While some took in extra effort to ensure the well-being of the players, to a point of being over-kill. Some have thrown the book out literally.

but not Pokerstars.

Their efforts to push safety measures deserve to be praised.

The Pokerstars Special tournament. 

First of all, Pokerstars never really needed to make a full live tournament. The traffic to their cash games was going up after the bad beat jackpot of another poker room got hit.

Players felt safer having those barriers up while the other room insisted on face-shield only without barriers.

The other room might have drawn the players in by having a big bad beat jackpot. But after it was hit. traffic shifted proving players are concerned and would rather play in a safe place.

Then the first full live poker tournament was announced.

Making guaranteed tournaments entails risk. if the guarantee is not met. they have to put out the overlay.

The special tournament was a risk. But it knew it had to create tournaments again to help the industry. Making that effort to bring to Manila the first full live poker tournament is itself alone is praise-worthy.

But was it safe?

Safety measures 

Nowadays, some rooms do not seem to care at all with regards to the safety of the players. safety measures have become more of a suggestion rather than a must. 

So rooms doing efforts are great. But it is not just installing basic measures but enforcing measures. 

Basic measures

let us talk first about basic measures. as these are measures used by some casinos.

The basic is temperature check. all casinos have it.

Then there is the disinfection box. some casinos have it and some do not. (it could be some entrances. but some do not have the disinfection box). we have yet to encounter a poker room outside the casino that has the box.

Safe to say. whether you use the main entrance. or the park entrance or the shuttle entrance and even the safety entrance Okada Manila has it.

Okay next!

Extra efforts.

As we have spoken before. it really is the extra effort that is really observed. Not the basic measures. As some have and some don’t. Here were the strict measures that Pokerstars Live Manila enforce.

Only Players that present their V cards were allowed to play the tournament.

A very controversial measure even up to this day. Some people want it, some people don’t. There are smaller tournaments now that do not even check if players have it. 

Not allowing players to play without presenting a V-card first will alienate some players which could cost an overlay.

Nope safety of the players comes first.

We fully support this measure and praise PS as it promotes people to get the shot!

Social distancing is enforce

People were excited. and it is hard to control crowds. but in many instances, when proper social distancing is not observed PS steps in and even calls the attention of the security team for backup. 

Barriers were installed. 

In a time where other rooms do not even have barriers. PS still went out of its way to install them. And their barriers were not cheap. 

As we have written before that other rooms have general barriers that really do not protect the front of the player (some movable barriers were even higher than the player. Imagine having a side barrier where the barrier is actually higher than you).  While other rooms installed cheap ones. PS Barriers were thick and clear.

Mask is a must

Let us admit. players still wanted their photos without masks. Nope, not allowed. Yeah, it was only for a moment. but that moment could be imitated until everyone else becomes complacent.

So no. its not allowed.

The Special tournament was great and safe! so book your ticket now!