Today marked the end to the 25,000,000,000 hand promotion that PokerStars has been running all week. This promo offered a decent reload bonus of 25% up to $250. By depositing $1,000 you would receive an extra $250. This actually ran into some problems as the max deposit limit is $600 on most deposit options. Players had to make a $600, then $400 deposit and contact support to qualify.
Starting around midnight the tables started to pack. There were a constant number of around 20,000 tables open after 12:00 am. Around 3:50 am, the drop was down to 1.1 million hands away. Tables starting filing up. PokerStars even sent a message across the server to all tables stating, “We are creating new micro-limit tables, no need to join waiting lists!” just begging people to 55 table 1 cent 2 cent. Just 5 minutes later, it was down to 900,000 hands remaining.
This kept dropping. Just 10 minutes later it was down to 750,000. 8 minutes later 500,000. Tables kept piling up and new ones were being opened, the server almost started to slow down. 18 minutes later 100,000. 2 minutes later 45,000. 30 seconds later 30,000. 20 seconds later 10,000.
Then, at 4:35:36 am ET, then 25 billionth hand was dealt on table Susliva fast, Limit Omaha Hi/Lo. The players present were in complete shock:
Seat 1: NeonFrost ($7 in chips)
Seat 2: tupapi777 ($112.25 in chips)
Seat 3: FrtSpkndMn ($22.25 in chips)
Seat 4: n47j25s ($43.25 in chips)
Seat 5: chris12080 ($43 in chips)
n47j25s: posts small blind $0.50
chris12080: posts big blind $1
Confedrate: sits out
Unfortunately for Confedrate he was just seconds late and wasn’t dealt in the hand. He would win nothing. The remaining 5 players were now going to go all-in for $100,000.
The wait was long and tedious. It showed everyone with their cards dealt, but nothing was happening. Again and again HostJeff kept telling everyone to be patient. During this time, the waiting list had grown to over 1,000 players and thousands of more observing. With all that railing something was bound to happen.
The hand was finally dealt and, NeonFrost timed out and folded. Curses, talk about a bad day. There was much commotion and chatter as to what was going on, and meanwhile the players were still playing the hand.
To make maters worse, the entire Stars client freezes and everyone starts getting random disconnects.
Finally players came back and continued betting. When it was all said and done, player tupapi777 scooped everything with HI: a flush, Ace high and LO: 7,5,3,2,A. HostJeff came to the rescue saying they would review NeonFrost’s case. Apparently, NeonFrost would have had a queen high flush for half of the $100,000. After some deliberation, HostJeff returns declaring that all playes dealt would be treated as all-in, so therefore:
Players NeonFrost and tupapi777 would win $50,000 each, and tournament packages consisting of the 2009 WSOP, EPT Monte Carlo Final, PCA 2010, and a WCOOP 200. All together these packages were worth $50,000. The remaining players, n47j25s, chris12080, and FrtSpkndMn each won $33,333.33.
Congratulations to NeonFrost and tupapi777 and all other milestone winners! Sign up at PokerStars today and start taking part in these amazing promos!
Here is the official 25,000,000,000 hand:
PokerStars Game #25000000000: Omaha Hi/Lo Limit ($1/$2) – 2009/02/16 4:35:36 ET
Table ‘Susilva’ 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: NeonFrost ($7 in chips)
Seat 2: tupapi777 ($112.25 in chips)
Seat 3: FrtSpkndMn ($22.25 in chips)
Seat 4: n47j25s ($43.25 in chips)
Seat 5: chris12080 ($43 in chips)
n47j25s: posts small blind $0.50
chris12080: posts big blind $1
Confedrate: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
HostJeff [observer] said, “Not long now”
HostJeff [observer] said, “Good luck, players!”
NeonFrost has timed out while being disconnected
NeonFrost: folds
NeonFrost is sitting out
tupapi777: raises $1 to $2
FrtSpkndMn: raises $1 to $3
n47j25s: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
NeonFrost has returned
chris12080: calls $3
tupapi777: calls $2
FrtSpkndMn: calls $1
*** FLOP *** [2s 7s Kh]
tupapi777: bets $1
FrtSpkndMn: raises $1 to $2
n47j25s: calls $2
chris12080: calls $2
tupapi777: raises $1 to $3
FrtSpkndMn: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
n47j25s: calls $2
chris12080: calls $2
tupapi777: calls $1
*** TURN *** [2s 7s Kh] [As]
n47j25s: checks
chris12080: checks
tupapi777 is disconnected
tupapi777 is connected
tupapi777: bets $2
FrtSpkndMn: raises $2 to $4
n47j25s: calls $4
chris12080: calls $4
tupapi777: calls $2
*** RIVER *** [2s 7s Kh As] [7c]
n47j25s: checks
chris12080: checks
tupapi777: bets $2
n47j25s is disconnected
FrtSpkndMn: raises $2 to $4
n47j25s is connected
tupapi777 is disconnected
chris12080 is disconnected
Confedrate is disconnected
n47j25s: calls $4
Confedrate is connected
tupapi777 is connected
hris12080 is connected
chris12080: calls $4
tupapi777: calls $2
*** SHOW DOWN ***
FrtSpkndMn: shows [Ts 5c 4c Ah] (HI: two pair, Aces and Sevens; LO: 7,5,4,2,A)
n47j25s: mucks hand
chris12080: shows [4d Qd Ad Tc] (HI: two pair, Aces and Sevens – Queen kicker)
tupapi777: shows [Js 6d 5s 3s] (HI: a flush, Ace high; LO: 7,5,3,2,A)
tupapi777 collected $31.50 from pot
tupapi777 collected $31.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $64 | Rake $1
Board [2s 7s Kh As 7c]
Seat 1: NeonFrost folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: tupapi777 showed [Js 6d 5s 3s] and won ($63) with HI: a flush, Ace high; LO: 7,5,3,2,A
Seat 3: FrtSpkndMn (button) showed [Ts 5c 4c Ah] and lost with HI: two pair, Aces and Sevens; LO: 7,5,4,2,A
Seat 4: n47j25s (small blind) mucked
Seat 5: chris12080 (big blind) showed [4d Qd Ad Tc] and lost with HI: two pair, Aces and Sevens