The French EPT, which was almost certain to be a sell out, was scheduled to take place at the Casino Barriere de Deauville from February 20th to 24th. According to EPT CEO John Duthie the cancellation was “a direct result of a last-minute intervention by the French authorities making it impossible for the Lucien Barriere group to run a poker tournament on their premises in Deauville”.

Duthie added that he would be appealing the decision but pending any change of heart from the French authorities the tournament would be suspended indefinitely.

As yet neither the EPT nor PokerStars, the tours official sponsor, have made any comment over the reason for the decision, although there is speculation that it may be to do with PokerStars.com being the sponsor. France has a history of fighting online gaming, with the arrest of BWIN executives Manfred Bodner and Norbert Teufelberger in September last year acting as a statement of intent.