IPA 2026 – 2027 Tournament Details
Overview
48 teams compete for the IPA title. During the regular season, teams are divided into eight groups of six and play five matches. Each team fields five players per match, with five six-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. During the playoffs, the 16 teams are split into four groups of four and play three matches, with higher regular-season finishers receiving better seeding. The winner of each playoff group advances to the IPA Finals.
Table information and match details will be emailed shortly before each match.
IPA Championship Prize Pool
Total equity: TBD. Prizes are paid to the top three teams.
- 1st: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
Rules
1 Definitions
1.1 Range of Validity
The Intercollegiate Poker Association 2026–2027 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 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 Scoring
Placement Points 1st 15 2nd 8 3rd 5 4th 3 5th 2 6th 1
3.3 Playoff Scoring
Placement Points 1st 15 2nd 8 3rd 5 4th 3 5th 2 6th 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, 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 Playoffs
The IPA Playoffs include 16 teams: the top two teams from each regular-season group. They are split into four groups of four, with higher regular-season finishers receiving better seeding. The playoffs use the regular-season blind structure and the scoring in section 3.3.
3.10 Finals
The IPA Finals include the winner of each playoff group (four teams) and are played four-handed, in a format similar to the regular season. Full details will be released two weeks before the Finals.
3.11 Promotion and Relegation
The Championship–Challenger promotion and relegation system is retired for the 2026–2027 season. If it is reintroduced, teams will be placed using the previous season’s results.
3.12 Ties
If teams are tied for an IPA 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.
3.13 Three-Way Ties
A three-way tie occurs when three teams have the same number of points while competing for the last IPA Playoff or Finals spot. In this case, the three teams play an additional regular-season match.
3.14 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.
3.15 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.
3.16 Player Verification
From the playoffs onward, players may be asked to verify their identity before a match.
3.17 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.
3.18 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.
3.19 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.
3.20 Platforms
All online matches are played on one of these approved platforms:
- PokerNow (pokernow.club)
- DonkHouse (donkhouse.com)
3.21 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.
3.22 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.
3.23 Accumulated Penalties
A team that accumulates five individual absences or five penalties forfeits its place in the following year’s tournament.
3.24 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, playoff and Finals games.
3.25 Team Size
Teams must register at least eight players: five active and the rest in reserve.
3.26 Violations Found After Results Are Published
Published results, standings and placements are final. If a fair play violation (rules 3.15 and 3.22) is found after results are published, the players involved are banned from all IPA events, their games are removed from individual records and leaderboards, and the IPA may withhold or reclaim the team’s prizes. Team results and placements do not change.