GGPoker sets online attendance world record with 420,084 entries in Ocean KO Opener

GGPoker recorded 420,084 entries in its $5 Ocean KO Opener, setting a new world record for participation in an online poker tournament. The field generated a prize pool of $1,932,386 and the competition concluded on 13 October 2026 with Ukrainian Sange Savchenko taking the title and winning $52,665 plus $9,152 in bounties.

## Record entries and prize-pool figure: how 420,084 players were reached

The final total of 420,084 comfortably exceeded the previous record of 253,692 entries set by PokerStars in 2015. The heavy turnout came across the dozens of Day 1 flights GGPoker scheduled for the Ocean KO format, which was new to many players. Demand was such that on 11 October one Day 1 flight hit the maximum cap of 10,000 players.

The massive number of entries produced a total prize pool of $1,932,386, well above the announced guarantee of $1,000,000. After the initial flights, 24,134 players returned for Day 2; that day was played down to a nine-player final table.

## Sange Savchenko wins the first Ocean KO: result and finishing hand

Sange Savchenko emerged as champion of the $5 Ocean KO Opener after defeating the player using the nickname HHHBVVVVBB in the heads-up final. Savchenko collected $52,665 for first place and $9,152 in bounties. His heads-up opponent received $53,095 in prize money plus $10,062 in bounties for second place.

Savchenko began the heads-up with the shorter stack but managed to level the counts when his king-high flush held against the opponent's two pair. He then closed the victory on the decisive runout, ending the duel and securing the title.

## Final table payouts

The final-table results and payouts in the $5 Ocean KO Opener were as follows:

1. Sange Savchenko — $52,665 prize + $9,152 bounty

2. HHHBVVVVBB — $53,095 prize + $10,062 bounty

3. HI-MARS — $33,371 prize + $417 bounty

4. Djd@shaa — $41,390 prize + $15,599 bounty

5. DrCali — $21,508 prize + $1,541 bounty

6. 3ayp — $17,429 prize + $1,971 bounty

7. Basnl — $15,597 prize + $3,630 bounty

8. SybH02 — $9,664 prize + $400 bounty

9. Demonstr9925 — $8,384 prize + $1,211 bounty

The payouts reflect both the fixed place prizes and the bounties accumulated for eliminations, which in Ocean KO can grow significantly due to the multiplier mechanics.

## Ocean KO: what it is and how it differs from traditional PKOs

GGPoker's Ocean KO format is a variant of the Progressive Knockout (PKO) bounty format that adds two central elements: a random multiplier applied to each knockout and a 14-level evolution system that raises the maximum bounty reward as a player climbs the categories.

In a standard PKO, each player has a fixed bounty; when you eliminate another player, half of that bounty goes to the eliminator and the other half is added to the eliminated player's bounty. Ocean KO adds a bounty wheel (Bounty Wheel) that multiplies the eliminated bounty by a factor between x0.4 and x400. After applying the multiplier, half of the amount goes to the player who scored the elimination and the other half is added to the eliminated player's bounty.

As a player accumulates bounties, they progress through the 14-stage evolution system — from Egg to Legendary Shark — and with each step the maximum possible reward per knockout increases.

## Breakdown of the 14 evolution stages in the $10 example

The official breakdown GGPoker published for a sample $10 event shows how bounties grow by level. It lists the level name, the base bounty, the multiplier range and the maximum displayed reward for each step:

• Egg — $5 — x0.4 to x400 — Max $2,000

• Fry — $6 — x0.4 to x400 — Max $2,400

• Fish — $7 — x0.4 to x400 — Max $2,800

• Shrimp — $10 — x0.4 to x400 — Max $4,000

• Crab — $15 — x0.4 to x400 — Max $6,000

• Turtle — $25 — x0.4 to x400 — Max $10,000

• Octopus — $50 — x0.4 to x400 — Max $20,000

• Dolphin — $100 — x0.4 to x400 — Max $40,000

• Whale — $200 — x0.4 to x400 — Max $80,000

• Shark — $500 — x0.4 to x400 — Max $200,000

• Legendary Octopus — $10,000 — x0.5 to x50 — Max $500,000

• Legendary Dolphin — $50,000 — x0.6 to x10 — Max $500,000

• Legendary Whale — $250,000 — x0.65 to x2.5 — Max $625,000

• Legendary Shark — $1,000,000 — x0.8 to x1.5 — Max $1,500,000+

These examples illustrate why bounties can scale from small sums to very large amounts in events with many eliminations.

## Reactions and debates around the Ocean KO format

The format appeals because of the possibility of exceptional bounties and the immediate reward dynamic on each elimination. At the same time, some of the community has expressed concern that the jackpot-style multiplier element can turn the experience into something akin to a lottery, according to criticism shared on forums and social media. GGPoker has promoted the format by highlighting the added excitement and the progression structure of levels.

GGPoker is at the center of the debate after the Ocean KO Opener set a new record of 420,084 entries, highlighting how bounty formats are evolving the online offering. To follow coverage of the ecosystem and upcoming room and tournament events, consult our news section and the events calendar.