The Asian Poker Tour (APT) canceled Friday the last two days of its APT Hanoi Billions 2023 series, which was being held at the National Convention Center in Hanoi, Vietnam. The event was interrupted on the eighth day of a planned ten-day schedule. The cancelation includes the record-setting main event, which was set to be the “largest and richest poker tournament in the [APT’s] 17-year history.”
Announced on the event’s official Twitter/X page, the APT’s statement did not provide specific details, only mentioning the existence of “extenuating circumstances.”
“The decision to cancel the remaining days of the festival has not been made lightly,” organizers said. “It is rooted in extenuating circumstances that have arisen, ones that, despite our utmost efforts, we are unable to overcome. The safety and well-being of our players and staff are of paramount importance to us, and we must prioritize these concerns above all else.”
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Dear APT Members,
The Asian Poker Tour regrets to announce the cancellation of APT Hanoi Billions 2023 for the remainder of the series from December 9-10, 2023.
All player funds are secure and the method for receiving funds has been detailed below*.…
— Asian Poker Tour (@AsianPokerTour) December 9, 2023
This announcement reportedly followed a visit by the police to the event site, suggesting possible concerns about the tournament’s compliance with local gambling laws.
Local media reports indicate that VSOP Entertainment Company, APT’s local partner for the event, was accused of organizing Bridge and poker tournaments without obtaining all the necessary permissions. Although VSOP had received permission from the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, doubts arose about the adequacy of this authorization to hold the event.
Furthermore, the participation of the online poker site Natural8, affiliated with the GG Poker Network and without legal status in Vietnam, was another point of controversy. Natural8 held satellite tournaments and appeared as a sponsor of the event, with signage and logos visible on site. In response, APT took measures throughout last week such as canceling mixed games, stopping the acceptance of buy-ins in international currency, and removing or covering Natural8 promotional material.
There were unconfirmed rumors that the APT team had left Vietnam following the police visit, but the organization clarified that its team was still on site and safe. Despite this, the event’s cancellation suggests that the APT could not ensure ongoing legal compliance or the safety of participants and staff.
The APT Hanoi Billions 2023 had attracted a record number of participants, with 2,350 entries from 1,334 unique players, many of whom participated in one or more of the four separate Day 1 flights. In total, 351 players won money, and 47 final players would return for Day 4, which was canceled.
The cancellation resulted in the distribution of the remaining prize money according to the set structure, with specific announcements on how players could claim their prizes.
Van Sang Nguyen, a player from Vietnam, was named the winner of the main event, with a prize of VND 4,376,859,231, equivalent to approximately $180,640. Nguyen stood out in the tournament, having more than double the chips compared to his closest competitor at the time of the game’s conclusion. The APT released the complete list of prizes for the 47 players who were still in contention for the main event on the fourth day, which was canceled.
Meanwhile, in the Double Stack tournament, the game ended with 166 players still in competition. John Niko Costiniano, from the Philippines, was declared the winner of this event, receiving a prize of VND 294,795,095, equivalent to about $12,170. The complete list of prize distribution for the remaining competitors of the Double Stack was also published by the ATP.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2023/12/12/70024-asian-poker-tour-cancels-final-two-days-of-hanoi-billions-2023-amid-legal-concerns
