Russian Poker Tour players had no choice but to batten down the hatches after demonstrators and riot police clashed violently in the streets of Kiev.
If you type ‘Kiev troubles’ into Google you get a plethora of links connecting you to a host of sporting events that are soon to be tainted due to the ongoing troubles within the Ukrainian capital.
Football’s Europa League tie between Dynamo Kiev and Valencia has been switched to Cyprus, and fans of Tottenham Hotspur have been warned about traveling to the region where they square off against FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.
It’s good to see the world’s news have their priorities straight!
Well spare a thought for the poker players who are caught right in the midst of the action as the Russian Poker Tour Main Event takes place in the Khreschatyk Club in the heart of the nations capital.
Tournament Director Oleg Udovenko had no choice but to seal the doors of the Khreschatyk Club for the protection of the 150 players who were playing inside.
“There is not much we can do now, “ Udovenko old PokerNews, “We can just wait and try our best to keep people as calm as possible. Even if the mood in there is not very good. People are trying to keep playing poker. We have shut all the doors, and we are not allowing anyone to come in or leave the club.”
Whilst cards might still be in the air inside, outside there is a mini war going on. Hundreds of people have been injured and 26 (10 police and 16 demonstrators) have so far lost their lives in the battles.
“We fight for Ukraine. For Freedom. These dictators have no rules,” one injured man told BBC News.
“They crossed the line when they encouraged people to take up arms which is a great violation of the law, and those that broke the law must face trial,” said President Viktor Yanukovych.
It’s inevitable that the Ukraine will face severe U.N sanctions when he dust has settled.
Opposition leader and heavyweight boxer Vitali Klitschko places the blame squarely at the feet of the President: “The president alone was responsible for the killing of his own people,” he told BBC News.
The future of the Russian Poker Tour has now been thrown into serious doubt after the troubles escalated in the Ukrainian region.
