Last Updated on August 14, 2026 by Bala Kumar
PokerStars’ Benjamin “Spraggy” Spragg has locked up his seat in the business end of the Sunday Million 20th Anniversary, joining a growing list of recognizable names advancing toward the tournament’s $5 million guaranteed prize pool. The popular streamer turned his 10,000 starting stack into 187,043 chips during his qualifying Phase 1 flight, a result strong enough to punch his ticket through to Phase 2, though where exactly he’ll sit on the leaderboard when the field resumes is still very much up in the air.
A Milestone Year for PokerStars’ Flagship Tournament
2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the Sunday Million, long regarded as online poker’s most iconic weekly tournament. To mark the occasion, PokerStars restructured the event into a ten-week phased format, with $109 Phase 1 “Daily Heat” flights running every day from June 28 through September 6. Players can fire as many Phase 1 attempts as their bankroll allows, with any stack that survives to the end of a flight earning a seat in Phase 2.
The scale of the build-up has been substantial. As of the latest count, more than 24,881 entries have been processed across the completed Phase 1 flights, with 799 of those starters already securing their spot in Phase 2. That number will keep climbing daily right up until the cutoff, since Phase 1s continue running multiple times a day in the lead-up to the finale.
Spraggy’s Road to Phase 2
Spraggy’s qualifying run saw him bag 187,043 chips, placing him 544th when play resumes — a respectable position, though hardly a guarantee given how much the leaderboard can shift with dozens more Phase 1 flights still to come before Phase 2 kicks off. He wasn’t the only notable name to advance in the same stretch: fellow competitors including Steven van Zadelhoff, Robin Ylitalo, Scott Margereson, Peter Traply, Tom Talboom, Dalton Hobold, Tobias Eichenseher, and Jussi Nevanlinna have all also punched their tickets, alongside fellow PokerStars ambassador Marle Spragg.
Notably, Spragg’s qualification came via a head-to-head “Race to the Finals” challenge, in which he beat out fellow PokerStars ambassador Sebastian Huber. Huber, who plays under the name “peace&loove,” still has an opportunity to qualify on his own before the window closes. PokerStars also confirmed that footballer Neymar Jr. played through several Phase 1 flights but has yet to secure his own seat in the Finals.
What’s at Stake in Phase 2
Phase 2 doesn’t kick off until the evening of September 6, with the tournament reaching its conclusion and crowning a champion on September 7. Given the accessible $109 buy-in and the summer-long qualification window, PokerStars has positioned this anniversary edition as one of the more accessible large-scale online poker tournaments of the year, despite the $5 million guarantee representing a smaller headline number than some previous Sunday Million anniversary editions.
Beyond the standard Daily Heat route, PokerStars has also offered alternative paths into the field through $0.75 and $4 Sunday Million Spin & Go tournaments, which pay out a mix of satellite tickets and direct Phase 1 seats — giving lower-bankroll players a shot at reaching the same final stage as bigger-name entrants like Spraggy.
Why This Tournament Matters
The Sunday Million has paid out at least a million dollars nearly every week for two decades, cementing its place as one of the defining tournaments in online poker history. A $5 million guarantee for the 20th anniversary edition — paired with a format that rewards persistence over a single big buy-in — gives both recreational grinders and recognizable pros like Spraggy a genuine shot at a life-changing score once Phase 2 gets underway.
With Phase 1 flights continuing daily until the field locks in, the leaderboard heading into September 6 is far from settled. But for now, Spraggy’s spot among the qualifiers gives fans of the popular streamer plenty to watch for as the anniversary tournament builds toward its finale.
FAQs
1. What is the Sunday Million 20th Anniversary tournament?
The Sunday Million 20th Anniversary is a special PokerStars edition of its flagship online tournament, featuring a $5 million guaranteed prize pool and a phased qualification format.
2. Did Spraggy qualify for the Sunday Million 20th Anniversary Phase 2?
Yes. PokerStars ambassador Benjamin “Spraggy” Spragg qualified through a Phase 1 flight after turning his 10,000-chip starting stack into 187,043 chips.
3. What is the buy-in for the Sunday Million 20th Anniversary Phase 1?
The standard Phase 1 Daily Heat buy-in is $109. Players can also access alternative qualification routes through Sunday Million Spin & Go satellites.
4. When does Phase 2 of the Sunday Million 20th Anniversary begin?
Phase 2 is scheduled to begin on September 6, 2026, with the tournament scheduled to conclude and crown its champion on September 7.
5. How much is guaranteed in the Sunday Million 20th Anniversary?
PokerStars has guaranteed a $5 million prize pool for the 20th Anniversary edition, giving qualifiers the opportunity to compete for a major share of the final prize pool.
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