Poker forums have been buzzingthese last two weeks with the news that German poker player Ali Tekintamgak was disqualified from the Partouche Poker Tour’s final tablebecause of an alleged cheating scandal. At the time of this article, what is known is that his chips were picked from the “November 9” style final table that resumed two months after the play down in September. For such action to be taken, we are all under the assumption that there had to be probable cause, and due to the unique situation of a delayed final table, an investigation was done to confirm that he had allegedly cheated to make it to the final table.

The PokerBoom.eu (now offline) blogger team that was following Ali and others’ progress was also removed from the EPT Tallinn for possible unsavory reporting tactics. Ali Tekintamgak (pictured) finished the event in 36th after being an early chip leader. As a result of the news about Ali, a video surfaced from his win at the WPT Barcelona event. In the video (which can be viewed here), the same journalist that had been removed from EPT Tallinn can be seen standing behind Tekintamgak’s opponent, Roberto Garcia Santiago, when heads-up at the final table. In addition to the video, several photos have surfaced from events around the world showing poker media in situations too close to the tables.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7mS76wmeGY

In response, the WPT released the following statement:

“The WPT has noted media reports surrounding Ali Tekintamgac’s disqualification from the final table of the Partouche Poker Tour. The integrity of WPT events is of paramount importance to our company, which works only with premier venues that apply the highest professional standards. As a matter of course, we take seriously any reports of inappropriate activity.”

Poker tournament directors need to take notice, and consider making some changes like; limiting media access, removal of communication devices from the tables, and possibly banning sunglasses.

More importantly, the media and players need to take precautions to ensure these situations don’t come up again.

Poker Media

Without a doubt, the poker media is an extremely important and often unappreciated part of the poker industry. I think this makes it even more vital for the poker press to understand the Do’s and Don’ts of their job.

1. Don’t linger, sweat, or show favoritism to players.

Simply put, the players are not your friends when the tournament is taking place. Outside of the tournaments, many of the media have become friends with the players, but that cannot influence the way you as a media member react to the players during the tournament. Do not chat or laugh with the players, do not clap or high five when they win a pot. The media should not be sweating players and should continue moving to cover the action of the tournament, and not just one player the entire day.

2. No “fake media” should be allowed in the tournament area.

I have seen press passes given out to friends, backers, and sponsors of players in too many tournaments. Media passes should be reserved for those getting information out to websites, print, and broadcast media. There needs to be a better system to accredit the media.


3. Media needs to make an effort to not look at players’ cards, period
.

As a general rule: Tournament Directors, Floorpeople, Media Representatives… or anyone that is legitimately on the tournament “floor” during player should NOT be peering-in to see a player’s cards. If they inadvertently do so, they should leave the table immediately and avoid any kind of reaction to the flop.

Tournament Directors and Floor Staff

While it is near impossible to watch everybody and everything, as a Tournaments Director early in the tournament, we need to train our staff what to look for. Some of the things are what I described above, but here are a few more:


1. Get to know the media to make sure they are legitimate
.

While the community of poker press is ever-growing, it is important to get to know who they are, who they work for, and their main purpose for being on the floor.

2. Many venues in the world are not built for unlimited access.

Depending on the size of the venue, there may not be much room for media to roam the floor, and this usually always happens as we get down to the final few tables. As Tournament Directors, we need to keep an eye on the people reporting on the tournament and, if necessary, restrict access.


3. Keep the floor clear of spectators and the rail at a safe distance
.

It is not only media that we need to be aware of. I have personally witnessed family and friends wandering and sweating players. Please keep the floor clear, protect the players, and make them feel comfortable without the hassle of spectators causing a distraction. Many times the rail is so close that people can actually see the hole cards of players. Please move them back.


4. Don’t become involved with action going on at the tables
.

I have been asked by players hundreds of times, “What do you think about this hand?” I have also been shown cards and I always tell them not to show me their cards and that they can be penalized for doing so.

Poker Players and Self-Policing

In poker, maybe more than any other game or sport, players need to make sure that they are careful and protect themselves.

1. How to handle potential situations: Whether it be marked cards, suspected soft play or collusion, or anything that looks out of the ordinary, you must do some of the policing yourself to ensure fair play. I encourage all players to let your concerns be known as soon as you have them and if the situations persists, do not give up.

2. Perfect your peek: It is one of the first things you learn in the game, but as I have seen many times, players sometimes get tired after playing long hours, and expose their cards to people behind them, on the rail, or even to players to the right or left. I have heard many ethical players let their neighbors know that they are showing their cards inadvertently.

Alleged cheats these days are handled much differently than they were dealt with in the early days of the game. Without concrete proof, or convictions, it is unclear if offending players can be banned from tournaments or stripped of titles. It has been suggestion that tours and organizations, such as the Tournament Directors Association (TDA), should share information about situations in the industry. Without that proof or conviction, it seems impossible to enforce any action legally. With prize pools as large as they are today, something like this was bound to happen, but this will be a learning experience for all of us in the industry, and I know the great game of poker will survive and continue to thrive.

Opinions expressed in this article and all member-submitted content belong solely to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of PocketFives.com.

*Matt Savageis the world’s most recognized Tournament Director and has been involved with almost 400 televised events including the World Series of Poker, World Poker Tour, and many others. Matt is a founder of the Tournament Directors Association, the first inductee into the WSOP Poker Managers Hall of Fame, and actor in the Warner Brothers movie Lucky You. If you have questions about any rulings, please send them to AskTheBoard@PokerTDA.com. Contact Matt at his website, SavageTournaments.com, @SavagePoker on Twitter, or Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/SavageTournaments, or by posting here on PocketFives.