Winter may have come and gone, but 888poker’s XL Blizzard is just getting started.

The 34-event online series features value heavy tournaments that will satisfy players with every size bankroll.

On Thursday, three events got underway including the always popular $100,000 Opening Event.

Event #1 – $100,000 Opening Event

Players looking for extra value need have looked no further than Event #1 – $100,000 Opening Event. The $109 buy-in brought out 727 entries, there was plenty of overlay to be had in the $100K prize pool. With 99 places being paid, the Opening Event promised the largest payouts of the day.

In the end, Russia’s ‘plomoor’ and Switzerland’s ‘metis996’ made a final two deal which ended with ‘plomoor’ earning the victory and $16,458.50 for first. It turns out that firing a second bullet was good for ‘metis996’ who padded his bankroll with $14,991.50 as the runner up.

‘jophBralph’ from the UK took home the bronze and $9,900 for his efforts. ‘elhanna17’ finished in fourth place for $7,450 and ‘Legenden’ wrapped up in fifth for $5,200.

Event #2 – $20,000 Mini Opening Event

The $16.50 Mini Opening Event saw attendance soar as 1,262 entries (443 re-entries) piled into the lobby to create a guarantee-smashing $25,575 prize pool.

Romania captured both of the top two spots in this one as ‘ILovePickles’ made his fourth entry really count, taking home $4,348 for first place. His countryman ‘JacktheCpt’ finished as the runner-up, earning $3,196.87. The top six players all turned their minimal buy-in, into four-figure scores.

A pair of PocketFivers made it to the final table in the Mini Opening. Slovenian grinder ‘sucre0104’ took home $2,427.06 for third place, adding that to his over $180LK in lifetime career cashes.

Russia’s ‘Saha1988’ fell in seventh place, winning $754.46. That very score is good enough to push him up over $250,000 in total lifetime scores.

Event #3 – $20,000 Late Opening

387 players (114 re-entries) took part in the $55 buy-in Late Opening Event, pushing the prize pool to $25,050.

Austria’s ‘shcirr’ took the top spot and walked with $4,801.16 after he defeated Russia’s ‘Omfg72oAgain’, who settled for $3,569.62 for second place.

Longtime 888poker grinder ‘_Lord_Xenu_’ fired three times in this event to land in third place winning $2,630.25. Fellow Switzerland countryman, and Opening event runner-up, ‘metis996’ finished in fourth place adding just over $2000 to his daily haul.

Friday brings another two XL Blizzard events as a pair of the popular Progressive Knockout tournaments are sure to bring the crowds.

XL Blizzard Day 1 Winners