The 2019 PCA is officially underway at Atlantis Casino and Resort in the Bahamas. The PokerStars Players Championship kicks off today. PokerStars gave away Platinum Passes and prize packages worth several million over the last twelve months. At least 850 players will be taking a shot at PSPC glory. Registration is still open.
If you build it, they will come. If you give away enough Platinum Passes, of course you will throw one heck of a poker party. PokerStars was on a mission in 2018.... pump up the PSPC and Platinum Passes. I mean, everyone who is anyone in poker got a Platinum Pass (except the lowly author of this post) in the poker industry and everyone in the poker biz has been whisked away to the Caribbean for fun in the sun and nonstop poker over the next two weeks.
PokerStars is hosting their annual sojourn to the Bahamas with the return of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. So glad that it is rebranded as the PCA again. I wonder if that suit who dared to gamble up with a rebranding is still with the company? Because straying away from the PCA brand was one of the most foolish moves in all of poker. After all, PokerStars owns the Caribbean in January.
For the last two decades it seems, the start of the new calendar year is devoted to all things poker in the Bahamas. This year is no different. Click here to see the entire PCA schedule that includes the PSPC, the Main Event, and a couple of High Roller affairs.
The 2019 PCA is off and running at the Atlantis Resort and Casino on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. It's only a short puddle jumper away from Miami, but you might as well be on another planet when you show up at the PCA. It feels like a dream. An elegant dream with lots of cocktails, while surrounded by poker players in hoodies and other casual attire. Then there's the crystal blue and turquoise waters that make the long trip worth the hassle. And the white sand that you've only seen in brochures, magazines, or on social media feeds of your favorite Instagram model that you secretly stalk. Don't forget about the oodles of rum drinks with lots of fruit you never heard of and those umbrellas. And the Kaliks. Warm, cold, or just semi-cold… it's the official beer of the PCA and the best way you can bribe poker media… buy them a six-pack of Kaliks and they will be your friend for eternity. And if you're lucky, you can catch a glimpse of your favorite German superballer or other online whizkids gambling it up at the Coral Bar Lobby. And if you finally make your way to the convention center, you will find more donks than you can shake a stick at!
This year's 2019 PCA also includes the inaugural PokerStars Players Championship. The $25,000 buy-in event does not have any juice because they locals will be shaking you down for everything else, so the suits at Stars HQ figured they'd throw everyone a bone and not charge rake.
The $25K PSPC is supposed to attract players from all over the planet, including direct buy-ins, online satellite qualifiers, and Platinum Pass winners. Even as late as Christmas, PokerStars was awarding Platinum Passes to a few lucky souls who loved poker and everyone's favorite guru Kevin Mathers.
The 2019 PCA began on Saturday at Atlantis. The 2019 PSPC kicks off on Sunday with the first day of action. You can follow along with the hijinks at PokerStars Blog. And the crew is always streaming the affair live from the front lines in Atlantis.
Watch and listen here to the play-by-play by James Hartigan and Stapes vis Twitch...
