Here’s the SCOOP (PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker)

Looks like the Full Tilt Online Poker Series XVI is wrapping up today with their Main Event, for which they’ve brought in their newest red pro, Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad to host. And as one big online series concludes, another gets underway -- the 2010 Spring Championship of Online Poker over on PokerStars. No shortage of opportunities for the online tourney crowd these days.

I have to admit that when it comes to FTOPS, I get a little less excited simply because it seems the series is always either ongoing or just around the corner. Indeed, FTOPS XV just concluded back in February, and I think that MiniFTOPS generally runs just after the regular series, so there really is something happening with FTOPS pretty much all the time. Meanwhile, over on PokerStars the SCOOP is a once-a-year affair, as is the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) that tends to come around each September.

This is the second year for SCOOP, while the WCOOP has been around since 2002. My understanding is that the SCOOP originated in part thanks to the massive popularity and growth of WCOOP. The latter began as a summer event, then moved into the early fall (around the time the WSOP moved its schedule from the spring to the summer).

Was looking at the crazy numbers for the WCOOP over the eight years it has run. Check ‘em out:

2002: 9 events, $799,050 total prize pool
2003: 11, $2,716,200
2004: 12, $6,002,300
2005: 15, $12,783,900
2006: 18, $18,674,300
2007: 23, $24,218,600
2008: 33, $39,958,000
2009: 45, $51,652,800

Last year was the first for SCOOP, which is also sometimes called the “Spring Championship of Online Poker - All Stakes.” The idea was to do something to make SCOOP distinct from the WCOOP, and so a schedule was created that included a wide range of buy-ins -- from as little as $5.50 (a rebuy tourney) or $11 on up to the $10,300 Main Event and the $25,500 NLHE Heads-Up event.

Last year there were 22 events, each with a “low,” “medium,” and “high” buy-in, meaning 66 tournaments in all. The total prize pool for all 66 added up to $38,324,830.

This year PokerStars has nearly doubled the schedule, with 38 events (again each with “low,” “medium,” and “high” buy-ins), meaning 114 SCOOP bracelets are up for grabs. The guaranteed prize pool is $45,000,000, although if last year is any indication, the prize pool will likely exceed that. (Last year SCOOP sported a $30 million guarantee for the total prize pool.) It is possible, I suppose, that the prize pool may ultimately eclipse that $51,652,800 from the 2009 WCOOP, the biggest ever for an online tourney series.

Today things kick off with two events (six tourneys) -- the No-Limit Hold’em 6-max. & the start of a two-day No-Limit Hold’em event. Here’s the full schedule (all times are Eastern):

Sunday, May 2, 13:00
Event No. 1: No-Limit Hold’em (6-max.)
Low -- $22 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $215 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed
High -- $2,100 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed

Sunday, May 2, 17:00
Event No. 2: No-Limit Hold’em (2-day event)
Low -- $22 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $215 buy-in, $2,000,000 guaranteed
High -- $2,100 buy-in, $2,000,000 guaranteed

Monday, May 3, 14:00
Event No. 3: No-Limit Hold’em (6-max., rebuys)
Low -- $5.50 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $55 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed
High -- $530 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed

Monday, May 3, 17:00
Event No. 4: Badugi
Low -- $16.50 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $162 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
High -- $1,575 buy-in, $75,000 guaranteed

Monday, May 3, 20:00
Event No. 5: Pot-limit Omaha (turbo, 1 rebuy/1 add-on)
Low -- $11 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $109 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
High -- $1,050 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed

Tuesday, May 4, 14:00
Event No. 6: Pot-Limit Five-Card Draw
Low -- $11 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $109 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
High -- $1,050 buy-in, $75,000 guaranteed

Tuesday, May 4, 17:00
Event No. 7: No-Limit Hold’em, Heads-Up Match Play
Low -- $16.50 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $162 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
High -- $1,575 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed

Tuesday, May 4, 20:00
Event No. 8: No-Limit Hold’em
Low -- $11 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $109 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed
High -- $1,050 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed

Wednesday, May 5, 14:00
Event No. 9: Mixed Hold’em (6-max.)
Low -- $22 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $215 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed
High -- $2,100 buy-in, $400,000 guaranteed

Wednesday, May 5, 17:00
Event No. 10: Seven-Card Stud
Low -- $33 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $320 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
High -- $3,150 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed

Thursday, May 6, 14:00
Event No. 11: Pot-Limit Omaha, Heads-Up Match Play
Low -- $22 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
High -- $2,100 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed

Thursday, May 6, 17:00
Event No. 12: No-Limit Hold’em (w/knockout bounties)
Low -- $16.50 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $162 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed
High -- $1,575 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed

Friday, May 7, 14:00
Event No. 13: No-Limit Hold’em, Ante Up! (antes, no blinds)
Low -- $16.50 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $162 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
High -- $1,575 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed

Friday, May 7, 17:00
Event No. 14: Limit Omaha/8
Low -- $55 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $530 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed
High -- $5,200 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed

Friday, May 7, 20:00
Event No. 15: No-Limit Hold’em, 2X Chance (turbo, one rebuy if bust in first hr., no add-on)
Low -- $16.50 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $162 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed
High -- $1,575 buy-in, $750,000 guaranteed

Saturday, May 8, 14:00
Event No. 16: No-Limit Hold’em Shootout (10-max.)
Low -- $22 buy-in (quadruple shootout, i.e., max. 10,000 players), $150,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $215 buy-in (triple shootout, i.e., max. 1,000 players), $150,000 guaranteed
High -- $2,100 buy-in (double shootout, i.e., max. 100 players), $200,000 guaranteed

Saturday, May 8, 17:00
Event No. 17: Pot-limit Omaha (6-max., rebuys)
Low -- $16.50 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $162 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
High -- $1,575 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed

Saturday, May 8, 20:00
Event No. 18: Limit Hold’em (turbo)
Low -- $22 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
High -- $2,100 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed

Sunday, May 9, 13:00
Event No. 19: No-Limit Hold’em (big antes)
Low -- $22 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $215 buy-in, $750,000 guaranteed
High -- $2,100 buy-in, $750,000 guaranteed

Sunday, May 9, 17:00
Event No. 20: No-Limit Hold’em (2-day event)
Low -- $22 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $215 buy-in, $2,000,000 guaranteed
High -- $2,100 buy-in, $2,000,000 guaranteed

Monday, May 10, 14:00
Event No. 21: Pot-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha
Low -- $16.50 buy-in, $75,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $162 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed
High -- $1,575 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed

Monday, May 10, 17:00
Event No. 22: No-Limit Hold’em (4-max.)
Low -- $33 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $320 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed
High -- $3,150 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed

Monday, May 10, 20:00
Event No. 23: No-Limit Hold’em (turbo, rebuys)
Low -- $11 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $109 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed
High -- $1,050 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed

Tuesday, May 11, 14:00
Event No. 24: Triple Draw Deuce-to-Seven
Low -- $11 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $109 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
High -- $1,050 buy-in, $75,000 guaranteed

Tuesday, May 11, 17:00
Event No. 25: Seven-Card Stud/8
Low -- $22 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
High -- $2,100 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed

Tuesday, May 11, 20:00
Event No. 26: No-Limit Hold’em
Low -- $11 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $109 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed
High -- $1,050 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed

Wednesday, May 12, 14:00
Event No. 27: Razz
Low -- $22 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
High -- $2,100 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed

Wednesday, May 12, 17:00
Event No. 28: No-Limit Hold’em (rebuys)
Low -- $11 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $109 buy-in, $400,000 guaranteed
High -- $1,050 buy-in, $600,000 guaranteed

Thursday, May 13, 14:00
Event No. 29: 8-Game Mix
Low -- $33 buy-in, $75,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $320 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed
High -- $3,150 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed

Thursday, May 13, 17:00
Event No. 30: Pot-Limit Omaha/8
Low -- $11 buy-in, $75,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $109 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed
High -- $1,050 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed

Friday, May 14, 14:00
Event No. 31: No-Limit Hold’em (one rebuy, one add-on)
Low -- $22 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $215 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed
High -- $2,100 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed

Friday, May 14, 17:00
Event No. 32: Limit Hold’em (6-max.)
Low -- $55 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $530 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed
High -- $5,200 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed

Friday, May 14, 20:00
Event No. 33: No-Limit Omaha/8 (turbo)
Low -- $22 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
High -- $2,100 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed

Saturday, May 15, 14:00
Event No. 34: Pot-Limit Omaha (6-max.)
Low -- $55 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $530 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
High -- $5,200 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed

Saturday, May 15, 15:30
Event No. 35: No-Limit Hold’em, Heads-Up Match Play (2-day event)
Low -- $270 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $2,600 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed
High -- $25,500 buy-in, $750,000 guaranteed

Saturday, May 15, 17:00
Event No. 36: H.O.R.S.E.
Low -- $22 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
High -- $2,100 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed

Sunday, May 16, 13:00
Event No. 37: No-Limit Hold’em
Low -- $22 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $215 buy-in, $750,000 guaranteed
High -- $2,100 buy-in, $750,000 guaranteed

Sunday, May 16, 17:00
Event No. 38: No-Limit Hold’em Main Event (2-day event)
Low -- $109 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed
Medium -- $1,050 buy-in, $3,000,000 guaranteed
High -- $10,300 buy-in, $5,000,000 guaranteed, $1,000,000 guarantee to winner

I’ve somehow managed to score a couple of tickets to low buy-in events, and so will be participating some. I’ll also be helping cover the sucker over on the PokerStars blog, where a group of folks will be writing up reports of every one of the 114 events.

Gonna be a lot of late nights here over the next couple of weeks for your humble gumshoe, though I have to say I’m looking forward both to the writing and the playing. Kind of a tune up, I suppose, for us reporters, too, as we start thinking about heading to Vegas at month’s end for the WSOP.

Check out that PokerStars blog for them reports.