How to play the WCOOP Main Event on PokerStars for just $11

Find out how to enter the WCOOP 2026 Main Event on PokerStars with a $1,250,000 guarantee for just $11 thanks to exclusive opportunities from PokerNews.

The World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) 2026 series has already kicked off on the largest poker platform, PokerStars, and the first champions have been crowned. Players from all over the world are battling for titles and big prizes, and among the first winners is well-known pro Espen Jorstad, who added another trophy to his collection by winning one of the opening events. For many players, the highlight of the series will be the Main Event with a $109 buy-in and a $1,250,000 guarantee, which will take place on September 27. However, thanks to an exclusive partnership between PokerNews and PokerStars, readers have a unique chance to enter this tournament for just $11—or even as little as $0.01. WCOOP 2026: Scale, Structure, and Early Winners The World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) is PokerStars’ largest online series, and in 2026 it runs from September 6 to 30. The festival features 121 tournaments, with a total of 350 championship titles up for grabs across three buy-in categories: Low, Medium, and High. This format allows players with different bankrolls to compete for prestigious trophies and substantial prizes. Among the first winners of the series is Espen Jorstad, who has already added another WCOOP title to his resume in the opening days of the festival. This once again highlights the high level of competition and the status of the series among both professional and recreational poker players. PokerNews Exclusive Satellites: Your Path to the Main Event for $11 or Less Special satellites have been organized for PokerNews readers, giving them a chance to enter the WCOOP Main Event almost for free or for a symbolic amount. There are two types of qualifying tournaments, which will take place on September 13, 20, and 26. All satellites start at 21:00 Moscow time (2 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. BST). PokerNews Centroll — a tournament with a buy-in of just $0.01, awarding 50 Power Path tickets worth $1.50 each. Unlimited rebuys are allowed, and the structure is turbo, making the action fast-paced. Players have three chances to start their journey to the Main Event for literally a cent. PokerNews $11+R NLHE WCOOP $109 Main Event Satellite — a more direct route to the Main Event. The buy-in is $11, unlimited rebuys are allowed (rebuy means you can buy more chips after losing your stack), and each satellite guarantees 9 Main Event tickets worth $109 each (total value — $981 per tournament). In total, across the three qualifying tournaments, 27 Main Event tickets and 150 Power Path tickets will be awarded through the centroll tournaments. Main WCOOP Events: Prize Pool and Schedule The series’ Main Event — the $109 WCOOP NLHE Main Event (Low) — starts on September 27 and guarantees a prize pool of $1,250,000. This is just one of six Main Events taking place on September 27 and 28. Altogether, more than $6.5 million in guaranteed prizes will be awarded across the NLHE (No Limit Hold’em) and PLO (Pot Limit Omaha) Main Events. The PokerNews satellites offer a unique chance to enter the Main Event at a minimal cost, which is especially important for players with limited bankrolls. The last chance to win a ticket through these exclusive satellites is on September 26—just one day before the Main Event begins. Schedule and Structure of the Qualifying Tournaments Satellite Dates: September 13, 20, and 26, 2026 Start Time: 21:00 Moscow time PokerNews Centroll: $0.01 buy-in, 50 Power Path tickets worth $1.50 each, unlimited rebuys, turbo structure PokerNews $11+R NLHE WCOOP $109 Main Event Satellite: $11 buy-in, unlimited rebuys, 9 Main Event tickets worth $109 in each tournament In total, over the three satellite days, the following will be awarded: 27 tickets to the $109 Main Event (3 tournaments with 9 tickets each) 150 Power Path tickets worth $1.50 each (3 tournaments with 50 tickets each) Context: Who Organizes These Tournaments and Who They’re For The WCOOP series is held on PokerStars—one of the largest and most renowned online poker platforms. The satellites are organized in partnership with PokerNews—a leading global poker media outlet. To participate in the exclusive satellites, you need to be a PokerNews reader, making these tournaments especially attractive to the publication’s audience. The announcement’s author, Calum, has been working at PokerNews since September 2021 and has covered the biggest poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP). His experience and deep industry knowledge allow him to highlight truly important opportunities for players. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this news is a great example of how even players with a small bankroll can get a shot at the world’s biggest tournaments. Exclusive satellites with minimal buy-ins show that the path to big prizes is open not only to professionals but also to amateurs who are ready to show persistence and skill. The structure of the qualifying tournaments, with unlimited rebuys and a turbo format, is similar to many club events on PPPoker. This means that the experience gained in club games can be effectively applied in international qualifiers, and Power Path tickets are an example of a flexible qualification system that can also be implemented in club series. Inspired by such opportunities, PPPoker players can take a more active part in satellites and build their careers starting from minimal investments. Keep an eye out for similar promotions so you don’t miss your chance to reach a new level in the poker world!