An announcement came this week that the Pokerstars UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) is to have a stop online, for the first time in three years.

It will be held on PokerStars website on October 14-15, featuring the same GBP 700 buy-in as live tour stops, but with a reduced GBP 35 registration fee and a comparative structure featuring 10,000 chip starting stacks and a 20 minute clock at 8-handed tables.

After the play in the tournament reaches a final table of eight players, the action will be contested live at the UKIPT Bristol event on 7 November, with all the finalists getting a UKIPT Bristol package that includes buy-in to the event and travel expenses.

It has been specified that the winner of the event will receive entry into the Champion of Champions event, but that apart from the online tourney action there will also be numerous side events, such as a heads-up tournament, a PLO event and an 8-game mix in the run-up to the main event.