A Cheater at WPT Championship?

The German poker professional Ali Tekintamgac (in picture) had been disqualified from earlier live tournaments on grounds of cheating. Therefore his participation in the prestigious World Poker Tour (WPT) Championship’s $25,000 buy-in event created a furor, with many of the world’s leading players objecting.

Vanessa Selbst, though not participating in the event, was one of the first to question Tekintamgac’s participation. She was in the final table at the Palm Beach Casino on the French Riviera in November 2010 for the Partouche Poker Tour event. Tekintamgac had been prevented from joining this final table. She Tweeted a message to Matt Savage, the WPT executive tournament director, “Is Ali Tekintamgac really playing this tournament? Why was he even allowed to register???” Savage has not responded directly or indirectly so far.

Daniel Negreanu was participating in that tournament. His outspokenness has angered many of his colleagues on several occasions. However, this time he received full support for his outbursts. He first challenged Tekintamgac when the latter took his seat, but was warned by Bellagio’s security. Later Negreanu sent out three Twitter messages that speak for themselves. The first was “Ali Tekintamgac who was caught cheating in Partouche is in #WPT Champ. I called him out, and floor told ME I can’t do that! When will we learn?” This message was followed by “Bellagio/WPT should absolutely not allow this person in the event. He was caught red handed cheating and should be banned. This is absurd.”

Scott Seiver was at the same table as Tekintamgac. Seiver too confronted the German on his removal from the Partouche final table and was allegedly threatened. This led Negreanu to send his final message. “The cheater just threatened Scott Seiver. The floor was alerted and won’t do anything about it. Physical threat, he should call the cops.” So unanimously incensed were the poker players at the Bellagio that even old time foe, Doyle Brunson, supported the stand taken by Negreanu. For the sake of record Seiver won the WPT event and a prize of $1.6 million.

The organizers of the Partouche Poker Tour had concluded from video evidence that Tekintamgac had employed phony media members and bloggers to supply signals relating to his opponents’ hole cards. Tekintamgac has denied all allegations and has said that he will sue the Partouche Poker Tour.

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