PokerStars is offering players a dedicated training ground ahead of its 2025 World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP), which runs from September 7 to October 1. The WCOOP Boot Camp, scheduled for August 3–18, features 69 events across low‑ and high‑buy‑in tiers and more than $9 million in guarantees
Diverse schedule and entry points
The Boot Camp’s two‑week schedule offers events in No‑Limit Hold’em, 8‑Game, HORSE, razz and badugi. Buy‑ins range from $2.20 to $5 200, making the series accessible to recreational players while still offering substantial prize pools. Each event is split into “Low” and “High” tiers; the combined schedule comprises 69 tournaments.
Two headline tournaments anchor the series on August 17:
- $109 NLHE Main Event with a $600 000 guarantee.
- $1 050 NLHE Main Event with a $400 000 guarantee.
Free coaching and strategy sessions
To help players prepare, PokerStars has partnered with BBZ Poker to host free Discord coaching sessions on August 1, 8 and 15. The sessions focus on WCOOP strategies and tournament formats and include opportunities to win WCOOP tickets. BBZ’s coaching lineup features notable players Alex ‘Pwndidi’ Theologis, Andy ‘bowieeffect’ Wilson, Jargo ‘bungakat’ Alavalli and Mason ‘pyefacepoker’ Pye.
PokerStars ambassador and 2024 WCOOP champion Benjamin “Spraggy” Spragg emphasises that the Boot Camp helps players refine strategies and build confidence: “Winning a WCOOP title didn’t happen without serious prep. That’s why I love the idea of WCOOP Boot Camp; it’s a great way to practice, test new strategies, and get yourself in the zone before WCOOP kicks off”.
Leaderboard and ticket promotions
Players who participate in Boot Camp events can also compete for extra rewards. The WCOOP Boot Camp Leaderboard offers $60 000 in prizes via Power Pass packages, while the Ticket Machine promotion distributes $150 000 in WCOOP tickets. According to PokerStars, the top 100 leaderboard finishers will receive prizes ranging from $10 300 Gold WCOOP Ticket Bundles for 1st–4th place to $109 Bronze Power Passes for 9th–100th. To enter the Ticket Machine draw, players must opt in via the PokerStars client from July 31 and complete up to two challenges during the Boot Camp.
Preparing for the 2025 WCOOP
By offering a wide variety of tournament formats, low‑barrier buy‑ins, free coaching and extra incentives, PokerStars aims to help players fine‑tune their game before WCOOP begins. With more than $9 million guaranteed and stakes for every bankroll, the Boot Camp functions as both a warm‑up series and a way to qualify for larger WCOOP events. For players dreaming of deep runs in September, the Boot Camp provides the practice, education and entry opportunities to start the championship series with confidence.
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