The world of major live tournament poker is in a bit of a lull right now because of the holidays, but come the new year, things will pick up quickly once 2017 starts as the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure will kick off on January 6th. This is a normal spot on the calendar for the PCA, but it holds slightly more significance next week at the PCA will be the first-ever PokerStars Championship.
The PokerStars Championship was born out of the European Poker Tour, which PokerStars operated. The Tour was probably the most popular live poker tour that spent the bulk of its time outside the United States, but PokerStars felt it had outgrown the confines of Europe (as is evidenced by the PCA being part of the EPT), so something had to change.
As such, the European Poker Tour brand was retired with the conclusion of EPT Prague this month, with two different tours – the PokerStars Championship and the PokerStars Festival – taking over. It appears the PokerStars Championship will essentially be the big brother, while the PokerStars Festival will be the little brother.
Said PokerStars in its initial announcement:
PokerStars Championship events will take place in major cities, organised by the most prestigious casinos across the globe, and are designed to deliver the best poker experience on the planet for players of all levels. A PokerStars Championship event will typically last 10-11 days and feature extensive schedules of up to 100 tournaments, including a €/$5,000 Main Event and a variety of cash games.
The PokerStars Festival will have shorter tour stops and lower price points, kind of like how the World Series of Poker Circuit compares to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
The first PokerStars Championship, the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, will take place January 6th through January 14th, highlighted by the $5,000 Main Event. PokerStars TV – via PokerStars.tv, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch – will broadcast the Main Event beginning on Day 2 (January 10th).
Edgar Stuchly, PokerStars’ Director of Live Events, said in a press release:
We’re very excited about the first PokerStars Championship stop. Our aim is to host an event that will be enjoyed by players of all kinds – from the world’s biggest high rollers to recreational players who have perhaps never played at a live event before. With over 90 tournaments on offer, this year’s schedule adopts a ‘something for everyone’ formula. So, for all our regulars, as well as newcomers, we extend a very warm welcome to the Bahamas and hope a great experience is enjoyed by all – both on and off the tables.
Other PokerStars Championship stops that have already been announced include Panama, Macau, Monte Carlo, and Barcelona. The PokerStars Festival already had its first stop at the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey spanning the end of October and beginning of November. London and Rozvadov (Czech Republic) Festival stops have also been announced.
