WSOP CONTROVERSY: Winner May Have Consulted Poker Program During Play

Posted on: July 19, 2024, 11:18h. 

Last updated on: July 22, 2024, 10:47h.

Corey Levitan Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Las Vegas Myths.

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

Jonathan Tamayo is seen consulting with fellow poker pros Dominik Nitsche (left) and Joe McKeehan, who brazenly use a laptop during the final table at the World Series of Poker’s Main Event Wednesday. (Image: pokergo.com)

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 Britain’s 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 player’s potential to win.  

Gaming the System?

Jonathan Tamayo gets shown the money and his gold bracelet Wednesday night in Las Vegas. (Image: Louis Grasse/PX Imagens via ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

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 can’t be allowed.” 

Throughout the final table, video of the proceedings 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 organizers have so far issued no comment about the controversy, nor have they announced any impending inquiries into it.