WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF ONLINE POKER 2021
The WCOOP 2022 has participants from all over the world
The largest online poker tournament of all time is coming back for its 19th installment in August 2021. Sponsored by PokerStars, this long-running, highly prestigious event is considered by many to be the online equivalent of the World Series of Poker, showcasing some of the world’s brightest and best poker talent. As online eSports events go, this is one not to be missed! In the fabulous lineup of virtual events this summer, the World Championship of Online Poker 2021 is a glittering array of thrilling tournaments played on the PokerStars website and features first-class poker players from all over the world. So, if you are partial to a few rounds of poker, this could well be the virtual event for you.
What are the prizes?
The WCOOP is famous for paying out the largest prizes in the world of online poker. In fact, in 2005 the combined events for the WCOOP generated $12,786,900 in prize money making it the biggest online poker event of all time. Then, back in 2010, Tyson “POTTERPOKER” Marks bagged himself a cool $2.2million from the Main Event, which happened to be the largest prize for an online tournament in history. It’s clear to see why tickets to this event are so highly coveted!
During this prestigious tournament, there will be a cool $100 million up for grabs, making it the biggest WCOOP event yet. In 2020, more than $99.9million was awarded to the PokerStars community, which broke the goal of $80 million — so there is every chance the same could happen this year.
Players used to be able to bag themselves a gold bracelet for winning events, however, PokerStars discontinued this prize in 2015.
Play from anywhere in the world!
When is it happening?
The WCOOP 2021 starts on Sunday, August 22, and runs until Wednesday, September 15. Each week until the Main Event, players will be able to compete in games between Sunday – Saturday and between 00:00 ET – 23:59 ET to try and complete the challenge they have set for that week.
The main event is No-Limit Hold’em but in the lead-up, players can choose from games including Pot Limit Omaha High and Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, Limit, Pot Limit, and No-Limit Texas Hold’em, and H.O.R.S.E. Since 2007, players can also choose 5 Card Draw and 2-7 Triple Draw and since 2009 it has been possible to play Badugi.
How does it work?
Players who are interested in competing in the World Championship of Online Poker can opt-in to the Road to WCOOP promotion in the challenges window via their PokerStars account. From there, players need to select either a low, medium or high Redemption Points Target, only one target can be selected each week in the run-up to the event so players can only enter one draw. Then, players need to choose their favorite games and play them each week to try and complete the challenge set by their target. If players manage to hit their Redemption Points Target, they will be entered into a weekly draw which takes place on Sundays. The last of these draws will take place on August 22nd. The latest opt-in is August 21st. Players will need to keep checking whether they have won tickets to WCOOP, but if they are unsuccessful, they will be entered into the Ambassador Freeroll on Sunday, August 22.
The good news is that there are $1,000,000 of WCOOP tickets to be won and a further $200,000 of Ambassador Freeroll tickets up for grabs. Anyone who is skilled enough to knock out a PokerStars Ambassador will be entered straight into the WCOOP Main Event. And there will be plenty of opportunities to do this as so many PokerStars Ambassadors will be playing.
Whether you play poker for fun or semi-professionally, the WCOOP 2021 is a great way to test those skills and put yourself in the running for some huge cash prizes!