PokerStars Runs Online Qualifiers for Goliath Main Event

PokerStars is rapidly expanding its live event portfolio, and Goliath is the latest in its sponsored events. This series is the largest non-US live poker tournament in Europe. It follows the creed of “Goliath by name, Goliath by nature” and is a record-breaking tournament. With the all-new online qualifiers becoming available, this year is shaping up to be another fantastic year.

Goliath debuted in 2011 and has since become the largest non-US live tournament. It’s primarily focused on the UK market, kicking off its Main Event at the Grosvenor Casino, Ricoh Arena, Coventry. However, people across Europe can technically qualify using the qualifiers online, as it’s open to all dot-com players.

The tournament format consists of eight flights, starting on July 25th. It’ll run until August 4th and also boasts a turbo flight H. The late registration period allows players to re-enter an unlimited number of times.

Last year’s edition, the 11th one, boasted a new attendance record. About 11,493 players participated, generating a prize pool of around £1.37 million with its £150 buy-in. The record number of participants before that was 10,584, which means it saw an 8.6% increase.

Much of this tournament’s popularity comes from low buy-ins with relatively high rewards. Its reasonable buy-ins attract players worldwide, and it expects another lucrative year. However, this year, the main event’s buy-in will rise to £200 while maintaining the £1.5 million guarantee.

This tournament’s Main Event is part of the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT), the UK’s most lucrative poker festival. It pays out an estimated £10 million across dozens of legs. The tour holds monthly events and boasts various London, Manchester, Blackpool, Coventry, and Edinburgh stops. This year will be its 18th anniversary.

PokerStars now sponsors Goliath Main Event and is running qualifiers for it. This is all part of the brand’s effort to become involved in more live events. It further sponsors the Belgian Poker Challenge, Irish Poker Open, Cyprus’ Dolce Vita Series, and Lex Live. It also boasts regional tours in various markets, such as the Brazilian Series of Poker and the Latin American Poker Tour.

The qualifiers available online have already started, and buy-ins start at as low as £2.20. Players will find multiple daily feeder satellites and a £22 direct buy-in qualifier. The final step is the seat-only qualifier because only the final satellite offers an event seat.

PokerStars is involved in various live poker events to revitalise its brand. The latest one, Goliath, aims to break its previous attendance record again. With PokerStars’ qualifiers available online, we might see that happen again. We’ll watch how the qualifiers go and what players can expect from this prestigious event at Grosvenor Casino.