Taking a page out of Jackie Aprile, Jr.’s handbook, armed robbers with handguns and machetes stormed the registration area of the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Saturday, host to the European Poker Tour (EPT) Berlin.
At 2:15 p.m. during day four play of the €5,000 no-limit hold’em main event, the assailants stormed the hotel, looking to raid as much cash as they could. At some point, they were seen fighting with security officers in the main hotel hallway. Media members witnessing the scuffle rushed into the ballroom where the poker events were being hosted, shouting in German about what was taking place in the main hall. Pandemonium and confusion spread like wildfire, as a wave of chaos stampeded through the playing area. Players and press ran to the back corner of the room, scouring for exits, as other flipped tables over for makeshift cover.
The robbers left as quickly as they ran in, and after 15 tense minutes, players began returning to the ballroom amidst a sea of tipped chairs and tumbled chip stacks. Thankfully, no shots were fired, and the only injuries that occurred were some scuffs and bruises experienced in the ensuing stampedes for exit signs.
Not only did the robbery disrupt the main event, play in two other events (the €1,000 no-limit hold’em event and the ladies €300 no-limit hold’em event) came to a standstill. Due to the circumstances, tourney officials allowed entrants to withdraw from the latter mentioned tourneys and receive a refund for their buy-in. They received such an overwhelming response that the €1,000 event was eventually canceled. The main event and ladies event resumed play three hours later.
Here is the most recent statement released by the
EPT:
“Yesterday at approximately 2.15 pm, an armed robbery took place at the European Poker Tour event in Berlin. Nobody was seriously injured. Four armed men were involved in the robbery which targeted the tournament registration desk outside the tournament area.
No shots were fired and the suspects quickly fled after a security guard intervened. The police investigation so far has shown that the suspects had a handgun and a machete. Contrary to tabloid reports, no Kalashnikov assault rifles or hand grenades were used. The suspects did not enter the tournament area and the money taken was substantially less than what has been reported.”
The investigation is ongoing and local law enforcement is asking for any information that will help bring the masked robbers to justice. Wanted for questioning are the Hamburgler, Carmen Sandiego, Shredder, and Evan Drago.
EPT Live cameras were rolling, televising coverage of the remaining field of 20 in the main event and caught the commotion on film.
