In general, it is not quite common for a poker festival to be cancelled, let alone just before the start. Even more so when it comes to big series like the WPT. In Vietnam, however, this is exactly what happened, and it’s not the first time either. ZDIEĽAŤ: 05/15/2024 | Live Events In general, it is not quite common for a poker festival to be cancelled, let alone just before the start. Even more so when it comes to big series like the WPT. In Vietnam, however, this is exactly what happened, and it’s not the first time either.

WPT Vietnam Passport to World Championship 2024, that’s the full name of the poker festival that was supposed to take place at Hanoi’s Crown Poker Club these very days. It was supposed to last from May 14 to 27.

The total guarantee of the festival was supposed to be worth $2,000,000. The number of trophy tournaments was to be as high as 63, and as many as 10 packages were to be given away for the WPT World Championship in Las Vegas in December.

What happened?

However, just one day before the entire festival began, the Crown Poker Club announced on their social media that the entire WPT was cancelled. “Crown Poker Club regrets this inconvenience. This is indeed a difficult decision, as Crown Poker Club has always prioritized safety and improving the quality of tournaments throughout its history. Therefore, Crown Poker Club hopes for the sharing and sympathy of our partners, customers and all players.”

Various media outlets immediately contacted WPT representatives, but even they did not know the reason for the cancellation. More light was shed on the matter by Vietnamese local media outlet Dan Tri, which reported that Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Tran Sy Thanh was allegedly behind the cancellation. He has asked the Hanoi Ministry of Culture and the municipal police to check whether the correct procedures were followed in organising the series. The report suggests that the WPT did not receive the necessary approvals from the Hanoi Ministry of Culture, with authorities ordering “strict treatment” of those involved if there is evidence of “hidden gambling” being organised.

This is not the first case of cancelled tournaments

The first major tournament to be cancelled recently was back in December last year. During the Asian Poker Tour Hanoi Billions, the final days of the festival had to be cancelled as allegations came in that the series was being held in violation of local gambling laws. Another cancelled series was the Asian Poker Festival, which was due to be held at the Royal Hanoi Poker Club in April.

Hanoi’s Crown Poker Club, where the WPT was to be held, was involved in a controversy in March. Players there voiced concerns about the 10% “tax” the local club was charging players on all winnings over VND10 million (US$403).

However, it was later revealed that no such tax existed, and the Crown Poker Club was charging this fee arbitrarily to pay for its own costs. The organization issued a statement in late March confirming that the U Series of Poker Danang, which ran from March 19 to April 1, was the last series to charge the 10% fee.

Source - IAG.com, WPT.com, Pokernews, Crown Poker Club

However, just one day before the entire festival began, the Crown Poker Club announced on their social media that the entire WPT was cancelled. “Crown Poker Club regrets this inconvenience. This is indeed a difficult decision, as Crown Poker Club has always prioritized safety and improving the quality of tournaments throughout its history. Therefore, Crown Poker Club hopes for the sharing and sympathy of our partners, customers and all players.”

Various media outlets immediately contacted WPT representatives, but even they did not know the reason for the cancellation. More light was shed on the matter by Vietnamese local media outlet Dan Tri, which reported that Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Tran Sy Thanh was allegedly behind the cancellation. He has asked the Hanoi Ministry of Culture and the municipal police to check whether the correct procedures were followed in organising the series. The report suggests that the WPT did not receive the necessary approvals from the Hanoi Ministry of Culture, with authorities ordering “strict treatment” of those involved if there is evidence of “hidden gambling” being organised.

This is not the first case of cancelled tournaments

The first major tournament to be cancelled recently was back in December last year. During the Asian Poker Tour Hanoi Billions, the final days of the festival had to be cancelled as allegations came in that the series was being held in violation of local gambling laws. Another cancelled series was the Asian Poker Festival, which was due to be held at the Royal Hanoi Poker Club in April.

Hanoi’s Crown Poker Club, where the WPT was to be held, was involved in a controversy in March. Players there voiced concerns about the 10% “tax” the local club was charging players on all winnings over VND10 million (US$403).

However, it was later revealed that no such tax existed, and the Crown Poker Club was charging this fee arbitrarily to pay for its own costs. The organization issued a statement in late March confirming that the U Series of Poker Danang, which ran from March 19 to April 1, was the last series to charge the 10% fee.

Source - IAG.com, WPT.com, Pokernews, Crown Poker Club

Tải ngay ứng dụng WPT và bắt đầu chơi ngay. Dễ dàng cập nhật phiên bản mới nhất của ứng dụng WPT và tận hưởng trải nghiệm chơi thú vị.

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