WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star Returns in 2025: Full Schedule & What to Expect
The wait is over.
For the first time since 2017, the WPT® Bay 101 Shooting Star is back on the World Poker Tour® calendar.
Running October 17 – November 2 at Bay 101 Casino in San Jose, California, the festival brings poker’s most entertaining bounty event back to center stage.
With a $5,300 Championship Event, $2,500 bounties on the game’s biggest names, and a two-week lineup of side events, Bay 101 is set to deliver one of the most talked-about stops of 2025.
What Makes Bay 101 Special?
Few events in WPT history carry the same legacy.
First held in 1997, Bay 101 became famous for mixing top pros with casual fans, and for the electric rail that made every knockout a spectacle.
Past champions include legends like Huck Seed, Phil Gordon, and Sam Panzica, while stars such as Chris Moneymaker and Kristen Foxen have headlined the Shooting Star bounty list.
As current WPT CEO Adam Pliska put it:
“Bay 101 Casino has long been a staple of the World Poker Tour’s rich history. The players, the fans, and the incredible team at Bay 101 create an amazing environment.”
Festival Highlights (Oct 17 – Nov 2)
The two-week festival isn’t just about one championship, with many different dates on the schedules.
Highlights include:
- $600 Shooting Star Opener (Oct 17–18)
- $15,400 High Roller (Oct 26–27)
- $1,100 Mystery Board Bounty (Nov 1–2)
- Mixed-game action: Omaha 8, H.O.R.S.E., PLO, Limit Hold’em
- $600 Shooting Star Closer (Nov 2)
The $5,300 Championship Event (Oct 24–28)
The crown jewel, and most renowned event of the festival is the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star Championship:
| Buy-in | $5,300 |
| Flights | Two Day 1 starting flights |
| Format | 9-handed → 8-handed → 6-handed |
| Re-entries | One per starting flight |
| Final Table | Played later in Las Vegas, televised for fans worldwide |
In 2017, the event drew 806 players for a $5.7M prize pool.
With Bay 101’s return, expectations are high. Given the game's growth since the last event, it’s likely to be another massive turnout for 2025.
What Makes Bay 101 Unique?
The “Shooting Star” format sets this stop apart:
- $2,500 bounties on poker’s biggest names.
- $5,000 chip leader bonus at the end of each Day 1 flight.
- If a Shooting Star wins, they collect their own bounty.
It’s poker with a twist, blending elite competition with the fan-friendly energy that made Bay 101 a bucket-list event for pros and railbirds alike.
Below, you can find some of the stars that will be present such as Toby Lewis and Kathy Liebert.
What to Expect in 2025
- Big names: Expect top pros chasing bounties and prestige.
- High drama: With pros marked as targets, every elimination is magnified.
- Festival buzz: From the opener to the high roller, Bay 101 offers action for players at every level.
As Casino Manager Samuel Quinto said:
“The news of the Shooting Star returning to the World Poker Tour has been on everyone’s wish list for a long time. We look forward to recapturing the excitement of one of poker’s most talked about events.”
With Bay 101 back on the calendar, poker fans and players alike can expect one of the most exciting WPT stops of 2025.
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