The PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC), a unique $25,000 buy-in event scheduled for August, is officially off the table in 2021 due to the continued threat of COVID-19.
The PSPC launched in 2019 in the Bahamas at the now defunct annual PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) series. Last year, it was canceled due to the pandemic, and rescheduled for August 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. But the poker site determined it's still way too early to host a tournament that brings in players from all over the world to Europe.
Many players on PokerStars have already won a free entry into the $25,000 buy-in tournament. Some won their Platinum Pass more than a year ago, but will have to wait until it is deemed safe for the poker site to host the event.
"We feel we cannot guarantee the safety of our players and our staff," PokerStars managing director Severin Rasset said in a video attached to a press release. "Of course, it's our responsibility to make sure that we can operate in the optimal conditions."
Unique poker event
The inaugural PokerStars Players Championship is the first high roller Average Joe poker players could afford. It was created for that very purpose, to give regular and recreational poker players an opportunity to compete in a high roller.
The tournament was affordable to anyone because the poker site awarded thousands of Platinum Passes, which included a buy-in to the tournament and travel expense money to the Bahamas. Platinum Passes were scooped all over the world in various ways.
On the PokerStars poker site, many players won a pass via a satellite tournament. Others earned won in numerous other ways, such as shipping an $86 Moneymaker Tour Event in the United States. Chris Moneymaker, who won an $86 satellite into the WSOP Main Event in 2003, hosted the tour all across the country.
He left PokerStars at the end of 2020 and told Poker.org in a recent interview that he hopes to bring it back someday with his new site, Americas Cardroom.
Spain's Ramon Collilas, one of the Platinum Pass winners, took down the 2019 PSPC for $5 million, beating out a field of 1,039 players, far and away the largest event above $10,000 ever.
Disappointing but understandable news
The 2021 PSPC won't take place, a disappointment to those who have already won Platinum Passes. But the good news is, PokerStars doesn't plan to keep it on the shelf permanently.
"We are excitedly planning ahead to a later date with the aim to truly celebrate being back with our community with a bang when the time is right," the press release stated.
The poker site did, however, ensure they are committed to hosting it as soon as possible, but were unable to provide a specific date. The press release states that PokerStars' top priority is the "safety and good health of all our players and staff."
Those who already won Platinum Passes are still guaranteed free entry and travel to Barcelona whenever the next PSPC runs.
Featured image source: Twitter
