Belgian Poker Challenge Gets Postponed Due To COVID-19 wave

Summary

• Belgian Poker Challenge postponed due to COVID-19 wave
• Postponed to 2022 but no date confirmed
• More live poker events in Europe could be cancelled

Yet another live poker event has been cancelled this year as a new wave of COVID-19 restrictions are imposed across Europe.

The 2021 Belgian Poker Challenge was originally scheduled to run from December 9-19 at Grand Casino de Namur, but organizers decided to postpone the series after Belgium announced additional measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Belgium Imposes New COVID-19 Restrictions

Last week, the Belgian government decided to reinstate the mandatory wearing of facemasks in public areas. Additional venues have also been ordered to comply with the COVID Safe Ticket protocol, wherein people are required to present proof of vaccination. On Monday, a fresh set of measures have been enforced as daily infections continue to rise across the country.

Under the latest restrictions, restaurants, shops, and bars must comply with an 11 pm curfew, with single table capacities inside dining places now limited to just six persons, except when they are members of the same family.

Night clubs have also been ordered to close, and indoor concerts where people are not seated are now prohibited. Private parties are no longer allowed, except for weddings and funerals. Work-from-home setups at least four days a week are also encouraged.

Under initial plans, the new measures are supposed to be in force for three weeks, but with the recent surge in cases, they will remain in place for longer, with the government hinting that it might enforce stricter restrictions if the COVID-19 situation worsens.

Grand Casino de Namur Still Open, But Major Events Dropped

Bernard de Breyne, poker manager at Grand Casino de Namur says it’s currently not possible to hold a huge event like the Belgian Poker Challenge as large indoor events are now banned under the latest restrictions. But the casino remains open and will still be running small tournaments and cash games from 3pm to 4am daily, subject to changes if additional COVID-19 measures are imposed.

The Belgian Poker Challenge is the latest live event to be cancelled in Europe this year due to the pandemic. Earlier, PokerStars also postponed EPT Prague which was supposed to kick off on December 8 at King’s Resort at the Hilton Prague. The World Series of Poker Europe has continued to run at the venue but organizers made some adjustments to the schedule to comply with the fresh set of measures enforced in the country.

Organizers have yet to confirm a new date for the Belgian Poker Challenge, but it’s expected to be held in early 2022, till then why not get yourself online with our European poker sites where no covid passports or vaccination status are needed.