2006 WCOOP

Paul 'Dr. Pauly' McGuire

If I told you that you could win a half of a million dollars playing poker without leaving your house or apartment, would that be something you'd be in interested in? Of course, you are! The World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) sponsored by PokerStars allows you the opportunity to play in the largest online poker tournament with prize pools that rival the World Poker Tour and the World Series of Poker. The most appealing aspect of the WCOOP is that you do not have to travel long distances to play against some of the best players in the world. All you have to do is turn on your computer and log on to PokerStars.

On September 16th, PokerStars kicks off the 2006 World Championship of Online Poker featuring 18 different tournaments, ending with the $3 million guaranteed NL main event on October 1st. Just like the winners at the WSOP, every event winner in the WCOOP will also be awarded a gold bracelet. The 2006 WCOOP will be the largest series of online poker tournaments in the world with over $10 million in guaranteed prize money. There are no less than four tournaments that will have guaranteed prize pools of a least $1 million.

Since its inception in 2002, the WCOOP has grown steadily every year. In 2005, there were 16 events with over $8 million in guaranteed prize money. Over 19,727 players participated and those players generated a prize pool worth more than $12.7 million. That made it the third largest poker spectacle in the world for either a live or online event.

Last year the 2002 WSOP World Champion Chris Moneymaker finished in third place in the $500 Seven-card Stud Hi/Lo event. The 2005 WCOOP main event was taken down by Panella86 who outlasted a field of 1434 players. He won the championship and $577,342. There are not too many live tournaments with a first place payout that high. The winner at this year's main event is expected to win well over $700,000.

PokerStars added new events to the 2006 WCOOP and including one Razz and two HORSE tournaments. Team PokerStars member Barry Greenstein will be hosting the highly anticipated $5,000 HORSE event. It's the largest buy-in tournament at the WCOOP and will attract many of the top pros.

"Prestigious tournaments such as the World Championship of Online Poker, are the ultimate way to improve your game and experience the excitement of big tournament play," said Greenstein. Buy-ins at the 2006 WCOOP range from $200 to $5,000. The tournaments are not heavily weighted with No Limit Hold'em events and features tournaments in Limit Hold'em, Omaha 8, PL Hold'em, PLO, Seven-card Stud, Razz, and HORSE. There are two rebuy events in the $300 PLO and the $200 NL Hold'em.

You can buy-in directly or win a seat through satellites that start at as little as $3. You can also win a seat through a series of freeroll tournaments. PokerStars is giving away over $1.5 million in free seats. If you are a member of their VIP players club, you are eligible to play in freeroll tournaments where PokerStars awards seats to various WCOOP events. There are also FPP freeroll tournaments where you use your frequent player points to enter other freerolls. Here's the 2006 WCOOP schedule:

Sept 16: Razz ($200+$15)

Sept 17: NL Hold'em ($500+$30)

Sept 18: PL Omaha (rebuys)

($300+$20)

Sept 19: NL Hold'em Match Play ($200+$15)

Sept 20: Limit Omaha High/Low ($500+$30)

Sept 21: NL Hold'em (rebuys) ($200+$15)

Sept 22: Limit Hold'em ($200+$15)

Sept 23: HORSE ($200+$15)

Sept 23: Pot-Limit Hold'em ($500+$30)

Sept 24: NL Hold'em ($1,000+ $50)

Sept 25: Seven Card Stud ($300+$20)

Sept 26: Pot-Limit Omaha8 ($300+$20)

Sept 27: Pot-Limit Hold'em ($300+$20)

Sept 28: Seven Card Stud High/Low ($500+$30)

Sept 29: Pot-Limit Omaha ($500+$30)

Sept 30: HORSE ($5,000+$200)

Sept 30: Limit Hold'em ($1,000+$50)

Oct 1: NL Hold'em ($2,500+$100)

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