Jonathan Tamayo takes down the 2024 WSOP Main Event!

[Poker Orifice]

Well, my eyes have been opened. I still find it hard to understand why there haven't been rules in place to avoid 'help from the rail during a tournament'. But, I guess if it is allowed who are we to discredit the win? Just as fundiver mentioned, 'They are basically looking for any kind of edge, they can find of the recreational players, and its up to the tournament organizers to draw a line.' Tournament organizers should be looking to change the rules to reflect at minimum, fairness to all whether amateur or pro.

But there was actually an announcement made at the beginning of each tournament at the wsop series this year (after some players had been spotted on tables looking at laptops, & some were actually disqualified!).

This was the announcement made at the start of each WSOP event:

"We do ask you to please do not use any type of poker solvers at any point in time at the table or in the tournament area. If you're found using one of these poker solvers, there's a possibility of being disqualified from the tournament."

Daniel Negreanu's comment:
"No one at the table said anything as far as I know (to staff re: solver use in Main Event), but had they asked the floor for a ruling, I don't see how they would have been allowed to continue."

 

[Poker Orifice]

Daniel's comment about it >>>>

 

[Poker Orifice]

They are basically looking for any kind of edge, they can find of the recreational players, and its up to the tournament organizers to draw a line. Hopefully some changes will be made next years, so we dont see this rail coaching happen again. Its seems pretty easy to me to just implement a rule, that players are not allowed to receive any kind of external help, while they are at the table, which should of course include the rail. I mean... would they also allow someone to call his coach on the phone in between hands? And if not then what is the difference? Poker is not supposed to be like "who wants to become a millionaire", where people can use a lifeline and call a friend

They made a statement at the beginning of each tournament. Unfortunately they hadn't written it into the rules 'yet'.
I think it's in very poor taste for anyone to even consider using this at a tournament. Many are concerned about putting off the recreational... well this certainly does. It changes my dream of going next year (God willing that is).

 

[Poker Orifice]

There's a video clip circulating on Twitch during a part of the final table where he goes over to check in with his coaches, hangs out & watches the sim alongside Dom, turns to go and takes 4 or 5 steps back towards his seat at the table, stops, turns & walks back to the laptop to check it again. LoL
PokerNews posted the clip where he does the 'double look'.
It looks TERRIBLE. (this is not a picture from that clip)

 

[moots]

But there was actually an announcement made at the beginning of each tournament at the WSOP series this year (after some players had been spotted on tables looking at laptops, & some were actually disqualified!).

This was the announcement made at the start of each WSOP event:

"We do ask you to please do not use any type of poker solvers at any point in time at the table or in the tournament area. If you're found using one of these poker solvers, there's a possibility of being disqualified from the tournament."

Daniel Negreanu's comment:
"No one at the table said anything as far as I know (to staff re: solver use in Main Event), but had they asked the floor for a ruling, I don't see how they would have been allowed to continue."

View attachment 365461

I vote for disqualification.

 

[Poker Orifice]

I vote for disqualification.

I'm with you Moots!

(wtg on today's game)

 

[Luvepoker]

They are basically looking for any kind of edge, they can find of the recreational players, and its up to the tournament organizers to draw a line. Hopefully some changes will be made next years, so we dont see this rail coaching happen again. Its seems pretty easy to me to just implement a rule, that players are not allowed to receive any kind of external help, while they are at the table, which should of course include the rail. I mean... would they also allow someone to call his coach on the phone in between hands? And if not then what is the difference? Poker is not supposed to be like "who wants to become a millionaire", where people can use a lifeline and call a friend

Exactly. When I was watching it happen on TV I really felt sorry for the amateur. Its a heads up final table not 1 man vs the Professional poker team.

 

[pentazepam]

Very undeserving win.

Just stop the madness now or see LIVE poker die.

 

[antonis32123]

Congratulations to him . 10 million dollars win , life changing money , and now he is one of the wsop main event winners , one more is added to this elite club of these very lucky winner players

 

[moots]

Very undeserving win.

Just stop the madness now or see LIVE poker die.

Damn, was he wearing the hoodie to cover up an ear piece and being fed information?




Take back he money/bracelet and lifetime ban him!

 

[ramdon p358]

It was a surprise. For me the favorite was Niklas Astedt, he had the experience to win the tournament

 

[pentazepam]

It was a surprise. For me the favorite was Niklas Astedt, he had the experience to win the tournament

Well, you got to have luck on your side especially when the blinds are high.

And if you also have a team working with you that helps and can give you a little extra edge

 

[Mortis]

Well, now.. I wasn't for a DQ even with them using solvers on the rail. I didn't consider it cheating... until I watched that Doug Polk video and it clearly shows one of Tamayo's coaches trying to hide the fact that he's pulling an earpiece from Tamayo's ear and handing it off to someone else.

If it's discovered that his coaches were in his ear the whole time, then that is clearly cheating. Of course, that could just be an earpiece for music... but it does look suspicious here.

 

[pentazepam]

The runner-up gives his view of what he thinks went on:

 

[Margo17]

My dream is to take this champion photo one day

 

[Marshmalo1994]

It has taken a little while, a big dream and a lot of patience for American Jonathan Tamayo to win the 2024 World Series of Poker Main Event! Jonathan is a 4-time WSOP Circuit ring winner so he is no stranger to winning. However, this will likely be his most memorable finish ever as he outlasted over 10,000 players and took home the biggest trophy and $10 Million!

This is not Jonathan's first run at the Main Event or his first Main Event cash. Fifteen years ago, Tamayo finished the Main Event in 21st, good for $352,832 and made a deep run in 2015 when he finished 78th. He is a 4-time WSOP Circuit ring winner, so he is no stranger to winning. His friend and roommate, the 2015 Main Event winner, was on the rail, too.

“Not real life. My roommate’s picture is right there from 2015. We both have banners now. What in the world just happened,” Tamayo said afterwards. “Leading up to it, Joe was just like, play your game. I realized you’re never going to play perfect poker, and weird things happen, and it’s just unreal.”

Jordan Griff, of the USA, wins $6 million for his deep run, while Niklas Astedt takes $4 million home to Sweden.

The final table finished as listed below:

Place	Player	Country	Payout (USD)
1	Jonathan Tamayo	United States	$10,000,000
2	Jordan Griff	United States	$6,000,000
3	Niklas Astedt	Sweden	$4,000,000
4	Jason Sagle	Canada	$3,000,000
5	Boris Angelov	Bulgaria	$2,500,000
6	Andres Gonzalez	Spain	$2,000,000
7	Brian Kim	United States	$1,500,000
8	Joe Serock	United States	$1,250,000
9	Malo Latinois	France	$1,000,000

Jonathan Tamayo Is the 2024 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion​

I wonder how many hands did he go through to win this event.

 

[pentazepam]

I wonder how many hands did he go through to win this event.

On the computer or on the table?

 

[AKQ]

Well, now.. I wasn't for a DQ even with them using solvers on the rail. I didn't consider it cheating... until I watched that Doug Polk video and it clearly shows one of Tamayo's coaches trying to hide the fact that he's pulling an earpiece from Tamayo's ear and handing it off to someone else.

If it's discovered that his coaches were in his ear the whole time, then that is clearly cheating. Of course, that could just be an earpiece for music... but it does look suspicious here.

They took my self created title "The Chip Leader" without challenging me

They're about to be utterly destroyed for muddying up my title

What if you discovered some incentive?
Like the fact Joe is tamayo's CLC coach and they all have a % of his winnings on the rail

 

[greenlarrow]

It was interesting to watch this event

 

[Poker Orifice]

What if you discovered some incentive?
Like the fact Joe is tamayo's CLC coach and they all have a % of his winnings on the rail

It's public knowledge that they both had a piece of him (both DOm & Joe). THey brag about it on 'X'
I think Tomayo & Joe are also roomates (why would you need a roomate after winning $18 million? (They come across as having the emotional maturity of a teenager)

 

[LUKADONCICMVP]

Mr A9 skill game lol
congrats to him tho.

 

[Marshmalo1994]

On the computer or on the table?

I meant on the main event.

 

[pentazepam]

I meant on the main event.

Me too.

 

[Mortis]

Well, now.. I wasn't for a DQ even with them using solvers on the rail. I didn't consider it cheating... until I watched that Doug Polk video and it clearly shows one of Tamayo's coaches trying to hide the fact that he's pulling an earpiece from Tamayo's ear and handing it off to someone else.

If it's discovered that his coaches were in his ear the whole time, then that is clearly cheating. Of course, that could just be an earpiece for music... but it does look suspicious here.

After taking more time to think about this, I don't think he should be DQ'ed at all. EVEN if it was proven that his coaches were in his ear. Personally, I'm putting fault here on the WSOP floor. They should have been more vigilant on this. If it's not allowed, they should have something to them at that time. To me, it seems like they took a passive approach to it as to not try and disrupt the Main Event. But the WSOP, and all card rooms and tournament directors, should make it clear in the rules whether or not stuff like this allowed going forward. If having the laptop to analyze hands on the rails put a black eye on the WSOP and poker as a whole, then DQ'ing the Main Event winner, at this point, would probably make things worse.

There was also discussion on some podcasts whether or not Jordan Griff should sue, because using electronic devices to gain an advantage in tournaments is against the Nevada State Gaming Laws. Jordan seemed to kind of blow off the question when asked if he considered suing. Didn't say whether he would or wouldn't (which is smart). But I don't think he will.. and I don't think he should, either. Suing and winning would be an uphill battle. Plus, who would he sue? Tamayo? The WSOP? If he sued the WSOP, you know he's never playing poker again. And he'd probably end up getting blacklisted.

IMO, the best outcome right now for everyone, is if the WSOP acknowledged what happened. Not admit any kind of fault, but just state clearly in the rules going forward, whether or not any kind of analytics or problem solvers are allowed on the rails. And clearly state what constitutes as the "tournament floor." And everyone moves on. But that's also easy for me to say since I wasn't in the middle of it.

 

[Propane Goat]

It wouldn't surprise me to see some kind of AI-enabled smart glasses in the near future that would be able to use a camera to pick up a player's own hole cards plus the community cards, interpret betting patterns, and function as a real-time solver during hands with some type of communication happening via audio to wireless earbuds or something else.

I agree that it would be very problematic to force Tamayo to forfeit given that WSOP rules don't seem to have kept up with advances in technology aids, and there would likely be a lawsuit involved where Tamayo claims "you never told me I couldn't."

This is only a big deal in the poker world, the general public couldn't care less one way or the other.