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PokerStars Sets PCA Schedule and USA Platinum Pass Paths

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PokerStars PCA PSPC

Poker players are starting to get very excited about the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in the Bahamas in early 2023. One of the main reasons is that it will include the second running of the PokerStars Player No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC).

Of course, the PSPC is a high-stakes tournament, a high roller with a buy-in of $25K. While those are very common these days, this one is different because hundreds of players will satellite in for free or for bargain prices.

PokerStars is now offering ways for players based in the United States to get into the PSPC. They just announced the first offerings with more to come.

The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure has been one of the premier live poker tournament series of each year. Starting in 2004, the first PCA was aboard a cruise ship, but the Atlantis Resort hosted the series each year after. Some years, the PCA was a part of the World Poker Tour and other years a part of the European Poker Tour. But it was always PokerStars’ baby.

In 2019, PokerStars hosted what it claimed was its last PCA. And as a part of that series, it hosted its inaugural PokerStars Player No Limit Hold’em Championship. It was a $25K buy-in high roller, but more than 300 players won their way in by various discounted means. And when PokerStars tallied the final numbers, the count of entries was 1,039 and prize pool was $26,455,500.

That 2019 year may have been the beginning of the PSPC, but it was to be the end of the PCA. PokerStars planned to discontinue the series.

The pandemic seemed to change everything, though.

That global virus shut down nearly everything around the world, and poker – obviously – was no exception. The second PSPC that had been scheduled for 2020 in Barcelona was no more. Everything was on hold.

Ready, Set, Go

In April 2021, as everyone seemed fairly sure that Covid-19 was no longer a shutdown threat, PokerStars began restarting many of its tours. It set EPT stops, relaunched the UKIPT, and announced dates for everything from the APPT to BSOP.

In that batch of announcements was a surprise. Not only was the PSPC set for early 2023 in the Bahamas, the PCA would return as well, only in a different location.

PokerStars set the 2023 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure for January 22 through February 3 at the Baha Mar property. And along with a big series, the PSPC will take place there, too. The dates for that event are January 30 to February 3.

Platinum Passes

The ticket to playing the PSPC is the Platinum Pass. Winners of those passes receive $30K, which includes the $25K buy-in to the tournament, as well as six nights of hotel accommodations for two people, airport transfers, special experiences in the Bahamas, and $1,900 in money for expenses.

Of course, online poker players who can access PokerStars around the world can play a variety of satellites to try to win their way into the PSPC.

There have also been live “Road to PSPC” opportunities to win Platinum Passes in tournaments from Liechtenstein to France, from the Republic of San Marino to Spain, and from Brazil to the UK and Ireland. More are scheduled for France, Greece, Slovenia, Belgium, and the Philippines in the coming weeks and months.

Players in the United States have access to PokerStars in three states: Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Each state is running a leaderboard competition, and the top players – 500 in Pennsylvania, 300 in Michigan, and 200 in New Jersey – will win seats into freerolls at the end of each month. There are also Platinum Passes available for players in the upcoming COOP (Championship of Online Poker) tournaments in September in each of those states.

There will also be “exciting community giveaways, promotions, and live events.”

PCA Schedule Available

PokerStars is already hoping that poker players will plan their Bahamas trips now. This month, they released the full PokerStars Caribbean Adventure schedule.

The schedule is a bit confusing, as there appear to be sixty events, including mega satellites, but there are also a few tournaments labeled as Events 100-107. Let’s just say there are probably around 50 tournaments awarding PCA trophies – give or take – along with the PSPC.

Some of the highlighted events will be:

  • January 22-24: $100K buy-in PCA Super High Roller
  • January 23: $550 buy-in PCA Seniors Event
  • January 23-29: $10K buy-in PCA Main Event
  • January 26-28: $3K buy-in PCA Mystery Bounty
  • January 29: $550 buy-in PCA Women’s Event
  • January 30 – February 3: $25K buy-in PSPC Main Event
  • February 1-3: $550 buy-in PSPC Mystery Bounty
  • February 1-3: $25K buy-in PCA High Roller

PokerStars lists the full schedule on the PS Live website.

 

Jennifer Newell

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Jennifer Newell

Author
Jennifer began writing about poker while working at the World Poker Tour in the mid-2000s. Since then, her freelance writing career has taken her from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and back to her hometown of St. Louis, where she now lives with her two dogs. She continues to follow the poker world as she also launches a new subscription box company and finishes her first novel. Jennifer has written for numerous publications including PokerStars.com and has followed the US poker and gaming market closely for the last 15 years.
Jennifer began writing about poker while working at the World Poker Tour in the mid-2000s. Since then, her freelance writing career has taken her from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and back to her hometown of St. Louis, where she now lives with her two dogs.

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