25 Billion Hand Landmark for PokerStars

February 17, 2009 (InfoPowa News) — PokerStars.com, the world's undisputed largest Internet poker website, has set another new record for the industry — 25 billion hands of poker achieved on February 16, 2009.
 
Over the past week the site has been hyping the imminent dealing of its 25 billionth hand, with relevant promotions and cash awards to tables on the run-up to the big milestone. Prizes ranged from $300 for the winner in a micro-stakes game to $2,500 for high roller tables as the big record drew nearer.
 
Activity increased on the site Monday when it was clear the big hand was imminent and that players on the site would have a chance to be on the table where the hand would be dealt. But when the 25 billionth hand came up it was on a six-handed, $1/$2 Limit Omaha High-Low table.
 
Excited players at the table were 'Confederate,' who missed out on the bounty because he was not in the hand; 'Neonfrost,' 'Tupap1777,' 'Frtspkndmn,' 'N47j25s' and 'Chris12080'. Staff explained that the winner of the hand would receive a $100,000 account credit and sponsored seats at four major online and land poker tourneys. With the formalities over, the action started but a software glitch at a critical moment washed out Neonfrost's hand, which simply disappeared of its own volition.
 
PokerStars management reacted with commendable speed in reviewing the hand and ruling that the washout was not of Neonfrost's making, and the hand was therefore allowed to play out as if he had remained in contention.
 
The gods of fortune continued to sit on Neonfrost's shoulder because he went on to achieve a high hand in conjunction with player Tupap1777's qualifying low hand, resulting in a split pot.
 
It was management decision time again, and PokerStars ruled that the $100,000 marking the 25 billionth hand be equally divided between Neonfrost and Tupap1777, and that each would receive the complete four-seat tournament package, doubled to meet the split result by PokerStars. The remaining three players were each awarded account credits of $33,333.