For PokerStars players based in North America – more specifically in Ontario, New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania – it’s time to start thinking about the upcoming Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) grind. With the renewal of springtime right around the corner, PokerStars has announced plans to host a SCOOP Warm-Up series to help players both prepare for the intense SCOOP schedule and pad their bankrolls in the process.
From February 14-24, SCOOP Warm-Up will award a total of $3M in guaranteed prize pools, as well as the chance to win $5,000 Gold Passes for the upcoming Irish Open. The series schedule features 53 events with buy-ins ranging from $100 to $1,000 and culminates in the $200 Main Events – each featuring a $125,000 guarantee.
In addition to the juicy prize pools, players will have the opportunity to compete for coveted Gold Passes for the Irish Open in April. As the longest-running European poker series – and the richest in Ireland – the PokerStars-sponsored Irish Open features three tournaments with seven-figure guarantees: the €2.5M GTD Main Event, the €1M GTD Mini Irish Open, and the €1M GTD Mystery Bounty.
Each Gold Pass includes entry to the €1,150 Main Event and the €250 Mini Irish Open and expenses to cover travel and accommodation. Across the SCOOP Warm-Up series, a total of 15 Gold Passes will be awarded, including six packages in the Red Spade Sunday tournament.
The SCOOP Warm-Up series should be of particular assistance to players this year as they may come up against one of the two new North American-based PokerStars ambassadors – Caitlin Comeskey and Jason Koon – at the tables.