PokerStars Reduces Buy-Ins for Main Event and High Roller at Prague Open

PokerStars has officially lowered the buy-ins for the PokerStars Open Prague Main Event and High Roller, reversing recent increases after player feedback. The Main Event will now cost €1,100, down from €1,650, and the High Roller drops to €2,200 from the originally planned €2,700. Both events take place in December 2026, and these adjustments align with prior pricing standards for major PokerStars Open tournaments.

PokerStars Buy-In Reduction Details

The buy-in for the PokerStars Open Prague Main Event, running from December 2-7, has been set at €1,100. For the PokerStars Open High Roller, scheduled December 6-8, the buy-in falls to €2,200. These figures return the events to their historic entry levels, which had been increased in recent years. PokerStars stated the pricing change arose "in direct response to player feedback," reflecting an effort to enhance accessibility for a broader player pool.

Standardised Pricing Across PokerStars Open Series

The new lower buy-ins will not just apply to the Prague festival. This update forms a standard for both EPT-connected PokerStars Open events—like Prague—and independent stops, such as PokerStars Open Aix-en-Provence occurring November 2-8. The operator has confirmed that the €1,100 and €2,200 price points will remain in effect for these types of tournaments into 2027.

PokerStars Open series frequently run in parallel with larger European Poker Tour (EPT) stops, which are also operated by Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd. Yet the Open series also exist as standalone festivals, attracting both recreational and professional players from multiple European markets.

No Effect on PokerStars Live League Rankings

Despite the reduced entry fees, buy-ins for the PokerStars Open Main Event and High Roller remain within the €1K–€5K bracket, qualifying them as Medium tier events. As a result, the change will neither affect previous nor upcoming PokerStars Live League rankings.

The Live League divides events and leaderboards into Low, Medium, and High categories based on tournament buy-in. As of this update, Italy's Danilo Donnini leads the Low leaderboard, England's Andrew Hulme tops the Medium, and Austria's Klemens Roiter—runner-up in 2025—heads the High leaderboard.

PokerStars Open Prague and EPT Prague: Year-End Highlights

The PokerStars Open Prague festival runs alongside EPT Prague, which remains one of Europe’s final major live poker events of the year. This dual-festival format, held December 2-13, offers diverse schedules, prize pools, and a broad draw for competitors seeking leaderboard points, trophies, or career-best scores.

PokerStars' approach to pricing and event structure in Prague follows established patterns. Drawing from participant feedback and market trends, the operator is recalibrating its Open event formula for both established and emerging poker destinations.

Long-Term Impact on the Live Poker Circuit

The company’s decision is set to influence live poker participation through at least 2027. Lower entry barriers are expected to draw additional recreational players, even as the professional field remains robust thanks to the circuit’s prestige and prize guarantees.

The broader alignment in PokerStars Open and EPT-connected festival pricing provides clarity for operators, partners, and participants. This consistency should benefit event integration and scheduling across PokerStars’ European events calendar.

"The move is in direct response to player feedback and reflects our ambition to make the tour more accessible to as many players as possible," PokerStars claimed in an official statement.

Summary: Buy-In Structure and Competitive Landscape

• Main Event buy-in: €1,100 (was €1,650) for Prague Open Main Event
• High Roller buy-in: €2,200 (was €2,700) for Prague Open High Roller
• Standardised pricing now applies to EPT-linked and standalone PokerStars Open stops through 2027
• No change to PokerStars Live League rankings due to consistent Medium tier classification
• Current PokerStars Live League leaders: Danilo Donnini (Low), Andrew Hulme (Medium), Klemens Roiter (High)

Images courtesy of Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd. and photographer Hayley Hochstetler.