PokerStars is expanding its footprint in the United States by bringing its new PokerStars Open series to the City of Brotherly Love. The 2025 PokerStars Open Philadelphia is scheduled to take place from April 21-27 at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia. With a $500K guaranteed Main Event and a variety of unique tournaments on the schedule, the PokerStars Open Philadelphia will undoubtedly attract a mix of poker pros and serious recreational players looking to take their shot at winning big money, as well as plenty of online qualifiers eager to test their skills on the felt.
An Action-Packed Schedule
As mentioned, the series boasts a diverse tournament lineup. The marquee event is the $1,100 buy-in Main Event, running from April 23-27, featuring a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool. In addition to the Main Event, the schedule includes several other notable tournaments:
- $2,200 High Roller – April 22-23
- $400 PokerStars Cup – April 27, featuring a $40K guarantee
- $300 Women’s Event – April 24, with a $10K guarantee
- $300 NHL Bounty Event – April 23, where players can win added prizes by eliminating a PokerStars Team Pro
That fourth bullet point, the $300 Ambassador Bounty Event, in which players have the chance to win special rewards for knocking out PokerStars-sponsored pros, is set to be a standout attraction. The tournament adds an exciting dynamic to the series, as amateurs and seasoned players alike will have a shot at claiming some extra loot if they manage to eliminate one of the site’s ambassadors.
Apropos, we reached out to a couple of those ambassadors, Maria Konnikova and Jennifer Shahade, for comment, and here’s what they had to say:
I’m so excited to have the first ever PokerStars Open event in the US take place in Philly. I hope it’s the beginning of a vibrant new tradition, where Stars makes a return to live poker, at all buy-in levels, all over North America. Imagine a Boston Open! (Yes, that’s my home town. So what?! I’m allowed to be biased!) For now, though, I’m thrilled to spend a week in Philly, and I hope it will be a welcome destination for many players. You can even claim my bounty at the ambassador bounty event!
– Maria Konnikova
I was born and raised in Philadelphia–and I am so delighted to see the PokerStars Open come to my hometown. I hope that between the great poker on offer, players will have a chance to tour the city. We have some of the best art museums and food in the country, and Philly Live is super close to the famous Italian market, where you can console any premature bustouts with some homemade Ricotta Cannoli. Make your way over to our art museum, run up the Rocky Steps, and you’ll be in great shape for the next tourney.
As for the poker itself, I’m excited for all the events, including the Ambassador Bounty–always a fun dynamic–and the Women’s. We have so many great women poker players either in Philly, or a short train ride away.
– Jennifer Shahade
PokerStars Open Philadelphia: Online Qualifiers
The PokerStars Open Philadelphia promises to deliver a first-class live poker event experience to the East Coast that’s guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser. Whether you’re a seasoned pro, an aspiring poker champion, or simply looking for a fun and competitive atmosphere, this series promises to deliver unforgettable poker action in Pennsylvania’s largest city.
If you don’t currently have enough of a bankroll to buy-in to the events directly — or if you just want to try and save a few bucks while honing your game online ahead of the festival — it’s plenty easy to qualify for the PokerStars Open Philadelphia event. Online satellites will be available starting March 26 for players in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ontario, with buy-ins starting as low as $10.
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