PokerStars Moves SCOOP Schedule from May to March

PokerStars has announced a major schedule change: the Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP), traditionally held in May, will be moved to March. This change is expected to take effect in 2025.

SCOOP is one of PokerStars' most popular online tournament series, known for its multi-tiered buy-in structure (low, medium, and high levels) and substantial guaranteed prize pools. Previously, the series typically complemented the online portion of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in May, but recent player feedback has indicated that a March time slot better avoids clashes with other major events and attracts more participants.

In an official statement, PokerStars said the adjustment is based on a comprehensive analysis of player habits and the competitive tournament calendar. Moving the series to March allows players to participate in high-level online tournaments early in the year, while also leaving preparation time for the upcoming WSOP online qualifiers in May. This move continues PokerStars' recent trend of optimizing tournament scheduling, such as compressing some events into tighter formats.

For players, this change means they need to plan their poker schedules earlier. SCOOP has historically offered millions of dollars in guaranteed prize pools and serves as a stage for both professional and amateur players to compete for glory. The earlier date may attract players who previously could not participate due to May scheduling conflicts. Additionally, PokerStars announced that it will add more mixed games and fast-paced formats to SCOOP 2025 to diversify the event offerings.

While specific details have not yet been released, PokerStars has promised to publish the full tournament schedule and guaranteed prize information before the end of 2024. The poker community has responded positively, with many players expressing excitement on social media about the high-frequency events in March.