The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure is returning in January 2018 after a one-year hiatus. To celebrate the return of this popular tournament series in the Bahamas, the world’s largest online poker room is giving away at least 200 free travel packages worth $15,855.
Stars Group, PokerStars’ recently rebranded parent company, has guaranteed at least 200 customers will win a travel package that includes a $10,300 Main Event seat, nine nights at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, $1,000 in resort credit, and $1,000 to the winner’s online poker account.
On Oct. 15 and Nov. 5, the poker site will host a $530 buy-in Ultra Satellite with 100 grand prizes guaranteed for a total of $1,585,500, at least, awarded in each satellite.
Biggest Qualifier Ever?
The upcoming promotion will be one of PokerStars’ biggest qualifying events of all-time. In 2009, Stars hosted a $370 buy-in mega satellite that awarded 200 WSOP Main Event seats worth $10,000 each.
888poker also gave away numerous, but fewer, WSOP Main Event prize packages this past summer. The site offered to “super size the prize” to anyone who won an 888poker WSOP satellite and ended up winning the Main Event. Eventual champion Scott Blumstein was patched up during the final table with the 888 logo on his shirt, but he didn’t win his buy-in online.
PokerStars Ultra Satellites
Players can either buy in directly or win a seat via one of four different methods.Stars Rewards: PokerStars is guaranteeing at least $1 million worth of entries will awarded to lucky winners who open a Stars Reward Chest and receive a ticket.
Spin & Go on Demand: The site will offer 18-player $55 buy-in Spin & Go’s with the winner(s) receiving an Ultra Satellite entry.
Spin & Go Qualifiers: Other Spin & Go tournaments will award prizes including Spin & Go on Demand entries and direct entries into the Ultra Satellites.
MTT Satellites: Select regular $55 buy-in multi-table tournaments will award Ultra Satellite entries.
Historic Tournament
The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure has been the first major poker event each year since 2004, although last year it briefly switched names to the PokerStars Championship.
Some of the best players in the world escape cold climates to travel to the Bahamas for a series of tournaments and juicy cash games in January.
The first PCA Main Event champion was the “Great Dane,” Gus Hansen in 2004. He defeated 221 players en route to a $455,780 score.
Since then, the tournament has grown, reaching its peak in 2011 with 1,560 entries. Last year, the PokerStars Championship Main Event had 738 players and Christian Harder was crowned champion ($429,664).
