This news might surprise the most casual of poker fans. The World Poker Tour is openly encouraging players to play in an upcoming PokerStars Championship event and PokerStars is encouraging players to make their way to Amsterdam for an upcoming WPT event.

You read that right. Two of poker’s biggest brands – both top-tier competitors in the live tournament landscape – have teamed up to encourage players to play in each other’s tournaments – and they’re giving away over €50,000 in prizes in the process.

The PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing, announced Friday, is a first-of-its-kind leaderboard that allows players to collect points for cashing at the upcoming WPT Amsterdam and PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo events. While players might not realize, the companies have worked together before, just not so much in the public eye.

“For many years, PokerStars and the World Poker Tour have collaborated behind the scenes to ensure the scheduling of our major events is done in the best interest of the players,” said Adam Pliska, CEO of the World Poker Tour. “We are proud to take the collaboration a step further with the creation of the PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing, and we welcome all players to kick off a spectacular three weeks of poker by attending PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo starting April 25.”

There a total of four events – two at each stop – that allow players to earn leaderboard points. The top five players at the conclusion of the fourth event win prizes, including buy-ins to upcoming PokerStars Championship and World Poker Tour events including a PokerStars Championship Barcelona Main Event package valued at €7,500.

The four qualifying events are:

  • €1,100 buy-in PokerStars National Championship Monte Carlo (April 26 – 30)
  • €5,300 buy-in PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo Main Event (April 29 – May 5)
  • €1,500 buy-in WPTDeepStacks Amsterdam (May 5 – 8)
  • €3,300 buy-in WPT Amsterdam Main Event (May 9 – 13)

To be eligible for the leaderboard, players must cash at least once at both locations.

“Both PokerStars and the World Poker Tour are committed to growing the game of poker, and the PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing was developed to benefit players competing at both PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo and WPT Amsterdam,” said Edgar Stuchly, PokerStars Director of Live Events. “This exciting partnership allows players a natural transition from one world-class festival to another, and we encourage our players to head to WPT Amsterdam following their time in Monte Carlo.”

Complete list of prizes:

1st place: PokerStars Championship Barcelona Main Event package (€7,500 value)
2nd place: WPT Main Event* package (€6,000 value)
3rd place: WPTDeepStacks* package (worth €3,000 value)
4th place: PokerStars National Championship Barcelona Buy-in (€1,100) plus a €500 Barcelona hotel voucher
5th place: WPTDeepStacks* Buy-in (€1,500)

On top of that, players who play in at least on event at both stops receive a ticket to play in a $30,000 freeroll on PokerStars and players who play in both Main Events receive a $300 PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker voucher.