PokerStars Live League 2026 Comeback – €250,000 in Prizes
PokerStars Live League, one of the most significant leaderboard competitions in the European poker scene, has returned with a fresh structure. Low-stakes grinders and seasoned high rollers are welcome to participate in the events and win a share of €250,000 (total prizes). The 2026 League kicked off with PokerStars Open Campione on Jan 23. Players should expect a more rewarding experience – just fantastic!
PokerStars Open Campione started on 23 January and will last until 1 February, 2026. The luxurious Casino di Campione in Italy hosts the League events as it did in 2025.
Key PokerStars Open Campione Events
See the PokerStars Open Campione schedule of key tournaments below:
| Event Category | Tournament Name | Runs on | Buy-in | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Roller | PokerStars Open High Roller | January 27 - 28 | €2,200 | - |
| Main Event | PokerStars Open Main Event | January 28 - February 1 | €1,100 | €1,000,000 |
| Side Event | PokerStars Open Second Chance | January 30 - February 1 | €550 | - |
| High Roller | PokerStars Open Super High Roller | January 31 | €5,500 | - |
| Side Event | PokerStars Open Mystery Bounty Cup | January 31 - February 1 | €400 | - |
It’s a comprehensive festival with events suiting every bankroll. The buy-ins range from modest €400 to high stakes reaching €5,500. Players' performance in any of these shows their standing in the early leaderboard.
PokerStars Live League – What Is It?
Launched in 2025, PokerStars Live is a competition which allows players to collect points throughout the year. It covers the Stars' other major tournaments held in Europe:
- EPT (European Poker Tour)
- Irish Open
- PokerStars Opens
Participation in any of these stops helps poker enthusiasts climb higher in the League’s leaderboard and get closer to €250,000 in total prizes.
What Has Changed in 2026?
To upgrade the action and make it more thrilling, PokerStars made some changes this year. These are minor but crucial enough. Let’s see what to expect.
Ranking Changes
PokerStars Live has spread the players into three ranks based on buy-in size. Each rank has 3 top performers. The same as last year, but with some changes in buy-in thresholds for the specific level.
| Tier | Buy-in | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | up to €1,200 | €15,000 | €7,500 | €3,750 |
| Medium | €1,000 to €5,500 | €25,000 | €12,500 | €6,250 |
| High | €4,900+ | €50,000 PokerStars LIVE credit | €25,000 | €12,500 |
Tweaked Points System
In addition to the finishing position, which was the only factor to calculate players’ points in 2025, PokerStars added two more. Field and buy-in size are now considered. Appearances in final tables and victories give more points than mere participation in each event.
How to track rankings? Players can keep an eye on their standing in the leaderboard through the PokerStars Live app. It updates results across all tiers in real time.
Entrance to Special Live Freeroll
In 2026, the Top 30 members of the leaderboard can get entry tickets to an exclusive €100,000 live freeroll. It’ll take place during the EPT tournament in 2027.
Champions of PokerStars Live League in 2025
There were more than 2,400 participants in the tournament last year. And three of them proved to be worthy of the first-place rewards:
- High Tier: Enrico Comosci
- Medium: Gerard Rubiralta Cortes
- Low: Steinn Thanh Du Karlsson.
We at Cardmates are eager to see what this year’s PokerStars Live brings us. Don’t miss the opportunity to join key events starting January 27, track your progress in the PokerStars Live app, and move up higher in your rank.
