WPT WILL NOT FILM GRAND PRIX DE PARIS

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The championship will take place, but official French attitudes prevent television coverage

World Poker Tour has advised interested parties that it has abandoned plans to film for television its Grand Prix de Paris competition. The big event will still take place at the Aviation Club de France on the Champs Élysées but it will not be televised following a refusal by French gaming authorities to provide permission.

In a letter addressed to "WPT Players" this week, the World Poker Tour advised:

"….We regret to announce we have cancelled our plans to film the Grand Prix de Paris tournament, which will still be held as announced at the Aviation Club de France, May 6 - 11, 2007.

"Due to gaming regulations in France, we did not receive assurances in the time needed to proceed with filming the event. We continue to work with Parisian officials to obtain permission to film at the Aviation Club at a later date. We have a great relationship with the WPT Charter Member Casino and look forward to resuming our tour stops in France.

"We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and look forward to seeing everyone on May 19th at The Mirage, Las Vegas for the first WPT Season VI event – the Mirage Poker Showdown."

Officials at the venue were equally disappointed, and issued a statement saying: "….It is with sadness and bitterness that we have to announce that WPTE will not be able to shoot the "Grand Prix de Paris" at the Aviation Club de France on May 6th to 11th.

"The "Rendez-vous à Paris" festival including the Euro 10 000 THNL "Grand Prix de Paris" will still be organised as announced and promoted. Aviation Club's partnership with WPTE will stay as strong as ever. Soon the French authorities will concede that the WPTE activities are as legal in France as they are in the US and all over the world. Then ACF and WPTE will commonly announce new dates for a World Poker Tour event at the Aviation Club de France."