Hey, Poker playas!
Poker tournaments will be back again real soon and it looks like the fireworks will start with 2AcePoker with Leg 7 of the GG Millions.
2023 started out great as 4 tournaments happened, and 3 of them we have covered.
But when February entered, for two weeks there was no tournament.
Why?
The Philippines lost while other Asian poker room gained.
In the Philippines, no two 1 million and above tournaments can happen at the same time. It is the rule set by PAGCOR.
Poker rooms have to book their events to ensure there would be no clash. Some organizers even booked in advance. for example, 1-3 years ahead to ensure their preferred schedule are reserved for them.
In this case, there was a booking by an organizer, but as early as the start of January it was already known they would not be holding any events here. There were attempts by other poker rooms to take the vacant spot. But as far as Pagcor was concerned. it was locked.
The original organizer went ahead with their event in a different country and even attracted Filipino players to go there. So overall, the Philippines lost and Other Asian poker rooms gain.
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Rules must change
As we are not pointing fingers at anyone, but it does open up that rules must change.
Whatever reason why the tournament in February was canceled and why it was still protected does not matter. We would never really know whose fault it is or what reason it was because there will always be things beyond our control.
But it does open up a question what would stop organizers to keep blocking their events and just canceling it and holding their events somewhere else?
While there are poker rooms in the Philippines that can’t even get a decent schedule for tournaments.
Meanwhile, the competition outside is growing.
There are many organizers that want to tap the Philippines and hold big tournaments here. but due to the rules set in place, it is not possible. Based on our sources, the events are fully booked till the end of April.
Moving Forward
What happened has happened, and we are not looking to blame anyone for it.
In 4 days, the GG Millions leg 4 will happen and they have made a lot of changes for their next tournament.
But one thing is for sure.
It is no longer the poker rooms in the Philippines competing for each other. There are now poker rooms in Asia that will give rooms in the Philippines a run for their money.
