After the disgraceful cancellation of the first PokerStars.net Latin American Poker Tour in Puerto Vallarta by the Mexican gaming authorities, the online poker site and event sponsor and organizer, PokerStars.com has announced that it will run a special freeroll for the 89 players affected by the tournament’s unexpected suspension.

On Friday the 7th, local gaming officials shut the $2,500 buy-in tournament down with a little more than a third of its original 242 entries remaining. The tournament area at the Marival Resorts and Suites was emptied out at about 10:30 p.m. local time. When players returned Saturday for an update, they were told that the Mexican officials took the decision to rescind the gaming license needed to run the event. After the cancellation, the tournament’s prize money was divided among the remaining players.

However, as a result of the recent disaster, Poker Stars wants to apologize and amend with the affected players by giving them the chance to play an exclusive freeroll in where all the 89 players will start with the exact number of chips they had at the time of the suspension. Poker Stars will contact all the 89 players to set up the date and time of the freeroll and then schedule the fairest time. Once a final table is shaped, the final nine will be sent to the LAPT Chile stop in the spectacular Viña del Mar to play at a televised final table.

"We know that many of our remaining players really wanted the opportunity to finish this tournament and earn their shot at an LAPT title.  Although the tournament was suspended and the prize money distributed, Poker Stars still wants to offer their players this extra opportunity. PokerStars will also be adding $50,000 in prize money to the final table." says Sarne Lightman, Director of Marketing for PokerStars Latin America.