The historic $25,000 PokerStars Players Championship tournament is officially off the 2021 schedule due to COVID-19 concerns, but the poker site advised its players that the tournament isn’t gone for good.
Launched as part of PokerStars’ PCA in 2019, the purpose of the event was to give the everyday folks a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in a high-roller tournament.
Because most recreational players could only dream of playing in a $25,000 buy-in poker tournament, PokerStars made those dreams come true in 2019 with the first-ever PSPC. Players from all around the globe earned Platinum Passes, good for a free entry and an extra $5,000 in cash for travel to the Bahamas.
Platinum Passes were won in various ways, ranging from online poker freerolls to a storytelling competition, which was the way CardsChat forum member Jacki Burkhart earned hers. She went on a deep run at the PSPC, finishing in 38th place for $86,400, which is also her net profit given she didn’t pay a penny to enter the tournament.
In the end, Spain’s Ramon Colillas, another Platinum Pass winner, took down the 1,039-player tournament — the largest ever for a $25K event — for $5 million. The massive score was the first time he’d ever won more than $5,000 in a poker tournament.
COVID-19 cancels 2021 PokerStars Players Championship
Last year’s PokerStars Players Championship was scheduled for Barcelona, Spain, in August 2020. The global health pandemic, however, had other plans, and the event was canceled months in advance.
PokerStars then rescheduled the event for August 2021 in Barcelona. Although the pandemic is slowly becoming less of a threat worldwide, it’s still a major concern to the world’s largest online poker site. As such, the company announced in a recent press release that the PokerStars Players Championship is officially off in 2021.
“We feel we cannot guarantee the safety of our players and our staff,” PokerStars managing director Severin Rasset said in a brief video. “Of course, it’s our responsibility to make sure that we can operate in the optimal conditions.”
Those who have already won Platinum Passes into the event need not worry. The online poker site made it clear they are planning for the return of the PSPC in 2022. No date has been set, however.
“We know that this further news will come as a disappointment to many hoping the PSPC would take place this year, 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,” the press release stated.
