KK Poker Live and Onlive Events in 2024

KKPoker is an online poker site that also seems committed to live poker events, which is not always the case for sites that started off as mobile apps. 

There are almost always online satellites to live poker events within the KKPoker app, both for third party events run by other operators and for KKPoker’s very own live event brand, KKLive.

KKLive events have taken place all over the world, in locations such as Montreal, Tokyo and San José and will soon extend its reach further with its first ever event in Brazil, in São Paulo. They are mostly grassroots (low buy-in) events, providing easy accessibility to almost all players.

Some KKLive events are completely rake free, such as the upcoming events in Montreal and São Paulo in the second half of 2024. Some also feature online starting days as well as live Day 1s. The event this November in Montreal will ONLY have online starting days.

Players who win their way into live day 2s via online day 1s may also receive additional expenses for travel expenses, but this is on a case by-case basis and eligibility is restricted to players from certain regions.

There are currently three KKLive events scheduled for the remainder of 2024, however it’s very likely that further editions will be added before the end of the year. All three of these KKLive events have online starting days at KK Poker.

KKLive held its first event in San José in June 202, where 209 players contested a $175 buy-in event which generated a prize pool of $31,000. It was won by Martin Prada for $6,844.

The second event to be held in San José has already begun, with online starting days running at KKPoker since August 10th. It also costs $175 to enter and carries a $25,000 guaranteed prize pool.

The event moves to a live environment at the end of August, with further live starting days on August 30th and 31st before Day 2 takes place on September 1st. It will be held at the Sheraton San José Hotel.

After San José, the next KKLive event on the 2024 schedule will be the first KKLive event to be held in Brazil. It will take place from 12-15 September, 2024 at the Novotel Center Norte Hotel in São Paulo and the main event will be a NO RAKE event. 

That’s right all buy-ins go into the prize pool, no fees are deducted, which is a nice touch, especially as many other live poker operators always seem to be increasing their fees, year after year.

The R$200,000 guaranteed main event has a buy-in of R$250 ($50 USD) and has both online and live starting days. The festival also has several side events scheduled and guarantees of R$400,000 in total, with side events including a Mystery Bounty and a Ladies event as well as a R$30,000 freeroll.

Online satellites (for Brazilian players) have been running since August 6th and there are four online day 1s taking place (which are open to all players). The first of these is on August 21st, with the top 15% progressing to the live day 2.

There are also six live starting days at KKLive São Paulo plus live satellites, priced at a very reasonable R$25 (which is equivalent to just $5 USD). The second and final day of the main event will be on Sunday 15th September.

Players who arrive at the beginning of the festival can also take part in the R$30,000 ($6,000 USD) freeroll, which is open to all players, on a first come, first served basis. 

The most recently announced event on the KKLive schedule is the one taking place in Montreal on November 23rd, 2024. The live part of the event lasts for just one day because ALL the starting days take place online. 

This format is what’s known as an ‘Onlive’ event and although rare, similar versions have been done by other online poker operators. KKPoker seems to be marking the territory for this to be the kind of event it is known for and almost all of KK Poker’s live events include online starting days of some kind.

Another significant feature of some KKLive events is NO RAKE main events and the Montreal KKLive event is one of those that will see every Canadian dollar invested as buy-ins make its way into the prize pool.

There are eight starting days in total, all online, with the first taking place on September 3rd and the last on November 21st, just two days before the live day 2. The top 15% of players from each starting day will progress to the live day 2, where all remaining players will be in the prize money.

The tournament costs C$300 to enter and players may enter as many starting days as they like, but can only take their best stack forward into day 2. This is not an uncommon format, but usually when the ‘best stack forward’ format is used, players have to relinquish any smaller stacks with no compensation. 

However for KKLive Montreal, any player who bags more than one stack from the starting days will receive min cashes for any stacks that have to be given up.

KKPoker events are all about recreational players enjoying themselves and it wouldn’t be much fun if everyone had huge expenses to get to the venue. They are low buy-in events that are best suited to local players, however KKPoker will provide travel assistance to players who are coming from further afield who qualify for a live day 2 via one of the online starting days.

Travel assistance is a discretionary payment made by KK Poker and is not available for all KKLive events.

Travel assistance for players who make it through the online starting days is available (for Canadian based players only). The amount of travel assistance provided depends on the region of Canada that the player is traveling from:

New players who sign up to KK Poker using PokerWired’s invite code ‘NEWBONUS’ will receive a 100% matched deposit bonus up to $1,000, plus a welcome pack including tournament/cash game tickets worth $100. 

All new accounts who use the NEWBONUS invite code will also receive automatic 50% rakeback, which is paid out at the end of every playing session, as soon as you leave a table.