Russian Invasion Hits Online Poker Sites and Players Hard
Major online poker sites have quickly felt the effect of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to Poker Industry PRO – a data analytics platform dedicated to online poker – cash game traffic has reached a four-month low.
The observer reports online poker giants PokerStars and GGPoker have suffered a big drop in cash-game rake since the conflict began. The latest figures indicate their take has been hit by 15 and 10 percent respectively.
Ukrainian poker players celebrate victory in poker’s Nations Cup final in Dublin, 2019. The Russian invasion of their country has hit online poker operators hard. ©IFMP
Across the global market, an average of 3,000 fewer concurrent seats were reportedly being played since the genuine likelihood of a Russian invasion became apparent at the end of February. That figure represents a decline of eleven percent.
Russian EPT Cancelled
Unsurprisingly the second European Poker Tour (EPT) event of 2022, scheduled to take place in Sochi, Russia on March 18th has been canceled.
In a press release PokerStars – the tour organizers – stated: “PokerStars can confirm that EPT Sochi has been canceled. An event will not be held in Sochi until such time that it is safe for staff and players, and appropriate to do so.”
Bizarrely none of PokerStars three main Twitter accounts have made mention of the cancellation. Furthermore, the online poker room’s website has labeled the event as ‘postponed’.
IFMP Praise Team Ukraine
However, the social media accounts of the International Federation of Match Poker have been busy showing solidarity towards Ukraine during the past week. A series of Tweets highlighted the achievements of Team Ukraine in the Nations Cup.
Olga couldn’t control her emotions as she helped her national team win the Nations Cup in Dublin, and she was awarded with the Player of the Tournament. No prouder feeling that bringing glory to your nation 🇺🇦🏆🥇#poker #sport #eSports #digital #Mobile #skill #Ukraine #strategy pic.twitter.com/u82g9c3oZC
— International Federation of Match Poker (@IFPoker) March 5, 2022
An excellent Ukrainian team took the competition on their debut in 2018 when it was played in Dublin. As a bonus, based on points scored, their Olga Iermolcheva claimed the Player of the Tournament accolade.
Impressively the Ukrainian squad retained their title – when the event was played virtually due to Covid restrictions – in June 2020.
Olga Iermolcheva’s current whereabouts are unknown. Records show she did play a small tournament on January 19th in Kyiv. However, her Facebook account was last used on February 26th when she made no mention of her whereabouts or plans.
Katchalov’s Exit Highlights the Ukrainian Exodus
One poker star that used social media to document his exit from Ukraine is Eugene Katchalov. The 41-year-old was born in Ukrainian but migrated to the United States when he was aged 10.
48 World Series, World Poker Tour and European Poker Tour cashes between 2004 and 2018 followed but, with live earnings in excess of $9 million, he retired from the game and returned to live in Kyiv a few years ago.
Slept in the car parked on the side of the highway (next to border) as we really needed some. Now after about 3-4 hours got into line at the border with Hungary. #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/Tn5MpzPNDI
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 26, 2022
Unlike Ukrainian men aged 18-60, American citizenship allowed Katchalov to leave the besieged country. In providing Twitter updates of his journey across western Ukraine into Hungary, Katchalov’s experiences caught the attention of the poker community. His story was later picked up by the American and British press.
Katchalov and his family are now safe in Budapest where he is helping to assist in the rehoming of displaced Ukrainians and raising funds for those in transit.
