PokerStars has put Sunday Million Anniversary 20 on the summer schedule, marking the 20th year of its flagship Sunday Million online tournament.
The anniversary edition will be a $109 buy-in Phased tournament. Phase 1 daily heats begin on Sunday, June 28, and will run for 10 weeks. Players who make it through Phase 1 with chips will return for Phase 2, which starts on Sunday, September 6.
The guarantee has not been released yet. PokerStars said it will share the guarantee, additional tournament information and qualification routes in the weeks ahead.
Phase 1 Runs Throughout the Summer
Sunday Million Anniversary 20 will give players a longer window to qualify than a standard single-schedule event. With daily Phase 1 heats running across the summer, players can choose a starting flight that fits their own schedule.
The format also gives players multiple chances to reach the next stage. If one Phase 1 attempt does not go their way, they can try again in another heat.
PokerStars pointed to flexibility as one of the main benefits of Phased tournaments, especially for recreational players who may not be able to commit to a full multi-day event at once.
The operator also said that in Phased Sunday Million events, players who finish a starting flight with chips are already guaranteed a payout when Day 2 begins.
Sunday Million Reaches Its 20th Year
The Sunday Million has been part of the PokerStars weekend schedule since it was first named in June 2006. Over the years, the tournament has used several formats, including freezeout, rebuy, re-entry, Phased, Mystery Bounty and Progressive Knockout versions.
For Anniversary 20, PokerStars is using a Phased structure with an extended qualification period. The longer Phase 1 window is designed to give players more opportunities to take part before the event reaches its final stage.
PokerStars also looked back at several recent Sunday Million Anniversary champions.
Vanessa “Nifller” Kade won the 2021 Anniversary edition for $1.5 million. In 2022, “Blackbeaty” won $931K after a heads-up deal. Ricardo “RFN1986” Nagamoto won the 2023 edition, taking $1 million after defeating a 39,500-entry field.
The 2024 Sunday Million 18th Anniversary was won by “CrossBreed17,” who secured a $1 million first prize after a 90-minute heads-up battle. PokerStars also named Brazil’s Carlos Augusto “gutAoAllin” Martins as last year’s champion. He received $391,436 after a four-way deal in an event with 28,444 entries.
Guarantee and Qualification Routes Still to Come
For now, the main dates are clear: Phase 1 daily heats begin on June 28, and Phase 2 begins on September 6.
The guarantee is the main detail still to be released. PokerStars said the figure, along with qualification routes and further tournament details, will be announced in the coming weeks.
