EPT Sochi Canceled as Pro-Ukraine Players Push for Ban on Poker in Russia

After it was initially delayed until October, the European Poker Tour (EPT) has suspended its Sochi stop due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces.

Many pros are now calling for an outright ban on poker events in Russia.

AllInAgainstRussia posted the following message via TwoPlusTwo:

To all of the biggest online poker providers and organizers of major tournament series!

We write to you on behalf of our poker friends from Ukraine who, unable to follow their passion, are instead forced to fight for their life and independence due to unspeakable act of unprovoked aggression and cruelty from Russia.

We appeal to you to deny any services to citizens of Russia, and to refrain from any kind of cooperation with Russian casinos and companies. In particular, we appeal to you to:
- cancel any live tournaments scheduled to take place in Russia, including EPT Sochi
- terminate cooperation with Russian casinos
- terminate contracts with Russian sponsored players, twitch streamers or software developers
- no longer offer your online poker services to the citizens of Russia
- ban citizens of Russia from participating in any live tournaments organized by your companies

We expect all sanctions to be active at least until the last Russian soldier leaves the Ukrainian territory and all of Ukrainians will be safe and free in their own country.

While helping the war refugees and civilians of the proud Ukrainian nation is of the utmost importance, we also believe it is moral obligation of every human and every company of the free world, to make every effort to isolate Russia in every possible way until the abandonment of hostilities. Russian citizens are largely not to blame, but as a nation they must feel responsible for the actions of their chosen leaders.

And even though poker is a completely irrelevant element in the grand scheme of things, it is OUR element, and we believe that as a poker community we need to stay united with our Ukrainian friends and make our voice heard.

We want consequences. We want to be heard. We want #NoPokerInRussia. We are poker players of the free world. We are #AllinAgainstRussia

- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com