Once a year, PokerStars celebrates its iconic Sunday Million with a special anniversary edition. And after two decades of the flagship online poker tournament, this year, it’s really going to be a party to remember.

The Sunday Million 20th Anniversary edition–a summer-long $109 buy-in phased tournament with millions guaranteed in prizes–begins with Phase 1s (daily heats), kicking off on Sunday, June 28, with the final Phase 2 on Sunday, September 6.

Head here for all the details.

Jot those dates down. You’re not going to want to miss it. Nor will you have to.

PokerStars is running countless satellites, putting on various promotions, and offering Spin & Go prizes to ensure everyone–regardless of bankroll–can find a way into what could be the biggest tournament of their lives.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and recall the winners and prizes from each special Sunday Million Anniversary event.

WOOD – 5th Anniversary – 2011

The first true celebration of the Sunday Million came back in 2011. It was the fifth year of the prestigious event, and to honour the occasion, PokerStars put on a massive $215 event with 59,128 total entries and an $11.8 million prize pool.

The USA’s Luke “Bdbeatslayer” Vrabel took it down for $671K following a nine-handed chop at the final table. But there was something special awaiting the winner, too.

Vrabel also won himself a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 for finishing first. Baller.

IRON AND SUGAR – 6th Anniversary – 2012

For a 6th anniversary, iron signifies strength and stability while sugar reflects the sweetness that still coats the relationship.

The Netherlands’ “slyfox151” proved strongest back in 2012, winning the Sunday Million 6th anniversary for a sweet, sweet prize, having outlasted 33,732 entries.

He or she took it down for $480K after an eight-handed chop, but it was New Zealand’s “HesBluffingx” who banked the lion’s share of the $6.7 million prize pool, winning $552K.

WOOL – 7th Anniversary – 2013

Andrius “benislovas” Bielskis certainly pulled the wool over his employer’s eyes back in 2013.

As a department head at a Lithuanian international logistics company, he texted his boss to tell them he was going to be late when he found himself with a huge stack deep in the 7th anniversary Sunday Million.

The event had 49,287 entries and Bielskis went on to win it for a massive $848K after a three-way chop. That’s a pretty good excuse for tardiness.

He still went to work Monday morning, though.

BRONZE – 8th Anniversary – 2014

The first millionaire to be crowned from a Sunday Million anniversary was Germany’s “DrUPSWING” in the 8th edition back in 2014.

He or she was the last person standing after 46,586 players entered, creating a $9.3 million prize pool. For their efforts, they won $1.03 million following a heads-up deal.

Interestingly, high roller superstar Patrick “pads1161” Leonard finished ninth for $110K on his way to becoming one of the top online tournament players in the world. He’s still up there today.

COPPER – 9th Anniversary – 2015

Another American, Brayden “BRAYDEN93” Fritzshall (playing from Mexico), was king of the castle in the Sunday Million 9th anniversary in 2015, winning $597K after the final seven players made a deal.

“Kelly_koulis” from Greece claimed the biggest prize, however, earning $725K in the chop before finishing in second.

The event attracted 50,432 entries and built a $10.08 million prize pool.

TIN – 10th Anniversary – 2016

With 55,059 entries and an $11 million prize pool, the Milly’s 10th anniversary did exactly what it said on the tin: offer seven-figure prizes.

However, the final four players agreed to a deal which saw eventual champ “a.urli” of Canada win just shy of a milly ($970K).

Still, that’s 4,511 buy-ins.

STEEL – 11th Anniversary – 2017

Belgium’s Bart “girafganger7” Stevens is one of online poker’s supermen. Back in 2017, he almost became the Man of Steel.

The 11th anniversary Sunday Million had 55,835 entries, creating an $11.1 million prize pool. No surprises that it offered the largest payouts of any Milly anniversary up until then.

Panama’s “Xavi666” was eventually crowned the champ, winning $1.09 million. As for Stevens, he’d have to settle for fifth and $292K. Don’t feel too bad for him, though–he’s done pretty well since then.

SILK – 12th Anniversary – 2018

There was $10 million up for grabs in 2018 as the Milly celebrated its 12th anniversary. In the end, it was a small-stakes player from Brazil who ran silky-smooth, while we noted the emergence of a tournament phenom and current world no.1.

Luis “Hulk9950” Felipe overcame the 43,975-strong field to win it all for $960K, following a three-way chop.

His countryman, Brunno “botteonpoker” Botteon, finished in eighth for $108K. The Brazilian is a former world No. 1 in online tournaments and continues to crush to this day.

LACE – 13th Anniversary – 2019

China enjoyed their first Sunday Million anniversary win in 2019 when “wangli0402” took down the 13th edition for $611K after a five-handed deal.

That was no easy feat as the event had a whopping 61,342 entries, creating a $12.2 million prize pool–the biggest yet.

Things would get even bigger the next year.

GOLD – 14th Anniversary – 2020

2020 was a year like no other. That’s especially true for Brazil’s Alex “AAAArthur” Brito.

The 38-year-old was laid off from his job and on lockdown when he won his way into the Sunday Million 14th anniversary for just $4. The event had the biggest prize pool of any anniversary edition so far–$18.6 million.

A few days later, Brito had outlasted an incredible 93,016-player field to win it all for $1.1 million.

“Believe me, you must never give up. I’m an example,” Brito told PokerStars Blog. “I’m just an aspiring poker player, a recreational player who has now managed to change life for his family thanks to poker.

CRYSTAL – 15th Anniversary – 2021

“It’s a weird thing that I don’t know how to explain, but the day before the tournament began, I had a feeling this tournament was going to be mine,” Vanessa “Niffler” Kade told us. “Then I was sitting at the final table. To have it play out the way it did, it still doesn’t feel real to me. None of this feels real.”

Kade navigated her way through a 70,000-player field and took down the $215 Sunday Million 15th Anniversary for a massive $1.5M on March 23, 2021. Unsurprisingly, she calls it the best day of her life.

She’d put in the preparation. The Sunday Million 15th Anniversary gave her the opportunity.

Read our interview with Kade here.

WAX – 16th anniversary – 2022

“The Sunday Million Anniversary event is a must for every poker player, so it was clear that I would try it.”

That’s what Germany’s “Blackbeaty” told us. The problem was that, after three hours of grinding, he was eliminated. A few hours went by before he came to a realisation. “[This tournament] is only once a year, so I re-entered with 13 big blinds,” he said.

That proved to be the best decision he ever made. A few days later, he took it down for just over $931,000.

“It’s such an unreal result,” he said. “In that moment, when the table closes and it says you’ve won, there is just infinite emptiness. You think it can’t be real and that you’re dreaming, as is often the case with dreams of winning big.

“Like, really? Is this the moment I always dreamed of? Had I finally achieved what I’d studied so many books, videos and coaching material for?

“Yes!” he said. “I made it!”

Read our interview with Blackbeaty here.

FURNITURE – 17th anniversary – 2023

There’s an ancient Chinese proverb that says: all good things come in pairs. We’re not sure how familiar Brazil’s Ricardo ‘RFN1986’ Nagamoto is with that adage, but boy, does it apply to him.

You see, three months before the 17th Sunday Million Anniversary in 2023, Nagatomo’s wife gave birth to twins. The then-36-year-old poker pro says his world outside of the game was flipped upside down in the best possible way when he became a father. “They are the most beautiful things in my life,” he told us.

But before becoming a dad, Nagatomo’s dream was to take down the Sunday Million. “It’s the tournament that every player wants to win,” he said.

And when he reached three-handed play, he was dealt the best pair of all: pocket aces. They held after a big all-in, and he went on to win it for a cool $1 million.

“Winning a regular Sunday Million would be an incredible feat. But winning the anniversary Sunday Million is indescribable,” he said.

Head here for a full recap of the event.

PORCELAIN – 18th anniversary – 2024

The dreams of thousands of players ended for another year this week. But for one player, every dream came true.

The Sunday Million Anniversary event – the 18th in its illustrious record – came to a finish, won for the second year in a row by a Brazilian player.

That player was “CrossBreed17”, who emerged from a gruelling 90-minute heads-up battle to win a first prize of $1,000,000.

Sunday Melon finished in second place, for a not-bad-at-all runners-up prize of $733.959.80.

BRONZE – 19th anniversary – 2025

Last year’s edition attracted 28,444 entries at $215 each and paid out a total of $6,000,000 in prizes.

For the finalists, it was a long marathon that lasted three days. But for the ultimate champion Carlos Augusto “gutAoAllin” Martins – who took home $391,436 – the journey to the title began long before…

“It’s a real turning point – not just financially,” he said. “Winning the Sunday Million Anniversary has a huge impact. It’s something every poker player chases. Not just for the money – it’s about seeing your name at the top of the most important tournament, the one you watch others play every Sunday. It’s very special. I really feel grateful – like things happened exactly as they were meant to.”

Read our interview with Martins here.

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We hope this article has got you pumped up. Because we’re doing it all again.

The 20th anniversary of the Sunday Million. A $109 Phased event running all summer. Millions guaranteed.

Head here for all the details.

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