PokerStars Launches Steps Tournaments for PCA

The “steps” sit-and-go ladder has been a popular offering at a few poker rooms, Party Poker most notably.  Now, PokerStars has gotten into the steps game, introducing its version exclusively as a method of satelliting into the 2008 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. 

The first rung in the Steps ladder costs $7.50 or 500 FPP.  At each level before the final Step, the top two finishers in the nine-player sit-and-go advance to the next Step.  Other finishers, ranging from third down to sixth place, depending on the Step, will receive a consolation prize of either a re-try of the current Step or a loopback down to a previous Step.  

There are two options available for the final, sixth Step.  The first is a two-table, eighteen player sit-and-go.  Here, the top three finishers will each receive a $12,000 prize package, which includes the $8,000 buy-in, $3,000 for accommodations and meals at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort, and $1,000 for travel and other expenses.  The second option is a standard one-table tournament in which only the winner receives the prize package.  Second through seventh places receive cash prizes.   

PCA Steps tickets are only valid for PCA Steps tournaments and cannot be exchanged for cash, but PokerStars has said that it will hold more Steps tournaments for other poker events, like the WSOP, and anyone who has a Steps ticket when the promotion ends will be able to hold onto it for later use.