PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker kicks off

ISLE OF MAN -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- PokerStars.net, the world's largest online poker room, today launched the start of the PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker – All Stakes Tournament Series. The Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) will give all PokerStars players the chance to win part of a huge guaranteed prize pool during the 10-day series - running April 2-12, 2009.

The PokerStars SCOOP will be made up of 22 events with two events daily. Each event will include three tournaments with different buy-ins to cater for all players at low, medium and high stakes. With a massive $30 million guaranteed prize pool this means that even low-stakes players have the chance to win big. The SCOOP tournament series includes two High-Roller events and will end on a high with the NL Hold'em Main Event finale on Sunday April 12, with a $5 million guarantee for the high-stakes tournament.

SCOOP will cover a wide range of poker games with events including:

· $10,300 High-Roller H.O.R.S.E
· $25,500 Heads-up NL Hold'em
· Eight-Game Mixed tourney
· Six-Max No-Limit Hold'em
· Mixed Hold'em
· Six-Max PLO with one re-buy and one add-on

The PokerStars SCOOP will be the biggest online poker tournament series so far this year, attracting players from across the globe competing for millions in cash prizes. Buy-ins start from as little as $5.50, making the series accessible to all, but with many of the prize pools guaranteed to be in excess of $500,000 – this could be a life changing event for skilled players.

"Tournament series events like the PokerStars WCOOP and now SCOOP are the ultimate way to improve your game and experience the excitement of big tournament play," said Joe Hachem of Team PokerStars Pro.

This is a "must-play" event for all players - beginners, established and elite stars of poker. No other sport allows for participation in this way by professionals and amateurs alike in a true championship event. Players can qualify for SCOOP events via satellites running now, including cash, FPP and Step Sit & Go qualifiers from as low as $2.20.