PokerStars LAPT Mexico Tournament to Continue After Suspension December 12, 2008

PokerStars announced this week that they will be reopening the Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT) Nuevo Vallarta event online. This event was suspended on its first day of play.

After a raid by Mexican gaming officials, the tournament director, Mike Ward, asked both the players and the media to leave, and announced that the tournament was postponed. After an investigation, it seems that although the LAPT had, in good faith, followed the requirements outlined by the Mexican government, one of their local partners had received an indefinite suspension. Lawyers are reviewing the suspension. A formal ruling had been obtained by LAPT's partner in Mexico, from the Mexican Ministry of the Interior, which allowed the event to take place.

Although the tournament was suspended, and the prize money was distributed to players still holding chips, PokerStars is offering an additional $50,000 of prize money for the final table in order to give their players the opportunity to play the tournament to the end.

Apart from the $50,000 prize money, the 89 remaining players will each receive a number of bonuses and incentives to compensate for the abrupt end to the tournament. These bonuses include offers of $500 for each player apart from the prize distribution.

The PokerStars site has offered an online freeroll. The players will begin the freeroll with the same number of chips they had when the tournament was suspended. The date and time has yet to be set, as PokerStars awaits responses from the 89 players to find the most convenient time for all. Play will continue until the last nine players are at the final table. These players will play the tournament until its end on a live televised table in Chile at the Vina del Mar LAPT which is scheduled to be held between 20 – 22 January, 2009.