Stake Poker’s Stake Showdown features a guaranteed $125,000 prize pool and takes place September 27, 2026, at 17:00 UTC.
The event uses a staged qualification route, allowing players to begin from a $0.50 Phase 1 entry, move through later qualifiers, or buy directly into the final tournament for $1,000. That gives the event a clear satellite-style path for smaller-bankroll players while still leaving direct entry open for those who want to skip qualification.
How Stake Showdown Qualification Works
Players can enter the Stake Showdown at Stake Poker route at different stages depending on how much they want to commit and how many qualifiers they want to play.
| Stage | Entry cost | What players can win |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | $0.50 | Entry into Phase 2 |
| Phase 2 | $10 | Entry into Stage 3 |
| Phase 3 | $100 | Entry into Stake Showdown, worth $1,000 |
| Stake Showdown | $1,000 | Entry to the final event and a share of the $125,000+ prize pool |
The lowest-cost route begins at $0.50, but players do not have to start there. Stake Poker also allows players to enter later stages or buy directly into the Stake Showdown for $1,000.
Stake Poker’s tournament schedule is usually lighter than some dedicated poker rooms, so a $125,000+ guaranteed event gives the room a clearer headline poker tournament for September. The staged qualification route also makes the event easier to promote because it gives players a low-cost entry point rather than relying only on the $1,000 direct buy-in.
New players can use the Stake Poker promo code NEWBONUS when registering to claim Stake.com's welcome bonus.
Stake Showdown Entry Options
The main attraction is the ability to choose between a low-cost qualification route and direct entry. Players with smaller bankrolls can start at Phase 1 for $0.50, while players who want a shorter path can enter Phase 2, Stage 3 or the final Stake Showdown directly.
This structure gives the event a broader appeal than a single $1,000 buy-in tournament. It creates an entry route for recreational players, while still keeping the fiponal event positioned as a higher-value tournament with a six-figure guarantee.
Stake Poker Context
Stake Poker has added several new poker formats and tournament updates so far this year, including JAQKpot, NEXT! fast-fold poker and recent tournament series such as World KO.
Stake Showdown adds another scheduled tournament route to that wider poker product.
For more on Stake Poker’s games, JAQKpot, rakeback and recent tournament coverage, you can read our Stake Poker hub, plus as mentioned further up the page, new players looking for the current registration offer can also read the Stake Poker promo code NEWBONUS guide.
Stake Showdown FAQs
- When is Stake Showdown?
Stake Showdown is scheduled for 27, September 2026 at 17:00 UTC.
- What is the Stake Showdown prize pool?
Stake Showdown has a guaranteed prize pool of at least $125,000.
- How much does Stake Showdown cost to enter?
Players can start qualifying from $0.50 through Phase 1. They can also enter later qualifying stages or buy directly into Stake Showdown for $1,000.
- Can I qualify for Stake Showdown instead of buying in directly?
Yes. The event has a staged route from Phase 1 to Phase 2, then Stage 3, before the final Stake Showdown event.