Discussion on the use of laptops at the WSOP

[blkmoney12]

In the wsop 2024 Main Event, the eventual winner was noted for the use of the laptop on the rail. This action alone, has created a huge debate on both sides of the discussion in social media. Some people believe Jonathan Tamayo's rail team was indeed using a solver during the tournament and care a lot about the issue. Some don't care all that much that there was use of a laptop on the rail. The determination of a solver has not yet been announced.


What we know:
There was a laptop being used on the rail by Jonathan Tamayo's team.
An announcement was made at the beginning of every tournament reminding players that using poker solvers could call for a disqualification.
Jonathan Tamayo won the WSOP ME.

I have a few questions and wonder what the CardsChat community thinks.

Did Jonathan and his team cheat?
Should devices and equipment be used at all during the tournaments at the WSOP?
Or should devices of any kind be totally allowed?
What would the appropriate punishment be? possibly a tiered punishment?

Here are some other responses

Nick Walsh and David Docherty Response

GJReggie's Response

Alex Duvall Reaction

Poker Bounty

Doug Polk Response

Quote Reply

 

[RENEY444]

Its outright cheating .Announcements were made . One player per hand is the absolute rule . Dont allow Tamayo and his 3 friends in any Horseshoe casino ever again !

 

[pentazepam]

Live poker should not be a team sport (unless agreed on beforehand).

And as I have stated before: if we allow any digital/electronic assistance at the tables it would kill live poker just as it has with online (almost since under 100NL has some traffic).

WSOP said no RTA and that can be a question of semantics. But set up the rules and enforce the rules. Legally you should be able to not allow certain behaviors in a private Casino/Club/Event.

Make them sign some agreement beforehand if people are worried about personal integrity and or arbitrary enforcement.

 

[fundiver199]

Whatever else one thinks about the situation, this is not the look for poker, that any poker lover or ambassador wants to see, especially not in the WSOP main event final table, since this reach a wider audience than anything else. So clearly WSOP need to make a decision about, what they are going to do to prevent something similar from happening again next year.

 

[Margo17]

I've seen several players playing live and online tournaments at the same time, without concrete proof I don't see why to accuse him, however, it's always suspicious!

 

[dreamer13]

They will make a decision, I think this will not happen again.Jonathan Tamayo's win in the record-breaking $10K 2024 WSOP Main Event was overshadowed the very next day by the news that he had used a solver at least in the heads-up at the final table.

 

[gardin555]

This was a great mockery to the entire pokeril atmosphere, but specially to all people who paid 10k to play that tournament...
In addition to being a very bad promotion to attract or add new players for the next years, losing credibility and quality to this tournament and series.

One way to solve it is to prevent players from having some kind of contact with the observers, to avoid any type of external help.
Or directly, do not allow observers or fan, or external people to be there, in the FT place, only allow to be there to the WSOP staff .
Of course avoid cell phones on the table too.

I think the runner up player had to be declared winner, solving this in a fair way.
Apply a total physical distance between players with observers, in the next year, could return credibility to this event.

 

[Edu1]

bizarre, this is cheating in my opinion. Using or having access to an electronic device with solver isn't fair. This guy is a fraud.

 

[thedarkman]

Speaking as someone whose laptop has long since run out and who is the proud non-owner of a mobile phone, I think the answer should be no.

 

[steve01991]

omg, whats next, having a robot sit in and play the hands? Lets go back to the basics, no devices, not even cell phones. If you leave the table your hand is automatically folded!

 

[Luvepoker]

I remember sitting at the table before the event i played and the announcement of not being allowed to use solvers should say a lot. I also remember watching the final 2 play and feeling bad for the amateur who was playing against what felt like a team of professional players.

Was it cheating? I don't know. Was it wrong, in my opinion yes it was. Should this be allowed in the future. No way.

This really is a bad look for the WSOP. I know a few people who did not watch it or really play poker say to me did you hear about the cheating at the WSOP? its really not a good thing.

 

[Propane Goat]

I think there should be a strict ban against running any kind of software, electronics, or wireless coaching during hands using earpieces or anything similar. I don't have a problem with verbal discussions of hands between players and coaches on the rail during breaks or when the player is not in a hand, but this stuff needs to stop now if WSOP wants to continue attracting recreational players into their games. Poker should be about pitting the personal skills of players against each other, not trying to see who can assemble the best team and use the best solver packages.

I would never pay to enter WSOP tournaments if there was a good chance that I would be up against teams running software if I made it to the final table.

 

[RhinoRyan89]

It's basically cheating the exploited a flaw in the rules that wasn't being implemented and acted on properly even tho it was announced over a tanoy by the WSOP while the was nobody actually policing it.

 

[Emily Trott]

Sounds like cheating to me, and the people doing it no doubt originally came out of online poker which is wide open for cheating. Just another unintended consequence of how the "everyone gets a trophy" generations were raised. They never learned what true sportsmanship is. If WSOP doesn't do what baseball did in the early 1920s, then big time poker will be a thing of the past.

 

[valeski 28]

This shouldn´t happen in an event like this again.These devices shouldn´t be allowed in a FT either.I don´t really believe Tamayo had won the Main Event without that extra advantage.

 

[Urameshi]

I have an unpopular opinion about this topic. I don´t think he was cheating. Cheating would be getting access to his opponents' cards during play. Running sims between hands it is not that a big of a deal

 

[Luvepoker]

I have an unpopular opinion about this topic. I don´t think he was cheating. Cheating would be getting access to his opponents' cards during play. Running sims between hands it is not that a big of a deal

The problem is the advantage he gets by running them after the hand is played while still playing is still a problem. Knowing info and knowing if you played a hand correctly is a advantage. You had some really great Pros helping him there and the WSOP announced any use of that could cause you to be disqualified. I wont say he was cheating and your wrong but how would you have felt if you were there and playing against him for the title?

I for one would feel cheated.

 

[Urameshi]

The problem is the advantage he gets by running them after the hand is played while still playing is still a problem. Knowing info and knowing if you played a hand correctly is a advantage. You had some really great Pros helping him there and the WSOP announced any use of that could cause you to be disqualified. I wont say he was cheating and your wrong but how would you have felt if you were there and playing against him for the title?

I for one would feel cheated.

I´m not denying the fact it is a huge advantage. But I would argue that any form of coaching is an advantage. and I don´t see much of a difference between replaying a hand on a computer program and getting realtime advice from an elite player like Doug Polk or Phil Galfond.

 

[hilary antonik filho]

Straight and straight, my opinion is NO

 

[Artbart805]

Can i use a computer in a chess tournament?
Can i use a lift truck in a powerlifting tournament?
Can i use a corked bat in baseball?
Can i use a motorcycle in a bicycle race?

No...
Why...
Your not using your skills, your using a computer
Punishment: banishment

 

[skaterick]

Lock them up !

 

[Munchies11]

Live poker should not be a team sport (unless agreed on beforehand).

And as I have stated before: if we allow any digital/electronic assistance at the tables it would kill live poker just as it has with online (almost since under 100NL has some traffic).

WSOP said no RTA and that can be a question of semantics. But set up the rules and enforce the rules. Legally you should be able to not allow certain behaviors in a private Casino/Club/Event.

Make them sign some agreement beforehand if people are worried about personal integrity and or arbitrary enforcement.

Key point live poker is not a team sport. I agree with this 100%. I think players should be able to cheer with their fan base at the final tables but disallowed to talk any strategy or any input on the game they are playing. Any players caught should be punished! First bots now this. HOMES GAMES ALL DAY BABY

 

[Axmanace]

I don’t think it was “cheating” in the sense that the player 100% intentionally broke the rules and should be disqualified.

I do think it broke the spirit of the rules - but it’s on WSOP for failing to enforce consistent guidelines.

I believe next year any rail support is banned - so that should solve that issue from ever happening again.

 

[sibkaz]

This should be banned! With the behavioral model of each player, with the help of artificial intelligence, and also with a solver, it is possible to reach a new level of winner)))