday, September 7. The tournament’s next edition returns to its usual $1 million guaranteed prize pool, with qualifiers and entry paths accessible through PokerStars.
The progressive bounty format, record field, and the presence of accomplished players like Astedt and 'RageReaperf' promise an engaging finale. Observers and industry stakeholders are likely to watch for large payout swings in the closing hands, given the substantial bounties still at stake.
For news on major tournaments and player performances, see the news section or track regulatory impacts on online tournament structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the prize for first place in the Sunday Million 20th Anniversary?
The winner receives $176,310 from the standard prize pool, plus a cumulative progressive bounty, which could substantially increase their total payout.
Who are the chip leaders heading into the Sunday Million finale?
'RageReaperf' of Finland leads with 28.3 million chips, while Niklas Astedt is in 6th place with 19.6 million chips as play resumes for the final 49.
How does the progressive bounty format work in this tournament?
Half of each player's bounty is paid to the player who eliminates them, with the other half added to the eliminator's bounty, resulting in increasingly valuable bounties as the event progresses.
What are Niklas Astedt’s notable poker achievements?
Niklas Astedt has won multiple SCOOP and WCOOP titles, accumulated about $50 million in online winnings, and finished third in the 2024 WSOP Main Event for $3 million.
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About the author
Daniel Reyes
Poker Correspondent
Daniel Reyes covers live and online poker — tournament series from the WSOP and EPT down to the daily online grind, room news, promotions, and the industry moves behind them. The reports keep every score, prize pool, and player name exactly as the record shows, and follow the story past the final hand: who qualified, what the payout structure rewarded, and how the field is shifting. For roster changes, software updates, and regulatory knocks on the poker economy, Daniel Reyes is the desk's first read.
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