PokerStars has introduced the PokerStars Live League, a new leaderboard component for its European live events in 2025.
The PokerStars Live League will award more than €150,000 in buy-ins, as well as give players who finish in the top 30 a chance to apply to become a PokerStars Team Pro brand ambassador.
Players who take part in European PokerStars live events will be able to collect points across three different leaderboard event buy-in tiers, offering them the opportunity to win more buy-ins to PokerStars tournaments next year.
Events where PokerStars Live League leaderboard points can be earned include all European Poker Tour and PokerStars Opens, including the PokerStars-sponsored Irish Poker Open, as well as restricted entry tournaments such as Seniors’ and Ladies’ events.
Players will be able to earn points for the first time at the PokerStars Campione Open on 10 March at Casino di Campione in Italy. Following the Campione Open, players can earn points at the PokerStars-sponsored Irish Poker Open in April, EPT Monte Carlo in May, PokerStars Open Namur, Malaga, Manchester, EPT Barcelona and PokerStars Open Cannes.
Willie Elliot, Live Events Customer Engagement Manager, commented: “We’re really excited to bring PokerStars Live League to our player offering. Players have the opportunity to compete across a variety of different buy-in levels to win €150,000 in live event tickets, with three winners crowned.
“Not only that, one winner will become a PokerStars ambassador, winning themselves a one-year deal worth a huge €100,000 – a dream for many poker players. The winner of the PokerStars ambassador role will travel across the globe wearing the iconic patch, attend the best live events in incredible locations, and play for millions in prize money alongside the best players in the world.”
The three leaderboards – high, medium and low – have the following prize structure:
High: All tournaments with a buy-in of €/£/$5,000 and higher.
- First place: Four x EPT Main Event and four x EPT High Roller buy-ins – worth €62,400
- Second place: Four x EPT Main Event buy-ins – worth €21,200
- Third place: Two x EPT Main Event buy-ins – worth €10,600
Medium: All tournaments with a buy-in of €/£/$1,000 to €/£/$4,999.
- First place: Four EPT Main Event and four PS Open Main Event buy-ins – worth €25,600
- Second place: Six PS Open Main Event buy-ins – worth €6,600
- Third place: Three PS Open Main Event buy-ins worth €3,300
Low: All tournaments with a buy-in equal to or less than €/£/$999.
- First place: 10 PS Open Main Event and 10 Cup buy-ins – worth €15,000
- Second place: 10 PS Open Cup buy-ins – worth €4,000
- Third place: Five PS Open Cup buy-ins – worth €2,000
The top 10 finishers in each leaderboard tier will have a chance to apply to become a PokerStars Team Pro for a year. Players can track their leaderboard progress via the PokerStars Live app.
The PokerStars Team Pro ambassador role includes entry and attendance to some of the brand’s most popular events, including the European Poker Tour stops, as well as iconic series such as SCOOP and WCOOP.
PokerStars stated: “Players will earn leaderboard points whether or not they cash in the tournaments. For players who finish in the money, points will be calculated and awarded using a formula based on Global Poker Index points rankings.
“Players who bust a tournament without cashing will still receive points equivalent to 20% of the value of min-cash points.”
PokerStars is also introducing a new component to its Gold Passes called the PokerStars Open Passport, which will allow players to “choose up to four Main Event buy-ins on the PokerStars Open tour”. The Gold pass can also be changed into four Silver passes and is redeemable for a mix of live and online tournaments.
