IPA 2024 – 2025 Tournament Details

Overview

37 teams compete for the IPA title. During the regular season, teams are divided into six groups of six or seven and play five matches. Groups of seven are determined by last season’s finishes and late registrations. Each team fields five players per match, with five six- or seven-handed tables running at the same time. At the end of each match, points are awarded based on each player’s finish.

The top two teams in each group advance to the IPA Playoffs. Six wildcard teams, the third-place finishers in each group, play for the last four playoff spots. During the playoffs, teams are split into four groups of four and play three matches, with higher regular-season finishers receiving better seeding. The top team in each playoff group advances to the IPA Finals.

Table information and match details will be emailed shortly before each match.

Teams

IPA Prize Pool

Total equity: $15,000 USD

• 1st: $8,625 USD
• 2nd: $3,750 USD
• 3rd: $1,875 USD
• 4th: $750 USD

Rules

1 Definitions

1.1 Range of Validity

The Intercollegiate Poker Association 2024–2025 Tournament (“IPA”) is operated as part of the Intercollegiate Poker Association®. These are the only rules that apply to the IPA, its participants and all matches played within the IPA. By participating, each participant confirms that they understand and accept all terms, conditions and rules.

1.2 Game

All IPA matches are played as No-Limit Texas Hold’em.

2 General

2.1 Acknowledgement

By participating in any Intercollegiate Poker Association® event, participants acknowledge all rules and agreements.

2.2 Rule Changes

The IPA organizers reserve the right to amend, remove or otherwise change these rules without notice. They also reserve the right to rule on cases not specifically covered here, in order to preserve the spirit of fair competition and sportsmanship.

3 IPA Tournament Rules

3.1 Definitions

A “Game” is a single No-Limit Texas Hold’em table. A “Match” is made up of five games. A match is played between six teams during the regular season and four teams during the playoffs. Each game uses a 100-big-blind starting stack and a tournament structure, and ends when one player remains. All participants follow the published schedule unless otherwise noted. Points are awarded based on each player’s final placement.

3.2 Regular Season and Wildcard Scoring

Placement	Points
1st	15
2nd	8
3rd	5
4th	3
5th	2
6th	1
7th	0

3.3 Playoff Scoring

Placement	Points
1st	7
2nd	4
3rd	2
4th	1

3.4 Absent Players

An absent player receives 0 points and no additional penalty. Players at a table with an absent player report their actual finish. For example, a player who finishes 4th of 4 at their table receives 3 points.

3.5 Disqualification

If a team is disqualified, all opposing teams’ scores are adjusted as if the disqualified team had finished last.

3.6 Blinds: Regular Season, Wildcard, Playoffs and Online Finals

Players start with 2,000 chips (100 big blinds). The blind structure is designed to reduce variance.

Level	Blinds	Ante (per player)	Time (min)
1	10/20	2	8
2	15/30	3	8
3	20/40	4	8
4	25/50	5	8
5	30/60	6	8
6	40/80	8	8
7	50/100	10	8
8	60/120	12	8
9	75/150	15	8
10	100/200	20	6
11	125/250	25	6
12	150/300	30	6
13	200/400	40	6
14	250/500	50	6
15	300/600	60	6
16	350/700	70	6
17	400/800	80	6
18	500/1,000	100	6

3.7 Blinds: Live Finals

Players start with 3,000 chips (150 big blinds). The big blind ante is removed when two players remain.

Level	Blinds	Big blind ante	Time (min)
1	10/20	20	20
2	15/30	30	20
3	20/40	40	20
4	25/50	50	20
5	30/60	60	20
6	40/80	80	20
7	50/100	100	20
8	60/120	120	20
9	75/150	150	20
10	100/200	200	20
11	125/250	250	10
12	150/300	300	10
13	200/400	400	10
14	250/500	500	10
15	300/600	600	10
16	350/700	700	10
17	400/800	800	10
18	500/1,000	1,000	10

3.8 Blinds: Heads-Up Tiebreaker

Players start with 10,000 chips (100 big blinds).

Level	Blinds	Time (min)
1	50/100	5
2	75/150	5
3	100/200	5
4	150/300	5
5	200/400	5
6	300/600	5
7	400/800	5
8	500/1,000	5
9	600/1,200	5

3.9 Wildcard

At the end of the regular season, the third-place team in each group earns a wildcard spot. One match of five games is played, and the four teams with the most points advance to the playoffs. The wildcard match uses the regular-season blind structure and the scoring in section 3.2.

3.10 Playoffs

The IPA Playoffs include 16 teams: the top two teams from each regular-season group and the top four teams from the wildcard match. The playoffs use the regular-season blind structure and the scoring in section 3.3.

3.11 Finals

The IPA Finals include the top team from each playoff group and follow a format similar to the regular season. Full details will be released two weeks before the Finals.

3.12 Forfeits

A team that can no longer qualify for the IPA Playoffs or Finals may choose to forfeit its match, as long as doing so does not affect another team’s ability to qualify.

3.13 Ties

If teams are tied for an IPA Wildcard, Playoff or Finals spot, they play a best-of-five series made up of five best-of-three heads-up games. The winner advances to the next stage.

3.14 Three-Way Ties

A three-way tie occurs when three teams have the same number of points while competing for the last IPA Wildcard, Playoff or Finals spot. In this case, the three teams play an additional regular-season match.

3.15 Start Time

Players must be seated within three minutes of the start time. A game starts once everyone is seated, or exactly three minutes after the scheduled start time. Players are counted as present only after clicking “Take the Seat” on PokerNow, and no player may join after a game has begun.

A player who has trouble connecting must email [email protected] no later than three minutes after the scheduled start time. For example, if the start time is 2:00:00 PM ET, players must be seated, or have sent a connection email, by 2:03:00 PM ET. If a player is allowed to join late, the blinds and antes already posted are deducted from their stack, plus an additional 10 big blinds.

3.16 Player Participation

Players may not multi-table or play under another player’s identity. A player found playing under another player’s identity will be banned from the IPA, that game will score 0 points, and the team will receive a one-time warning. The IPA Finals must be played by exactly five different players.

3.17 Player Verification

From the playoffs onward, players may be asked to verify their identity before a match.

3.18 Away Players

If a player is away for more than three minutes, or is repeatedly away, other players may call the clock on them. An admin will message the player through the in-game chat. If the player does not respond within one minute, they are eliminated in their current position. For example, with five players remaining, the away player finishes fifth.

3.19 Table Ownership

Players must not take ownership of a table, change its settings or start it. If the table admin disconnects, players must wait for the admin to reconnect. Any changed table settings will be checked and reset.

3.20 Score Submissions

Every player is responsible for accurately reporting their table result within 30 minutes of the table ending. A missing submission scores 0 points, and an inaccurate placement or table name may be penalized.

3.21 Platforms

All online matches are played on one of these approved platforms:

• PokerNow (pokernow.club)
• DonkHouse (donkhouse.com)

3.22 Prohibited Software

Heads-up displays (HUDs) and any other software that tracks other players’ hand histories or data are not allowed during online matches. Using such software results in the immediate disqualification of the entire team.

3.23 Cheating

Cheating will not be tolerated. Suspected cheating will be investigated, and if it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt, an appropriate penalty or disqualification will follow.

3.24 Accumulated Penalties

A team that accumulates five individual absences or five penalties forfeits its place in the following year’s tournament.

3.25 Most Valuable Player

After the tournament, the IPA organizers, together with the advisory team and board members, select the Most Valuable Player (MVP). The selection is based only on performance in the current tournament, including regular-season, wildcard, playoff and Finals games.

3.26 Team Size

Teams must register at least eight players: five active and the rest in reserve.