It's January. That means it's time for beachside views, sunglasses, and perfect weather. At least, that's if you're planning to be in The Bahamas. Oh, and poker. Plenty of poker.
In just about two weeks, a true celebration of poker kicks off in Nassau at the beautiful Baha Mar resort. PokerStars is combining the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure and the PokerStars Players Championship. The festival runs from January 22 through February 3, and we have everything you need to know.
What to play
A wide variety of events and buy-ins will be featured. You'll see $100,000 Super High Rollers, both $550 and $3,000 trendy Mystery Bounties, the $10,300 PCA Main Event, and the $25,000 PSPC Main Event. There are also smaller events for the budget, including buy-ins from $300 to $1,100 each day. Mixed-game players will enjoy a $550 8-Game mix, both a $550 and $1,100 HORSE events, among other non-two-card games.
If you're more of a cash game specialist, they'll be running too. Cash games start up on the 22nd and run the entirety of the festival. All games will be played with USD. You can find all blinds and rake information right here.
Of course, satellites will be available to play your way into the bigger events. The full schedule can be found here.
Where to stay
You can fly directly into Nassau, airport code NAS (I found my flight for just under $400). The event is held at the Baha Mar resort, located on Cable Beach on the north coast of the island. Right on the beach, you'll find dining options, a beachfront waterpark, and a huge selection of pools. With spas, wildlife sanctuaries, world-class golf courses, and beach clubs, non-poker-playing companions would find plenty to enjoy as well.
Platinum pass qualifiers
Over the last few months, excitement has been brewing for this event. You might have seen plenty of giveaways of coveted Platinum Passes worth a cool $30,000, which includes entry into the PSPC Main Event. In fact, well over 400 passes have been given away. We even got into the giving spirit with our Runner-Runner promotion, which saw Slow Poker outlast a nationwide team of bounty hunters to hold on to his own Platinum Pass.
In the coming weeks, we'll feature highlight stories of some of these qualifiers and what this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity means to them. Check back here often to get to know some of the players you might find sitting next to you in paradise.
