Poker League Qualification Criteria

Qualification Criteria for Season Two

Click HERE for Season Two Qualification Criteria

Qualification Criteria for Season One

Qualification for the new professional poker league is based on a player’s performance in qualifying tournaments and measured by a combination of adjusted lifetime earnings; number of major poker titles won; adjusted earnings since January 1, 2008; and, the adjusted number of cashes since January 1, 2008. 

Individual player event results used to determine qualification provided by The Hendon Mob.

The criteria for each type of card is as follows (note that all monetary amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars): 

5-Year Card

• At least $4.0 million in adjusted lifetime earnings, with the single largest win capped at $2.0 million
• At least 3 major lifetime titles
• At least 9 cashes since January 1, 2008, for a total of at least $600,000 won

3-Year Card

• At least $2.5 million in adjusted lifetime earnings, with the single largest win capped at $1.5 million
• At least 1 major lifetime title
• At least 9 cashes since January 1, 2008, for a total of at least $500,000 won

2-Year Card Category A

• At least $2 million in adjusted lifetime earnings, with the single largest win capped at $1 million
• At least 1 major lifetime title
• At least 6 cashes since January 1, 2008, for a total of at least $300,000 won

2-Year Card Category B

• At least $1.25 million in adjusted lifetime earnings, with the single largest win capped at $750,000
• At least 9 cashes since January 1, 2008, for a total of $600,000 won

Important facts about the qualification criteria:

Not all poker tournaments count towards meeting the league eligibility criteria.  Only qualifying tournaments count. A poker tournament is considered a “qualifying tournament” if it:

• Has a buy-in of $1,500 U.S. or more. No event where the buy-in, inclusive of fees, is less than $1,500 is eligible, including any freeroll events.
• Is open to the general public. Invitational tournaments qualify as long as members of the public can play their way in through preliminary or satellite events. Seniors, Ladies, Employees, CEO and other special-design events are not qualifying tournaments.
• Is announced and publicized to the general public at least 30 days prior to the start of the event.
• Attracts a minimum of 21 players.
• Is a live in-person tournament.

The following poker tournaments are considered “major” title events (assuming they meet the ‘qualifying tournament’ requirements)

• Federated Sports + Gaming Main Events
• WSOP Las Vegas and WSOP Europe open event with a buy-in of $1,500 US or higher
• WPT Main Event
• NAPT Main Event
• EPT Main Event
• Aussie Millions Main Event
• WSOP Circuit Main Event with a buy-in of $5,000 U.S. or higher
• British Columbia Poker Open
• European Poker Championships
• Any tournament with a buy-in of $10,000 US or higher and a field of 100 or more and took place in the year 2001 or after
• Any tournament with a buy-in of $5,000 US or higher and a field of 100 or more and took place in the year 2000 or before

Adjusted lifetime earnings are the sum of all cashes in qualifying tournaments. A player’s single largest win in a qualifying tournament may be capped if it exceeds the threshold for the player’s applicable card level.