2019 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

$25,000 PokerStars NL Hold'em Players Championship
Day: 1
Event Info

2019 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a5
Prize
$5,100,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$25,000
Prize Pool
$26,455,500
Entries
1,039
Level Info
Level
36
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
600,000

Welcome to the $25,000 PokerStars NL Hold'em Players Championship!

Platinum Pass
Platinum Pass

One of the most highly anticipated tournaments kicks off right after the fireworks introduced the new year all over the world. An entire year filled with promotions at various PokerStars live event stops culminates in the $25,000 PokerStars NL Hold'em Players Championship as part of the 2019 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA).

More than 300 players have earned their Platinum Pass worth $30,000 and will be joined by the who-is-who on the international poker circuit for the biggest $25,000 buy-in event in poker history. What better location for dreams to come true could there be than The Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas?

The resort has hosted the PCA since 2004, and some of the biggest names in poker were among those to lift the trophy in the Main Event and High Roller tournaments. It all began with the victory of Gus Hansen in the $7,500 Main Event, and the Great Dane was followed by such big names as Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Triple Crown champion Harrison Gimbel, Galen Hall, Dominik Panka and Mike Watson. Christian Harder claimed the Main Event title in 2017 and Maria Lampropulos scored her second seven-figure payday in the 2018 edition.

Former PCA Main Event Winners

YearBuy-InEntriesTotal Prize PoolWinnerFirst Prize
2004$7,500221$1,657,500Gus Hansen$455,780
2005$8,000461$3,487,200John Gale$890,600
2006$8,000724$5,647,200Steve Paul-Ambrose$1,388,600
2007$8,000937$7,063,842Ryan Daut$1,535,255
2008$8,0001,136$8,562,976Bertrand Grospellier$2,000,000
2009$10,0001,347$12,674,000Poorya Nazari$3,000,000
2010$10,3001,529$14,831,300Harrison Gimbel$2,200,000
2011$10,3001,560$15,132,000Galen Hall$2,300,000
2012$10,3001,072$10,398,400John Dibella$1,775,000
2013$10,300987$9,573,900Dimitar Danchev$1,859,000
2014$10,3001,031$10,070,000Dominik Panka$1,423,096
2015$10,300816$7,915,200Kevin Schulz$1,491,580
2016$5,300928$4,500,800Mike Watson$728,325
2017$5,000738$3,376,712Christian Harder$429,664
2018$10,300582$5,645,400Maria Lampropulos$1,081,100

Grospellier, who sits atop the French all-time money list with more than $13 million in cashes, is also among the previous High Roller champions at the PCA. In the first $25,000 High Roller back in 2009, Grospellier topped a field of 48 entries and received $433,500 for his efforts. Other High Roller champions include Alex Bilokur, Vanessa Selbst, Jake Schindler, Lucas Greenwood and two-time champion Steve O'Dwyer.

While a five-figure buy-in has already become common on the international poker circuit, there aren't as many tournaments with an even bigger price tag. Since 2011, the PCA has played host to the Super High Roller events with a buy-in of $100,000. The list of winners reads like a poker all-star line-up including Eugene Katchalov, Viktor Blom, Scott Seiver, Fabian Quoss, Steve O'Dwyer, Bryn Kenney, Jason Koon, and Cary Katz.

Bryn Kenney
Bryn Kenney on top of the PCA all-time money list so far

It comes as no surprise that one of the Super High Roller winners tops the PCA all-time money list. Kenney has already cashed for more than $6.2 million on Paradise Island, O'Dwyer follows in second by some margin with more than $3,8 million. With the upcoming $25,000 PokerStars NL Hold'em Players Championship, there may however be a change at the top of the leaderboard. After all, the event guarantees $1 million on top for the eventual champion.

Unlike most other High Roller tournaments, the highlight of the festival schedule will be held rake-free and as a Freezeout over a total of five days. The structure and key features of the $25,000 PokerStars NL Hold'em Players Championship were based on player feedback collected at various PokerStars live stops.

Schedule of the $25,000 PokerStars NL Hold'em Players Championship

Tournament DayDateTimeFurther Information
1January 6th, 201912:00Play 8 levels of 60 minutes each, no dinner break, finishes approx. 21:10
2January 7th, 201912:00Registration closes at start of day, 8 levels of 60 minutes each, no dinner break, finishes approx. 21:10
3January 8th, 201912:00Levels last 60 minutes each, possible dinner break, # of levels according to the pace of the event
4January 9th, 201912:00Levels last 60 minutes each, possible dinner break, # of levels according to the pace of the event
5January 10th, 201912:00Play down to a champion

Day 1 will feature a total of eight levels of 60 minutes each, and the registration closes at the start of Day 2 at 12 p.m. local time on Monday, January 7, 2019. The event will be played nine-handed at the start and, if space and seats allow, move to eight handed at the start of Day 2 at the latest.

All participants receive 60,000 in chips, and each level lasts 60 minutes each, down to the last three the level duration will be shortened to 30 minutes. There will be no dinner break on the first two tournament days to wrap up at just after 9 p.m. local time and all further days will be adjusted according to the pace of play.

The PokerNews live reporting team will provide updates and news articles from nine different tournaments throughout the festival, so make sure to check back regularly to find out who claimes the glory at the Bahamas to kick off the poker year 2019.

Atlantis Resort, home of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Bahamas
Atlantis Resort, home of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Bahamas

Tags: Bertrand GrospellierBryn KenneyGus HansenMaria LampropulosSteve O'Dwyer