888poker Ambassador Vivian Saliba Falls Short of Mystery Bounty Festival Title

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Feb 21, 2023 9 min read Last updated Feb 22, 2023

The $120,000 Mystery Bounty Opening event, part of the inaugural Mystery Bounty Festival online at 888poker concluded on February 20, with Brazil's "Leofolivieria" coming out on top and capturing a total prize worth $10,811. Some 1,032 players bought into the $109 buy-in tournament, including 888poker ambassador Vivian "Vivi.888." Saliba, who came agonisingly close to becoming a Mystery Bounty Festival champion.

Saliba wasn't the only 888poker ambassador to go deep in an event because Josh "Josh_Manley" Manley finished eighth in the MB Festival #05 - $15,000 Mystery Bounty 8-Max for $540, while Ian "Simpioni" Simpson finished second in a $15,000 MB Festival Mystery Bounty 55 and won a $4,500 MB Festival Mystery Bounty 6-Max 55 tournament on the same night.

MB Festival #03 - $120,000 Mystery Bounty Opening Final Table Results

Play resumed on February 20 with only nine players in contention, but the field was quickly reduced to only eight with the elimination of Finland's "I8UrStack." The Finn open-shoved queen-nine of diamonds from the cutoff for 9.6 big blinds, and "8ate8" called in the big blind with ace-king of spades. 8ate8 flopped top two pair before improving to a flush on the river to send I8UrStack home in ninth.

The final eight became seven when "PashaPushu" moved all-in from middle position for 12.3 big blinds with ace-queen, and "bouillax" three-bet all-in with the dominating ace-king to isolate them. The other active players folded, and PashaPushu bowed out despite flopping a queen because bouillax flopped a king and hit another on the river.

Lithuania's "sraigtakkk" was the next player finding themselves with fresh air where their chips once stood. They were down to 3.5 big blinds when they moved all-in from early position with a pair of eights in the hole. Chip leader "Leofolivieria" called on the button with queen-jack of hearts, while "perrivini" called from the big blind with king-four offsuit, The eights remained the best hand through to the river thanks to Leofolivira spiking a jack on the final community card.

888poker Casts The Wizard's Spell and Gives Away $300,000

Sixth place went to bouillax despite them being second in chips when six-handed play began. 8ate8 min-raised under the gun with queen-jack of diamonds before bouillax three-bet shoved for 25.4 big blinds on the button with ace-jack of clubs. Just as we thought that would be the last of the action, Leofolivieria woke up in the big blind with pocket kings, and re-shoved; 8ate8 folded. A ten-high board was no help to bouillax, and they exited in fifth.

Ecuador's "CARRAMROD" busted in fifth, a finish good for $3,093. perrivini opened with a 23 big blind shove from the button with ace-seven of diamonds, and CARRAMROD called off their 12 big blind stack with pocket sevens. Those sevens stayed ahead until the river, which is when an ace appeared to send CARRAMROD home.

Then came the untimely demise of Saliba in fourth for $4,001. Saliba was short-stacked when she three-bet all-in for 6.1 big blinds with ace-king of diamonds after perrivini had min-raised with the dominated ace-five. perrivini's hand only stayed dominated until they paired their five on the flop, and Saliba crashed out when she failed to catch a king on the turn or river. An epic run from the 888poker ambassador.

Heads-up was set when 8ate8 crashed out in third. Amazingly, 8ate8 walked away with $17,799, the most of any player, including the champion. This happened because they won the $12,000 jackpot mystery bounty during Day 1's action. 8ate8's participation in the event ended at the hands of perrivini. They open-shoved for 18 big blinds from the small blind with suited queen-jack, and perrivini snap-called with pocket kings. 8ate8 flopped a jack but their opponent improved to a set.

The stacks were evenly matched going into heads-up, leading to an exciting one-on-one encounter that spanned an hour. The final hand went down during the 46th level of the tournament, and saw perrivini move all-in for 17 big blinds with ace-trey, and Leofoliveira call with pocket fives. A set of fives for Leofoliveira proved more than enough to eliminate perrivini and capture the $120,000 Mystery Bounty Opening event for a total prize worth $10,811.

The Mystery Bounty Festival Continues

Another dozen Mystery Bounty Festival tournaments take place on February 21. They have buy-ins from $1 to $109, meaning there is an event for everyone. Will you capture a title like Leofoliviera did?

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