Last Updated on September 25, 2026 by Bala Kumar
Some poker tournaments are just events on a calendar. Others have history, personality, and a little bit of magic. The WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star is one of the second kind, and it’s coming back to San Jose next month.
If you’re thinking about playing, or just want to follow the action, here’s everything we
know so far.
Dates and Key Details
The World Poker Tour is heading back to San Jose this fall, with the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star festival running at Bay 101 Casino from October 16 to November 1, 2026. According to PokerAtlas, the series will have 18 events.
The main attraction is the $5,300 WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star Championship, which runs October 23 to 27.
Here’s the quick summary:
- Festival dates: October 16 – November 1, 2026
- Venue: Bay 101 Casino, San Jose, California
- Main Event: $5,300 WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star Championship
- Main Event dates: October 23 – 27, 2026
What Makes the Shooting Star Different?
The name says it all. Scattered throughout the field are “Shooting Stars,” well-known players with bounties on their heads. Players compete for a spot on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup while hunting these Shooting Star Bounty players for extra prize money along the way.
That’s what makes this tournament special. At most events, sitting next to a famous pro is bad luck. At Bay 101, it’s an opportunity. Knock one out, and you get paid for it, plus a great story to tell your friends.
To give you an idea of the bounty format from last year, the 2025 edition had at least one Shooting Star at each starting table, with a $2,500 bounty for whoever knocked them out. The bounty amount for 2026 hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, so keep an eye on WPT’s announcements.
Who Might Be Playing?
WPT hasn’t announced this year’s Shooting Star Bounty players yet, but it has told fans to stay tuned for the Season 24 lineup.
If last year is any hint, it’ll be a strong list. In Season 23, the Shooting Stars included Phil Hellmuth, Loni Hui, Ari Engel, Faraz Jaka, Jeff Platt and David Baker, along with WPT champions Chance Kornuth, David Williams, and Erick Lindgren.
Last Year’s Story
The 2025 Championship had a great storyline. Among the Shooting Stars, Chance Kornuth went the deepest, reaching the televised final table before finishing sixth. The player who knocked him out, Kharlin Sued, carried that momentum all the way to the title, winning a career-best $480,700 and getting his name on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.
Who will write this year’s story? That’s what makes it exciting.
A Tournament With Real History
Bay 101 has been part of the WPT schedule since 2004, and it has hosted some of the tour’s most memorable moments, making the Shooting Star Championship a fan-favorite stop.
WPT CEO Adam Pliska said the event has helped shape the history of the World Poker Tour, and that the tour is honored to keep that legacy going.
Can’t Afford $5,300? You Still Have Options
Not everyone wants to put $5,300 on the line, and that’s fine. Besides the Championship, the festival will offer a full slate of tournaments across different buy-in levels and formats. There will also be satellites that give players a chance to win a Championship seat for a fraction of the buy-in.
Satellites are the smartest move for recreational players. You get a shot at the big stage without risking the full buy-in, and plenty of WPT champions started out exactly that way.
The Final Table
The last six players will battle for the biggest share of the prize pool at a televised final table. For many players, that’s the real dream: not just the money, but the chance to play on TV under the WPT lights.
What’s Next After Bay 101?
If the Shooting Star gets you in the mood for more poker, the WPT calendar stays busy. Right after San Jose, the WPT Venetian Las Vegas Fall Championship runs November 5 to 10 with a $5,000 buy-in. Then the season wraps up with the $10,400 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas, running December 13 to 20.
Final Thoughts
The WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star is one of those tournaments that feels different from the rest. The bounty format, the famous faces, and more than 20 years of history make it a must-watch event, and a must-play one if you can get there.
Keep checking WPT.com and the WPT Live app for the full festival schedule, satellite details, hotel rates, and this year’s Shooting Star lineup. Once they’re announced, we’ll update you.
FAQs
1. When is the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star 2026?
The WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star festival runs from October 16 to November 1, 2026, at Bay 101 Casino in San Jose, California.
2. How much is the 2026 WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star Championship buy-in?
The Main Event has a $5,300 buy-in and runs from October 23 to 27, 2026.
3. What are Shooting Stars in the WPT Bay 101 tournament?
Shooting Stars are well-known poker players who receive bounty designations. Players who eliminate them can receive additional prize money, with the 2026 bounty amount still to be announced.
4. Can players qualify for the WPT Bay 101 Championship through satellites?
Yes. The festival is expected to offer satellite tournaments that can give players a chance to win a seat in the $5,300 Championship for a lower buy-in.
5. Where is the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star held?
The festival is held at Bay 101 Casino in San Jose, California, a longtime stop on the World Poker Tour schedule.
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