From the Sunday Million to SCOOP, WCOOP and more, PokerStars has built a number of highly recognizable ‘sub-brands’ over the last 25 years.
And when it’s time to celebrate an anniversary of one of these branded tournaments or series, they do so in a way that’s sure to appeal to what poker players love about them most: by adding the chance to win even more money.
Increased guarantees are the name of the game when it comes to a PokerStars anniversary tournament, and the birthday season has begun.
The Sunday Storm has been a regular part of PokerStars’ ‘Sunday Majors’ line-up since 2011, offering the chance to play a big-field MTT, with large guaranteed prizepools, for a lot less than it costs to pay something like the Sunday Million.
The Sunday Million Anniversary will celebrate its 20th anniversary later this year - expect big things.$11 has long been the price of the Sunday Storm, and $100,000 is the usual guarantee.
But in time-honored celebratory style, that guarantee is being supercharged for the tourney’s 15th anniversary, with a prizepool of at least $500,000 there to be won for the usual $11 buy-in.
Phases and PKOs
The anniversary edition of the Sunday Storm is running as a phased tournament, with multiple Phase 1 tourneys running from now until Sunday, May 10.
Everyone who makes it through to Phase 2, that Sunday, will already be in the money and in with a shot at the big cash prize up top (which, historically, has been around the $20-25K mark). The introduction of phased Day 1s may well lead to even bigger prizes this year.
What’s more, the tournament will play as a progressive KO, meaning every elimination you dish out will come with a cash prize, and an increased bounty on your own head. As the tournament runs on, those bounties will get extra tasty, and you’ll win your own bounty only if you win the whole show.
$5 from each buy-in will go towards the bounty prizepool, and every bounty is split 50/50 between cash and increasing the price on your own head. That means you’ll win a minimum of $2.50 in cash for each player you eliminate.
You can play as many Phase 1s as you wish, until you reach Phase 2. Each Phase 1 will play down to 3% of the field.
PokerStars will also be bringing back the Ticket Machine promo from this Friday, awarding $300K in Phase 1 tournament tickets. Complete challenges to earn ticket machine entries, with daily draws taking place at 00:05 ET.
Satellites are also running at PokerStars from $0.55. Check the PokerStars client for more.
