PokerStars’ World Championship of Online Poker is back and, this time, there will be more action than there’s been before.
The festival will run from Aug. 30 to Sept. 23 and feature 75 events, which is two more than last year. Each event will have three buy-in levels, taking the total number of WCOOP MTTs to 225.
WCOOP 2020 will also feature an $82 million guarantee, a $1.5 million sweepstakes, and live streams of the day’s best action.
PokerStars Starting Strong
12 MTTs will take place on the first day, including three special editions of the Sunday Slam:
- $109 No-Limit Hold’em Eight-Max PKO Sunday Slam – $1.5 million guarantee
- $1,050 No-Limit Hold’em Eight-Max PKO Sunday Slam – $2 million guarantee
- $10,300 No-Limit Hold’em Eight-Max PKO Sunday Slam – $1.5 million guarantee
The majority of WCOOP events will take place over two days, with the first session lasting for approximately eight hours. In a change to the usual proceedings, Fridays will be designated a WCOOP-free zone, following feedback from players that at least one day off is preferable.
Many of the main events will allow re-entries, but they won’t be unlimited. Moreover, there will be a selection of freezeouts, something that should counter the recent backlash against operators overusing the re-entry format.
2-7 Single Draw, 2-7 Triple Draw, Badugi, Razz, Stud, 5 Card Draw… Pure hapinnes! pic.twitter.com/GdbkuiTv8x
— Marko Vannat (@MarkoVannat) August 17, 2020
Hold’em remains the dominant variant, but 75 of the 225 WCOOP MTTs will offer alternatives such as Omaha and Mixed Games.
Those eyeing up the WCOOP main events can take to the virtual felt on Sept. 20:
- $55 No-Limit Hold’em Eight-Max Main Event – $1.25 million guarantee
- $530 No-Limit Hold’em Eight-Max Main Event – $2 million guarantee
- $5,200 No-Limit Hold’em Eight-Max Main Event – $10 million guarantee
WCOOP No Longer Stands Alone
The schedule is as action-packed as ever. However, WCOOP no longer has a monopoly on the digital MTT scene.
The WPT World Online Championships and WSOP Online have emerged as major players over the last few weeks. Partypoker and GGPoker have also had success with the Millions Online, Poker Masters, and other big-money festivals.
These new events don’t diminish WCOOP’s value, but they have given players more options than ever before. As such, PokerStars has had to go the extra mile this year.
https://twitter.com/Lillicrapp501/status/1295381480714252288
Live streams, complete with commentary, will be available on Twitch. Additionally, anyone who plays a WCOOP event will receive a sweepstakes ticket. Six players from every sweepstakes will win entry to the $25,000 Super High Roller, while three will get a spot in the $5,200 main event.
Finally, there will be a $100,000 Player of the Series race. Players appear to be happy with the latest innovations. Even Chris Moneymaker was willing to open himself up to criticism in response to the announcement.
Ok I know other players are leaving the USA to play. How is this possible and where can I go @phil_hellmuth @RealKidPoker #needpokerinmylifeagain https://t.co/4S1wPy79IY
— Chris Moneymaker ⭕ (@CMONEYMAKER) August 17, 2020
The test now will be whether MTT fatigue has set in. Online poker players have had a lot to focus on over the last few months and, with lockdown restrictions easing, WCOOP may not attract as many players as before.
However, PokerStars has certainly pulled out all the stops in an effort to keep its festival ahead of poker’s new generation of MTT majors.
