PokerStars Announces Major Changes to Tournament Schedule and Structure

PokerStars has announced significant changes to its tournament schedule and structure, effective from April 25, 2016. Major daily tournaments will now be held three times a day, with various buy-ins and guarantees.

The Monday 6-max tournaments will have buy-ins of $109, $215, and $109 with guarantees of $20k, $40k, and $20k respectively. The Super Tuesday tournaments will have buy-ins of $1,050, $215, and $320 with guarantees of $425k, $20k, and $30k respectively. Additionally, two new formats, Mini Super Tuesday and Fat Tuesday, will be introduced with buy-ins of $109 and $215 and guarantees of $50k and $30k respectively.

The Battle Royale tournament on Wednesday will have buy-ins of $109, $215, and $109 with guarantees of $20k, $100k, and $20k respectively. The Thursday Thrill tournament will have buy-ins of $215, $1,050, and $320 with guarantees of $20k, $425k, and $30k respectively. The Fast Friday tournament will have buy-ins of $109, $215, and $109 with guarantees of $20k, $50k, and $25k respectively. The Saturday KO tournament will have buy-ins of $109, $320, and $109 with guarantees of $20k, $250k, and $25k respectively.

The Sunday Million tournament will start at 21:00 with a buy-in of $109 and a guarantee of $100k. The Sunday Starter tournament will start at 12:00 with a buy-in of $109 and a guarantee of $50k. The Sunday Wrap-Up tournament will start at 2:00 with a buy-in of $109 and a guarantee of $20k. The Sunday Cooldown tournament will start at 00:15 with a buy-in of $109 and a guarantee of $100k.

PokerStars will introduce a new payout system in all Big/Hot tournaments and many others to reduce the gap in prize money on the final table and increase the prize zone. The duration of tournaments will also be reduced to make them more appealing to players. PokerStars employee Luke, responsible for the MTT schedule, periodically comments on the changes in the corresponding thread on 2+2. PokerStars will host 28 tournaments of Big, Hot, and Bounty Builder series daily, along with 12 tournaments of Omania series in 6-max format with triple stack. Ante will be introduced in the first level of all tournaments by no-limit hold'em.