WPT Cancels Vietnam Leg, Postpones Asia-Pacific Events

Due to the ongoing coronavirus epidemic, the World Poker Tour (WPT) is cancelling all of its upcoming events in Asia-Pacific, including Season XVIII WPT Vietnam which was originally scheduled to take place on March 13-22.

The inaugural WPT Taiwan, also set to run in late March, is also postponed as the virus continues to spread worldwide.

The WPT announcement comes after Triton Poker also decided earlier this month to postpone the Jeju leg of its Super High Roller Series due to the outbreak. The World Series of Poker (WSOP) also said they are monitoring the situation, though they have assured everyone that the 2020 schedule remains intact.

The WPT relayed its decision to take a break from holding events in Asia through its Live Event Specialist Danny McDonagh. In a Facebook post, McDonagh said Asia-Pacific events will be postponed in the next three months to ensure the safety of players and staff.

The first ever WPT Taiwan is now being pushed back to May 14-24, assuming the impact of the virus subsides by that date. If all goes well, the WPT team will proceed with hosting the tour’s Season XVIII finale at CTP in Taiwan.

WPT PH Main Event Guarantee Reduced to PHP 12 Million

The tour’s WPT Philippines event has already been affected by the ongoing outbreak. This season’s WPT Philippines Main Event for example, has had its guarantee reduced to PHP12 million from the original PHP20 million, following a temporary ban imposed by the Philippine government on foreign nationals travelling from mainland China, Macau, and Hong Kong. The Philippines recorded the first confirmed novel coronavirus death outside China.

Season XVIII of the WPT kicked off last year in Vietnam on September 6-11, at the Pro Poker Club in Ho Chi Minh City, followed by WPT Japan at Hotel Gajoen in Tokyo on September 14-16, WPT Korea at the Paradise City Hotel and Resort in Incheon on September 20-23, WPT Australia at The Star Gold Coast in Broadbeach on October 4-7, WPT India at the Deltin Royale Casino in Goa on October 18-21 and WPT Cambodia on November 21-25 at Nagaworld Samdech.

The 2019 novel coronavirus, which began in Wuhan City in the Chinese province of Hubei, has resulted in travel restrictions worldwide, causing health and economic repercussions. The death toll from the outbreak has now topped 1,770, with more than 71,000 confirmed cases globally.

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