PokerStars WCOOP 2015: Official Schedule
To the excitement of poker players around the world, the 14th edition of the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) is just a little more than a month away on PokerStars.
This year's WCOOP schedule takes place from Sept. 6-27 and promises to be the biggest in WCOOP history with 70 events and $45 million in guaranteed prizes. This represents a significant increase from last year when the online poker festival featured 66 events and $40 million in guaranteed prizes.
As usual, the highlight of this year's schedule is the $5,200 buy-in Main Event on September 27, where players will compete for the at least a $10 million prize pool. Last year, Germany's Fedor "CrownUpGuy" Holz became a household name after shipping the WCOOP Main Event for a jaw-dropping $1.3 million.
However, the biggest win in the WCOOP Main Event came back in 2010 before Black Friday shook up the world. American poker pro Tyson "POTTERPOKER" Marks holds the record for biggest first-place prize after winning the 2010 WCOOP Main Event for a now unfathomable $2,278,097.50.
Other notable winners of the WCOOP Main Event include high-stakes poker pros JC "area23JC" Tran, winning $670,000 in 2006, and Yevgeniy "Jovial Gent" Timoshenko, who won $1,715,200 in 2009.
This year's WCOOP schedule also features a few new events, which are bound to bring excitement - especially to high-limit players. Some of the biggest names in poker are already excited to play the new $51,000 buy-in Super High Roller WCOOP tournament with a $1 million guaranteed prize pool.
Daniel Negreanu shared his excitement on the PokerStars blog titled WCOOP to Host Its First $51,000 Super High Roller.
"Over the last few years we have seen the emergence of Super High Roller events at live events across the globe," said Negreanu. "I think it only makes sense that the world's largest poker site is also the host of the largest buy-in online poker tournament ever. I'm excited to test my skills against the best of the best, online."
I think it only makes sense that the world's largest poker site is also the host of the largest buy-in online poker tournament ever.
Also, for the first time ever, the schedule features three different three-day events. Additionally the schedule will create some excitement with 15 designated Championship events. As you might imagine, the Championship events will feature some of the biggest buy-ins on the schedule incorporating many different variants including hold'em, Omaha, stud, and draw poker variants.
Other than these changes, the schedule is similar to what poker players expect from the WCOOP with events in just about every form of poker available, along with many different tournament formats and structures. Here's a look at the entire schedule:
| Event # | Buy-in | Name | Date & Time (ET) | Guarantee | Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $215.00 | WCOOP-02: $215 NL Hold'em [6-Max, Sunday Warm-Up SE] | 06 Sep @ 11:00 | $1,000,000 | |
| 2 | $10,300.00 | WCOOP-03: $10,300 NLHE [High-Roller, Heads-Up] | 06 Sep @ 12:30 | $300,000 | |
| 3 | $109.00 | WCOOP-01: $109 NL Hold'em [WCOOP Kickoff, Phase 2] | 06 Sep @ 13:30 | $1,500,000 | |
| 4 | $215.00 | WCOOP-04: $215 NL Hold'em [Sunday Million SE] | 06 Sep @ 14:30 | $1,500,000 | |
| 5 | $215.00 | WCOOP-05: $215+R NL Hold'em [6-Max] | 07 Sep @ 11:00 | $500,000 | |
| 6 | $700.00 | WCOOP-06: $700 PL Omaha [6-Max, Monday PLO SE] | 07 Sep @ 14:00 | $300,000 | |
| 7 | $700.00 | WCOOP-07: $700 NL Hold'em [Progressive Super-Knockout] | 07 Sep @ 17:00 | $750,000 | |
| 8 | $700.00 | WCOOP-08: $700 NL Single Draw 2-7 Championship | 08 Sep @ 11:00 | $50,000 | |
| 9 | $1,050.00 | WCOOP-09: $1,050 NL Hold'em [Super Tuesday SE] | 08 Sep @ 14:00 | $1,000,000 | |
| 10 | $215.00 | WCOOP-10: $215 FL Hold'em [6-Max] | 08 Sep @ 17:00 | $75,000 | |
| 11 | $215.00 | WCOOP-11: $215 NL Hold'em [Progressive Super-Knockout] | 09 Sep @ 08:00 | $400,000 | |
| 12 | $700.00 | WCOOP-12: $700 NL Draw Championship | 09 Sep @ 11:00 | $50,000 | |
| 13 | $320.00 | WCOOP-13: $320 NL Hold'em [Heads-Up] | 09 Sep @ 14:00 | $300,000 | |
| 14 | $215.00 | WCOOP-14: $215 NL Hold'em [Big Antes, Optional Re-Entry] | 10 Sep @ 08:00 | $200,000 | |
| 15 | $215.00 | WCOOP-15: $215 PL Omaha [1R1A] | 10 Sep @ 11:00 | $200,000 | |
| 16 | $1,050.00 | WCOOP-16: $1,050 NL Hold'em [Progressive Super-Knockout, Thursday Thrill SE] | 10 Sep @ 14:00 | $1,000,000 | |
| 17 | $700.00 | WCOOP-17: $700 NL Hold'em [6-Max,3-Stack] | 11 Sep @ 11:00 | $200,000 | |
| 18 | $1,050.00 | WCOOP-18: $1,050 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo Championship | 11 Sep @ 14:00 | $50,000 | |
| 19 | $320.00 | WCOOP-19: $320 NL Hold'em [Turbo, Zoom] | 11 Sep @ 17:00 | $400,000 | |
| 20 | $109.00 | WCOOP-20: $109 NL Hold'em [Optional Re-Entry] | 12 Sep @ 11:00 | $500,000 | |
| 21 | $530.00 | WCOOP-21: $530 NL Hold'em [Progressive Super-Knockout] | 12 Sep @ 14:00 | $750,000 | |
| 22 | $1,050.00 | WCOOP-22: $1,050 NL Omaha Hi/Lo Championship [6-Max] | 12 Sep @ 17:00 | $75,000 | |
| 23 | $215.00 | WCOOP-23: $215 PL Omaha [Knockout] | 13 Sep @ 08:00 | $250,000 | |
| 24 | $215.00 | WCOOP-24: $215 NL Hold'em [Sunday Warm-Up SE] | 13 Sep @ 11:00 | $1,000,000 | |
| 25 | $10,300.00 | WCOOP-25: $10,300 NL Hold'em [8-Max, Optional Re-Entry, High-Roller] | 13 Sep @ 12:30 | $2,000,000 | |
| 26 | $700.00 | WCOOP-26: $700 NL Hold'em | 13 Sep @ 14:30 | $1,500,000 | |
| 27 | $215.00 | WCOOP-27: $215 PL Omaha [6-Max, Progressive Super-Knockout] | 14 Sep @ 11:00 | $200,000 | |
| 28 | $320.00 | WCOOP-28: $320 NL Hold'em [6-Max] | 14 Sep @ 14:00 | $200,000 | |
| 29 | $700.00 | WCOOP-29: $700 7-Card Stud Championship | 14 Sep @ 17:00 | $50,000 | |
| 30 | $215.00 | WCOOP-30: $215 PL 5-Card Omaha H/L [6-Max,2R1A] | 15 Sep @ 11:00 | $100,000 | |
| 31 | $1,050.00 | WCOOP-31: $1,050 NL Hold'em [Super Tuesday SE] | 15 Sep @ 14:00 | $1,000,000 | |
| 32 | $1,050.00 | WCOOP-32: $1,050 FL Omaha Hi/Lo Championship [8-Max] | 15 Sep @ 17:00 | $75,000 | |
| 33 | $700.00 | WCOOP-33: $700 FL Badugi Championship, $50K Guaranteed | 16 Sep @ 08:00 | $50,000 | |
| 34 | $320.00 | WCOOP-34: $320 NL Hold'em [6-Max, Optional Re-Entry] | 16 Sep @ 11:00 | $200,000 | |
| 35 | $320.00 | WCOOP-35: $320+R PL Omaha [6-Max] | 16 Sep @ 14:00 | $250,000 | |
| 36 | $215.00 | WCOOP-36: $215 NL Hold'em [1R1A] | 17 Sep @ 08:00 | $300,000 | |
| 37 | $320.00 | WCOOP-37: $320 8-Game | 17 Sep @ 11:00 | $100,000 | |
| 38 | $1,050.00 | WCOOP-38: $1,050 NL Hold'em [Progressive Super-Knockout, Thursday Thrill SE] | 17 Sep @ 14:00 | $1,000,000 | |
| 39 | $700.00 | WCOOP-39: $700 Triple Draw 2-7 Championship | 18 Sep @ 11:00 | $50,000 | |
| 40 | $530.00 | WCOOP-40: $530 NL Hold'em [6-Max, Shootout] | 18 Sep @ 14:00 | $250,000 | |
| 41 | $320.00 | WCOOP-41: $320 NL Hold'em [Ante Up] | 18 Sep @ 17:00 | $150,000 | |
| 42 | $215.00 | WCOOP-42: $215+R NL Hold'em | 19 Sep @ 11:00 | $400,000 | |
| 43 | $320.00 | WCOOP-43: $320 HORSE | 19 Sep @ 14:00 | $75,000 | |
| 44 | $215.00 | WCOOP-44: $215 NL Hold'em [4-Max] | 19 Sep @ 17:00 | $400,000 | |
| 45 | $1,050.00 | WCOOP-45: $1,050 NL Hold'em [6-Max, Ultra-Deep] | 20 Sep @ 08:00 | $500,000 | |
| 46 | $215.00 | WCOOP-46: $215 NL Hold'em [Sunday Warm-Up SE] | 20 Sep @ 11:00 | $1,000,000 | |
| 47 | $51,000.00 | WCOOP-47: $51,000 NL Hold'em [8-Max, Super High-Roller] | 20 Sep @ 12:30 | $1,000,000 | |
| 48 | $2,100.00 | WCOOP-48: $2,100 NL Hold'em | 20 Sep @ 14:30 | $2,000,000 | |
| 49 | $530.00 | WCOOP-49: $530 NL Hold'em [Optional Re-Entry] | 21 Sep @ 11:00 | $500,000 | |
| 50 | $215.00 | WCOOP-50: $215 NL Hold'em [Knockout] | 21 Sep @ 14:00 | $500,000 | |
| 51 | $1,050.00 | WCOOP-51: $1,050 PL Omaha Hi/Lo Championship [6-Max] | 21 Sep @ 17:00 | $50,000 | |
| 52 | $530.00 | WCOOP-52: $530 PL Omaha [6-Max,3-Stack] | 22 Sep @ 11:00 | $100,000 | |
| 53 | $2,100.00 | WCOOP-53: $2,100 NL Hold'em [Super Tuesday SE] | 22 Sep @ 14:00 | $1,500,000 | |
| 54 | $1,050.00 | WCOOP-54: $1,050 Razz Championship | 22 Sep @ 17:00 | $50,000 | |
| 55 | $320.00 | WCOOP-55: $320 PL 5-Card Omaha [6-Max,1R1A] | 23 Sep @ 08:00 | $150,000 | |
| 56 | $530.00 | WCOOP-56: $530+R NL Hold'em | 23 Sep @ 11:00 | $500,000 | |
| 57 | $2,100.00 | WCOOP-57: $2,100 PL Omaha Championship [6-Max] | 23 Sep @ 14:00 | $150,000 | |
| 58 | $530.00 | WCOOP-58: $530 NL Hold'em [Ultra-Deep] | 24 Sep @ 08:00 | $150,000 | |
| 59 | $215.00 | WCOOP-59: $215 NL Omaha Hi/Lo [6-Max] | 24 Sep @ 11:00 | $100,000 | |
| 60 | $2,100.00 | WCOOP-60: $2,100 NL Hold'em [Progressive Super-Knockout, Thursday Thrill SE] | 24 Sep @ 14:00 | $1,500,000 | |
| 61 | $700.00 | WCOOP-61: $700 NL Hold'em [1R1A] | 25 Sep @ 11:00 | $500,000 | |
| 62 | $320.00 | WCOOP-62: $320 PL Omaha H/L [6-Max] | 25 Sep @ 14:00 | $100,000 | |
| 63 | $1,050.00 | WCOOP-63: $1,050 FL Hold'em Championship [6-Max] | 25 Sep @ 17:00 | $100,000 | |
| 64 | $700.00 | WCOOP-64: $700 PL Omaha [Heads-Up] | 26 Sep @ 11:00 | $150,000 | |
| 65 | $700.00 | WCOOP-65: $700 NL Hold'em [6-Max, Progressive Super-Knockout] | 26 Sep @ 14:00 | $1,000,000 | |
| 66 | $2,100.00 | WCOOP-66: $2,100 HORSE Championship | 26 Sep @ 17:00 | $200,000 | |
| 67 | $215.00 | WCOOP-67: $215 NL Hold'em [8-Max, Optional Re-Entry, Sunday Warm-Up SE] | 27 Sep @ 11:00 | $1,000,000 | |
| 68 | $10,300.00 | WCOOP-68: $10,300 8-Game Championship | 27 Sep @ 12:30 | $500,000 | |
| 69 | $5,200.00 | WCOOP: $5,200 NL Hold'em Main Event | 27 Sep @ 14:30 | $10,000,000 | |
| 70 | $1,050.00 | WCOOP-70: $1,050 NL Hold'em [Turbo, Optional Re-Entry] | 27 Sep @ 18:30 | $1,000,000 |
Buy-ins for the events start at $109 and quickly move up from there. While some players may be able to afford to buy into any event they choose directly, others will join in on the festivities via a cash satellite - which start at just $1. Additionally, the site is hosting Mega Path satellites to the WCOOP Main Event that start at just one frequent player point (FPP), giving every player an opportunity to secure their seat for free and play for the millions of dollars on the line.
In 2014, a total of 77 players qualified for the $5,200 Main Event through the Mega Path, and PokerStars is hoping that figure to be even higher this year. Russia's Marat "maratik" Sharafutdinov became an overnight sensation in 2012, when he qualified for the WCOOP Main Event for only 40 FPPs, and parlayed that into a memorable win for $1,000,907.26.
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