$1.2 million overlay in the Sunday Million

The biggest online tournament of 2018 (so far) has missed its guarantee by a staggering amount.

The PokerStars Sunday Million 12th Anniversary boasted a $10 million guarantee for a $215 buy-in, but has fallen short by a big margin. 

43,975 entries were made before the close of registration, which is gobsmacking by any objective measure, but 50,000 were needed to meet the guarantee. 

That is some 6,025 entries shy, or $1,205,000 when you remove the rake. This time last year the same event attracted 55,835 players and was won by 'Xavi666' for $1,093,204.63.

The other major Anniversary event last night was the Sunday Storm 7th Anniversary event which attracted 142,099 entries and crushed the $1 million guarantee by a big margin, collecting $1,420,990 in prize money. 

This is a rare big overlay for PokerStars, but at the end of last year their first PCA Ultra Satellite did incur an overlay of $574,820. 

A reason for this overlay may have been the increased competition from partypoker who hosted their PowerFest Main Events last night, though that series was still small in comparison. The High $2,100 Main Event attracted 525 players and the Low $22 Main Event captured 2,182. 

The Sunday Million has been paused with 535 players remaining and will resume later today. Everyone left in is guaranteed $1,219 but the eventual champion will pocket $1,024,524. 

Why do you think the guarantee was missed by such a big margin? Let us know in the comments: