PokerStars unveils its 2026 Live League

PokerStars has announced the return of the PokerStars Live League for 2026, the leaderboard component to its European live events schedule, giving players another chance to earn points throughout the year and win thousands in PokerStars LIVE buy-ins.

The PokerStars Live League allows players who compete in European PokerStars live events to accumulate points across three different leaderboard tiers, High, Medium, and Low, according to the event buy-in. All European Poker Tour (EPT) and PokerStars Opens, including the PokerStars sponsored Irish Poker Open, are eligible for points in the leaderboards, with the first chance to pick up valuable points at PokerStars first event of the year, PokerStars Open Campione.

A total of €157,500 in PokerStars LIVE credit will be awarded across the top three finishers in each leaderboard. In addition, new for the 2026 league, the top 30 finishers in each tier will be eligible to play in a special live freeroll featuring a €100,000 prizepool at the first EPT of 2027, giving more rewards to a greater number of PokerStars most loyal players. Points are awarded based on three factors: buy-in, number of entries and a player’s finishing position in the tournament. Players will earn leaderboard points whether or not they cash in the tournaments, and for players who finish in the money, points are calculated and awarded using a formula based on Global Poker Index points rankings, with some minor changes. The points system for 2026 has been adjusted to give greater value to those who final table and go on to win, when compared to the 2025 Pokerstars Live League. In addition, the buy-in levels for the three tiers have been adjusted slightly to allow for events that fall in the low-medium overlap to earn points for both the low and medium tiers and events that fall in the medium-high overlap to earn points for both the medium and high tiers. 

“We’re excited to bring back the PokerStars Live League for its second edition and give our players another go at claiming the leaderboard titles,” said Willie Elliot, PokerStars Live Events Customer Engagement Manager. “The league adds a season-long edge to every stop on the calendar and gives the community something extra to chase from the first event of the year right through to the finale.”

Players can follow league updates and track their own, and their rivals’, progress through the PokerStars Live app which will provide live updates and results across the three tiers.