CELEBRATION: PokerStars Launches Special Holiday Tournaments; Jen Shahade Giving Away Platinum Pass
The holidays are a busy time for US online poker players as players get some free time for some holiday action. PokerStars is offering rounders plenty of opportunities and announced the launch of the “25 Days of Tournaments.”
The series runs Dec. 5-29 with a packed poker schedule for players in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Michigan.
With the PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC) also approaching, the company is offering numerous Platinum Passes up for grabs for American players. The company recently announced that one of these coveted prizes is up for grabs for American and Canadian players courtesy of Stars ambassador Jen Shahade.
Holidays and Hold’em with PokerStars ‘25 Days of Tournaments’
25 Days of Tournaments returns for the series’ second year of action. Players will find daily chests unlocking challenges and a unique daily tournament revealed each evening.
The tournament is set for 7:30 pm (EST) each night and features two stake levels. Players will find a $50 version and a mini $10 buy-in event as well.
Stars hopes to allow players of different bankroll levels to get in on the holiday fun. Finding a seat for a lower price point is also possible with satellites starting at just $1.
This year’s 25 Days of Tournaments series also includes a new addition for 2022. Players can open an advent calendar in the challenges window, where they can collect keys for a chance to unlock prizes of up to $1,000.
The action kicks off Monday and should make for a fun holiday season at the online poker tables.
Jen Shahade handing out aPlatinum Pass for US, Canadian players
The PSPC is set for Jan. 30 – Feb. 3 at the Baha Mar Resort in Nassau, Bahamas. For the last year, Stars has awarded players with numerous passes and another is now available for players in US and Canada.
PokerStars ambassador Jen Shahade is running a competition through Dec. 14 with one of the passes on the line. Players can submit their most formative or memorable poker hand including:
- an explanation of why the hand was so special
- focusing on strategic insights, dramatic tension, colorful villains, or shocking results
- creativity and humor
The contest is inspired by Shahade’s podcast, “The GRID,” which analyzes instructive and entertaining poker hands for all 169 possible hand combinations.
The contest awards one lucky finalist with a Platinum Pass for a complete $30,000 travel package to the PSCP. The prize includes:
- $25,000 buy-in to the PSPC
- Six nights hotel accommodations for the winner and a guest in a five-star hotel
- Airport transfers
- $1,900 in expense money
- Platinum Pass winner experiences during the event
How to win
Those looking to make a submission can email their entry to [email protected] with the subject line “Platinum Hand” plus the contestant’s name. All emails should provide a link to an audio, video, or text file on Twitter, YouTube, SoundCloud, Vimeo, or a blog, along with:
- name
- country of residence
- a two- to three-sentence “about me” section
- submission link to YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud, blog post, or text
Stars suggests audio or video of no more than six minutes or 300 to 2,000 words for blogs or text. When posting on social media, contestants are asked to use the hashtag #PlatinumPokerHand.
This is one of the last opportunities to win a Platinum Pass in the US and Canada. Shahade will select six finalists from Dec. 15-19. The judging panel will then rank finalists from Dec. 20-27.
Shahade will announce a winner Dec. 30 on special “GRID” podcast. Judges include poker players Sam Grafton, Maria Ho, Keith Becker, Mark Foresta, and Alex O’Brien as well as longtime poker writer Brad Willis. Winning entry criteria will be based on:
- creativity and originality
- presentation
- insightfulness
- flow
- overall impact