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Articles Wcoop Poker

WCOOP PokerStars (05/2026) You want to play Poker Tournaments & Events? We have Dates, Buyins and more Click & Get all the info you need

Online pokerIndependent review6 min read

Articles Wcoop Poker
Photo: Qz10, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ethan WallPoker desk writerUpdated 6 min readFact-checked against operator terms
On this page 7 sections
  1. WCOOP in Detail: Most Important Things to Know
  2. WCOOP Winners: Previous winners and Last Time Winner
  3. WCOOP 2025: The upcoming event in Detail
  4. Tournament Calendar: WCOOP 2025
  5. How to qualify for the WCOOP
  6. Traveling to WCOOP & ideas of things to do besides Poker
  7. Conclusion

Lady Liberty Background
WCOOP Not Part of US PokerStars
The World Championship of Online Poker can’t be played by US poker players through PokerStars. The New Jersey and Pennsylvania-based site is ring-fenced from the international PokerStars site. So, if you want to participate in the WCOOP you would need to fly to another jurisdiction. Instead, we recommend trying WSOP Poker or PartyPoker for the US. Here you’ll find multiple interesting tournament series and decent player pools.

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WCOOP stands for the World Championship of Online Poker and it is hosted and held by PokerStars. In addition to the other tournaments that this online poker provider offering, this is the main event that brings them all together. With a million-dollar jackpot, many players buy their way in and qualify to put cash down and win with such a big tournament that welcomes one and all if they can make it through the smaller events. If they can do this, they can find themselves in the WCOOP poker tour that is the biggest of them all.

WCOOP in Detail: Most Important Things to Know

Those that want to take on a bigger championship, especially after doing some of the smaller ones can benefit from taking part in this large event. This event is one that welcomes one and all to it. You can expect a large buy in, though. This is because the payout is also large, up towards a million or more dollars to win.

Additionally, you can expect to find that WCOOP also is one championship that you can buy in, but you also have to make sure that you qualify for, as the smaller events need to be passed.

Some of the other events that players usually take part in other than this one or leading up to this one includes the Caribbean Adventure tour, as well as the EPT Tournament where you can get in for smaller buy in amounts.

The buy ins for the smaller tables during this event can be as low as $2.20 to $5, and as high as $25,000 depending on the event that the player is buying into.

WCOOP Winners: Previous winners and Last Time Winner

The winners of WCOOP have been shown to win a decent amount of money towards the end of the event, as the buy ins can be high.

These are the past winners of the WCOOP:

  • 2018 – NLHE Main Event – wann2play – $1,352,967.97
  • 2017 – NLHE Main Event – SvZff (Steven van Zadelhoff) – $1,624,502.27
  • 2016 – NL Hold’em Main Event – ||JaYJaY|| (Jonas Lauck) – $1,517,541.25
  • 2025 – NL Hold’em Main Event – Coenaldinho7 (Kristof Coenen) – $1,300,000
  • 2014 – NL Hold’em Main Event – CrownUpGuy (Fedor Holz) – $1,300,000

These are the high-end winners of the main event, though there are always a handful of events that come in with this particular tournament. 2018 had 186 events in total, with amounts in winnings getting up to the millions for each table, and some with the high hundreds or hundred thousands.

The WCOOP schedule shows the particular buy in amounts, as well as the payouts that were given for each year previously. Each table has a specific buy in and pay out, with some of the tables guaranteeing a specific amount of pay outs.

WCOOP 2025: The upcoming event in Detail

The upcoming WCOOP is set to be coming up in the fall of 2020, providing the best possible place and time for those that want to sign up and buy in to this event. They are welcome to do so.

With over 200 tournaments set to take place during this one event, you can find that it provides the players with a way to put their cash down on the table and try to win their luck. This is one of the many championships that are being offered from PokerStars.

The previous event was held in early September which means that we have to wait an entire year for the next championship to come around. Those that want to take part in this event are able to do so.

Tournament Calendar: WCOOP 2025

The calendar of events is a hefty one that shows how the many events of WCOOP are going to play out for those that sign up with the championship.

There are around 75 events usually for this event, and many of them are bigger events that provide a way to win a larger amount. Additionally, these events come with combined guarantees.

With two main events that this championship makes up, and the phased events, you can expect to find guaranteed winnings in each of them. You can also win entries to this by playing many of the tables that are offered from PokerStars.

How to qualify for the WCOOP

Those that want to qualify for the WCOOP are easily able to do so through a few different ways. Depending on which you feel the most comfortable going with, you can find that one of these ways allows you to become a part of this online championship that brings the best poker players from around the world together.

  1. You are invited to the championship because you are a regular, high roller that has great records with the casino.
  2. There is also a game known as Spin and Go that you can earn entries with when you spin the reel and get tickets, winnings, money, and more with the use of this wheel.
  3. Buy your way into WCOOP by purchasing your way in through the use of the tickets that are offered for different amounts depending on the particular event you want to buy in with. Some of the events you can buy in, but others you have to buy in and qualify from the smaller events to take part in them.

The WCOOP high roller plays and other plays are open for you to use to your advantage. You can check out all that they have to offer within these events when you try to buy into them.

Traveling to WCOOP & ideas of things to do besides Poker

WCOOP is held all over the world in various locations. With more than 45 different events, it is important to plan accordingly if you have made into the tournament.

Usually, Vegas is high on the list of places, allowing players to enjoy other casinos in the area, as well as great buffets, shows, concerts, and more.

Any place that the player travels to has different restaurants, sights to see, things to do and more. They are generally held in a resort and casino, so even if you are not playing in the tournament anymore, you can still play in the casino and win some cash in the process.

Those that are a part of this championship just have to log into their accounts with PokerStars to take part in the event during the specific date and time that is given. Other than that, no one has to leave their home or stay within a hotel if they choose not too, since this event is not housed through a particular venue but actually online. Horseshoe Icon

Questions players ask

How much is the buy in for these events? Are they very high?

The buy in amounts vary depending on the specific event that you are trying to buy into. This can change from $5 and go up to $25,000. This means that choosing the right event to take part in is important, as you need to go with the one that you can comfortably afford to buy into.

Is everyone able to sign up with this championship, or do I need to do something special?

Everyone and anyone are able to sign up with the championship or take part in it. If you can qualify through other means or games, or if you can buy yourself in, then this is where you can find yourself playing in this championship.

Some specific players may even be invited to take part in the WCOOP event.

Do you have to play at a specific venue or can I play from my home?

You can play in this big championship from the comfort of your own home. This is because it is an online championship that provides you with a way to play without having to stay or go to a specific venue.

Is the WCOOP televised?

The WCOOP event is a televised and heavily talked about event each year. It is one of the events that comes to mind when talking about poker events. This is something that many people are thinking about when it comes to signing up with an event.

Do I need to be a player with PokerStars to take part in this championship event?

Yes, you do have to be a player with PokerStars in order to take place in this and any other event or tournament that the website holds for the players. This is because these are put up for their players to enjoy.