The PokerStars New Year Series is entering its final stretch, but there is still plenty more action to go before things wrap up. Although the schedule has a number of interesting events on offer, the three Main Events kicking off on Jan 12 are definitely in the spotlight.
Despite very different buy-in levels, all three of these tournaments come with a massive guarantee of $1,000,000, making them must-play for serious grinders and recreational players on the lookout for that one big score alike.
Like the rest of the PokerStars New Year Series, Main Events are featured in three buy-in orbits: Low ($109), Medium ($1,050), and High ($5,200). For some players, one, two, or all three Main Events are within their bankroll guidelines, but many will be looking for a discount of some sort.
The good news is that there are numerous satellites running around the clock on the site, with buy-ins starting well below $1. Keep on reading to find out how you can secure your seat(s) for Jan 12 even if you don’t have access to a big bankroll.
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Cheapest $5,200 Main Event Satellites
If your bankroll is small but you have the patience required to go through several rounds, qualifiers to the $109 Main Event start as low as $0.55. If you choose to go down this road, these are the steps that will take you all the way to the seat on Sunday:
- $0.55 Round 1 Satellites — 15 seats guaranteed to the $5.50 Round 1 Satellite
- $5.50 Round 1 Satellite — 3 seats guaranteed to the $55 Round 1 Satellite
- $55 Round 1 Satellite — 2 entries for the $530 Mega Turbo Satellite
- $530 Mega Turbo Satellite — 2 seats guaranteed to the $5,200 Main Event
This is a very roundabout way to qualify for a huge buy-in tournament, but seeing how the High Main Event is out of most players’ bankroll ranges, it may be worth a shot or two. Of course, you don’t have to start at the lowest level. Players can buy directly into any of the four qualifiers.
How to Get into the $1,050 Main Event on the Cheap
In a similar fashion, PokerStars is giving players an opportunity to win their way into the $1,050 Medium Main Event, starting their journey for as little as $1.
- $1.10 Round 1 Satellites — 10 seats guaranteed to the $11 Round 1 Satellite
- $11 Round 1 Satellite — 10 seats guaranteed to the $109 Mega Turbo Satellite
- $109 Mega Turbo Satellite — 5 seats guaranteed for the $1,050 Main Event
In this particular scenario, you only need to get through three tournaments, albeit the lower buy-in ones are bound to have sizeable fields. For those with workable bankrolls, skipping the first step is probably a good idea, but if you happen to have only a few bucks to work with, this could be a great opportunity to create your own “zero to hero” story. And, if not, you’ll at least have some fun along the way.
Pick Your $109 Main Event Qualifier
When it comes to satellites for the $109 Main Event-L, things are much more straightforward. There are two types of qualifiers, both of which feed players directly into the tournament, so you can pick the one that better suits your preferences and potential bankroll restrictions.
The first option on the table is the $5.50 tournaments featuring one rebuy and one add-on, guaranteeing between three and five seats. Due to their structure, these tournaments allow for a bit of planning, as some players will take the rebuy right at the start, while others will wait to use it if they lose the original stack, which creates some interesting dynamics.
There are also more traditional qualifiers with buy-ins of $5.50 and $11. Naturally, reentries are available, and $5.50 qualifiers are played as turbos, while $11s have a slower structure and, of course, offer a bigger number of guaranteed seats.
There is plenty of time left to try and win your seats in these events and fight for a share of $3,000,000 in prizes equally spread across the three tournaments. So, why wait? Head over to PokerStars right now and join the action!
