Improvements in quality and experience promised.
Stars Group VP Hollreiser commits to sending 400 qualifiers, 100 special guests.
PokerStars announced Thursday via its official website that the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure brand will be reinstated, effectively removing the annual poker festival from the PokerStars Championship series in a decision that executive Eric Hollreiser suggests will “improve the quality of that event to reflect the great heritage and unique experience that made PCA one of the most-anticipated poker events of the year.”
ARTICLE: PokerStars Iconic Live Event Returns in January (Aug 10, 2017)
The 2018 PCA will take place from January 6th-14th, which means the long-running live tournament series will not directly compete with the Aussie Millions (which is scheduled to begin the following Wednesday).
Hollreiser, Vice President of Corporate Communications for parent company The Stars Group, also announced that rake (referred to in the press release as “admin fees”) will be reduced in all high roller as well as turbo events, and will be capped at $300 — which could have a significant impact for those who plan to compete in the $25k, $50k and $100k PCA Super High Roller tournaments.
Other improvements include a $50,000 freeroll for any individual who participated in one of the official PCA tournaments, bringing back swag-bags, and a Road to Bahamas satellite promotion that the site expects will send 400 online qualifiers to Paradise Island this coming January, including 100 “special guests” in the form of past winners and celebrities.
The reinstatement of the PCA brand comes less than 24 hours after high stakes pro ‘Jungleman’ Dan Cates lambasted the PokerStars real money online site for games that the 27-year old King of The Hill contestant claims are infested with Live Assistance Software and Bots.
The site has also been heavily criticized on the TwoPlusTwo News, Views & Gossip forum, which currently has several trending threads related to the company’s lack of transparency and disingenuous marketing aimed towards recreational and veteran players alike.
Still, the changes to a once extremely-popular live venue could be a move “in the right direction,” as high stakes player and 2016 PokerStars SCOOP Main Event winner Talal ‘raidalot’ Shakerchi states within the 2+2 PCA Returns Feedback Thread.
Talal Shakerchi with Poker Life Podcast host Joey Ingram
However, the United Kingdom businessman adds that he “won’t be interested if they do those formats where they pay 15%+ of the field.”
It will be interesting to see how the poker community reacts to the news in upcoming days. Be sure to share your thoughts by commenting below or joining-in on the discussion over at TwoPlusTwo.
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