The qualifying phases begin on September 1, 2026. The main Stake Showdown will take place on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at 17:00 UTC.
The tournament is listed as Stake Poker's biggest online event in the supplied tournament information and carries a guaranteed prize pool of $125,000. The stage information also refers to the final prize pool as $125,000+.
Players therefore have two primary ways to reach the September 27 tournament. They can work through the qualifying stages, beginning at $0.50, or purchase direct entry for $1,000.
The three qualifying phases provide progressively higher entry points and advance players toward the main event. Phase 1 costs $0.50, Phase 2 costs $10, and Stage 3 costs $100.
The Stake Showdown itself has a listed $1,000 seat value and offers players the opportunity to compete for a share of the $125,000+ prize pool.