The PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) has been cancelled this year, the company announced this week. The event was set for August at Casino Barcelona in Spain.
This would have been the second PSPC after PokerStars ran the event in the Bahamas in 2019.
“We are excitedly looking ahead to a later date when we can truly celebrate being back with our community with a bang when the time is right,” the company noted in a news release.
PokerStars spectacular on hold with hopes to plan event the future
The first PSPC became the biggest $25,000 buy-in poker tournament in history. PokerStars offered Platinum Passes throughout 2018 for winners online, in small buy-in live events as part of the Chris Moneymaker Tour, and social media contests.
The tournament awarded more than $26.4 million to 181 players with 43 of those being Platinum Pass winners. The final table produced six players taking home scores of more than $1 million.
Spain’s Ramon Colillas entered the event as a Platinum Pass winner and topped the massive field for $5.1 million. The unique event brought together an interesting mix of pros and amateurs.
Platinum Pass winners not only secured a buy-in but also an all-expenses paid trip to the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.
COVID cancels PokerStars PSPC again
PokerStars hoped to relive some of the event’s excitement in 2020. The Coronavirus pandemic, however, cut those plans short.
This year’s cancellation means players will have to wait at least another year. The company hasn’t offered an alternative date but promised to offer regular updates.
“We know that this further news will come as a disappointment to many hoping the PSPC would take place this year,” the company said, “but our priority is the safety and good health of all our players and staff, as well as the communities that host such large events.”
This postponement won’t affect any players who have already won Platinum Passes. In total, PokerStars has already awarded passes to 400 players.
The company promises more promotions in the future awarding more.
“We look forward to highlighting our Platinum Pass winners, sharing their amazing stories and creating that brilliant community of winners that we had in our inaugural event,” PokerStars noted.
“Our Platinum Pass winners are a very special community and we will continue to plan activities and surprises in the run-up to the event, albeit with a longer than expected lead time. We promise it will be worth the wait.”