New Calendar, New Energy: Sebastian Huber on the "Exciting" Shift for SCOOP 2026
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The Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) remains a key date in the online poker calendar, with many poker pros changing their schedules and lives in order to grind the prestigious event. However, this year it arrives with a twist.
With the series moving earlier in the 2026 poker calendar, it's unclear how the shift will impact the grind. We sat down with PokerStars Ambassador Sebastian Huber to discuss his preparation, the frantic lead-up to the series, and why this calendar shake-up might be exactly what the community needs.
A Packed Road to the Series
For Huber, there is no "off-season." The lead-up to this year's SCOOP has been a whirlwind of high-stakes action. Between the New Year Series, the SCOOP Warm-Up, and the upcoming EPT Paris, he's focusing on keeping the momentum up.
Huber already plans to return from Paris on a Sunday, in order to jump straight into the series, which has forced a shift in his preparation.
"That might be a big problem with my study routine and my skill level entering SCOOP," he said. "But we're gonna manage, we're gonn have a lot of fun. But I definitely need to study now and make sure I'm prepared."
Once the cards are in the air, the schedule becomes a relentless cycle of "play, play, play," according to Huber, who won a maiden SCOOP last year in Event 77-M: $55 8-Game for $3,997.
Embracing the Change
While a schedule change could rattle some players, Huber is leaning into the new timing. He notes that having SCOOP earlier in the year actually improves his personal life-work balance. It prevents the final, most intense Sundays of the series from bleeding into the start of summer when most players want to be outdoors.
"It's still going to be quite packed later in May, but we'll see how the tournaments are going, how big they are and what's going on. It's the same for everyone, it's kind of new."
This flexibility also opens up new strategic doors. Huber mentioned he might shift his focus toward the Medium and Low leaderboards depending on how the competition looks.
"New is always exciting," he says. "I like having changes; I think it makes the whole experience a bit more exciting for everyone involved."
What Makes SCOOP Special?
For players who haven't yet experienced the magic of a PokerStars flagship series, Huber points to the accessibility as a major draw to the SCOOP festival. In 2024, fellow PokerStars Ambassador Benjamin "Spraggy" Spragg won over $52,000 after winning a $109 satellite to the $1,050 buy-in Super Tuesday, and Huber says there are plenty of chances for amateurs to replicate him.
"Throughout SCOOP, you have a really good chance of satelliting into something with big sub-satellites. You can find your way into a $5,000 buy-in event with just a $5.50 satellite. Or a $55 satellite. Whatever it is, you can find a way. "
Huber emphasizes that the path to a $5,000 High Roller often starts with a humble $5.50 satellite. This "dream factor" allows players of all bankrolls to enter the most prestigious events in the world. From 8-Game and 5-Max to the fan-favorite Heads-Up Shootouts, there is a specialized format for every type of player.
"There is something new to play every single day. It’s not just about the Main Events; there are so many cool ways to build hype around the schedule. There's everything that you could ever want to play and more!"
