- Interested in winning your way into the 2020 PSPC (or maybe you don’t even know what the PSPC is)? Well, we’ve got a post for that! Check out our comprehensive list of FAQs about the @PokerStars PSPC.
- When is the 2020 PSPC again? Where is it? How can I enter? Get all the essential info on the 2020 PSPC here.
- So you have questions about the 2020 PSPC? Or about winning or buying a Platinum Pass? Don’t worry, we’ve got you!
Last Updated March 5, 2020
Originally Published October 18, 2019
PokerStars has announced that it is once again putting on what is sure to be one of the most popular high stakes poker tournaments of the year.
Following up on its immensely successful initial running of the PSPC earlier this year in The Bahamas, the online poker giant has announced that there will be a repeat performance of the PSPC next year.
Curious about what the PSPC is and how you can be a part of it with a chance of winning life changing money? Well, we have compiled all of the pertinent information for you below.
In addition, we will be updating this page as new information is released, so be sure to check back periodically.
Sign Up Today »
- The only online poker room offering a chance to win a Platinum Pass for entry into PSPC 2020.
- Largest player base in the world.
- Home of Spin & Go, Power Up and lots of other unique game variants including 6+ Hold’em.
- Biggest weekly tournament schedule around.
What is the PSPC?
The PSPC, also known as the PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship, is a live poker tournament with a €22,500 buy-in, or approximately $25,000.
The event is hosted by PokerStars who is giving away prize packages (that include a free entry to the event) valued at over €26,000, or approximately $30,000.
Where and when is the PSPC being held?
The next running of the PSPC will take place in Barcelona, Spain at the at Casino Barcelona. The PSPC itself will run from August 20-24; however, there will be plenty of other poker festivities taking place in Barcelona before, during and after the PSPC.
There will be a full slate of cash games and tournaments running on demand for those that are in attendance in Barcelona. In addition, there is also a full lineup of major poker tournaments running under the European Poker Tour (EPT) brand including:
- EPT Barcelona National Event: A €1,100 buy-in event that runs from August 13-17, 2020
- EPT Super High Roller: A €100,000 buy-in event that runs from August 17-19, 2020
- EPT Barcelona Main Event: A €5,300 buy-in event that runs from August 24-30, 2020
What does PSPC stand for?
PSPC is an acronym used for the PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship. The PS stands for PokerStars and the PC stands for Players Championship.
The NL in the official unabbreviated name of the poker tournament stands for No Limit, a term that defines the version of Texas Hold’em played in the tournament. Alternatively, Texas Hold’em can be played as Fixed Limit, abbreviated as FL.
How much does it cost to enter the PSPC?
The PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship, also known as the PSPC, has a €22,500 buy-in, or approximately $25,000. The PSPC is a rake-free event, that means that the entire entry fee goes into the prize pool and will be distributed to those lucky enough to make the money in the event.
For those that do not have €22,500 just lying around, PokerStars is offering a variety of ways to win your way into the event through its Platinum Pass giveaways.
What is a Platinum Pass?
A Platinum Pass is a prize package worth over €26,000 (or approximately $30,000) that is being given away by online poker operator PokerStars as a way to win entry into one of the world’s premiere high roller poker tournaments the 2020 PSPC in Barcelona Spain.
A Platinum Pass includes:
- Entry into the 2020 PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship (PSPC), valued at €22,500, or approximately $25,000
- Hotel accommodation for two at a 5-star hotel in Barcelona for six nights
- Airport transfers
- Custom PSPC Merchandise
- 1,250 in expenses
- Special Platinum Pass experiences during your stay in Barcelona
How can I get a Platinum Pass?
There are two ways to get your hands on a Platinum Pass: you can win one or you can buy one.
Those looking to win a Platinum Pass can find a full list of ways on pokerfuse.com. PokerStars is giving away Platinum Passes at live and online poker events, via social media promotions and other ways at PokerStars’ discretion.
If you would like to purchase a Platinum Pass, you can contact PokerStars customer service to find out the best way to complete your purchase.
What is the easiest way to win a Platinum Pass?
There are various ways to win a Platinum Pass which provides entry into the 2020 PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship, more commonly known as the PSPC. PokerStars is awarding Platinum Passes through both poker-orientated and non-poker-orientated contests.
Platinum Passes are being awarded at live and online poker events, through social media competitions and via other alternative methods as PokerStars sees fit.
Currently, the easiest way to win a PSPC package (almost similar to a Platinum Pass) is via the PSPC direct qualifiers satellite system.
Players can either enter the qualifier directly by paying an entry fee of €1050 or qualify through daily satellites available at different buy-ins: €0.55, €5.50, €11, €55, €109.
These daily satellites are being held on the PokerStars platform around the clock and each of them guarantees one seat to the next higher qualifier. The €55 and €109 buy-in satellites award entry directly into the €1050 buy-in final qualifier that takes place every Sunday at 15:30 ET.
In fact, players with no bankroll can also qualify for the PSPC final qualifier. PokerStars is running freebuys, each guaranteeing 1 seat to €55 buy-in qualifier. Players can rebuy or add-on for just €0.11.
How many Platinum Passes have been awarded?
At the time of writing, close to 160 players have won the Platinum Pass via a mix of routes including Mega Path online satellites running every Sunday on PokerStars client, social media and Twitch promotions, live tournaments, etc.
The list of all the winners can be found here.
How many Platinum Passes will be given away for PSPC 2020?
For its inaugural edition, PokerStars had committed to sending over 300 players to the PSPC event and it eventually ended up giving away 320 Platinum Passes in total through a myriad of different online and live paths.
This time around too, PokerStars has made a similar commitment to give away more than 320 Platinum Passes in total ahead of the event.
So far, nearly half of that number of players have won their way to PSPC 2020 and with another 160 Platinum Passes to be given away in the next four to five months, meaning that PokerStars need to give away passes at a rate of about ten a week from now through to the end of July to hit their target.
What prize pool is expected for PSPC 2020?
The inaugural edition of the PSPC set various records as it drew more than 1000 players to generate a prize pool of $26.5 million. This made it the largest $25,000 buy-in in live poker tournament history and the largest ever tournament outside of the WSOP and Triton events.
PokerStars is now hoping to target for even a bigger PSPC 2020.
We are anticipating 1000 to 1250 players for the second edition of the PSPC that will take place in Barcelona. This could lead to a prize pool of 22.5 million to 28.1 million in Euros, equivalent to $25 million to $31 million in USD.
How much will the winner of the PSPC win?
The first place prize for the PSPC will be determined by the total number of entrants with each buy-in of €22,500 buy-in, or approximately $25,000, going entirely into the prize pool as the PSPC is a rake-free event (no money is taken out of the entry fee to pay for the venue, promotion, staff etc.).
The percentage of the prize pool that will be awarded to the winner hasn’t been formally announced, but we can look at the 2019 version of the PSPC to get an idea of just how much money will be awarded to the winner of the 2020 PSPC.
The first PSPC had almost 1000 entrants putting approximately $25 million into the prize pool. Plus, PokerStars gave away over 300 platinum Passes, adding another $8 million to the prize pool. Then PokerStars added $1 million to the first-place prize which turned out to be $5.1 million.
While PokerStars hasn’t committed to the total number of Platinum Passes it will give away for the 2020 PSPC, and they have not indicated whether or not they will once again add $1 million to the winner’s prize, if the number of players is about turns out to be about the same as last year, we can expect the winner of the 2020 PSPC to take home at least the equivalent of $4 million (Euros is the official currency of the 2020 PSPC).
There is also a good chance that PokerStars will do everything possible to make the 2020 version even bigger than the original, so we might see first place exceed the $5.1 million awarded this year.
What is the minimum age to play in the PSPC?
Players must be at least 18 years old to play in the PSPC and the other PokerStars sponsored events taking place in Barcelona alongside the PSPC including:
- EPT Barcelona National Event: A €1,100 buy-in event that runs from August 13-17, 2020
- EPT Super High Roller: A €100,000 buy-in event that runs from August 17-19, 2020
- EPT Barcelona Main Event: A €5,300 buy-in event that runs from August 24-30, 2020
