While the Partouche Poker Tour (PPT) Cannes Grand Final is well under way, a scandal has erupted concerning the €5 million guaranteed prize pool, which had mysteriously melted down to €4.3 million. Patrick Partouche apparently got offended and cancelled any future PPT events, but unexpectedly added the remaining money to the prize pool.
On Day 1B of the PPT €8,500 Cannes Grand Final, registration closed with 573 players, resulting in an overlay, as the amassed money did not reach the €5,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. On Day 2, the tournament team published the official payout structure (see at the bottom of this article) that contains handsome sums but not the €5 million many players went for.
Participants were outraged at the decision and PPT Head Maxime Masquelier announced: “For a buy-in of €8,500 I think we can be proud of the final figure. At no time did we say that €5 million was secured when it is guaranteed in writing.”
Players discontent with the attitude of the organizers quickly came up with pieces of evidence, like the one below.
Several players reported their own point of view, including notable names like Peter Jetten, who tweeted: “One of the head Partouche people told me »this was not a guarentee but a marketing trick«” and Justin Bonomo: “Everyone at Partouche expected a 5 mil guaranteed prize pool. Staff is saying it was never guaranteed. I found proof: pic.twitter.com/heDB7Vz7”
Many announced that they would not come back to PPT anymore, if the prize was not raised pool to €5 million. As it appears, however, they do not have to make that decision, as Patrick Partouche has since announced that he will not organize a PPT again. Apparently offended by the criticism, Partouche stated:
“I have heard, I have seen and I have been told that what Groupe Partouche was doing was not sufficient, almost dishonest.
“The Partouche Poker Tour bears my name and my family’s name. After 40 years in this business, reading ‘Partouche is a liar, Partouche is a cheater,’ this I cannot accept, neither can my teams.
“That is why I am announcing to you that you are playing the last edition of Partouche Poker Tour. The Partouche will stop Sunday night. We are sailing toward new horizons, we hope that other operators will put as much energy, as much willpower, and as much love to ensure that this game goes on and remains as much loved and adored from all fanatics which I’m a part of, as I believe a lot of people here know fully well.”
Patrick Partouche Cancels PPT
While calling off the PPT is sad news indeed, being one of the most respectable European poker tournaments, Partouche’s tone is absolutely inexplicable, as they seem to deny absolutely straightforward evidence, like the video below, where Director of Marketing Jean-Jacques Ichai can be seen, promoting PPT with the €5 million prize pool. Ichai has just recently announced his resignation over the scandal.
Audio in French, subtitles in English:
UPDATE: In an unexpected turn of events, Patrick Partouche has asked the Partouche Group “to bear the consequences and make up the difference by adding 736 880 Euros to the Prize Pool”. In addition to acknowledging the controversies and confusion while crediting them to the media coverage of the PPT, Partouche confirmed the cancellation of the tournament.
The updated payout structure is the following:
1st place – €1,172,850
2nd – €693,494
3rd – €417,499
4th – €341,991
5th – €267,492
6th – €223,498
7th – €178,496
8th – €139,499
9th – €105,404
10th – €74,992
11th – €64,999
12-13th – €54,995
14-15th – €49,999
16-17th – €44,991
18-19th – €39,994
20-25th – €34,998
26-33rd – €29,990
34-39th – €24,993
40-49th – €19,997
50-57th – €17,499
The Top 10 chip counts are as follows:
