The road to the PCA 2018 Main Event championship has officially started today at noon local time at the Imperial Ballroom in the spectacular Atlantis Resort.
This year, the ever-popular live tournament returned to the juicy $10,300 buy-in. One of the marquee events on the annual live poker calendar, PCA Main Event has been producing countless, oftentimes historic moments in poker history since its establishment in 2004. You can retrace the greatest ones on the PokerStars blog.
It's where the top players from North America and beyond meet with various celebrities and poker aficionados from all corners of the world, including first-time qualifiers who all get to experience the unique atmosphere in this stellar event.
Day 1a follows the tradition. More than 140 players have entered the competition by the end of the second level and the field boasts some of the game's frontrunners.
The defending champion Christian Harder arrived for the first level and so did his former backer and last year's heads-up opponent, legendary Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy.
Harder was happy to come back the place that has played a crucial role in his career: 'It's great, I love The Bahamas! I got my start here really. This is where I decided to play poker full time in 2008 and winning last year was obviously amazing and awesome. I'm glad to be back," he said.
It may be too early to think about a back-to-back victory, but it all starts with high hopes: "Hopefully I can win it again. This is my 11th straight PCA and after experiencing it last year, it would be pretty sweet to win again," Harder called for another shot at the title.
Another former champ Mike Watson is also playing as well as Ryan Riess, Kevin MacPhee, Oleksii Khoroshenin and many other accomplished players.
Team PokerStars is expected to send a battalion of its representatives to the PCA Main Event and some of them are already contesting the title. Young Twich stars Jaime Staples and Kevin Martin are accompanied by old-schooler Barry Greenstein. PokerStars Mind Sports Ambassador Jennifer Shahade and Team PokerStars Pro Fatima Moreira de Melo are trying to make history by becoming the first female player to take down the PCA Main Event. De Melo is fresh off her 18th place at PokerStars Championship Prague.
Players start with 30,000 in chips and their first step is to try navigate through eight 60-minute levels to secure themselves a chair in Day 2. Late registration is open for the whole day so we can expect the total field rise.
Live coverage can be found on the PokerStars blog and PokerNews.
PokerStars TV will be streaming the Main Event from Day 2 (January 10-14). In the meantime, you can watch how the Super High Roller finale (January 8) and the $50k High Roller finale (January 9) unfold.
The stream is available in a wide number of languages, on desktop and mobile on PokerStars.tv, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch channels. Click here for a full schedule.
POKERSTARS CARIBBEAN ADVENTURE MAIN EVENT HISTORY
2004: 221 players, $1,657,500 prize pool, Gus Hansen from Denmark for $455,780
2005: 461 players, $3,487,200 prize pool, John Gale from the UK for $890,600
2006: 724 players, $5,647,200 prize pool, Steve Ambrose from Canada for $1,388,600
2007: 937 players, $7,063 842 prize pool, Ryan Daut from the USA for $1,535,255
2008: 1,136 players, $8,562 976 prize pool, Bertrand Grospellier from France for $2,000,000
2009: 1,347 players, $12,674,000 prize pool, Poorya Nazari from Canada for $3,000,000
2010: 1,529 players, $14,831,300 prize pool, Harrison Gimbel from the USA for $2,200,000
2011: 1,560 players, $15,132,000 prize pool, Galen Hall from the USA for $2,300,000
2012: 1,072 players, $10,398,400 prize pool, John Dibella from the USA for $1,775,000
2013: 987 players, $9,573,900 prize pool, Dimitar Danchev from Bulgaria for $1,859,000
2014: 1,031 players, $10,070,000 prize pool, Dominik Panka from Poland for $1,423,096
2015: 816 players, $7,915,200 prize pool, Kevin Schulz from the USA for $1,491,580
2016: 928 players, $4,500,800 prize pool, Mike Watson from Canada for $728,325
2017 *: 738 players, $3,376,712 prize pool, Christian Harder from the USA for $429,664 * (held as PokerStars Championship Bahamas in 2017)
POKERSTARS TV FANS WITH A CHANCE TO WIN A PLATINUM PASS
While five Platinum Passes to the 2019 PokerStars Players No Limit Hold'em Championship (PSPC) are up for grabs for the players competing at the PCA, there's also a chance to win your $30,000 package from your couch! Follow the PokerStars TV broadcast through the eight days of intense PCA live streaming action to get a chance to win a spectacular trip to the inaugural PSPC. More details will be revealed on the stream.
ABOUT POKERSTARS CARIBBEAN ADVENTURE 2018
The iconic PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) returns to the Atlantis Resort, The Bahamas with the illustrious live poker festival running January 6-14, 2018.
This year's PCA features 31 tournaments across nine days of intense poker action. The schedule is filled with a handful of top-notch, unmissable events including the $10,300 Main Event (January 8-14), the $100,000 Super High Roller (January 6-8), the $25,000 High Roller (January 12-14) and the $1,650 PCA National (January 7-9).
To celebrate the return of the PCA, the 2018 event will also include a wide variety of promotions, additional rewards, and activities for players to enjoy both on and off the tables, such as a $50,000 Freeroll and a $50,000 Player Giveaway. Full details can be found here.
Five PokerStars Players No Limit Hold'em Championship (PSPC) Platinum Passes will be up for grabs at the PCA 2018. Those who will claim Passes will include the Main Event champion as well as the PCA National event winner. Main Event participants will have a chance to win their own $30,000 Platinum Pass, which includes a $25,000 buy-in to the inaugural 2019 PSPC along with accommodation and expenses, in three different drawings:
▪ Main Event Day 2 Draw Winner: On the start of Day 2, a single Main Event table will be chosen at random. That table will play out a single hand of poker with the winner being awarded a Platinum Pass
▪ In The Money Winner: When any PCA 2018 tournament reaches the money all remaining players will be dealt a single hand of poker. The winner from each table will be entered into a Phase II draw at the end of the event, which will award one pass
▪ Wild Card Winner: When any tournament reaches the end of its registration period all remaining players will be dealt a single hand of poker. The winners will be entered into a Phase II draw at the end of the event, which will award one last pass MAJOR TOURNAMENTS AT PCA 2018:
* $100,000 PCA Super High Roller: January 6-8, 2018
* $1,650 PCA National: January 7-9, 2018
* $10,300 PCA Main Event: January 8-14, 2018
* $50,000 High Roller: January 8-9, 2018
* $25,000 NL Hold'em Single Re-Entry: January 11, 2018
* $25,000 PCA High Roller: January 12-14, 2018
USAIN BOLT AND KEVIN HART TO WRAP #GAMEON SERIES AT PCA 2018
The fastest man in the world, Eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt will face off against famous Hollywood comedian Kevin Hart in The Bahamas as the #GameOn series culminates at the PCA. Bolt and Hart will be aiming to outsmart one another in the challenge presented by PokerStars. Hart is also set to compete in the $100,000 Super High Roller yet again, following his debut in 2017.
PLAYER LOUNGE
The Player Lounge is located inside the main tournament room and will be open daily from 11 a.m. - 12 a.m. local time, January 6-14. With a bar and comfy seats to relax, gaming and VR stations, and a whole host of additional activities, make sure you stop by.
PLAYER PARTY
The official Player Party of PCA 2018 will take place January 13, from 8 p.m. local time, inside the Atlantis Casino night club. Party wristbands can be collected from the Information Desk through the event, and every player is entitled to two. There will be free drinks for wristband holders from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m., after which the club opens to the general public.
Aura doesn't have an unlimited capacity, so the party is first come, first served. Get there early to avoid disappointment. Aura is a licensed premises - only those aged 18 years and over will be able to access Aura.
TEAM POKERSTARS PRO
Team PokerStars Pro will be well represented at PCA 2018 with Andre Akkari, Daniel Negreanu, Jeff Gross, Kevin Martin, Jaime Staples, Jake Cody, Fatima Moreira De Melo, Igor Kurganov and Liv Boeree all set to compete at the festival.
If you would like to speak to any PokerStars sponsored players, please email press@pokerstarslive.com with the following information:
▪ player name
▪ time needed
▪ topics/questions/type of content required
▪ available dates
TOURNAMENT LOCATION
The license holder and operator of this event is Atlantis Resort & Casino.
Atlantis Resort & Casino Paradise Beach Dr Paradise Island, Bahamas
Dress code: Smart casual (sportswear is allowed)
Minimum age: 18 years+
NB: Must bring a valid government-issued passport or ID to participate
