The World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) remains the most prestigious online poker festival of the year, but jumping straight into a major series can be intimidating.
That’s why PokerStars is bringing back WCOOP Boot Camp for 2026, giving players two weeks to warm up before WCOOP begins.
Running from August 2nd to August 17th, the series features more than $6,500,000 in guaranteed prize pools, 130 tournaments and free coaching sessions designed to help players sharpen their game before one of poker’s biggest online festivals gets underway.
What Is WCOOP Boot Camp?
Think of WCOOP Boot Camp as the pre-season before poker’s Champions League.
Rather than waiting until WCOOP begins on September 6th, players can compete in tournaments that mirror many of the formats they’ll see during the championship itself.
There are Progressive Knockouts, Mystery Bounties, six-max events, turbo tournaments, mixed games and traditional No-Limit Hold’em, giving players the chance to build confidence before the biggest online series of the year.
More Than $6.5 Million Guaranteed
This year’s Boot Camp includes 65 events, each available in both Low and High buy-in versions.
Buy-ins begin at just $2.20, making the series accessible to recreational players, while higher-stakes tournaments cater for experienced grinders.
Among the biggest events are:
- $75 Sunday Special with a $300,000 guarantee
- $109 Boot Camp Main Event with a $500,000 guarantee
- $1,050 High Main Event with a $300,000 guarantee
Players can also qualify for many events through satellites starting from as little as $0.55.
Why PokerStars Created Boot Camp
Major online series can be overwhelming.
Many players jump straight into WCOOP after weeks away from tournament poker, only to find themselves making avoidable mistakes against stronger opposition.
Boot Camp aims to solve that problem.
The schedule recreates the variety and structure of WCOOP while keeping buy-ins affordable for much of the schedule. That gives players an opportunity to settle into tournament routines, adjust to deeper structures and experiment with different formats before the real championship begins.
Free Coaching From BBZ Poker
One feature that separates Boot Camp from a standard tournament series is the addition of free coaching.
PokerStars has once again partnered with BBZ Poker, one of online poker’s best-known coaching groups, to provide strategy sessions throughout the festival.
The coaching covers tournament concepts, hand reviews and preparation before key weekends, with recordings also being made available afterwards for players who cannot attend live.
Password-protected freerolls offering WCOOP tickets will also take place following the coaching sessions, giving players another route into September’s championship.
Is WCOOP Boot Camp Worth Playing?
For players already planning to enter WCOOP, the answer is probably yes.
The series offers meaningful guarantees without requiring the bankroll needed for the biggest championship events, while also providing valuable practice under tournament conditions.
Even players with no intention of playing WCOOP can still benefit from a schedule packed with large guarantees, varied formats and affordable buy-ins.
In many ways, Boot Camp has become a tournament festival in its own right rather than simply a warm-up.
WCOOP Is Just Around the Corner
This year’s WCOOP marks the 25th edition of PokerStars’ flagship online poker series, making Boot Camp the final opportunity for players to prepare before the championship begins on September 6th.
Whether you’re chasing a WCOOP title or simply looking for affordable online tournament action, the Boot Camp schedule offers two weeks packed with opportunities to build momentum before one of poker’s biggest events gets underway.
