Although some land-based casinos have started reopening their poker rooms, players will have to wait an additional year for the 2020 PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) and EPT Barcelona events. On Friday, PokerStars made the announcement that it is postponing the two festivals until 2021.

“We realize that this news will come as a disappointment to many, but we know you will understand and appreciate why this is necessary,” a post on the PokerStars Blog stated. “Our priority is the safety and good health of all our players and staff, as well as the communities that host such large events.”

The second edition of the PSPC was scheduled to take place August 20-24, 2020, at Casino Barcelona, with the always popular EPT Barcelona festival wrapped around it. Exact dates for the 2021 edition have yet to be announced, but it is planned to still be held in Barcelona.

There were 320 Platinum Passes set to be awarded to the 2020 PSPC event, of which nearly 200 have already been given out through various promotions. Those that already hold Platinum Passes for the 2020 PSPC will be eligible to use them for the 2021 event. Plus, PokerStars is upping the number of Platinum Passes to be awarded, taking it from 320 to 400.

“While we cannot provide exact dates at this time, we do know that the PSPC will be back bigger and better in 2021 at Casino Barcelona,” the post stated. “Until then, we will focus on creating a life-changing and memorable PokerStars experience for when we are safe and together again.”

The news comes almost exactly one month after the 2020 World Series of Poker was postponed as a response to the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition to the postponed of the PSPC and EPT Barcelona, PokerStars announced that is has canceled the Road to PSPC Cannes, Road to PSPC Madrid Torrelodones, and Manilla Super Series 14 stops.

The first-ever PSPC, held as part of the 2019 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure festival, awarded 320 Platinum Passes and generated a field of 1,039 entries. Ramon Colillas was crowned champion for $5.1 million. With its $26.455 million prize pool, the event became the largest $25,000 buy-in poker tournament of all time. PSPC 2020 was already anticipated to take this record to new heights, and now with an additional 80 Platinum Passes to be awarded it hopes to be even bigger.

For those with questions regarding the postponements, PokerStars has put together a PSPC Postponement FAQ page with more information.