
The ACR Venom October 2026 results produced one of the most remarkable finishes of the online poker season, with two $2,650 buy-in championships generating a combined $6,862,500 in prize pools and one player making both final tables on the same day.
Americas Cardroom’s Dual Venom Progressive Knockout tournaments concluded on October 21, with official results released the following day.
The No-Limit Hold’em championship went to PushLightYear, who collected $536,577.13 after defeating ArkaduktusFrRM heads-up.
Meanwhile, the Pot-Limit Omaha title went to tigerseyes, who received $239,819.45 after reaching a final-table deal with Pepareg1.
However, perhaps the most extraordinary performance belonged to the player who finished without either championship trophy.
Ukraine’s Pepareg1 reached both final tables, finishing third in No-Limit Hold’em and second in Pot-Limit Omaha for combined winnings of $446,143.51.
That achievement is especially striking because Pepareg1 entered the seven-handed PLO final table with the shortest stack, yet managed to climb all the way to heads-up play.
Both tournaments also exceeded their advertised guarantees, producing $362,500 more in prize money than the combined $6.5 million promised.
Here are the confirmed winners, final-table payouts, tournament statistics and the story behind an extraordinary Dual Venom finale.
ACR Venom October 2026 Results: Winners and Prize Pools
Americas Cardroom hosted two separate Venom PKO tournaments in October: one featuring No-Limit Texas Hold’em and the other Pot-Limit Omaha.
Both events required a $2,650 entry and featured multiple starting flights leading toward the final tables.
According to ACR Poker’s official October 22 results announcement, the two tournaments attracted 2,745 combined entries.
Dual Venom Final Results at a Glance
| Statistic | NLH Venom PKO | PLO Venom PKO |
|---|---|---|
| Campeão | PushLightYear | tigerseyes |
| Buy-in | $2,650 | $2,650 |
| Guaranteed prize pool | $5,000,000 | $1,500,000 |
| Entradas | 2,143 | 602 |
| Actual prize pool | $5,357,500 | $1,505,000 |
| Amount above guarantee | $357,500 | $5,000 |
| Champion’s total winnings | $536,577.13 | $239,819.45 |
| Final-table players | 9 | 7 |
Together, the two events produced:
- 2,745 total entries across both tournaments.
- $6,862,500 in combined prize pools.
- $362,500 above the advertised guarantees.
- Two championship winners, with one player making both final tables.
Importantly, combined entries are not the same as unique players. The same person could enter both events, as Pepareg1 demonstrated.
PushLightYear Wins ACR Venom NLH for $536,577
PushLightYear, playing from Andorra, emerged as the champion of the $5 million guaranteed No-Limit Hold’em Venom.
The tournament attracted 2,143 entries, creating a $5,357,500 prize pool.
Although the winner’s regular placement prize was $332,932.28, the progressive knockout structure added another $203,644.85 in bounty winnings.
That brought PushLightYear’s total payout to $536,577.13.
However, the victory was far from inevitable at the start of the final table.
PushLightYear entered the nine-handed finale sixth in chips, holding approximately 60.8 million.
The chip leader, Nyts14, had more than 144 million.
Meanwhile, ArkaduktusFrRM and Pepareg1 also held considerably larger stacks.
Consequently, PushLightYear needed to navigate several major confrontations before becoming the championship favorite.
How PushLightYear Reached Heads-Up
One of the key eliminations involved Pepareg1, who was simultaneously competing for the PLO title.
With three players remaining in the NLH event, Pepareg1 committed a short stack and ran into a stronger hand held by PushLightYear.
Pepareg1 was eliminated in third place.
The result guaranteed a final confrontation between PushLightYear and ArkaduktusFrRM.
According to Poker.org’s final-table report, PushLightYear entered heads-up play at a chip disadvantage.
However, a major pot reversed the situation and gave the eventual champion the lead.
Later, a decisive river confrontation ended the match when PushLightYear improved to two pair and called the opponent’s final all-in.
The victory completed a substantial comeback from the middle of the final-table chip standings.
How Much Did the NLH Runner-Up Win?
ArkaduktusFrRM finished second for approximately $418,825, including nearly $85,900 in bounty winnings.
That is a notable figure because the regular placement prizes for the two finalists were almost identical.
However, PushLightYear accumulated significantly more money through the bounty component.
Therefore, the final financial difference between the players was much greater than their placement prizes alone suggested.
ACR Venom NLH Final Table Payouts
The following table shows the reported regular placement prizes and collected bounties, rounded to the nearest dollar. The two payout components must be added together to understand each player’s overall result.
| Lugar | Jogador | Regular Prize | Bounties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1º | PushLightYear | $332,932 | $203,645 |
| 2º | ArkaduktusFrRM | $332,931 | $85,894 |
| 3º | Pepareg1 | $240,370 | $41,101 |
| 4º | Lappy | $173,550 | $84,248 |
| 5º | Nyts14 | $125,306 | $54,492 |
| 6º | WhatDoWeHave | $90,446 | $14,726 |
| 7º | meteli goli | $65,319 | $38,769 |
| 8º | RippersNdarts | $47,162 | $32,636 |
| 9º | TIKITAKA11 | $34,052 | $44,780 |
Sources: ACR Poker’s official payout information and Poker.org’s final-table coverage. Some outlets report small differences in rounded bounty figures. The exact champion totals in this article use ACR’s published results.
One interesting feature is that the player finishing ninth collected more in bounties than in placement prize money.
That illustrates why finishing position alone does not describe the complete financial outcome of a progressive knockout tournament.
The Biggest Story: Pepareg1 Wins $446,143 Without Taking Either Title
One of the most remarkable achievements of the October Dual Venom was delivered by a player who never finished first.
Pepareg1 reached both the No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha final tables.
That is difficult enough across two separate large-field tournaments.
However, the Ukrainian player went further by reaching the top three in both competitions.
The results were:
| Acontecimento | Finish | Regular Prize | Bounties | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLH Venom | 3º | $240,369.59 | $41,101.06 | $281,470.65 |
| PLO Venom | 2º | $128,621.88 | $36,050.98 | $164,672.86 |
| Combined | Two podiums | $368,991.47 | $77,152.04 | $446,143.51 |
These figures come from ACR Poker’s official results breakdown.
For perspective, Pepareg1’s combined tournament payout was larger than the total payout of the PLO champion.
However, the player had entered two separate tournaments, and the reported total does not establish personal net profit after entries, potential staking arrangements, or other expenses.
From Last in Chips to Second Place in PLO
The PLO result was particularly striking.
Seven players returned for the final table, and Pepareg1 began with the smallest stack at approximately 17.99 million chips.
The chip leader, tigerseyes, held more than 60.88 million.
That left Pepareg1 with a major disadvantage in a game known for high variance and frequent changes in hand equity.
Nevertheless, the player survived multiple eliminations and reached the final two.
The heads-up confrontation eventually ended with an agreement to divide the remaining regular prize money.
Pepareg1 collected $164,672.86 overall from the PLO event and still had another substantial NLH result to add.
Importantly, the two podium finishes were not the first dual-final-table appearance in Venom history.
ACR professional Chance Kornuth had reached both final tables in a previous Dual Venom edition.
However, finishing second and third in two separate events on the same day makes Pepareg1’s performance particularly notable.
tigerseyes Wins ACR Venom PLO for $239,819
The Pot-Limit Omaha Venom brought together 602 entries and generated a $1,505,000 prize pool.
The event was advertised with a $1.5 million guarantee, which it exceeded by $5,000.
Mexico’s tigerseyes entered the seven-handed final table with the largest chip stack and successfully converted that advantage into the championship.
However, the final result involved a deal with Pepareg1 rather than a straightforward heads-up finish with the originally scheduled first-place payout.
How the PLO Final-Table Deal Worked
After reaching heads-up play, tigerseyes and Pepareg1 agreed to divide the remaining regular prize money almost equally.
As a result, their regular payouts differed by only six cents.
However, their bounty totals were much further apart.
| Jogador | Regular Prize | Bounties | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| tigerseyes | $128,621.94 | $111,197.51 | $239,819.45 |
| Pepareg1 | $128,621.88 | $36,050.98 | $164,672.86 |
Despite receiving nearly identical regular payouts, tigerseyes finished with approximately $75,147 more in total winnings because of the bounty difference.
This distinction is central to understanding progressive knockout tournament results.
For example, a deal involving the regular prize pool does not automatically equalize bounty earnings that have already been collected.
Who Else Reached the ACR Venom PLO Final Table?
The Pot-Limit Omaha final table also featured several recognizable poker professionals.
Brian Hastings finished third, while Brazilian players José Orlando do Nascimento and Yuri Dzivielevski finished fourth and fifth respectively.
| Lugar | Jogador | Regular Prize | Bounties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1º | tigerseyes | $128,622 | $111,198 |
| 2º | Pepareg1 | $128,622 | $36,051 |
| 3º | Brian Hastings | $93,194 | $25,903 |
| 4º | Blessed33 | $67,526 | $15,217 |
| 5º | vousconfus | $48,927 | $23,706 |
| 6º | Tweetme | $35,451 | $18,476 |
| 7º | Juantman | $25,687 | $20,205 |
Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar using published results.
The table demonstrates how much additional value progressive bounties can add to ordinary tournament placements.
Yuri Dzivielevski and José Orlando Return to Another Major PLO Final
Yuri Dzivielevski, playing under the screen name vousconfus, finished fifth for approximately $72,634 including bounties.
Meanwhile, José Orlando do Nascimento, known as Blessed33, finished fourth for approximately $82,743.
According to ACR’s separate report on Brazilian finalists, both players had also appeared together at a PLO Venom final table earlier in 2026.
The result reinforced Brazil’s presence in major online Omaha tournaments, although neither player captured this particular championship.
How Much Did ACR Venom Pay Out Above Its Guarantees?
Both October Venom events exceeded their promised minimum prize pools.
The Hold’em tournament accounted for most of the additional money.
| Acontecimento | Guarantee | Actual Prize Pool | Excess |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLH PKO | $5,000,000 | $5,357,500 | $357,500 |
| PLO PKO | $1,500,000 | $1,505,000 | $5,000 |
| Total | $6,500,000 | $6,862,500 | $362,500 |
Combined, that is approximately 5.58% above the advertised guarantee.
However, exceeding a guarantee does not mean the operator contributed an additional $362,500 from its own funds.
It means the prize pools funded by eligible entries finished above the minimum amounts the operator had promised.
That differs from an overlay, which occurs when the eligible prize contributions fall below a tournament’s guaranteed prize pool and the organizer must cover the shortfall under its applicable rules.
Why Doesn’t the $2,650 Buy-In Multiply to the Published Prize Pool?
The distinction between an advertised entry price and the contribution to the prize pool is important.
Por exemplo:
2,143 NLH entries × $2,500 = $5,357,500.
602 PLO entries × $2,500 = $1,505,000.
Those calculations reproduce the reported prize pools exactly.
The difference between the $2,650 advertised entry and the $2,500 prize-pool contribution is $150 per entry.
That strongly suggests a $2,500 tournament contribution plus a $150 entry fee, although this arithmetic alone does not establish every detail of the operator’s accounting or fee terminology.
The key point for players is that a published tournament buy-in and the amount allocated to prizes are not always identical.
What Is a Progressive Knockout Tournament?
Both October Venom events used the Progressive Knockout format, usually abbreviated PKO.
In a conventional tournament, the main objective is to finish high enough in the standings to receive a payout.
In a PKO tournament, eliminating opponents provides another source of potential winnings.
Each player has a bounty attached to their tournament entry.
When another player eliminates them, the eliminator generally receives part of that bounty, while another portion increases the value attached to the eliminator’s own head.
For the October ACR Venoms, the published rules describe a 50/50 split.
How the ACR Venom PKO Bounty System Worked
Suppose a player eliminates an opponent whose current bounty is $1,000.
Under the stated 50/50 mechanic:
- $500 is paid immediately to the eliminator as a bounty reward.
- $500 is added to the eliminator’s own bounty.
The next person who eliminates that player may therefore receive a larger reward than they would have earlier in the tournament.
This is why bounty values can grow considerably as the event progresses.
However, the amount a player earns from eliminating opponents depends on the actual bounty values and tournament circumstances, not merely the number of eliminations.
Nossa guia de estratégia de poker knockout progressivo examines how bounty values can change calling decisions and tournament strategy.
Why Half of the Venom Prize Pool Went to Bounties
Each October Venom allocated half of its total prize pool to regular placement prizes and half to bounty rewards.
| Prize Component | NLH Venom | PLO Venom |
|---|---|---|
| Regular prize pool | $2,678,750 | $752,500 |
| Bounty prize pool | $2,678,750 | $752,500 |
| Total prize pool | $5,357,500 | $1,505,000 |
That allocation explains why placement results alone can be misleading.
For example, two players who finish first and second may receive similar regular prizes after a deal.
However, one could have accumulated a much larger amount through earlier eliminations.
The difference between tigerseyes and Pepareg1 in the PLO finale is a clear example.
ACR Venom PKO vs Mystery Bounty: What’s the Difference?
Players familiar with the Venom brand may remember other editions featuring Mystery Bounty tournaments.
However, the October 2026 championships discussed here were Progressive Knockout events.
That is a significant distinction.
| Característica | October Venom PKO | Mystery Bounty Format |
|---|---|---|
| How bounties work | Values increase through eliminations | Qualifying eliminations reveal prizes from a mystery pool |
| Visibility | Progressive bounty values can be tracked | Individual mystery prizes remain unknown before revelation |
| When bounties begin | Under the October rules, from the opening flights | Usually begins at a designated stage |
| Strategic focus | Opponent bounty values and elimination equity | Survival, bounty activation and uncertain rewards |
Our previously published article, ACR Venom 2026: $15 Million Mystery Bounty, covers a different Venom promotion.
The two articles should not be confused: that coverage focuses on a separate advertised series, while this article documents the completed October $6.86 million Dual PKO championships.
For more on the alternative format, see our Mystery Bounty Poker guide.
What Poker Players Can Learn From Pepareg1’s Double Final Table
Pepareg1’s result is a compelling example of how tournament success is not limited to outright victories.
The player finished second and third in separate large-field tournaments, producing an exceptional combined payout.
However, several important lessons emerge from the result.
Final-Table Position Is Not Final-Table Destiny
Pepareg1 started the PLO finale in last place but ultimately finished second.
That shows why a short stack is not automatically eliminated from contention.
However, the result should not be interpreted as proof that every short stack has a strong chance of recovering.
Survival depends on stack depth, blind levels, opponent decisions, and the cards dealt.
Two Deep Runs Do Not Mean Two Tournament Wins
The distinction between cashing, reaching a final table and winning a tournament is important.
Some headlines focus exclusively on champions.
However, major payouts can also occur through high finishing positions and accumulated bounties.
For example, Pepareg1’s combined winnings exceeded $446,000 despite not winning either trophy.
ICM Still Matters in Bounty Events
As players approach the final table, the value of tournament survival changes with the payout structure.
Independent Chip Model calculations can help explain why some decisions differ from ordinary cash-game decisions.
However, PKO tournaments also introduce bounty equity that must be considered alongside placement prizes.
Nossa ICM in Poker guide explains the importance of tournament payout pressure.
What Happened to Chance Kornuth and Chris Moneymaker?
Both prominent poker professionals were involved in the October Venom action.
Chance Kornuth and Chris Moneymaker entered the later stages of the PLO event with significant chip stacks.
For example, Kornuth led the surviving PLO field going into Day 2, while Moneymaker was among the leading stacks.
However, neither finished among the seven players at the PLO final table.
Their earlier positions were reported in ACR’s official tournament updates.
Meanwhile, the No-Limit Hold’em final table was streamed with commentary from Moneymaker and ACR professional Rob Kuhn.
Players interested in reviewing the final-table decisions can look for the official ACR broadcast and the operator’s tournament replays.
What’s Next on ACR Poker After the October Venom?
Although the Dual Venom championships have concluded, ACR has additional tournaments and promotions scheduled.
The operator’s October 22 announcement highlighted two upcoming opportunities.
WSOP Paradise Mega Satellite: October 25
ACR has scheduled another $1,050 WSOP Paradise Mega Satellite for Sunday, October 25, at 3:05 PM Eastern Time.
The satellite guarantees seven packages worth $30,000 each, representing $210,000 in advertised package value.
Each package includes entry to the $26,000 WSOP Paradise Super Main Event and specified hotel accommodation.
However, travel, meals and personal expenses are not automatically covered.
The previous two weekly Mega Satellites reportedly had overlays greater than $50,000 each.
However, that does not guarantee the next satellite will also have an overlay.
For details about the destination and tournament structure, see our WSOP Paradise 2026 schedule guide.
Halloween Mystery PKOs Continue Through November 1
ACR’s Halloween Mystery PKO promotion includes three tournaments with combined guarantees of $650,000.
Published buy-ins include $5.50, $33 and $109, with starting flights continuing toward the November 1 bounty phase.
However, these tournaments use a different Mystery PKO mechanic from the completed October Venom events.
Players should review the specific rules before entering, especially when comparing qualification flights and bounty distributions.
Nossa poker satellites guide explains how smaller entry tournaments can provide paths toward larger live competitions.
Frequently Asked Questions About ACR Venom October 2026 Results
Who won the ACR Venom October 2026 NLH tournament?
PushLightYear won the $5 million guaranteed No-Limit Hold’em Progressive Knockout championship, earning $536,577.13 including bounties.
Who won the ACR Venom PLO tournament?
tigerseyes won the $1.5 million guaranteed Pot-Limit Omaha Venom, receiving $239,819.45 in total after a heads-up deal with Pepareg1.
How much did ACR Venom pay out in October 2026?
The two tournaments generated a combined $6,862,500 in prize pools, exceeding their $6.5 million advertised guarantees by $362,500.
Who is Pepareg1?
Pepareg1 is the screen name of a Ukrainian player who finished second in the PLO Venom and third in the NLH Venom. The two results produced combined winnings of $446,143.51.
Did Pepareg1 win either Venom tournament?
No. Pepareg1 reached both final tables but finished second in Pot-Limit Omaha and third in No-Limit Hold’em.
How much did PushLightYear win?
The official payout was $536,577.13, consisting of $332,932.28 in regular prize money and $203,644.85 in collected bounties.
How many players entered the October Venom tournaments?
The NLH tournament had 2,143 entries and the PLO event recorded 602, for 2,745 combined entries. These totals do not represent 2,745 distinct individuals.
What was the ACR Venom October 2026 buy-in?
Both tournaments advertised a $2,650 entry. Their published prize pools correspond to $2,500 in prize-pool contributions per entry.
Was the ACR Venom a Mystery Bounty tournament?
No. The October 2026 Dual Venom championships used a Progressive Knockout format. Other Venom editions have featured Mystery Bounty tournaments.
How did the progressive knockout bounties work?
Under the October structure, eliminating a player awarded half of that opponent’s current bounty immediately, while the other half increased the eliminator’s own bounty.
Why did tigerseyes and Pepareg1 receive almost the same regular prize in PLO?
The two players agreed to a final-table deal that divided the remaining regular prize money almost equally. Their previously collected bounty winnings remained different, producing substantially different overall payouts.
Did Chris Moneymaker win the ACR Venom?
No. Chris Moneymaker participated in the PLO event and later provided commentary on the NLH final-table broadcast, but neither October Venom title was won by him.
Where can I watch the ACR Venom final table?
The NLH final table was broadcast on ACR Poker’s official Twitch channel with commentary from Chris Moneymaker and Rob Kuhn. The operator also provides access to selected tournament replays.
When is the next ACR WSOP Paradise satellite?
The next advertised Mega Satellite is scheduled for October 25, 2026, at 3:05 PM Eastern Time, guaranteeing seven $30,000 packages to WSOP Paradise.
Final Thoughts: Two Champions and One Extraordinary Double Final Table
The October 2026 ACR Venom results delivered far more than two ordinary tournament winners.
PushLightYear captured the $5 million guaranteed No-Limit Hold’em championship for $536,577.13, while tigerseyes won the $1.5 million guaranteed Pot-Limit Omaha event for $239,819.45.
Both tournaments exceeded their advertised guarantees, creating $6,862,500 in combined prize pools.
However, the defining story was Pepareg1’s achievement.
The Ukrainian player reached both final tables, recovered from the shortest stack in the PLO finale, and recorded second- and third-place finishes worth a combined $446,143.51.
The results also highlight a defining feature of progressive knockout poker: the player who finishes highest does not necessarily receive the largest proportion of every payout component.
Regular prizes, bounty collections and final-table agreements all influence the final amounts.
For online poker fans, this makes the October Venom an especially interesting championship to study.
The final numbers tell the story: $6.86 million in combined prize pools, $536,577 for the NLH champion, $239,819 for the PLO winner, and an unforgettable $446,143 double-final-table result for Pepareg1.
Editorial note: Results reflect ACR Poker’s official October 22, 2026 announcement. Prize figures include bounty winnings where indicated. Tournament payouts should not be confused with players’ personal net profits after entry fees or private financial arrangements.
