‘IRL’ means ‘In Real Life’ — not on your laptop, your phone or a wish-fulfilment dream. The list of poker players who have won the weekly Sunday Million online is not a long one. Those who have won it IRL, in a brick and mortar card room, are fewer still.
And for good reason. While the weekly online version of PokerStars’ flagship tourney has been running now for an impressive 20 years — the anniversary edition is taking place now with a slow-burn phase 1, building to a climax in September — the last time the Sunday Million brand made an appearance in a live setting was 2017.
Now, 9 years on and as the Sunday Million turns 20, it’s back, and for real.
€1 million guaranteed (naturally)
The 2026 live incarnation of the Sunday Million will take place at the PokerStars Live Room at Casino di Campione d’Italia in Italy, on the shores of Luke Lugano, from October 2-12.
The million-dollar guaranteed prizepool has always been the major selling point of the Sunday Million — despite the anniversary editions usually paying much more — and that fundamental element of the tournament will be intact when it returns to the live arena.
At least €1M will be in the prize pot when the action kicks off on October 2, with a buy-in of just €250 and starting stacks of 50K.
Altogether there will be six starting flights running from Friday, October 2 to Friday, October 9 at 2pm daily. Each will play down to 12.5% of the field.
Day 2 will split the field into two, with Day 2A and 2B both playing out on Saturday, October 10. A combined Day 3 takes place October 11 with the final day on October 12.
Meanwhile online, the Sunday Million 20th anniversary edition, with $5M GTD, is taking place now at PokerStars as part of the site’s own 25th anniversary celebrations.
Phase 1 tournaments are available daily for $109, with Phase 2 beginning on September 6. See the article below for more.
Images courtesy of Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd.
