WCOOP Challenge Series Takes Flight on Aug 1; PokerStars Launches Team Protégé Competition

There is good news in store for online poker buffs, as the WCOOP Challenge Series is just round the corner. Scheduled from August 1 to 3, the $7,000,000 guaranteed mini-fest, with its not so mini 9 cash-rich events, it sure is going to be a weekend to remember.

The 3-day virtual feast has some amazing cash prizes lined for each event. Besides, there awaits the exclusive commemorative money clip for winners in each event, as well as a ticket for the Main event in the 2014 WCOOP – World Championship of Online Poker.

WCOOP Challenge Series Schedule

For those nursing poker-lag in the aftermath of the gigantic WSOP, the WCOOP Challenge Series comes in as fresh-me-up energizer, with all the punch packed by the 2014 WCOOP, without its expensive tag. The WCOOP Challenge Series has buy-in`s at a fraction of the cost, besides ranging from minute to large, appealing to all poker wallets! From $109 to $2,100 entry Main event, there is something for everyone.

Players with different tastes are in for a smorgasbord of events, as the series includes some of the most popular formats, which are sure to appeal to all poker-palates. So be it Omaha, No-Limit Hold’em or Turbos, every event is set to titillate the most blasé of poker taste buds.

With the WCOOP Challenge Series set to whet appetites, the real meal will begin later this year with the 2014 WCOOP and especially it’s $10 Million guaranteed Main Event!

Last year the Main Event had an $8 Million guarantee, attracting a field of 2,133 players for its $10.6 million in prize money. Germany’s ‘PlayinWasted’ had taken home $1.5 Million after a three-way deal, for winning the Main Event.

Members will need a PokerStars account to join this promotion.

As if the basket of goodies offered by this year’s WCOOP Challenge Series is not enough, there is a tantalizing carrot being held out for 4 lucky winners in a brand new promotion by PokerStars.

To learn the tricks of the games nothing can beat mentorship from stalwarts of the poker world. Following this concept, PokerStars has launched a not-to-be-missed opportunity for budding stars, known as the “The Protégé”.

The protégé competition will pick up four lucky winners who will have the opportunity to receive training from four of the world’s best poker players – Team PokerStars pro Andre Akkari, Bertrand ‘ElkY’ Grospellier, Eugene Katchalov and Vanessa Selbst. With four WCOOP titles between them, the mentors will treat 4 lucky winners to exclusive one-on-one training sessions.

To participate in the protégé competition, players will have to play special daily protégé tournaments, which run from July 20th to August 3rd and have a $5,50 buy-in.

The qualifying tournament schedule for this event is

13.00 ET – Eugene Protégé Qualifier

14.00 ET – ElkY Protégé Qualifier

17.00 ET – Vanessa Protégé Qualifier

18.00 ET – Andre Protégé Qualifier

The top two finishers of any tournament will be invited to submit a one-minute video explaining why they think they should be a protégé. The Pros will select their favorite eight videos, which will then be put up on social media to get shortlisted to final four via public votes.

“This is going to be a fun and incredible experience for four players. They’ll get some great training with in-depth strategy discussion from four Team PokerStars Pros that should really help their games going into the World Championship events.” Vanessa Selbst, a Team PokerStars Pro said.

Training aside, each finalist will get entry to three 2014 WCOOP events, which includes the $5,200 entry Main Event with its guaranteed prize of $10 million. The cherry on the cake will be a chance to participate in the 2015 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure package, available to the best performer among the finalists.

Image Courtesy: PokerStars