The PokerStars No Limit Hold’em Players Championship (PSPC) has proved an even bigger success than expected thanks an impromptu online offshoot attracting 4,402 entrants.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="779" width="1200" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
PokerStars Mini PSPC brings out the masses online as Scott Baumstein leads the way after a busy Day 3 in the Bahamas. (Image: Neil Stoddart/PokerStars)
With the PSPC becoming the largest $25,000 tournament in history, those unable to join the action inside the Atlantis Resort & Casino, Bahamas, have anted up online. Costing 1/1,000th of its live counterpart, the $25 Mini PSPC has got underway on January 6 and initially welcomed 2,107 players.
PokerStars Enjoys Success on Two Fronts
With registration open until 21:05CET on January 7, PokerStars was able to more than double that total and create a total prizepool of $118,050.
Despite being someway short of the 253,698 players that registered for PokerStars’ special $0.01 MTT in 2015, the turnout was still way beyond what many other online events can manage. In fact, by hosting a last-minute accompaniment to the PSPC, the operator has shown that it still has the power to create generous prizepools with very little notice.
Indeed, with Partypoker stealing the richest online tournament in history record back in December, PokerStars has been on an assault ever since. Over the holiday period, the Winter Series combined with a regular roster of MTTs to offer a guaranteed $85 million over a 16-day period.
Since the turn of the year, PokerStars Caribbean Adventure has captured the headlines, mainly due to the success of the PSPC. By adding $9 million to the prizepool and inviting 320 Platinum Pass winners to join the event, 1,039 players bought in and helped PokerStars break another tournament record.
“PokerStars did a fantastic job making this event happen, and the players themselves had input into everything from the blind structures to the payout,” commented Daniel Negreanu.
Pros and Platinum Pass Winners Set to Tangle
Although the Mini PSPC isn’t a record-breaker, it will help one online player turn $25 into a top prize worth $16,841. As for the 38 players left in the $25,000 PSPC, Scott Baumstein is leading the way heading into Day 4.
After bagging 4,240,000 chips on January 8, the American finished Day 3 just 30,000 chips ahead of his closest rival, Yiannis Liperis. Day 4 scheduled to play down to a final table and Baumstein will have to work hard if he wants to remain in contention for the $5.1 million top prize.
With Female GPI Player of the Year Kristen Bicknell, Day 1 chip leader Talal Shakerchi and Dan O’Brien still in the mix, the road the victory will be tough for everyone involved. Indeed, with nine Platinum Pass winners still in the mix, anything could happen with the lion’s share of a $26,455,500 prizepool still up for grabs.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="32" width="32" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="120" width="120" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
