Am Donnerstag kam für uns alle die Schreckensnachricht, das Russland die Ukraine angreift und dort nun Krieg herrscht. Neben politischen Sanktionen hat auch die Sportwelt reagiert und zum Beispiel das Champions League Finale von Sankt Petersburg nach Paris verlegt und die Formel Eins hat den Grand Prix in Sochi abgesagt.
Nun reagiert auch PokerStars Live auf die unsichere Lage und verschiebt die European Poker Tour Open. Eigentlich hätte die EPT Open Sochi vom 18.- 27. März 2022 im Casino Sochi stattfinden sollen. Nun wurde die Veranstaltung vorerst auf Anfang Oktober 2022 verschoben.
Poker Profi Eugene Katchalov flüchtet aus der Ukraine!
Poker Pro Eugene Katchalov ist der erfolgreichste ukrainische Poker Spieler und die Nummer Eins der ukrainischen All Time Money List. Der ehemalige PokerStars Pro befand sich bei Ausbruch des Krieges in der ukrainischen Hauptstadt Kiew und versucht sich jetzt Richtung ungarische Grenze durchzuschlagen. Auf Twitter schildert er seine Flucht.
Hey guys, I’m in Kiev, #Ukraine. Woke up to the sound of a distant explosion and decided to leave the city with my wife.Gathering in a small village with some friends to decide on next steps.
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
Anyone know how to get in touch with the US embassy to advice on suggested next steps?
Got in touch with the US embassies in Ukraine and Poland. Only general recommendations thus far to leave the country. Will decide where to drive and cross the border in the next hours.
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
Crazy traffic everywhere, gas stations have massive lines, ATMs as well with locals trying to withdraw cash.
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
Seems like it may be better to stay put as there may not be enough gas to make it to the border and traffic may be extraordinary with current panic.
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
Got a few rooms that were left in a small hotel in the village. Will likely spend at least a few days here. Stores are emptying out tho.
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
Just saw 2 military helicopters fly overhead. Certainly haven’t felt nerves like this since 9/11 in Manhattan.
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
Wife’s family in Kharkiv just went to safety in the basement as shooting is about to start. Have friends with newborns in Kiev, can’t imagine what they must be going through. @Ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
Feels surreal, like being inside of a war movie. Don’t know anyone who expected it to get this bad. #Ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
More friends are trying to make it to us from Kharkiv and other cities. The family that we’re staying with are parents of acquaintances that we only met yesterday. Absolute angels supporting us in every way.
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
There are risks to both staying and going and we haven’t decided yet. No clear option.
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
Staying – invasion may worsen, roads may get destroyed, internet may disappear (waze/gmaps) etc
Going – bandits, traffic, no gas and getting stuck in the middle of the highway#Ukraine
I haven’t tweeted much in the last years, but certainly incredible to get all this support from everyone both in public and in private. Thank you everyone, it’s really helpful/inspiring. 🙏🏻 #Ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
Likely will head out toward one of the borders early in the morning on 2 SUV’s. Will leave my car here. From what we understand, it’s not safe to drive at night.
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
Expecting to be stuck in massive traffic and hoping there will be gas to fill up along the way. #Ukraine
Only slept 2 hours last night. Hoping to get at least a bit more zzz’s tonight as tomo will be a loooong day/s on the road and god knows what else. At the same time won’t be easy to relax and fall asleep. #Ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
Hearing military planes flying overhead. Not sure if UA or RUS. Owner of the house is now showing us her basement where I guess we could take cover in case bombing starts.
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
Just heard a few really powerful explosions. Was quite far but still unnerving. Likely somewhere near Kiev. #Ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
Going to try to get some sleep now. Plan is to wake up and head West at 5 am. #Ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 24, 2022
Just woke up. Kiev is apparently being bombed. About to start driving West. #Ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
Blocks on the road with UA soldiers with kalashnikovs. Checking papers… keep going for now.
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
Finally found a working gas station after about 8 closed ones. Trying to keep it as close to full as possible. Have an extra canister and if run out of gas will all move to one car and leave all the luggage and cars behind. #ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
Still on the road but hearing all airports even across the west are being bombed. Trying to avoid cities at all costs. #ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
Long road and not easy to find small villages to drive through to avoid cities. I know about UA male citizens from 18-60 not being allowed to exit, but I’m a US citizen with a US passport. #Ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
Not hungry, not thirsty and not tired even with all this driving. Amazing how your body naturally produces Cortezol and keeps you focused on the sole mission – Get to the border… #Ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
Lviv Is closed. Going to try to get to Hungary border. #Ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
Here’s one of the Austria cars. Their group also stopped at some gas station in the middle of nowhere.
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
In general we try to fill up the gas tank as soon as we get down to around 75%. #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/lpJY5fWRLB
My wife’s family are taking cover in the basement of their apartment building in Kharkiv. And a huge missile just landed on the asphalt 50 meters away. It didn’t explode and is literally just sticking out vertically. #Ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
❤️🙏🏻 just beautiful #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/cHdyLIdaFW
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
Heard rumors of marauders/bandits somewhere along the way dressed up as cops taking people’s cash. We’ve now split it up between all of us and in a bunch of dif places 🙏🏻 #Ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
Driving along a dirt road in the middle of nowhere and full traffic in front and behind us. Just imagining that all these people are going through the same thing as us. Occasionally see cars going back mostly with men whom I assume weren’t allowed to cross the border. #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/KTgwAkVZyj
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
Here’s a story from one trustworthy source that gives me goosebumps. Today in one of Kiev’s neighborhoods a few “street” guys caught two Russians soldiers, unarmed them, and gave them over to Ukrainian forces.
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
Really impressed by the Ukrainian spirit. 🙏🏻#Ukraine
One of our friends who used to hold a high position in border patrol has sent us a point by point route to avoid multiple block posts and over 10km of traffic. It’s based on real time info. I am beyond words as to how helpful everyone is being during this difficult time #Ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
Over 12 hours of straight driving now on just a few hours of sleep. Cortisol still pumping …
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
Massive traffic just started. ETA still 3 hours. Also heard Ivano Frankivsk is being attacked which isn’t too far. Scary… #Ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
Moved about 200 meters in the last 2 hours. Still 120km away. The good news is the Polish border is literally like 300 meters away, but I assume it’s just some forest. At least makes it less likely to get bombed from above🤞#Ukraine
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
Finally went through the block post and driving normally again though through a curvy, mountainous region. Was advised to go to Slovakia which is closer anyways.
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 25, 2022
I was born in Ukraine but immigrated to the US as a small child. Moved back to Ukraine ~5 years ago and absolutely fell in love with the country. I hope the situation somehow resolves so that I can come back. 1/2
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 26, 2022
I’m no hero, I simply wanted to use my following to shed light on the situation in real time and continue telling stories of our friends and family who are still there fighting desperately to protect the only home they know. #Ukraine 2/2
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 26, 2022
Hello Hungary 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/mOl8MsxGGb
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 26, 2022
In the end, we didn’t encounter any bandits/marauders and in fact, all of the security we met in dif block posts on our way here were super friendly and inquiring about the situation in Kharkiv and Kyiv. Seems like everyone just came together in genuine support 🙏🏻
— Eugene Katchalov (@EugeneKatchalov) February 26, 2022
