Don’t count Las Vegas out for major poker tournament action this year. The World Poker Tour is still looking at Las Vegas to host three WPT tournament final tables that were delayed because of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of three events were scheduled to conclude at the HyperX Esports Arena at Luxor from March 31st through April 2nd but were immediately halted when Nevada declared a state of emergency and all casinos closed their doors.
According to WPT executive tour director Matt Savage, plans are still underway to finish the delayed final tables and crown winners across the board.
“Yes, once the casinos reopen and we are confident our players will be safe, we’ll schedule a date and time that gives our players enough notice to prepare and attend,” noted Savage in an email correspondence.
The postponed final tables include the Gardens Poker Championship in California, the Borgata Winter Poker Open in Atlantic City, and the L.A. Poker Classic in Los Angeles. All three events played down to the final six players, with plans to finish the final tables under the studio lights and in front of the cameras.
According to Savage, for the final tables to resume, casinos would need to reopen, and health and safety guidelines for poker would need to be altered. As it stands, only 4-handed play is permitted at the poker tables. With six players remaining at each final table, current restrictions make resuming play in Las Vegas impossible.
The delay has meant that players still have to wait to claim the hundreds of thousands of dollars owed to them. But not all is lost. Each player who made the final table has already been awarded the 6th place prize money, which ranges from $111,795 to $185,330, depending on the event.
