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FRANKLIN, Ky. (Gambling911.com) - The 2026 Kentucky Poker Open (KPO) is set to kick off November 3 at the Barrel Social Club in Franklin, Kentucky and will feature $250,000 in guaranteed prize pools.
The buy-in is $600 with satellite qualifications for $160.
The $600 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event is the centerpiece of the festival, featuring six starting flights between November 5 and November 7.
The Main Event: Six starting flights and $200,000 guaranteed, which is double the $100,000 guaranteed at last year's event even though the buy-in remains the same.
Date Flight Start time
Thu., Nov. 5 A 4:15 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 6 B 11:15 a.m.
Fri., Nov. 6 C 4:15 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 7 D 11:15 a.m.
Sat., Nov. 7 E 4:15 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 7 F (Turbo) 9:15 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 8 Day 2 12:15 p.m.
The festival features 11 numbered events, plus satellites and side tournaments.
Date Event Buy-in Guarantee
Nov. 3 Seniors (50+) $250 —
Nov. 3 The Opener $250 —
Nov. 4 Big O (five-card Omaha) $300 —
Nov. 4 Black Chip Bounty $300 $10,000
Nov. 5 PLO Championship $400 $10,000
Nov. 5 Turbo $200 —
Nov. 6 Women's Event $250 $10,000
Nov. 8 The Big 30 $300 $30,000
Nov. 8 PLO Progressive Knockout $250 —
Nov. 9 The Closer $250 —
Last year's $600 Main Event of the Kentucky State Poker Championship with the much lower guarantee paid out $33,380 to the winner with Michael Esquivel taking first place and James Lyle collecting $23,395 for second.
The $400 Pot-Limit Omaha paid $7,375
The Main Event attracted 309 entries.
The Barrel is a membership-based poker club rather than a traditional casino. Its published membership rates include a $10 daily option. Players should verify whether any membership charge applies in addition to tournament entry fees.
Moneymaker Mystery PKO - $109 Buy-in | $100K Top Bounty (Online)
Can't get to the Kentucky Poker Open? Enjoy poker tournaments online featuring players from across the globe.
Moneymaker Mystery PKO - $109 Buy-in | $100K Top Bounty (Online)
The ACR Poker’s Moneymaker $1 Million GTD Mystery PKO brings a $109 buy-in and nearly 250 starting flights.
Build your stack through November, then return for Day 2 on Sunday, November 22nd at 3:05pm ET when the bounty hunt begins from the very first hand.
One knockout can reveal a $100,000 mystery bounty.
Qualify once to secure your place. Qualify again to bring more ammunition.
The top-up stack format lets you play multiple Day 1 flights and combine your qualifying stacks for Day 2 when the bounty hunt begins.
Build your stack. Give the table something to worry about.
Win your way into selected $109 Day 1 flights through freerolls. A total of 264 seats are up for grabs—that’s almost $30K in total seat value
Find your opportunity to get in for free, then take your shot at the $1 million guaranteed prize pool.
How Mystery PKOs Work
Mystery PKO is a new format exclusive to our network that combines hidden mystery prizes with growing progressive bounties.
Starting on Day 2, each knockout reveals a mystery prize. Half goes straight to your account, while the other half is added to the visible bounty on your head.
For example: Find the $100,000 top mystery bounty and pocket $50,000 immediately. The other $50,000 becomes part of your progressive bounty. Great news, right up until everybody notices.
Any accumulated progressive bounty on the player you knock out gets the same treatment: half is paid to you immediately, and half is added to your own bounty.
The biggest mystery prize might be revealed. That doesn’t mean the chase is over.
Moneymaker Mystery PKO Schedule
Sunday, November 1st: First Day 1 at 2:30pm ET.
November 2nd–19th: Frequent Day 1 flights throughout the day.
November 20th–21st: Hourly Day 1 flights from 8:05am to 11:05pm ET.
Sunday, November 22nd: Final Day 1 flights start at 6:05am ET, with the last flight at 12:05pm ET. Day 2 at 3:05pm ET.
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
