Category Archives: Poker

The first look at the long-awaited new online poker operator in the US, BetRivers Poker, has been revealed, marking yet another sign that its launch is near.

In the recent poker documentary series titled GALFOND, which offers a closer look into the lives of professional poker players Phil Galfond and his wife Farah Galfond, viewers were treated to a glimpse of the upcoming BetRivers Poker US software.

The snapshot, shown for just a couple of seconds, featured Phil Galfond playing under his well-known screenname MRSWEETS28. The interface looked exactly like the Run It Once software retaining some of its unique features such as Cub3d (its jackpot style sit and go product), Dynamic Avatars, and anonymous names, but with BetRivers branding in the middle of the table.

There were also signs of integration with BetRivers other verticals, as icons for Casino and Sports Betting were visible on the table itself, along with some new features. But most notably, the appearance of the Pennsylvania Responsible Gambling (RG) logo at the table suggests that testing is underway in preparation for a launch in Pennsylvania.

This all suggests that the online poker platform constructed under Galfond and set to be released under the BetRivers brand is in the final stages of development, though the timeframe for its launch remains unknown.

BetRivers Poker, as we know, has been under development for over two years. In 2022, BetRivers parent company Rush Street Interactive (RSI) acquired the assets of Phil Galfonds Run It Once (RIO) Poker. This acquisition, valued at $5.8 million, included RIOs platform, its team, and Galfond himself. The goal was to enter the regulated US online poker market and integrate the platform with the existing BetRivers casino and sports betting operations.

This integration will create vast cross-selling opportunities for the online poker vertical, giving access to a massive player base that Run It Once Poker lacked when it operated in the global dot-com market from 2019 to 2022.

While the company has remained tight-lipped about its online poker plans for the past two years, behind the scenes, significant progress has been made. For instance, RSI has been actively recruiting poker executives, recently hiring two key poker directors and looking to add at least one full-stack engineer to its poker development team.

It is also preparing to launch online poker in Pennsylvania, regardless of whether the state joins the multi-state online poker compact, pokerfuse understands. David Grubb, a poker room manager for Rivers Casino Philadelphia, the partner of BetRivers PA, has been seeking feedback from the online poker community in the Keystone State, indicating ongoing efforts to fine-tune the platform for a successful debut.

Now, in another sign that the BetRivers online poker app is close to launching, a still from the BetRivers Poker platform appeared in the four-episode documentary series titled GALFOND, co-produced by Phil Galfond and Farah Galfond. The first episode premiered on June 28.

This high-quality production offers an intimate look into Galfonds journey, both as a successful high-stakes poker player and as an entrepreneur facing the challenges of the business world. Particularly noteworthy is Episode 2: A Bad Day, where Galfond candidly shares his experiences with failure and the subsequent lessons learned. The episode mainly focuses on how he burned $10 million keeping Run It Once Poker afloat.

Amidst the personal anecdotes and reflections, the episode also offers a tantalizing glimpse of the BetRivers Poker software, marking the first public reveal of the rebranded platform.

As stated above, the software closely mirrors the original Run It Once Poker design, retaining some of the innovations that set it apart from other online poker rooms. The unique Dynamic Avatars, a system where players have a random avatar with a unique expression based on their recently observed play style, coupled with randomized table aliases, have been retained, as per the still shown in the documentary series.

However, it appears that the new platform will not support the built-in Heads-Up Display (HUD) feature, previously available at Run It Once under the name HeroIQ, likely due to US regulations.

Galfond was seen playing a $5 buy-in NLHE SNG CUB3D, Run It Once Pokers unique take on lottery-style sit-and-gos. This innovative sit-and-go concept, which ran under the moniker SNG Select, offered players the choice to play a three-handed, winner-takes-all, hyper-structure sit-and-go in one of two ways: either Classic, with the usual fixed first-place prize, or as a lottery sit-and-go, dubbed Cub3d, where the first-place prize was randomized and only revealed at the end of the tournament.

Gameplay of Run It Once Pokers Cub3d

Some features not present in the original Run It Once Poker app but available on the new BetRivers Poker platform include a hand replayer, a session timer, and an option to maximize the table. Additionally, it appears that the betting buttons have been revamped.

One of the most striking aspects of the preview is the presence of casino and sports betting icons on the poker table, indicating a seamless integration of these verticals within the poker platform, as was expected.

Another key detail from the documentary is the inclusion of the Pennsylvania Responsible Gambling (RG) logo within the software interface. This further illustrates that BetRivers Poker is eyeing a launch in Pennsylvania. The presence of the RG logo indicates that the platform is not only nearing readiness, but is also undergoing rigorous internal testing to meet Pennsylvanias regulatory requirements.

It remains to be seen when BetRivers Poker will go live. However, based on all the recent developments, we expect the new online poker platform to launch later this year or early in 2025.

Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800 GAMBLER.

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Exclusive: The First Glimpse of BetRivers Poker Revealed - Pokerfuse

Who says you need to go big to win big? A $5 wager at the Venetian just proved that sometimes, the smallest bets have the biggest payoffs, with one lucky gambler walking away $2.2 million richer!

In a stunning turn of luck that could make even the most stoic poker face break into a grin, a gambler at the Venetian Resort turned a mere $5 side bet into a whopping $2,211,469 windfall!

The extraordinary hand that sealed the deal was a seven-card straight flush, (the 7 of spades, 9 of spades, 10 of spades, Jack of spades, Queen of spades, King of spades and a joker, which served as a wild card filling in for the 8 of spades.7910JQK) while playing Pai Gow on Sunday, clinching the largest Pai Gow Progressive jackpot in the Venetian's history and the second largest in Las Vegas history, according to Las Vegas Locally.

This has been far from the first time a player has struck it big playing Pai Gow Poker! Earlier this year, in January, a fortunate gambler at Pittsburgh's Rivers Casino made headlines when they hit an astounding $1.4 million jackpot.

Fast forward to May, and the bright lights of Las Vegas witnessed another remarkable win. A local player, trying their luck at Pai Gow Poker in a bustling downtown hotel, walked away with a notable $220,000. This win demonstrated that the odds can occasionally tilt in favor of the players rather than the house.

These stories serve as compelling evidence that luck remains the most unpredictable element in the grand spectacle of casino gaming, capable of turning an ordinary night into an extraordinary one.

Pai Gow Poker is a modern game with roots deeply embedded in traditional Chinese gaming. Its origins trace back to Pai Gow, an ancient game played with a set of 32 Chinese dominoes that dates back to the Song Dynasty. In Pai Gow, players build hands with dominoes to beat their opponents, reflecting strategic thinking and a bit of luck.

Pai Gow Poker emerged in the 1980s, designed by Sam Torosian, who sought to blend the essence of Pai Gow with the familiar structure of poker. The game retains the strategic depth of its ancestor while incorporating pokers betting and hand-ranking elements, creating a distinctive fusion of cultural heritage and modern gameplay.

In this contemporary version, players are dealt seven cards. Based on traditional poker, you split the cards into two hands: the 'high hand' (five cards) and the 'low hand' (two cards).

A player can then win, lose, or push (tie) a hand based on the following scenarios:

The excitement of Pai Gow Poker, with its rich history and unique blend of strategic and luck-based elements, continues to captivate players from all corners of the world. From the bright lights of Las Vegas to the bustling casinos of Pittsburgh, were reminded that in the realm of casino games, the stakes are high and the potential rewards even higher. Let's hope your next game is just as lucky!

Disclaimer: any promotions presented on this page were correct and available at the time of writing. Promotions can change regularly. We encourage all users to check the promotion displayed matches the most current promotion available by clicking through to the operator welcome page. Please read the terms and conditions carefully before you accept any promotional welcome offer.

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Gambler Hits the Jackpot: $5 Bet at the Venetian Pays Out $2.2 Million - PokerNews.com

There is no rule against a player's rail watching the livestream or reviewing solvers during the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table. But Alan Keating is not a fan, and he isn't the only one.

Jonathan Tamayo won the 2024 WSOP Main Event for $10 million on Wednesday. He broke no rules and earned that victory, much like his longtime friend Joe McKeehen, who was on his rail, did in 2015.

There was some debate on social media, partially led by Keating, over Tamayo conferring with his rail in between hands quite frequently during the final table. And that is what we're going to dive into in this post-WSOP edition of The Muck.

As Keating mentioned in a separate tweet, the Main Event is the game's "biggest stage." Thousands of viewers who don't regularly watch poker tune in to see poker's Super Bowl equivalent. The Hustler Casino Live fan favorite asked his followers if players at the Main Event final table having a team on the rail using software to coach one of the players makes them more or less interested in poker?

"If poker needs recreational players, then there's a need to produce an environment where the average recreational player believes that they have a decent enough chance of winning," Vincent Robinson (@pokervincent) responded.

"Rails are for cheering, not for solving," @Bquadrant argues.

Keating has always been more of a cash game player than a tournament grinder. He rarely plays tournaments, and instead regularly competes in high stakes private games in Los Angeles and Las Vegas against recreational players. He competed in a Hustler Casino Live game last month against controversial social media influencer Dan Bilzerian, video game streamer Ninja, and boxer Ryan Garcia.

Competing against players using solvers or getting assistance from coaches such as McKeehen and Dominik Nitsche, who had a piece of Tamayo's Main Event action, doesn't seem too exciting to Keating or his friends. He wrote that "tournament poker isn't for us."

As @PatMoorePoker shared on X, Tamayo's rail provided some post-hand assistance to the champion at the final table via a laptop and cell phone, which had the PokerGO livestream visible. It's unclear how much the champion benefited from the sideline coaching. But it did spark debate about if it gives a player an unfair advantage and if the practice is bad for the growth of the game.

Reviewing plays is a common in-game practice in sports, especially team sports. But many have argued that since poker isn't a team sport, using solvers and sims on the rail shouldn't be permitted.

Nitsche, who not only had a piece of Tamayo's action but also owns the DTO Poker Trainer software that assisted the champion in between hands, took aim at Keating's comments.

It's clear that both poker players want to grow the game in different ways. Keating is concerned with scaring away the recreational players, while Nitsche is focused on helping poker players improve their game. They are polar opposites on the felt one (Nitsche) playing GTO style in tournaments, and the other (Keating) VIP'ing 80% in cash games.

"Look man, they're playing for $10 million. They're going to do anything within the rules to win. If you don't like it then complain to the organizers," @APAP74902546 tweeted at Keating.

"You speak with the privilege of someone who plays poker for fun, but has absolutely no burden or obligation to make a profit," writes @MagicJourney69, taking a shot at Keating.

Fedor Holz, whose 2016 run was among the best in poker history, chimed in with his take on the issue. The GGPoker ambassador appears to side with Keating instead of his fellow German, Nitsche.

There are two things that are true Tamayo is the world champion and didn't break any rules, and Keating has a right to dislike the practice.

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The Muck: Rail Helping WSOP Champ Between Hands Bad for the Game? - PokerNews.com

Jonathan Tamayo bested 10,112 competitors to win the 2024 World Series of Poker Main Event at the Horseshoe Las Vegas.

HUMBLE, Texas A Texas man outlasted more than 10,000 players to claim poker's biggest title.

The main event started earlier this month and the most players in history took part in the tournament.

It came down to Tamayo, 38, and Jordan Griff.

Tamayo won the tournament on Wednesday night with a final hand of eight-three offsuit.

Here's how the final hand played out for those who understand poker. Tamayo flopped two pair and Griff, who flopped a pair of nines, called when Tamayo three-bet him all-in. The three-eight held on to win. Watch the final hand in the video below.

Tamayo bested more than 10,100 players to take home the $10 million first-place prize, which was the largest in WSOP history. He also got to take home the 2024 Main Event bracelet which is made of yellow gold and has nearly 2,000 diamonds and hundreds of other precious gemstones on it.

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Humble man wins 2024 World Series of Poker Main Event - KHOU.com

The biggest event on the poker calendar, the World Series of Poker Main Event, has returned to Las Vegas for its 55th edition.

The 2024 event, yet another record-breaker, drew 10,112 entries for a prize pool of over $94 million. That massive field has been whittled down to a nine-person final table, and soon the next King of Texas Hold'em will be crowned. What comes with that crown? A World Series of Poker bracelet and $10 million.

Jordan Griff and Brian Kim own the two largest stacks going into the final table, combining to represent approximately 40 percent of the total chips in play. But as any WSOP fan knows, anything can happen in Hold'em especially on the final table at the Main Event.

Interested in watching this incredible event? Here's everything you need to know about the 2024 World Series of Poker Main Event final table.

MORE:Results, highlights, best moments from the 2024 ESPYs

Fans of the WSOP can enjoy final-table action from the Main Event on PokerGO on Tuesday and Wednesday evening.

The WSOP also has a deal with CBS Sports, so replays will likely be available to watch on CBS and/or Paramount+.

PokerGO can beaccessed worldwide from all of your favorite devices, including:

Poker fans can also stream PokerGO on any browser by going to PokerGO.com.

After a much-needed day off on Monday, July 15, the nine players comprising the final table will resume action on Tuesday evening.

The event will more than likely conclude on Wednesday evening, and the winner of the 55th WSOP Main Event bracelet and $10 million will be crowned.

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How to watch World Series of Poker main event final table: Schedule, live stream, channel for 2024 - Sporting News

Jul 17, 2024 7 min read Last updated Jul 18, 2024

Around the Horseshoe Las Vegas Event Center hang 10-foot-high banners depicting the champions from the first 54 years of the World Series of Poker. The names are legendary: Moss, Slim, Pearson, Brunson, Chan, Hellmuth, Moneymaker. Together, they tell a story about how, once a year, the poker world gathers together to crown a world champion in the greatest tournament in the world.

The latest name to join them is an unassuming 38-year-old from Humble, Texas who enjoys golfing and daily fantasy sports. Jonathan Tamayo put his name in the WSOP record books, joining friend, roommate, and 2015 Main Event champion Joe McKeehen as the 2024 world champion after defeating Jordan Griff in an epic back-and-forth heads-up match.

Tamayo was seemingly in disbelief over being the one left standing from 10,112 players, the largest field in Main Event history, and hoisting the diamond-encrusted gold bracelet over his head.

Not real life. My roommates picture is right there from 2015. We both have banners now. What in the world just happened? the newly-crowned champion said, finally taking in the enormity of the environment he found himself in and the achievement he had just pulled off.

"What in the world just happened?"

Throughout the final table, he mentioned how this felt like it wasnt real life and that his experience over the past two weeks was nothing more than a dream. But it was reality, and hes $10,000,000 richer.

Im just kind of taking it in right now. Because this perspective, and actually, lets take a perspective photo just so I can have one for myself. This is what it looks like from here, Tamayo said, standing behind the table where he had just battled Griff for hours and taking out his phone to snap a photo.

Tamayo was fortunate to have someone whos experienced this all before. McKeehen was on his rail throughout the final table, giving tips about how to navigate this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The two shared a house in Las Vegas throughout the WSOP, which now boasts the distinction of being the only one with two Main Event bracelets. WSOP VP Jack Effel even honored McKeehen by handing Tamayo his newest jewelry.

Leading up to it, Joe was just like, play your game. I realized youre never going to play perfect poker, and weird things happen, Tamayo said. "And its just unreal."

"I rememberI shouldnt have been here after Day 4. There was a crazy series of events on Day 4 where I was all in, and if one certain individual didnt fold their hand pre, Im not here."

"If that chain of events doesnt happen, I dont have that bracelet, and Im not here"

Tamayo had shoved ten big blinds with ace-queen late in Day 4 and needed to beat pocket jacks to stay alive.

"[Someone] folded ace-king in the cutoff, and the other two jacks were dead because the big blind on seven or eight big blinds folded jacks. And the turn is an ace. If that chain of events doesnt happen, I dont have that bracelet, and Im not here."

The Main Event is the one tournament on the poker calendar that doesnt rely on star power. Its where stars are made. Chris Moneymaker was an accountant from Tennessee before sparking the poker room with his win in 2003. Greg Raymer was an attorney, Joe Hachem a chiropractor in Australia. The Main Event made them household names as they emerged from a field of thousands.

Griff nearly pulled off his own Cinderella story today. A supply chain manager originally from Schaumburg, Illinois, he came into the Main Event with less than $50,000 in live earnings. His previous best cash was for $18,000. Tamayo, meanwhile, was a four-time WSOP Circuit ring winner with more than $2 million in live earnings, including a run to 21st place in the Main Event in 2009.

Griff was last place entering Day 8 and needed a two-outer on the river to stay alive. But stay alive he did, all the way to second place, as he took home $6,000,000 to his pregnant wife and soon-to-be newborn baby.

Three players returned to play today at 2 p.m. to battle for the world championship. Swedish online legend Niklas Astedt was the chip leader with 223,000,000, while Tamayo (197,000,000) and Griff (187,000,000) followed close behind. Griff pulled even with Astedt early on when he took a big pot with pocket deuces against Astedts ace-high.

The two remained virtually tied atop the leaderboard when they tangled in a hand that shocked the room. Griff moved all in for 159,000,000 on the turn and sent Astedt deep into the tank. Astedt eventually called with top pair and a straight draw, but Griff had a set of nines. Astedt missed the river, and Griff, who had Astedt covered by just 500,000, sent the online phenom to the rail in third place.

"Hes a bit of a wild one, so sometimes you have to guess. This time, I was wrong"

"Yeah, tough one. Im not sure. Hes a bit of a wild one, so sometimes you have to guess. This time I was wrong, Astedt said after making his exit.

Griff led Tamayo 432,500,000 to 174,500,000 at the start of heads-up action. Griff continued his aggressive play when he bet 75,000,000 on the river of an ace-high board. Tamayo agonized over the decision for a few minutes before calling with ace-six. Griff could only show queen-high as he handed over the big pot and the chip lead.

Tamayo expanded his lead until they saw the turn on a queen-jack-high board. Griff then moved all in for 97,500,000, and Tamayo called with ace-jack, but Griff had jacks and sixes and held on through the river to double up back into the lead.

Griff then had a chance to secure the bracelet when he had Tamayo all in for the Texans last 155,000,000. Griff had pocket sevens, while Tamayo was racing with king-ten. The flop brought Tamayo a straight, and Griff was already drawing dead by the turn as Tamayo doubled up to 314,000,000 and into a narrow lead.

Another coin flip had the chance to settle the tournament. Griff was all in for 233,000,000 with two sixes, while Tamayo showed ace-eight and needed to connect with the board to win the tournament. Instead, the flop gave Griff a set of sixes as the lead changed hands yet again.

But it lasted just five hands, as Tamayo then called for 133,500,000 with top pair of sevens against Griffs pair of fours and a straight draw. Tamayo dodged the turn and river to double up and pull nearly even with Griff. Tamayo then picked off Griffs bluff with jacks as he moved back up over 400,000,000.

Finally, on the 235th hand of the final table and 65th of heads-up play, Tamayo bet 10,000,000 on a nine-high flop and Griff raised to 40,000,000. Tamayo then moved all in, and Griff called for 230,000,000 with top pair. Tamayo showed eight-three for two pair and held on through the turn and river to win the hand and the world championship.

The final hand was a study in irony. After the final ten players combined for the unofficial final table a few days earlier, Tamayo folded two queens to a single raise, which sparked plenty of conversation around the poker world.

From folding two queens to winning with eight-three: Tamayo fully recognizes the oddity of it all. Thats going to be a fun one. Im happy to never live that one down now, he said.

Tamayo and McKeehen spent the summer sharing a house. Theyll spend the rest of WSOP history alongside each other on the wall, forever linked as world champions. What in the world just happened? Tamayo asked.

He just took down the biggest tournament in poker. And, no, it wasnt all a dream.

*denotes record-breaking field

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Jonathan Tamayo Wins Record-Breaking 2024 WSOP Main Event ($10,000,000) - PokerNews.com

Jonathan Tamayo emerged victorious at the World Series of Pokers Main Event in Las Vegas on Wednesday (July 17), claiming a massive $10 million cash bonanza, to accompany the gold winners bracelet and a newfound status.

The 38-year-old from Humble, Texas saw off fellow poker pro Jordan Griff at the Paris and Horseshoe casino resorts in Vegas, owned by the Caesars group. After three hours of heads-up action, Tamayo claimed victory over Griff as the money went all in. He produced two pairs against Griffs top pair to take the glory and riches.

However, all is not lost for the 30-year-old amateur player from Scottsdale, Arizona who can console himself with the cool $6 million cash pot reserved for the second-placed player in the contest.

The unassuming Tamayo reacted with disbelief to his stunning success, which appeared unlikely, especially after a dramatic turn of events on Day 4 which probably should have seen him eliminated, only for another competitor to fold their hand early.

When asked how it felt to be the last person standing, the golf and fantasy sports enthusiast reflected, Not real life. My roommates picture is right there from 2015. We both have banners now. What in the world just happened?

Tamayo continued, Im just kind of taking it in right now. Because this perspective, and actually, lets take a perspective photo just so I can have one for myself. This is what it looks like from here, as he took a selfie to capture the immediate moment of glory.

At his side during the run-in was friend and roommate, 2015 Main Event champion, Joe McKeehen who provided some wise counsel on how to approach the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Leading up to it, Joe was just like, play your game. I realized youre never going to play perfect poker, and weird things happen, stated Tamayo. And its just unreal.

Before the $10,000 buy-in 2024 WSOP Main Event, which attracted a record 10,112 players, Tamayo had racked up $2.3 million in live tournament prize money and just over $1 million from online tournaments.

The closest he previously came to winning the WSOP Main Event was in 2009 when he was eliminated in 21st place with a payout of $352,832.

Image credit: Julian Paefgen/Unsplash

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Jonathan Tamayo wins World Series of poker and $10m - ReadWrite

A worldwide cyber outage, which has taken much of the worlds infrastructure offline, has also extended its disruptive reach to the online poker industry.

At least, two online poker networks, Partypoker and BetMGM Poker which also hosts the Borgata Poker brand and uses the Partypoker software have been impacted, preventing players from logging in and accessing games from their desktop. Partypoker Ontario is also affected by the outage.

Those who are logged in are reporting issues of lag, while for many, the login option has become unavailable. This disruption has impacted only desktop users, with players still able to play from mobile devices.

A Partypoker spokesperson confirmed that this issue is linked to the global outage resulting from a recent update by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which has caused widespread disruptions to computer systems around the world.

Some of our services are impacted by the broader Microsoft issues, wrote a Partypoker staff on their official Discord server. We are working on priority to resolve.

At the time of writing, the Partypoker and BetMGM/Borgata websites are still down, with players unable to log in on their desktop. Other online poker networks, such as PokerStars, GGPoker, and 888poker, have not been impacted.

The outage is not a cyber attack but results from a faulty software update by Texas-based CrowdStrikes Falcon Sensor software, designed to protect Microsoft Windows devices from malicious attacks. Founded in 2011, CrowdStrike is a cybersecurity platform that provides security solutions to businesses, large organizations, government agencies, and critical sectors like airports and banks. A buggy update from CrowdStrikes Falcon Sensor is causing conflicts with the Windows system, affecting both businesses and individual users.

The disruption, which began on Friday morning, has affected multiple sectors worldwide. Airlines, television networks, and businesses have all been grappling with the consequences. Many flights have been grounded, causing queues and delays at airports and train stations. TV channels, including Sky News, have been taken off the air.

The outage has also impacted stock exchanges, supermarkets, banking, and healthcare systems globally. Windows users are experiencing the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), causing their systems to shut down or restart unexpectedly. Many consider this one of the most significant global IT outages in recent years, affecting numerous services reliant on Microsofts infrastructure.

Such a widespread disruption across multiple sectors, including online poker, is unprecedented. Fortunately for players, only a couple of poker networks have been affected so far. The disruption has also impacted land-based casinos and online sportsbooks.

The website DownDetector, which monitors user-reported internet outages, has reported increasing outages affecting several companies, including BetMGM, a leading igaming company in the US, which also offers online poker.

This kind of disruption is rare and almost unheard of. In the past, online poker and gaming have faced widespread DDoS attacks, but those were targeted at specific companies. This technical outage, however, has affected most businesses and was not the result of foul play.

The US cyber security firm has acknowledged the outage and said the issue has been isolated and a fix has been deployed. Meanwhile, Microsoft has also said that the underlying cause for the outage of its 365 apps and services has been fixed. However, both Partypoker and BetMGM are down at the moment.

Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800 GAMBLER.

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Online Poker Rooms Partypoker and BetMGM Impacted by CrowdStrike Global Outage - Pokerfuse

Posted on: July 19, 2024, 11:18h.

Last updated on: July 19, 2024, 11:18h.

The poker world has been gripped by controversy following Jonathan Tamayos $10 million win at the World Series of Pokers (WSOP) Main Event on Wednesday.

The 38-year-old poker pro from Humble, Texas defeated amateur Jordan Griff at the conclusion of a 10-day battle that drew 10,112 hopefuls to the Paris and Horseshoe in Las Vegas. However, as first reported by Britains Daily Mirror, fellow poker pros noticed Tamayo peeking at a laptop after a winning a big hand against Griff.

Now, they accuse Tamayo of consulting a sim.

While using computer simulators during WSOP tournaments is forbidden and a steep penalty would have applied if Tamayo had brought his own no rules exist about whether players can consult sims brought by people in their cheering sections (rails).

Sims are most commonly used to replay a recent hand and, employing a mathematical strategy called Game Theory Optimum, conclude whether it was played to optimize a players potential to win.

While no one is suggesting that Tamayo outright cheated, the move is not considered particularly ethical.

The issue is that poker is supposed to be an individual game, not a team game, explained the reddit account @myimportantthoughts. Imagine you are on the final table and your rail is a couple of friends and family who are not in poker. They are not gonna be helping much.

Your opponent has 3 pros at his rail and he is being given real time info/sims based on the exact specific stack depths and any tendencies the pros pick up on you.

Do you think that this is reasonable?

Indeed, PokerStars ambassador Sam Grafton, the fifth-highest earning English poker player of all-time, did not. He put it more bluntly on X/Twitter: Absolutely sucks and cant be allowed.

Throughout the final table, video of theproceedings show, Tamayo consulted with members of his rail who were typing into the laptop.

In the past, WSOP have also sought advice from people their rails, but none has used a laptop so visibly.

WSOP organizer have so far issued no comment about the controversy, nor have they announced any impending inquiries into it.

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WSOP CONTROVERSY: Winner May Have Consulted Poker Program During Play - Casino.Org News

Jul 14, 2024 5 min read Last updated Jul 17, 2024

Welcome to the Poker Hall of Fame: Patrik Antonius.

With a distinguished career and over $23 million in career earnings, Antonius embodies everything that the Poker Hall of Fame stands for, having played high-stakes poker against some of the greatest players of his generation and gained the respect of both cash game and tournament players alike.

"In the modern era of poker, few have been as bold and fearless as Patrik Antonius," said Ty Stewart, Executive Director of the World Series of Poker. "A force both online and live, were thrilled to see Patriks high-stakes career acknowledged by legends who have added the first international player to the Poker Hall of Fame in a number of years."

Famous for his Full Tilt Poker clashes with Tom "durrrr" Dwan, Phil Ivey and Victor "Isildur1" Blom in the late 2000s, Antonius also has 11 recorded live tournament victories including the 2005 EPT Baden Main Event and the 2024 EPT Monte Carlo 100,000 Super High Roller.

Antonius is the first European player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame since the late David "Devilfish" Ulliott in 2017. He's also the first living European to be inducted since 2008 when holecard camera inventor Henry Orenstein was inducted.

In fact, Antonius is only the fifth European ever inducted after Nick "The Greek" Dandolos and Edmond Hoyle.

According to the WSOP, Antonius edged Miami John Cernuto and Isai Scheinberg in the voting to secure his 2024 nomination.

"This is a very big honor to become a new Hall of Famer," said Antonius. "Obviously big thanks to my family and close friends just everyone who has been there for me through the good and the bad.

"This has really been one of the nicest things for me. I've always been a student of the game and always hoped that poker continues to get bigger and better. And just look at where we are now. It looks like poker has never been as good as it is now we're breaking records all over the world."

"The last 24-25 years with poker went pretty fast. I think I'm going to stick around for a long time."

This was only the second year that Antonius was nominated, but it had been four years since his first nomination in 2020 his first year of eligibility.

"It was unexpected at this young age, but I'm still young. The last 24-25 years with poker went pretty fast. I think I'm going to stick around for a long time. That's my plan to keep playing the highest tournaments and cash games. I've always had so much passion and love for the game.

"It's so nice that so many people have found poker and are passionate about poker. We can all do it together. Let's keep growing the game and thank you to everyone who's supported me and voted for me."

Originally a promising tennis player, Antonius suffered a back injury as a teenager before turning to poker. $50 home games with friends swiftly turned into a distinguished poker career across both tournaments and cash games.

Antonius's poker career has now spanned over two decades, from the small Dutch island of Sint Maarten, where he recorded his first live poker cash in a $220 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament in 2003, to the bright lights of the European Poker Tour and the Triton Poker Series where he continues to play today.

Antonius recorded his first cash at the World Series of Poker in 2005, months before he famously won the EPT Baden Main Event, less than one month after finishing third in the EPT Barcelona Main Event.

He rounded out 2005 by finishing second in the Five Diamond World Poker Classic in Las Vegas for $1,046,470.

Antonius would make regular appearances on Poker After Dark, Poker Million, and Late Night Poker throughout the poker boom in the late 2000s.

In tournaments, a bracelet has so far eluded him. He came closest in 2007, finishing third for $311,394 in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship, and final-tabled the WSOP Europe Main Event in Cannes France in 2011.

Antonius enjoyed more success in Australia, finishing second to Phil Ivey in the Aussie Millions A$250,000 Challenge for A$1,200,000 and finishing third in the Aussie Millions Main Event the following year for A$600,000.

High-stakes cash games both live and online have also taken a great deal of Antonius' attention, with the Finn going so far as to say he doesn't think he plays good poker when playing at smaller stakes.

He's said that fellow Hall of Famer Phil Ivey and Viktor "Isildur1" Blom were among the top online players he's ever faced, and he's a regular in Bobby's Room at the Bellagio even as recently as this week playing in some of the biggest mixed games cash games around.

In 2023, Antonius played out one of the largest ever pot broadcast live on a US live stream, winning $1,978,000 in a hand against Eric Persson on 'No Gamble, No Future'.

But the allure of tournaments remained. Earlier this year, Antonius proved that he still had it after taking down the EPT Monte Carlo 100,000 Super High Roller for 1,967,440.

"I'm trying to keep my game as high level as possible," he told PokerNews. "I really enjoy playing against the toughest competition, whether cash games or tournaments. The goal is really to keep playing. I would like to, be here giving interviews in the next ten, 20 years or so. So let's see if I can keep up with all the boys."

Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor. He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.

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"I'm Gonna Stick Around For a Long Time" - Patrik Antonius Inducted into Poker Hall of Fame - PokerNews.com