The 2026 edition of the Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) is fast approaching, and to get their players ready for action, PokerStars is throwing a SCOOP Warm Up series over the next couple of weeks.
Starting on February 1 and running until February 16, SCOOP Warm Up will host 69 events across multiple buy-in brackets (high, medium, and low), with buy-ins ranging from $2.20 to $5,300. The event formats, buy-ins, and structures are inspired by SCOOP events, so players who play in the Warm Up series will be perfectly prepared for the main SCOOP action in March.
The SCOOP Warm Up is your opportunity to start your SCOOP grind early and enter spring in full tournament grind mode.
$10,000,000 in Prizes Up for Grabs
The SCOOP Warm Up will pay out at least $10,000,000 across its 69 events, and the guaranteed prize pools are likely to be smashed in the majority of events.
The series opens up with a couple of Opener events on February 1, carrying $11 and $109 buy-ins and paying out at least $40k and $60k, respectively. From there, both the buy-ins and the guarantees will go up, as each day of the series offers an attractive lineup of events.
Popular Progressive Knockout (PKO) and Mystery Bounty formats will be well-represented on the schedule, along with plenty of classic poker tournaments, all with ample re-entry opportunities.
The key events of the SCOOP Warm Up, as we have grown accustomed to, will be played out on Sundays, with February 8 and February 15 bringing us the biggest guarantees and best opportunities for the players.
Here is a look at a partial SCOOP Warm Up schedule with some of the highlight events you will not want to miss:
| Date | Event | Buy-in | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 4 | #16-L: PKO Micro Bounty Builder HR | $5.50 | $20,000 |
| Feb 4 | #16-M: PKO Mini Bounty Builder HR | $55 | $100,000 |
| Feb 4 | #16-H: PKO Bounty Builder HR | $530 | $40,000 |
| Feb 7 | #24-L: Marathon | $11 | $25,000 |
| Feb 7 | #24-H: Marathon | $109 | $30,000 |
| Feb 7 | #25-L: Micro Bounty Builder HR | $5.50 | $20,000 |
| Feb 7 | #25-M: Mini Bounty Builder HR | $55 | $100,000 |
| Feb 7 | #25-H: Bounty Builder HR | $530 | $40,000 |
| Feb 7 | #25-L: Micro Bounty Builder HR | $5.50 | $20,000 |
| Feb 8 | #33-L: Mystery Sunday Special | $22 | $250,000 |
| Feb 8 | #33-M: PKO Sunday Special | $75 | $400,000 |
| Feb 14 | #55-H: Saturday PKO | $109 | $60,000 |
| Feb 14 | #55-L: Saturday PKO | $22 | $60,000 |
| Feb 15 | #62-L: Main Event Sunday Million | $109 | $1,000,000 |
| Feb 15 | #62-H: Main Event | $1,050 | $300,000 |
SCOOP Ticket Warm Up Ticket Machine Awaits
Every day of the SCOOP Warm Up series, from February 1 to 12, PokerStars will give away 153 x $109 SCOOP Warm Up Main Event tickets through the SCOOP Warm Up Ticket Machine.
To earn entries into the draw, you will need to play the SCOOP Warm Up events of the day, with up to three entries available each day. The following challenges will earn you entries:
- Play one SCOOP Warm Up event – 1 ticket
- Play two SCOOP Warm Up events – 1 ticket
- Eliminate two players in SCOOP Warm Up events – 1 ticket
In total, you can get up to three Warm Up Ticket Machine entries daily, and you can earn multiple entries in a single event. For example, if you play one event and eliminate two players in it, you will earn two entries.
The daily Warm Up Ticket Machine draw will take place automatically at 00:00 ET every day, and any tickets you win will be added to your account and ready to be used in the SCOOP Warm Up Main Event on Sunday, February 15.
Win SCOOP Tickets Through the SCOOP Prize Vault
Throughout the month of February, PokerStars players will also get to win SCOOP tickets through the ongoing SCOOP Prize Vault promotion.
In order to participate in the promotion, all you need to do is generate at least $5 of rake in any real money PokerStars games in February. As you generate more rake, you will hit higher milestones and be in with a better chance of winning SCOOP tickets.
- Milestone 1 – Rake $5
- Milestone 2 – Rake $25
- Milestone 3 – Rake $50
- Milestone 4 – Rake $75
- Milestone 5 – Rake $100
- Milestone 6 – Rake $250
All players who paid enough rake to reach one of the milestones will get a PokerStars Rewards chest on March 1, containing their reward. The rewards will range from $5.50 SCOOP tickets to $1,050 SCOOP tickets, with additional entries into the Level 1 and Level 2 prize draws also given away.
The Prize Draws will give away thousands of additional SCOOP tickets, giving players multiple opportunities to win their way into key SCOOP events this March.
Get Ready for SCOOP 2026
With the SCOOP looming on the horizon, it’s high time for PokerStars players to get their grind on and start getting ready for the biggest online poker fiesta of the first quarter of 2026.
The SCOOP Warm Up series is now underway, with up to 10 events on the schedule every day, and multiple buy-in brackets so everyone can play at a comfortable level.
The satellite lobby is teeming with qualifiers for all the key SCOOP Warm Up events as well, and the daily Warm Up Ticket Machine offers plenty of opportunities to win extra tickets and play in SCOOP Warm Up events at no charge at all.
