Russian Poker Tour Kiev Players Locked Up at Casino during Riots

The streets of Kiev are a combat zone once again as thousands of protesters clash with the riot police in the direct vicinity of Russian Poker Tour venue Khreschatyk Club.

Russian Poker Tour Kiev 2014 Day 1A

On 17 February, the events of the Kiev stop of the Russian Poker Tour kicked off; even though the Ukrainian capital had seen violent riots, the three weeks of relative peace convinced organizers they could hold the event undisturbed. Players obviously expected to be able to relax and win big, yet they are now more interested in getting out of the club unscathed.

Protesters and the riot police is now waging a war in the streets once again after thousands of people wanted to take the parliament building and government forces were trying to stop them. The riots, already claiming 13 lives and 180 wounded, go on in central Kiev, near the Khreschatyk Club, where the RPT stop is taking place.
RPT Kijev Day 1B players have not been allowed back on the streets; the Club has been locked up and organizers try to help them make it through the crisis.

"There is not much we can do now. We can just wait and try our best to keep people as calm as possible. Even if the mood in here is not very good. People are trying to keep playing poker. We have shut all doors, and we are not allowing anyone to come in or to leave the club. Luckily, we have still enough water for everyone," tournament director Oleg Udovenko said. "Now that Day 1b of the Main Event is over, some players moved to cash games, even if many of them are just trying to sleep on their chairs. Everyone is very tired here."

"Nobody knows what is going to happen next. At some point, even the electricity went out. Here it feels like we're in a cage while there is a war going on outside. Now they even had to stop ventilation in the room because of the smoke coming from outside," one of the players said.

“Dear players! We urge you to refrain from visiting Khreschatyk until our next posts,” the last official tweet of the Russian Poker Tour reads.

Organisers have been heavily criticised for deciding not to cancel the event despite the political situation in Ukraine. If continued, the tournament will not be concluded in Kiev.