The poker world has been gripped by controversy following Jonathan Tamayo’s $10 million win on the World Sequence of Poker’s (WSOP) Primary Occasion on Wednesday.
Jonathan Tamayo is seen consulting with fellow poker professionals Dominik Nitsche (left) and Joe McKeehan, who openly use a laptop computer through the ultimate desk on the World Sequence of Poker’s Primary Occasion Wednesday. (Picture: pokergo.com)
The 38-year-old poker professional from Humble, Texas defeated beginner Jordan Griff on the conclusion of a 10-day battle that drew 10,112 hopefuls to the Paris and Horseshoe in Las Vegas. Nonetheless, as first reported by Britain’s Daily Mirror, fellow poker professionals observed Tamayo peeking at a laptop computer after a profitable a giant hand in opposition to Griff.
Now, they accuse Tamayo of consulting a sim.
Whereas utilizing laptop simulators throughout WSOP tournaments is forbidden — and a steep penalty would have utilized if Tamayo had introduced his personal — no guidelines exist about whether or not gamers can seek the advice of sims introduced by individuals of their cheering sections (rails).
Sims are mostly used to replay a current hand and, using a mathematical technique known as Recreation Idea Optimum, conclude whether or not it was performed to optimize a participant’s potential to win.
Gaming the System?
Jonathan Tamayo will get proven the cash and his gold bracelet Wednesday evening in Las Vegas. (Picture: Louis Grasse/PX Imagens through ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)
Whereas nobody is suggesting that Tamayo outright cheated, the transfer shouldn’t be thought-about significantly moral.
“The problem is that poker is meant to be a person sport, not a crew sport,” defined the reddit account @myimportantthoughts. “Think about you’re on the ultimate desk and your rail is a few family and friends who should not in poker. They aren’t gonna be serving to a lot.
“Your opponent has 3 professionals at his rail and he’s being given actual time information/sims based mostly on the precise particular stack depths and any tendencies the professionals choose up on you.
“Do you assume that that is affordable?”
Certainly, PokerStars ambassador Sam Grafton, the fifth-highest incomes English poker participant of all-time, didn’t. He put it extra bluntly on X/Twitter: “Completely sucks and may’t be allowed.”
All through the ultimate desk, video of the proceedings present, Tamayo consulted with members of his rail who have been typing into the laptop computer.
Previously, WSOP have additionally sought recommendation from individuals their rails, however none has used a laptop computer so visibly.
WSOP organizers have to date issued no remark concerning the controversy, nor have they introduced any impending inquiries into it.
