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PCA UPDATE: PokerStars Launches PCA Online; Isaac Haxton Highlights Bahamas Winners So Far

PokerStars announced on Tuesday that the Mini PCA series is coming to the online felt starting today and running through Feb. 3.

The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) is now underway with the PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC) a major part of the action. Online poker players who can’t make it to the Bahamas can still get in on the virtual action.

Stars announced on Tuesday that the Mini PCA series is coming to the online felt starting today and running through Feb. 3. The series runs alongside the 10 days of PokerStars live coverage from the Bahamas.

The PCA also has declared some winners already in early action. That includes Isaac Haxton chalking up a seven-figure victory. Here’s a preview of the Mini PCA as well as a look at some of the action from the Bahamas so far.

What to expect from PokerStars Mini PCA

In the Mini PCA, players will find 30 tournaments with three low buy-in tournaments per day. Price points start at just $1.10 and the festival includes tens of thousands of dollars in added value. 

The $55 Mini PCA Main Event highlights the series on Jan. 29, awarding a European Poker Tour Monte Carlo package to the winner. There is something for every level of player. PokerStars is hoping to offer the next best thing to being at the actual PCA in the Bahamas.

Beyond the Main Event, players will find even more major tournament action. The live PSPC is one of the biggest events on the poker calendar this year and Stars is bringing a version to the online felt as well.

The $25 Mini PSPC gets underway on Jan. 30 with $10,000 added to the prize pool. The tournament follows the same five-day format as the PSPC and utilizes a similar structure.

PokerStars is throwing in another nice reward for players competing in the Mini PCA. EPT satellite tickets are also added to the prize pool of every tournament. This adds a bit more to play for throughout the series. Here’s a look at the complete schedule.

2023 PokerStars Mini PCA

DateEventBuy-in ($)NameStarting stack
Jan. 2512.20Deep Stack - Single Re-Entry50000
Jan. 25211.00Unlimited Re-Entry - 7-max30000
Jan. 2531.10Hyper-Turbo PKO Freezeout20000
Jan. 2645.508-Game50000
Jan. 26555.00NLHE - High Roller Unlimited Re-Entry150000
Jan. 2663.30Hyper-Turbo Freezeout20000
Jan. 2771.10PL Omaha50000
Jan. 2782.20Deep Stack, Single Re-Entry50000
Jan. 27925.008-Max NLHE Unlimited Re-Entry30000
Jan. 28101.10Deep Stack50000
Jan. 281111.00Mini PSPC Warm-Up60000
Jan. 28122.20Hyper-Turbo Freezeout20000
Jan. 29135.50Deep Stack - Unlimited Re-Entry50000
Jan. 291455.00Mini PCA Main Event, Single Re-Entry30000
Jan. 291511.009-max - PKO Freezeout30000
Jan. 301611.00Deep Stack - 3 Re-Entry50000
Jan. 301725.00Mini PSPC - Day 160000
Jan. 30185.50Heads-Up Total KO30000
Jan. 31193.30Deep Stack - Single Re-Entry50000
Jan. 312025.00Mini PSPC - Day 260000
Jan. 312125.008-Max NLHE Unlimited Re-Entry PKO30000
Jan. 31225.506-Max NLHE Turbo30000
Feb. 12311.00Deep Stack - Unlimited Re-Entry50000
Feb. 1242.20HORSE50000
Feb. 12525.00Mini PSPC - Day 360000
Feb. 1261.10Hyper-Turbo PKO Freezeout20000
Feb. 227109.00Super High Roller NLHE250000
Feb. 2283.30PL Omaha50000
Feb. 22925.00Mini PSPC - Day 460000
Feb. 23055.00Unlimited Re-Entry - 7-max100000
Feb. 3315.50NLHE - Unlimited Re-Entry50000
Feb. 3322.20NLHE - Unlimited Re-Entry 6-Max50000
Feb. 33325.00Mini PSPC - Day 560000
Feb. 33411.00Last Chance, Series Wrap-Up20000

Beyond the Mini PCA, Stars also recently launched the PSPC Online for American players. In the US, Stars operates a combined Michigan/New Jersey platform as well as a Pennsylvania platform. For a complete preview of that series, click here.

Isaac Haxton highlights early PCA winners

With the PCA now already underway, a few players have already earned titles. Fresh off winning the $50,000 championship event at the PokerGO Cup for $598,000, Isaac Haxton was back in action in the Bahamas this week for the first tournament of the series. The American took the title in the $100,000 Super High Roller for $1.1 million.

The win came after a deal with second- and third-place finishers Seth Davies and Adrian Mateos. Both of those players also scored just under $1.1 million. The event saw 49 total entries for a $4.8 million prize pool. Haxton was subdued in his Twitter celebration.

The $20,000 Knockout event was also one of the higher stakes events completed so far and offered players $10,000 bounties. The tournament saw 22 entries for a $424,732 prize pool. In the end, Brazil’s Tauan Naves came out on top for $87,932.

A few other events have also seen winners crowned. Here’s a look at some of those:

  • $300 No limit Hold’em Unlimited Re-Entry – Andre Moreira Marques, Brazil, $5,451 (61 entries for $17,751 prize pool)
  • $550 Seniors – Farzad Raji, United States, $11,710 (86 for entries for $41,710 prize pool)
  • $550 NLHE Single Re-Entry – Marcel Schwarz, Germany, $11,625 (85 entries for a $41,225 prize pool)

A look at the PokerStars PCA streaming schedule

Poker fans who can’t get to the Bahamas can still check out much of the action from home, perhaps while even playing in the Mini PCA online.

Stars is streaming several tournaments throughout the series at the official PokerStars YouTube channel. That starts today with the second day of the $10,000 PCA Main Event.

James Hartigan, Joe Stapleton, Nick Walsh, Maria Ho, Griffin Benger, and Scott Baumstein will call the action throughout the series. Live streams are also available with French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German commentary. Here’s a look at all the entire streaming schedule for the series.

EventDate & time
$10,000 PCA Main Event Day 2Jan. 25, 12:30 pm (ET)
$10,000 PCA Main Event Day 3Jan. 26, 12:30 pm (ET)
$10,000 PCA Main Event Day 4Jan. 27, 12:30 pm (ET)
$10,000 PCA Main Event Day 5Jan. 28, 12:30 pm (ET)
$10,000 PCA Main Event final tableJan. 29, 1 pm (ET)
$25,000 PSPC Day 1Jan. 30, 12:30 (ET)
$25,000 PSPC Day 2Jan. 31, 12:30 (ET)
$25,000 PSPC Day 3Feb. 1, 12:30 (ET)
$25,000 PSPC Day 4Feb. 2, 12:30 (ET)
$25,000 PSPC final tableFeb. 3, 12:30 (ET)

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Final Two Platinum Passes Dished Out Via PokerStars Podcast Contest; PSPC Starts Next Week 

Alex Irwin and Asif Warris became the final PokerStars Platinum Pass winners last week after answering a podcast trivia question correctly.

It must have been quite a phone call last week for Northern Ireland’s Alex Irwin and the United Kingdom’s Asif Warris. Simply answering the phone and giving a correct answer to a trivia question earned the pair a PokerStars Platinum Pass.

The prizes came via the Poker in the Ears podcast hosts James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton. The two called listeners to determine who would win the final two Platinum Passes for the PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC). The event is set for Jan. 30 – Feb. 3 at the Baha Mar Resort in the Bahamas.

The PSPC kicks off next week as part of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA). Warris may have spoken for many winners when he learned he’d won.

“Oh my God, I love it,” he said. “I can’t believe this.”

Winning a PokerStars Platinum Pass via podcast

To have a shot at the Platinum Pass, players simply had to listen to a recent episode and register on the Stars Discord channel. Hartigan and Stapleton then randomly called those who registered.

Show listeners who answered a trivia question correctly won the pass. Irwin was the first lucky winner after correctly answering his PSPC quiz question. He was asked the number of players making the money in the first PSPC.

Irwin answered 181 entrants of the 1,039-player field cashed in the first edition of PSPC in 2019. That scored him a $25,000 buy-in and tournament package to the Bahamas next week.

Warris, known in the poker community as “The Poker Tourist,” was the next caller. He was asked the name of the other Platinum Pass winner that joined Ramon Colillas at the final table at the first PSPC. His correct answer of Mark Rivera rewarded Warris with a Platinum Pass.

Right place at the right time

Simply being by the phone paid off in a big way for these two winners. The first caller didn’t pick up for Hartigan and Stapleton. Irwin was then the second person called and claimed his Platinum Pass. That actually turned out to be his second pass after winning one for the first event in 2019.

The third person gave a wrong answer and Warris became the fourth player. The win also brought his second pass after also winning one in 2019. He knew the answer as soon as Hartigan read the choices and pumped his fists in celebration.

Warris has won numerous tournament packages and events at PokerStars, Stapleton noted.

“You are something special Asif,” the podcast host said. “Random draws and you just seem to connect.”

Irwin was equally enthusiastic about his win, celebrating on camera with some fist pumps and yelling.

He repeatedly said: “I can’t believe it.” He later added: “I’m speechless, I can’t wait to see you and shake your hand.”

Last of the Platinum Passes awarded

The two winners secured the last Platinum Passes up for grabs. In total, more than 400 players and poker fans secured the sought-after prizes. Stars values each pass at $30,000 and includes:

  • $25,000 tournament buy-in
  • Six nights of hotel accommodations for the winner and a guest in a five-star hotel
  • Airfare and airport transfers
  • $1,900 in expense money
  • Platinum Pass Winner experiences during the event

PokerScout will be on site next week throughout the PSPC. Stay tuned here for event updates, feature stories, and player interviews.

★★★ Ready to get in the action at PokerStars? Click here for a complete site review with exclusive PokerScout bonus offers. ★★★

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PokerStars Unveils Anniversary Sunday Million With $7.5M Guaranteed, $1M for Winner

Ramping up the anniversary of the Sunday Million has become a regular part of the PokerStars calendar each year. The event is the longest-running weekly online poker tournament with a $1 million guarantee and Stars make the anniversary tournament even bigger.

Once again Stars is making plans for a special event this year. The company announced on Thursday that the 17th anniversary Sunday Million is set for March 26. The tournament features a $7.5 million guaranteed prize pool with a guaranteed $1 million prize handed to the winner.

“Players can now mark their calendars for the return of PokerStars’ iconic Sunday Million anniversary tournament,” the company noted in announcing the event.

What to expect from PokerStars’ anniversary Sunday Million

The Sunday Million has come to be recognized as a major part of the online poker ecosystem since its debut in 2006. At the height of the poker boom, Stars launched the weekly event with a seven-figure guarantee for the winner.

The regular $109 buy-in is raised to $215 for the upcoming special event. Players looking for a bargain buy-in will also be in luck.

PokerStars is once again offering several ways to qualify with some extra value for players including:

  • added via satellites
  • freerolls
  • special Spin & Go’s

Look for more details in the coming weeks as the event approaches.

A brief history of Sunday Million winners

As one of the best-known online poker tournaments, the Sunday Million has seen some big names grab titles through the years. That included Canada’s Vanessa Kade coming out on top in the 15th anniversary event in 2021.

Kade scored $1.5 million for her efforts. The tournament brought in a massive 69,876 entries for almost a $14 million prize pool.

The winner considered it one of the biggest achievements of her poker career. No deals were made at the final table and she had 100% of her action, meaning she kept the entire haul.

“I just stopped crying,” Kade said to start her Twitch stream after the win. “I was literally just crying for 20 minutes. This is the best month of my life and it’s not even close. This is the best day of my life.”

Last year, Germany’s “Blackbeaty” won the tournament to secure a $931,885 payday. This came following a deal made with runner-up “JanRas1983,” of Denmark.

That tournament saw 52,210 entries for a $10.4 million prize pool. JanRas1983 scored $817,000 for runner-up.

A look at other winners

In 2020, Brazil’s Alex Brito landed the top spot for $1.1 million. That event produced a field of 93,015 entries for a prize pool of $18.6 million.

Brito was unemployed at the time after losing his job six months earlier. He’d been playing poker for more than decade when he won a satellite to earn a seat in the Sunday Million. The big win provided a life-changing moment.

“To be honest, it took me a little time to really understand what happened,” he told USPoker.com afterward. “I can only say that it’s a dream that I’m living. I got the big hit that every poker player wants.”

Other players who have added their names to the Sunday Million anniversary winner’s circle include:

  • Luke Vrabel – $848,589 (2013)
  • Brayden Fritzshall – $597,720 (2015)
  • Luis Felipe – $960,000 (2018)

♠♠♠ Looking to get in on the action at PokerStars? Click here for a complete site review and exclusive PokerScout bonus offers. ♠♠♠

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New PokerStars Live Events Announced; Company Revives Latin American Poker Tour

PokerStars is once again adding to the company’s live tournament schedule and announced two new series coming to the Czech Republic and Latin America on Tuesday.

The news comes as the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure also gets underway in the Bahamas. PokerStars Live continues to ramp up the action for players around the world.

The additions include the relaunch of the Latin America Poker Tour. As with most PokerStars Live events, players also have an opportunity to qualify online for the upcoming series.

PokerStars heading to Czech Republic

King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic, hosts the PokerStars Eureka 2023 series from March 13-20. The property is located on the border with Germany and also hosted the series last year.

The action is highlighted by the €1,100 Main Event running March 16-20 with a €1 million guarantee.

Online satellites for the event kick off Jan. 19 for players on the international platform as well as those in France, Spain, and Italy. Satellites run every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday in the lead up to the main event. Here’s a look at some other key events in the series:

  • €330 Eureka Rozvadov Cup – March 13-17
  • €1,100 Main Event – March 16-20
  • €440 Pot Limit Omaha Championship – March 17-18
  • €2,200 High Roller – March 19-20

PokerStars Latin American Poker Tour returns with Rio de Janeiro as first stop

Along with live action heading to the Czech Republic, PokerStars also announced the return of the Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT). The opening event is planned for March in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the city where the tour began in 2008.

The action then heads to Montevideo, Uruguay, in April. That’s followed by another Brazilian stop, this time in São Paulo for the Brazilian Series of Poker Winter Millions in July. The LAPT then returns to the city in November for the BSOP Millions. Stars officials will announce another stop soon.

“We are delighted to announce the return of this iconic series and once again hold the LAPT for poker players in Latin America,” Stars head of global live event operations Cedric Billot said in a news release. “We’re working hard to ensure that this is a spectacular series and can’t wait to head to Rio to get the show on the road.”

In the LAPT’s previous nine seasons, the tour traveled to 10 different countries. The series launched the careers of many great Latin-American players with their first major wins.

“The LAPT has a special place in the hearts of Latin American poker players and poker enthusiasts, so we’re absolutely thrilled that the tour is back,” LAPT executive director Devanir Campos said. “The tour will enable us to bring together former LAPT champions and a new generation of poker players that never got to experience this amazing event.”

What to expect from LAPT Rio de Janeiro

LAPT Rio de Janeiro takes place at the beachfront Windsor Marapendi Hotel from March 2-6. Online poker players can compete at PokerStars for a chance to win a complete tournament package. Those qualifiers as well as seat-only satellites begin on Jan. 22.

“We’ve decided to bring LAPT back to its roots,” Campos said. “The very first LAPT was held in Rio de Janeiro back in 2008, it is emblematic to have the tour’s return in the city where it all began.

“We plan to bring many familiar locations back to the calendar. LAPT was never just about playing poker, but also traveling, getting to see and experience different countries and cultures, meeting friends and, ultimately, having a lot of fun.” 

Here’s a look at several key events for LAPT Rio de Janeiro (figures in US dollars):

  • $1,500 Main Event – March 2-6
  • $3,000 Single Day 3K – March 2
  • $4,000 Single Day 4K – March 4
  • $5,000 High Roller – March 5-6
  • $800 Six-Handed Mystery KO – March 5-6
  • $3,000 High Roller PKO – March 6

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POKER PUNCH BOWL: Negreanu’s Rap, Spraggy’s Downswing, Platinum Pass, & Bad Beat Jackpot

Poker Punch Bowl offers a look at the interesting, weird, fortuitous, and strange from the world of poker.

Welcome to the Poker Punch Bowl, offering a look at the interesting, weird, fortuitous, and strange from the world of poker. This inaugural column offers a look at some poker rap lyrics via artificial intelligence and Daniel Negreanu.

With the PokerStars Players Championship, another well-known online poker player also scored a Platinum Pass over the weekend. A Stars poker streamer also gave some insight on how tournament life can go bad.

All that as well as a huge bad beat jackpot that had several players thankful they chose to jump in the online poker action. Here’s some interesting news in the Poker Punch Bowl.

Daniel Negreanu impressed with AI poker rap

The new ChatGPT tool has been in the news quite a bit recently. Users are astounded by the capabilities of the app and how thorough the results can be. The artificial intelligence (AI) can produce written works, solve problems, hold a conversation, and more.

“We’ve trained a model called ChatGPT which interacts in a conversational way,” research and deployment company OpenAI notes about the app. “The dialogue format makes it possible for ChatGPT to answer followup questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests.”

Many have hailed the technology as revolutionary. Investors are eager to get on board and there are even rumors of a possible $10 billion investment from Microsoft.

Apparently there’s also some interest from poker players as well. Maybe some players are interested in how the technology could be used in a man-versus-technology matchup? Or what about as a training tool or to offer some hand analysis?

Those may be interesting considerations, but Daniel Negreanu recently had a more pressing concern. Could the chat app create some unique poker rhymes? The six-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner was impressed with the results.

 

Facing the reality of a downswing

Ben “Spraggy”Spragg has almost $200,000 in live tournament winnings and much more online. The PokerStars ambassador  is known for his streaming and as well as being quite a soccer/football fan.

And despite a long career at the poker tables, Spragg recently took a look at that dreaded poker reality – the downswing. The new year apparently brought a tough run of cards for the Twitch streamer and YouTuber.

Dealing with a downswing is something most players can commiserate with. Even the best players experience some time in the red, no matter how well they might be playing.

“In the modern game, everyone knows the percentages and the correct plays,” 1999 WSOP Main Event champion once Dan Harrington noted. “What marks out the top players is how they handle themselves when they are losing.”

Spragg eventually bounced back, notching a 17th-place finish in the Irish Poker Open for $4,213. He also scored a nice online finish as well.

Vanessa Kade scores Platinum Pass

The PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC) is right around the corner. The $25,000 event runs from Jan. 30 – Feb. 3 and the site continued dishing out Platinum Passes in January.

Canadian poker pro Vanessa Kade was one of the latest, receiving a pass out of the blue over the weekend. She was thrilled with her good fortune.

“I was just settling in to play my Sunday game and logged into Stars, and this is the first thing I see,” she said in a video posted on her Twitter account. “Thanks so much PokerStars.

“You guys have already given me three incredible life-changing experiences with the opportunity to win the Sunday Million, a trip to Barcelona, and an amazing trip to Brazil to see F1 (Formula One) and meet so many incredible people. I will happily join you in the Bahamas for yet another adventure, thank you so much.”

Kade has more than $1.1 million in live tournament winnings and plenty of major scores online. As she noted, the biggest of those may be winning the 15th anniversary of the Sunday Million in 2021 for $1.5 million.

“This is the best month of my life and it’s not even close,” she said after the win. “This is the best day of my life.”

No doubt Kade is now hoping for an even bigger run in the Bahamas.

GGPoker has players heading to Brazil

Brazil has become a key online poker market in recent years. Poker sites continue reaching out to players in the land of samba and sun, and GGPoker recently made an additional foray into the country.

The company has added its name to Brazil’s largest live poker series, rebranded the Kings Series of Poker by GGPoker. GG hasn’t embraced live poker as much as competitors so far, but continues partnering with other tournament series.

The first stop on the Kings tour is set for Feb. 8-14 in Rio de Janeiro. GG is already offering online qualifiers for a chance at a nice South American getaway.

An awesome Omaha bad beat jackpot

Speaking of GGPoker, the site partnered with the World Series of Poker in 2022 for an exclusive site for players in Ontario, Canada. WSOP.ca features championship ring and bracelet events throughout the year as well as plenty of other action.

The site was also recently home to a massive bad beat jackpot payout in an Omaha cash game. The hand saw a player named “Bafaym” flop a royal flush.

Another player named “timmy turnem” held pocket Queens and hit a set on the flop. The fourth Queen in the deck hit on the river and triggered the $130,673 payout.

The winner of the hand scored $27,515 with the “loser” collecting an extra $84,853. The three other players at the table collected $6,788. No doubt these cash game players were definitely saying “good game” at GG on this occasion.

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Listen Up: One Final Platinum Pass Up for Grabs Via PokerStars Podcast Competition

The PSPC kicks off Jan. 29 in the Bahamas and PokerStars has announced that one final Platinum Pass is up for grabs via a podcast contest.

The PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC) kicks off Jan. 29 in the Bahamas and the company announced Thursday that one final Platinum Pass is up for grabs.

One of poker’s biggest prizes will be awarded via James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton on the Poker in the Ears podcast. The Platinum Pass has become some of the biggest prizes in poker.

The PSPC is part of the upcoming PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA), which takes place at the Baha Mar resort from Jan. 22 – Feb. 3.

“All players have to do is listen to the latest , which has gone live today, to find out the full details on how to win,” Stars noted in announcing the contest.

How to win the final PokerStars Platinum Pass

The competition for the final Platinum Pass is now open through Jan. 16. The prize is available for listeners in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States (excluding the states of Florida, New York, and Washington).

For a chance to win, players must sign up for a free account on the PokerStars Discord channel. Next, head to the #podcast-discussion Poker in the Ears channel and post “I’m in” to enter. Entrants will receive a survey link to complete on Jan. 16.

The PSPC kicks off Jan. 29 in the Bahamas and PokerStars has announced that one final Platinum Pass is up for grabs via a podcast contest.

Entrants should then look for an email. Only the first 50 responses will advance to the next stage of the competition. On Jan. 18, one entrant will randomly receive a call from Hartigan and Stapleton. Here are a few more things to remember:

  • If the player doesn’t pick up, Hartigan and Stapleton will keep calling contestants randomly until someone answers.
  • The entrant will need to answer a trivia question picking from one of three categories: the PCA, PSPC, and the Bahamas. If a player gives a wrong answer, Hartigan and Stapleton move on until they receive a correct answer.
  • The first person to answer correctly will win the Platinum Pass.

Here’s the complete podcast to check out how to win.

 

What comes with a PokerStars Platinum Pass?

For months PokerStars has handed out Platinum Passes via live tournaments, online events, and other promotions and social media contests. The passes are highly sought after among poker fans and players.

The PSPC last ran in 2020 with Spain’s Roman Colillas coming out on top for $5.1 million. He also earned his entry via Platinum Pass. The tournament brings together a wide range of poker pros and recreational players vying for a piece of the massive prize pool.

This year’s event is set for Jan. 30 – Feb. 3 in Nassau, Bahamas. A pass includes a complete tournament and travel package. Players winning a Platinum Pass earn:

  • Buy-in to the $25,000 PSPC
  • Six nights hotel accommodations for winner and a guest in a five-star hotel
  • Airport transfers
  • $1,900 in expense money
  • Platinum Pass winner experiences during the event

The tournament should be one of the biggest events on the 2023 poker calendar. PokerScout will be on site covering the tournament. Stay tuned here as the event approaches for more information, player profiles, and updates from the Bahamas.

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Satellites Begin at PokerStars for Irish Poker Open; Players Can Win A Seat, Tournament Packages

Poker players now have the chance to secure a seat or travel package for the Irish Poker Open via PokerStars with qualifiers now underway.

PokerStars announced a deal to sponsor the Irish Poker Open in November and is now launching online qualifiers as well. The live poker series is sponsored by PokerStars and Paddy Power, and returns to Dublin April 3-10 at The Royal Dublin Society.

Online poker players now have the chance to secure a seat or a travel package with expense money at PokerStars. Online satellites are currently running on both the PokerStars and Paddy Power platforms.

PokerStars Irish Poker Open online qualifying 

Stars and Paddy Power are part of Flutter Entertainment and serve as the new official sponsors for the Irish series. Players will find at least 23 entries to the event guaranteed weekly as the Open approaches.

Every week Stars is running four direct satellites with buy-ins of €55 and €109. Players advancing in those move on to the €1,150 Main Event, which features a €1 million guarantee.

Competitors can get in the action starting at an even lower buy-in. Feeder satellite buy-ins begin with freebuys, so players can potentially win a seat for nothing. Those successful in those events advance to €1.10, €5.50, €11, and €16.50 satellites.

A player who then finishes in the top spots in those events earns either a €55 or €109 direct satellite seat.

A look at the satellite schedule

Players hoping for a trip to the Emerald Isle have numerous opportunities to secure a seat in the coming months. Here’s a look at the weekly schedule of direct satellites:

  • Monday – five seats guaranteed
  • Wednesday – five seats and expense packages guaranteed
  • Friday – five seats guaranteed
  • Sunday – eight seats and expense packages guaranteed

Additionally, PokerStars is also running a mega satellite event on March 19. This event offers 20 seats along with travel expenses.

About the Irish Poker Open & complete tournament schedule

Those heading to Ireland for the series will find one of Europe’s most-anticipated annual series. The festival features the longest-running No Limit Hold’em tournament outside Las Vegas, dating back more than 42 years.

In 1984, the tournament grew after a group of 25 American players played in the tournament at Killiney Castle. That included ‘84 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Tom McEvoy.

Others on the trip included Poker Hall of Fame members Stu Ungar, Chip Reese, and Doyle Brunson. The addition of these pros  in the Main Event helped draw television and press coverage in Ireland, adding to the series’ recognition and prestige.

In 2022, poker pro Steve O’Dwyer took the title after besting a field of 2,040 entries for the title and €318,700. O’Dwyer has lived in Dublin for the last 10 years and was pleased to win in his hometown. The Main Event saw a €2 million prize pool, twice the €1 million guarantee.

“Ireland is the home of Flutter and we are truly delighted to partner with the already well-loved Open,” PokerStars chief commercial officer Kevin Harrington said in a news release, “and work with our colleagues at Paddy Power and the Irish Poker Open to make this a very special event for all our players, not only for those in Ireland but for players from around the world.”

Players heading to this year’s series will find plenty of interesting events beyond the Main Event. Here’s a look at the complete schedule.

2023 Irish Poker Open

April 3Event 1: Championship Event – €350 NLH 6-Max
April 3Event 2: €150 NLH
April 3Event 3: €115 Main Event Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 3Event 4: €530 Satellite to €5,000 High Roller Satellite
April 4Event 5: Championship Event €350 NLH Heads-Up (64 CAP) Round 1
April 4Event 5: Championship Event €350 NLH Heads-Up (64 CAP) Round 2
April 4Event 6: €530 Satellite to €5,000 High Roller Satellite
April 4Event 7: €250 “THMC” The Hendon Mob Championship
April 4Event 8: €150 PLO Deepstack
April 4Event 7: Championship Event €350 NLH Head’s-Up (64 CAP) Round 3
April 4Event 9: Irish Open €115 Main Event Satellite – 10 Seats Guaranteed
April 4Event 10: Championship Event €5,000 High Roller Day 1
April 5Event 5: Championship Event €350 NLH Head’s-Up (64 CAP) 1/4 FINAL
April 5Event 11: Irish Open €1 Million Guaranteed MAIN EVENT €1,150 Day 1A
April 5Event 12: €115 Main Event Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 5Event 10: Championship Event €5,000 High Roller Final Day
April 5Event 13: Championship Event €350 America’s Cup
April 5Event 5: Championship Event €350 NLH Head’s-Up (64 CAP) Semi FINAL
April 5Event 14: €115 Main Event Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 5Event 5: Championship Event €350 NLH Head’s-Up (64 CAP) FINAL
April 5Event 15: €150 NLH Deepstack
April 5Event 16: €115 Main Event Satellite – 20 Seats Guaranteed
April 6Event 11: Irish Open €1 Million Guaranteed MAIN EVENT €1,150 Day 1B
April 6Event 17: €115 Main Event Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 6Event 18: Championship Event €250 Irish Open Ladies
April 6Event 19: Championship Event €250 Irish Open Shortdeck
April 6Event 20: €115 Main Event Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 6Event 21: €150 PLO Deepstack
April 6Event 22: €115 Main Event Satellite – 20 Seats Guaranteed
April 7Event 11: Irish Open €1 Million Guaranteed MAIN EVENT €1,150 Day 1C
April 7Event 23: €115 Main Event Turbo Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 7Event 24: €115 Main Event Turbo Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 7Event 25: €115 Main Event Turbo Satellite – 5 Seats Guaranteed
April 7Event 26: €150 NLH Deepstack
April 7Event 11: Irish Open €1 Million Guaranteed MAIN EVENT €1,150 Day 1C
April 8Event 11: Irish Open MAIN EVENT €1,150 Day 2
April 8Event 27 Championship Event – JP Poker Masters Day 1
April 8Event 28 NLH (€25 Scalps) Bounty
April 8Event 29: Championship Event Irish Open PLO 6-Max Day 1
April 9Event 30: Championship Event Irish Open €2,000 High Roller 8-Max Day 1
April 9Event 11: Irish Open MAIN EVENT €1,150 Day 3
April 9Event 27 Championship Event – JP Poker Masters Final Day
April 9Event 29: Championship Event Irish Open PLO 6-Max Final Day
April 9Event 30: Championship Event Irish Open €2,000 High Roller 8-Max Final Day
April 9Event 31: Championship Event Mini Irish Open Day 1
April 9Event 32: €1,100 NLH Mystery Bounty 8-Max Day 1
April 9Event 33: Championship Event Liam Flood Memorial Turbo
April 9Event 34: NLH Deepstack Turbo
April 10Event 31: Championship Event Mini Irish Open Final Day
April 10Event 35: Championship Event – Irish Open Seniors (50 Years Young)
April 10Event 11: Irish Open MAIN EVENT €1,150 Final Day
April 10Event 32: €1,100 NLH Mystery Bounty 8-Max Final Day
April 10Event 36: NLH 6-Max Turbo
April 10Event 37: €1,100 PLO 8-Max
April 10Event 38: NLH 6-Max Deepstack Turbo
April 10Event 39: NLH Deepstack Turbo

★★★ Ready to get in the action at PokerStars? Click here for a complete site review with exclusive PokerScout bonus offers. ★★★

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Poker Podium: Chris Klodnicki, Christian Rudolph Among Major December Online Winners

The holiday season brought plenty of gifts and treats for online poker players and Poker Podium looks at big December winners.

The holiday season brought plenty of gifts and treats for online poker players. A few bigger names found the winner’s podium during a hefty international online poker schedule.

PokerStars, GGPoker, and 888poker all held major series with big scores coming from players like Chris Klodnicki, Christian Rudolph, and Dan Wilson all finding some nice wins.

Poker Podium once again takes a look at some big online poker winners from December.

PokerStars

The New Year Series kicked off at PokerStars on Dec. 25 and runs through Jan. 17. The festival features 140 winter- and holiday-themed tournaments with $40 million guaranteed.

AS of Tuesday, the series had already produced big numbers including:

  • Tournaments completed – 119
  • Entries – 467,648 
  • Prize pool total – $16 million
  • First-place payouts – $2.3 million

The New Year’s Day Sunday Million was one of the marquee events so far and came with a special buy-in of $202.30. The normal $1 million guarantee remained intact.

The tournament saw 5,362 entries with Switzerland’s “Scoops 2022” scooping the first-place payout of $143,479, Scoops locked up the largest score of the series so far.

In other action, Dan “NukeTheFish!” Wilson topped the field in the $530 NLHE Six-Max for $32,659. This player from Ireland has $1.5 million in live tournament winnings as well as a doctorate in astrophysics.

The $530 NLHE Six-Max Deep Stack saw Christian “WATnlos” Rudolph, of Austria, rise to the top for $39,298. He has more than $5 million in live tournament winnings and also now another online score to add to his poker resumé.

In 2020 Rudolph grabbed a World Series of Poker bracelet online at GGPoker as well. He took down the $25,000 Poker Players Championship for $1.8 million.

Brazil’s Bruno “great dant” Volkmann Event took down a $320 NLHE event for $26,897. The New Year Series continues this month. For a complete preview, click here.

PSPC next up for PokerStars

The Stars action next heads to the Bahamas for the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, which runs from Jan. 22 – Feb. 3 at the Baha Mar Resort.

The $25,000 PokerStars Players Championship is also part of the festivities. The company has awarded numerous Platinum Passes over the last year, which includes a complete tournament and travel package.

Stars ambassador Nicholas Walsh recently awarded a pass to one lucky winner – quite a Christmas gift.

GGPoker

Plenty of World Series of Poker championship ring action was underway at GGPoker in December. The Winter Circuit awards 18 championship rings and offers $150 million guaranteed throughout the series, which runs through Jan. 9.

Nick Maimone was already on a roll last month. He bagged a $1,050 Sunday Main Event High Roller for $80,332 and then took the title in the $1,500 Sunday Saver High Roller Hyper Turbo for another $34,090.

If that weren’t enough, he then came out on top in the $1,050 Naughty or Nice Bounty, which was part of the Winter Circuit. The tournament saw 1,399 players for a $1.4 million guarantee. Maimone pocketed $157,755 and his first WSOP Circuit ring. He has more than $2 million in live tournament winnings to go along with plenty of cashes online.

He wasn’t the only big name grabbing gold in December. Chris Klodnicki vanquished the competition in the $320 GGMasters Bounty Winter Freezeout. The event saw 1,421 players for a $422,037 prize pool.

Klodnicki picked up $40,590 for his efforts, adding to a deep poker record. In a career stretching back to 2005, Klodnicki has $10.1 million in live tournament winnings. That now includes two circuit rings and a WSOP bracelet as well.

Plenty of action remains in the Winter Circuit at GGPoker. Click here for a complete preview and click here for the WSOP.ca/GGPoker series in Ontario, Canada.

888poker

This site got in the spirit of the season in December with the Happy Holidays Sale series. The festival was a thank you to players and offered half off the tournament buy-in with the same normal guarantees.

888 awarded more than $300,000 in the series with players from the United Kingdom topping the leaderboard with three titles. Brazilian players grabbed two titles and the other event victories went to those in Malta, Ireland, Finland, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Belarus, and Montenegro.

All tournaments saw a total of 9,410 entries with $301,755 paid out. The $55 Mystery Bounty Main Event kicked off on Christmas Day and guaranteed $100,000. The tournament saw 1,618 players with 485 rebuys, topping the guarantee for a $105,150 prize pool.

In the end, “Laszlo_Szucs” took the top spot for $7,192 plus $258 in bounties for a total of $7,450.

The tournament also featured a top bounty of $10,000. Canada’s “Josieviolet” scooped that prize, finishing 113th for a total of $10,094.

In the $265 Mystery Bounty High Roller, Montenegro’s “Ognian1988” found the win for $12,034. The tournament produced 148 players, 37 rebuys, and a $46,250 prize pool, easily topping the $40,000 guarantee.

The tournament also features a $4,000 top bounty prize up for grabs, which went to Finland’s “Inflaatio.” The bounty winner finished sixth for a total payout of $8,957.