GGPoker launched Ocean KO on October 2, 2026, adding random bounty multipliers to the Progressive Knock-Out (PKO) format. Each knockout triggers a Bounty Wheel spin, with the multiplier drawn from a range determined by the eliminated player's bounty tier.
The format has 14 tiers, from Egg to Legendary Shark. Tiers 1 through 10 offer multipliers ranging from x0.4 to x400, although GGPoker says most spins land on x1 or lower.
How Ocean KO Bounty Payouts Work
In a standard PKO, knocking out an opponent with a $50 bounty pays $25 in cash and adds another $25 to the winner's bounty.
Ocean KO keeps the 50/50 split, but the Bounty Wheel applies a random multiplier to the eliminated player's bounty before the reward is divided.
If the Wheel lands on x2 against an opponent with a $50 bounty, the resulting Random Bounty is $100. The winner receives $50 in cash, while the other $50 is added to their own bounty.
A multiplier below x1 produces a Random Bounty smaller than the opponent's displayed bounty. At x0.4, the same $50 bounty generates a $20 reward, with $10 paid in cash and $10 added to the winner's bounty.
The remaining $30 stays in the tournament's bounty pool to help fund higher multiplier payouts.
The multiplier distribution is designed so that total bounty payouts match the bounty pool over time. Individual tournaments may still pay out more or less than the amount in the pool, so the lobby displays estimated bounty pool amounts.
Fourteen Bounty Tiers From Egg to Legendary Shark
A player's tier depends on their bounty value, not their chip stack or the number of opponents they have eliminated.
In a standard 50/50 Ocean KO, everyone starts as an Egg with a bounty equal to half the buy-in.
For a $10 tournament using that split, the starting bounty is $5. The Tier 10 Shark threshold is $500.
Knocking out a Shark carrying a $500 bounty and landing x400 would generate a $200,000 Random Bounty. Of that amount, $100,000 would be paid in cash and the other $100,000 added to the winner's bounty.
In a $100 Ocean KO with a 20/80 split, each player instead begins with an $80 bounty at Tier 3, Fish.
The final four tiers have fixed bounty thresholds that do not change with the buy-in:
- Legendary Octopus: $10,000
- Legendary Dolphin: $50,000
- Legendary Whale: $250,000
- Legendary Shark: $1,000,000
Players can enter the Legendary tiers only after their bounty exceeds 50 times the tournament buy-in.
Legendary tiers have narrower multiplier ranges. Legendary Shark uses x0.8 to x1.5.
Based on the tier's $1,000,000 starting bounty, GGPoker's official table lists a Max KO Reward of $1,500,000+. The actual payout depends on the eliminated player's bounty value and the multiplier drawn, so the listed amount is not guaranteed.
A knockout can move a player through several tiers if their bounty increases enough to cross multiple thresholds. Tier progress resets with each new tournament.
The Champion's Final Bounty Spin
When the champion knocks out the runner-up, the first Bounty Wheel spin follows the usual 50/50 split. Half the Random Bounty is paid in cash, while the other half increases the champion's bounty.
A Final Bounty Spin then uses the champion's updated bounty value and tier to determine the reward. Unlike a regular knockout, the entire amount from this spin is paid in cash.
Tracking Bounties During Play
Each player's current tier appears beside their seat. Selecting the tier icon shows their Bounty Value and the minimum and maximum rewards available for knocking them out.
The Field tab in the tournament lobby includes a Live Status panel showing how many players remain in each of the 14 tiers. Bounty Wheel results are also displayed publicly at the table.
Ocean KO tournaments are available in the GGPoker Tournament lobby.
Where permitted by local regulations, Ocean KO tournaments are also eligible for GGPoker Staking. Backers share in cash bounties and final tournament payouts according to their backing percentage.
