It is rare that such a measure is taken, but in this case, it is probably the best solution: the #1 of the Borgata Winter Poker Open event has been canceled in 3rd day.
The reason? A survey revealed that one or more players have introduced fake chips in the tournament.
This tournament was a tournament of re-entry to $ 560 and guaranteed 2 M$ in scholarships. In all, there were 4814 listings, making it a success.
But the winner of this tournament will never be known since it was cancelled, what must be hyper frustrating for players at the top of list.
But as you will see with the following explanation, the cancellation of this tournament is a headache for the organizers.
The tournament was divided into 3 days 1: 1 A, 1 B and 1 c. Each day survivors met on day 2.
At the end of day 2, there were only 27 players.
The tournament has 450 scholarships, which means that at the end of the 2nd day, 423 players went to get paid their due. Which, of course, complicates things when we know that the tournament has been cancelled.
Day 3 was to take place on 17 January, but eventually was suspended for 24 hours, the time that the hotel is conducting its investigation.
Some worry, but others want to be reassuring. According to Joe Lupo, Senior Vice President of Operations at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa: "We have reason to believe that the integrity of the tournament has been compromised."
Finally, on 18 January, a release is issued and we learn that the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement ordered the outright cancellation of the tournament because of the ongoing investigation.
"So far, investigators have found that one or more of the tournament participants, ill-intentioned way, introduces a significant number of counterfeit chips in the tournament, allowing them to obtain an unfair advantage and thus compromising the integrity of the game. ''
Now, several questions remain unanswered. For example, it is not known when the fake tokens were introduced and we are still uncertain of the exact number of fake tokens.
The 27 players still in the tournament have to date not received and it is not yet known if they will be paid. The 27 remaining scholarship money is frozen until this story is clearer.
Good news anyway, the Borgata Winter Poker Open will continue anyway and the World Poker Tour meanwhile will begin January 26, 2014.
Discuss this news on PokerCollectif forums: cheat at the Borgata Winter Poker Open; first tournament cancelled
