D'oh-ville!
The European Poker Tour website has a conspicuous lack of Star over France - the sudden removal of which signifies this stop on the EPT having been cancelled. Apparently details are 'forthcoming,' but if the new Dortmund stop isn't enough for the circuit travellers, a tournament in Warsaw, Poland has been announced.
The four-day event (running 14th-17th March 2007) comes hot on the heels of the new Dortmund event, scheduled for the 8th-11th of the same month. Overload? We'll have to wait and see, but considering the sell-out status of previous events, they might well get away with it, if players are happy to stay on the road. However, given the high percentage of online qualifiers in these events, they've not given themselves the usual run-up of satellites online to boost numbers, and we're not yet sure what those who've already qualified for Deauville are going to get instead.
The official statement reads...
"The European Poker Tour (EPT) regrets to announce that the 2007
French Open poker tournament due to be held at Casino Barrière de
Deauville from 20-24th February, 2007, has been cancelled.
This is as a direct result of last-minute intervention by the
French authorities making it impossible for the Lucien Barrière group to
run a poker tournament on their premises in Deauville.
We sincerely apologise to all players due to attend the event, but
unfortunately these circumstances were beyond our control. We will be
appealing against this decision to the highest authority and will
advise of any developments."
- John Duthie, CEO, European Poker Tour
The new Warsaw event will have a maximum capacity of 300 players (with two start days) and a 15,000 Zloty buy-in (€3,900 approx.). It will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel; details on their website.