World Series of Poker Main Event $10M Winner in Computer Assistance Scandal

The recent winner of the $10 million World Series of Poker Main Event, Daniel Tamayo (pictured, front right), has been involved in a major scandal. Outcry came after images of the eventual champion consulting with his team using a poker analyzing computer program between hands while playing in the final table became public.

There is widespread confusion over the issue, mainly as to whether or not it constitutes cheating. Major stars of poker, including professional players, analysts, and social media stars have all weighed in with their opinions. Some support Tamayo’s rights under the rules, and others slam him and WSOP officials for not stopping it.

There is no rule against people at the rail using poker software during tournaments, although players are not allowed to consult them while at the table.

Announcements were made in the first days of the marathon nine-day tournament that such software, called real time assistance, was not allowed at the tables. Tamayo is not accused of using real time assistance during play. But it seems like he was consulting simulations of the previous hands in the breaks between play.

Although some have defended Tamayo’s actions as being within the rules, many feel he was not playing in the spirit of the game. Some suggest that such methods should be against the rules in future tournaments across the poker scene. 

The Tournament

During the record-breaking WSOP Main Event tournament at Horseshoe Las Vegas, more than 10,000 people took to the felt. All nine players who made it to the final table bagged at least $1 million each for their success.

Tamayo was the eventual winner, taking the $10 million top prize. The contrast between poker pro Tamayo and the second-place player, Jordan Griff, who took home $6 million for his troubles, also fanned the flames of controversy.

Tamayo’s rail of supporters included past WSOP Main Event champion and his former college roommate, Joe McKeehan, and four-time WSOP bracelet-winner Dominik Nitsche. The latter could be seen regularly consulting a laptop throughout play and offering advice to Tamayo between hands. 

Meanwhile, Griff was supported by his partner and friends from back home in Arizona. The amateur player and supply chain manager’s previous best poker tournament cash was $18,000.

The Responses 

Various long-time poker pros and scene stalwarts chimed in on social media after the pictures of Tamayo’s supporters consulting the laptop emerged. 

“Absolutely sucks and can’t be allowed,” said PokerStars ambassador Sam Grafton. 

“Assuming the video is accurate, I’d go one step further and would say (it) absolutely sucks and a failure by the floor that he wasn’t penalized immediately,” wrote Sam Greenwood, a Canadian pro and top 20 all-time earnings list member.

Griff also spoke on the controversy in an hour-long podcast interview with Doug Polk, a long-time poker pro and former WSOP Big One winner.

“I saw him calling things out. I saw him going to the rail. But you know, at no point did I see what was on the laptop or try to eavesdrop on what he was saying,” Griff said. 

“One of the things I was thinking back to was those announcements at the start of each tournament, like, you know, you can’t use RTAs or anything.”

“So I knew it was kind of against the rules. But also, like, that announcement follows with ‘you could be penalized’ and I don’t think people have been strongly penalized. So I’m sure in their mind, if they knew they were doing something wrong, they’re like, ‘oh well, they’ll just tell us to put the laptop away’.” 

Tamayo himself has yet to comment on the issue. However, his laptop-using supporter Nitsche has responded to online criticism. 

“The best part… is definitely the money. But the second-best best part is how mad the biggest dipshits on Twitter get when they see someone using a laptop on the rail,” the German poker pro said in a social media post.