PokerStars MI Goes Casual With Summer Stacks Festival: 100 Events, $1M Guaranteed

Written By Martin Harris on June 7, 2021
PokerStars Summer Stacks June 2021

The PokerStars Michigan Spring Championship of Online Poker (MISCOOP) is in the rear-view mirror, but its presence remains prominent. All the same, PokerStars MI continues to drive ahead with another tournament series on the way this month.

PokerStars MI announced Monday a new Summer Stacks Festival. The 100-tournament series will run June 12-28, with guarantees across the series totaling $1 million.

Lower buy-ins, faster structures for ‘casual’ poker fun

According to PokerStars, the schedule aims to provide “a more casual series format” for players than perhaps found in MISCOOP or other series. To accomplish that goal, the series features many turbo events structured to complete quickly. Buy-ins for the events are set at $100 or less throughout.

The series culminates with a two-day, $100 buy-in Summer Stacks Festival Main Event starting Sunday, June 27. The Main Event will feature a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool. See the full schedule below.

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PokerStars will host Summer Stacks Festivals on the same dates at both of its other US sites in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The series on those sites also will consist of 100 tournaments with buy-ins at $100 or less.

On PokerStars PA, the series will similarly feature $1 million worth of guarantees (actually just slightly more) and a $100,000 guaranteed Main Event. Over at PokerStars NJ, the total guarantees add up to $528,000, with the Main Event guarantee set at $50,000.

Springing into summer: Stars continues tourney-fueled momentum

PokerStars MI clearly seeks to continue momentum from the recently completed MISCOOP series.

The 120-tournament series attracted more than 40,000 total entries and awarded more than $2.35 million. That total exceeded PokerStars MI’s previous high of $2.2 million won during the Michigan Championship of Online Poker (MICOOP) earlier this year.

Like other PokerStars MI series, the Summer Stacks Festival will again feature freerolls, in which players can win tourney entries for free. These will include both Depositor Freerolls and Second Chance Freerolls.

To gain entry into daily Depositor Freerolls, PokerStars MI players must deposit at least $30 using the bonus code “SUMMER21.” The Depositor Freerolls will award $10,000 worth of Main Event tickets.

Meanwhile, the Second Chance Freerolls are for players who get knocked out of events without making the money. Busting an event shy of the cash automatically wins the player an entry into the following day’s Second Chance Freeroll. Those events will award another $10,000 worth of Summer Stacks tournament tickets.

Although the series follows the MISCOOP and MICOOP models, the Summer Stacks Festival appears to temper ambitions somewhat. It employs a similar 17-day schedule, but the Summer Stacks Festival promises half the total guarantees of the first MICOOP and subsequent MISCOOP, both of which featured $2 million in guaranteed prize pools.

Hands across America: PokerStars continues focus on US growth

The simultaneous running of the Summer Stacks Series on all three American sites will provide another chance to compare PokerStars’ progress in its three separate US markets.

The MISCOOP ran concurrently with PokerStars NJ’s version of the SCOOP series. PokerStars PA ran their PASCOOP a few weeks earlier. Whereas Michigan players won $2.35 million in MISCOOP, those in Pennsylvania won $2.6 million (playing an almost identical schedule). New Jersey players won just over $1.2 million.

All three PokerStars sites in the US are currently ring-fenced, meaning in each case players only compete against others within their state.

2021 PokerStars Michigan Summer Stacks Festival Schedule

No. Date Time (ET) Event Buy-in Gtd.
1 Jun 12 (Sa) 4 p.m. NLHE (Summer Stacks Warm Up – Stars-B-Que) $10 $3,500
2 Jun 12 (Sa) 6 p.m. NLHE (Summer Stacks Kick Off) $100 $30,000
3 Jun 12 (Sa) 7 p.m. NLHE (Summer Stacks Mini Kick Off) $30 $8,000
4 Jun 12 (Sa) 7 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $15,000
5 Jun 12 (Sa) 7:30 p.m. PLO (6-Max, Progressive KO) $5 $1,000
6 Jun 12 (Sa) 9 p.m. NLHE $50 $8,500
7 Jun 12 (Sa) 9:30 p.m. Razz (6-Max) $10 $1,000
8 Jun 13 (Su) 3 p.m. Stud Hi/Lo (6-Max) $50 $3,500
9 Jun 13 (Su) 5 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO, Sunday Storm – PKO Edition) $10 $3,000
10 Jun 13 (Su) 6 p.m. NLHE (Sunday Special) $100 $60,000
11 Jun 13 (Su) 6 p.m. NLHE (Mini Sunday Special) $30 $10,000
12 Jun 13 (Su) 6 p.m. NLHE (Micro Sunday Special) $5 $3,500
13 Jun 13 (Su) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $10,000
14 Jun 13 (Su) 8:30 p.m. NLHE (The Big Freeze) $100 $12,500
15 Jun 13 (Su) 9 p.m. PLO (6-Max) $30 $4,000
16 Jun 14 (M) 6 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO, Battle Royale Early Edition) $10 $3,000
17 Jun 14 (M) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $10,000
18 Jun 14 (M) 8 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO, Battle Royale) $100 $20,000
19 Jun 14 (M) 8:30 p.m. NLHE $5 $1,500
20 Jun 14 (M) 9 p.m. PLO8 (8-Max) $20 $2,500
21 Jun 15 (Tu) 6 p.m. NLHE (Super Tuesday Early Edition) $10 $3,000
22 Jun 15 (Tu) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $10,000
23 Jun 15 (Tu) 8 p.m. NLHE (Mini Super Tuesday) $50 $15,000
24 Jun 15 (Tu) 8:30 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Summer Freeze) $100 $10,000
25 Jun 15 (Tu) 9 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Turbo, Progressive KO) $10 $2,000
26 Jun 16 (W) 6 p.m. NLHE (6-Max) $20 $4,000
27 Jun 16 (W) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $10,000
28 Jun 16 (W) 8 p.m. NLHE (6-Max) $100 $17,500
29 Jun 16 (W) 8:30 p.m. NLHE $30 $5,000
30 Jun 16 (W) 9 p.m. 8-Game $50 $5,000
31 Jun 17 (Th) 6 p.m. NLHE (Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill Early Edition) $10 $3,000
32 Jun 17 (Th) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $10,000
33 Jun 17 (Th) 8 p.m. NLHE (Progressive KO, Mini Thursday Thrill) $50 $15,000
34 Jun 17 (Th) 8:30 p.m. NLHE (Summer Freeze) $25 $3,500
35 Jun 17 (Th) 9 p.m. PLO (6-Max, Turbo) $5 $1,000
36 Jun 18 (F) 6 p.m. NLHE (4-Max, The Big $10 – 4-max Edition) $10 $2,500
37 Jun 18 (F) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $10,000
38 Jun 18 (F) 8 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Mega-Stack Turbo) $100 $15,000
39 Jun 18 (F) 8:30 p.m. NLHE $20 $3,000
40 Jun 18 (F) 9:00 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Progressive KO) $5 $1,000
41 Jun 19 (Sa) 3 p.m. NLHE $10 $2,500
42 Jun 19 (Sa) 5 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Saturday Warm Up) $20 $5,000
43 Jun 19 (Sa) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $10,000
44 Jun 19 (Sa) 8 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Progressive KO, Bigstack) $100 $20,000
45 Jun 19 (Sa) 8 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Progressive KO, Bigstack) $30 $10,000
46 Jun 19 (Sa) 8:30 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Summer Freeze) $30 $4,000
47 Jun 19 (Sa) 9 p.m. 5-Card PLO (6-Max) $10 $2,000
48 Jun 20 (Su) 3 p.m. HORSE (6-Max) $50 $3,500
49 Jun 20 (Su) 5 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Sunday Storm) $10 $3,000
50 Jun 20 (Su) 6 p.m. NLHE (Sunday Special) $100 $60,000
51 Jun 20 (Su) 6 p.m. NLHE (Sunday Special – Mid) $30 $15,000
52 Jun 20 (Su) 6 p.m. NLHE (Sunday Special – Low) $5 $3,500
53 Jun 20 (Su) 7 p.m. PLO (6-Max) $30 $3,500
54 Jun 20 (Su) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $8,000
55 Jun 20 (Su) 8:30 p.m. NLHE (Summer Freeze) $50 $7,500
56 Jun 21 (M) 6 p.m. NLHE (7-Max) $5 $1,000
57 Jun 21 (M) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $10,000
58 Jun 21 (M) 8 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO, Battle Royale) $100 $20,000
59 Jun 21 (M) 8 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO, Mini Battle Royale) $30 $8,000
60 Jun 21 (M) 8:30 p.m. NLHE $15 $2,500
61 Jun 22 (Tu) 6 p.m. NLHE (Super Tuesday Early Edition) $20 $6,000
62 Jun 22 (Tu) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $10,000
63 Jun 22 (Tu) 8 p.m. NLHE (Mini Super Tuesday) $75 $17,500
64 Jun 22 (Tu) 8:30 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Summer Freeze) $100 $12,500
65 Jun 22 (Tu) 9 p.m. NLHE (4-Max, Turbo) $30 $4,000
66 Jun 23 (W) 6 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, The Big $10 – 6-max Edition) $10 $2,500
67 Jun 23 (W) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $10,000
68 Jun 23 (W) 8 p.m. NLHE (6-Max) $50 $10,000
69 Jun 23 (W) 8:30 p.m. NLHE $25 $3,500
70 Jun 23 (W) 9 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Turbo, Progressive KO) $20 $3,000
71 Jun 24 (Th) 6 p.m. NLHE (Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill Early Edition) $20 $6,000
72 Jun 24 (Th) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $10,000
73 Jun 24 (Th) 8 p.m. NLHE (Progressive KO, Mini Thursday Thrill) $75 $17,500
74 Jun 24 (Th) 8:30 p.m. NLHE (Summer Freeze) $50 $6,000
75 Jun 24 (Th) 9 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo) $5 $1,000
76 Jun 25 (F) 6 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Turbo, Fast Friday Early Edition) $20 $3,500
77 Jun 25 (F) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $10,000
78 Jun 25 (F) 8 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Turbo, Fast Friday) $100 $15,000
79 Jun 25 (F) 8:30 p.m. NLHE $100 $12,500
80 Jun 25 (F) 9 p.m. NLHE (Heads-Up, Turbo, Progressive Total KO, Heads-Up Zoom) $30 $7,500
81 Jun 26 (Sa) 3 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Afternoon Bigstack) $30 $6,000
82 Jun 26 (Sa) 4 p.m. Stud (6-Max) $50 $3,500
83 Jun 26 (Sa) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $10,000
84 Jun 26 (Sa) 8 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Bigstack) $100 $25,000
85 Jun 26 (Sa) 8 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Bigstack) $25 $7,000
86 Jun 26 (Sa) 8:30 p.m. NLHE (Summer Freeze) $30 $4,000
87 Jun 26 (Sa) 9 p.m. NLHE (4-Max) $100 $17,500
88 Jun 27 (Su) 3 p.m. NLHE (Sunday Drive) $30 $7,500
89 Jun 27 (Su) 5 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Half Price Sunday Storm) $5 $2,500
90 Jun 27 (Su) 6 p.m. NLHE (Main Event) $100 $100,000
91 Jun 27 (Su) 6 p.m. NLHE (Main Event – Mid) $30 $25,000
92 Jun 27 (Su) 6 p.m. NLHE (Main Event – Low) $10 $7,500
93 Jun 27 (Su) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $8,000
94 Jun 27 (Su) 8:30 p.m. NLHE (Summer Freeze) $15 $2,500
95 Jun 27 (Su) 10 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Bigstack) $50 $6,000
96 Jun 28 (M) 6 p.m. NLHE (6-Max, Mega Stack) $5 $1,500
97 Jun 28 (M) 7 p.m. NLHE (Summer Stars) $100 $25,000
98 Jun 28 (M) 7:30 p.m. NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) $50 $10,000
99 Jun 28 (M) 8 p.m. NLHE (4-Max, Shootout) $30 $7,000
100 Jun 28 (M) 8:30 p.m. NLHE (Summer Freezeout – Last Call) $10 $1,500
TOTAL $1,000,000

Photo by PokerStars courtesy photo
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Martin Harris

Martin Harris is a writer and teacher who has reported on poker, online gambling, and sports betting since the mid-2000s. Once a full-time academic (Ph.D., English), he currently teaches part-time in the American Studies program at UNC Charlotte. In 2019, his book Poker & Pop Culture was published by D&B Books.

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