There was drama at the Wutaishan Sports Centre in Nanjing Friday when local police stopped players entering to participate in the 2015 Asia Pacific Poker Tour Nanjing Millions, issuing a notice which shut down the tournament and claimed the organisers were suspected of illegal gambling.
Offices used by the organisers were also locked down.
It was a deep disappointment for the more than 2,300 poker fans who has registered to play in the event, which had to be at least temporarily abandoned.
Pokerstars and the Star Poker Club of Beijing were the headline sponsors for the event, and Pokerstars spokesman Eric Hollreiser subsequently issued a statement advising that it had been decided to postpone the tournament whilst the concerns of the local authorities were being addressed.
Hollreiser indicated that the event would be resumed “in the near future” but emphasised that the Nanjing Millions had been properly approved well in advance by the Jiangsu Provincial Chess Sports Association.