Ali Imsirovic, the high-stakes crusher who admitted to some cheating allegations in opposition to him, entered Saturday’s Day 1 flight within the $1,500 Champions Membership Winter Poker Open Important Occasion. However he was shortly tossed from the occasion by the match director and banned from the Texas poker membership.
The Bosnian poker star was on prime of the poker world simply three years in the past. He won three Global Poker Awards in 2021, together with GPI Participant of the Yr after dominating the excessive curler circuit. However his fame took successful in 2022 on account of accusations of multi-accounting and real-time help (RTA) use on-line, and collusion in dwell occasions.
Why Poker Participant is Banned
Champions Club, one of many prime poker rooms in Houston, is at present internet hosting a Winter Poker Open that’s being covered by PokerNews. Reside reporter Kirk Brown noticed Imsirovic exit the property and mentioned he did not make a scene or argue the ban.
The match boasts a $1 million assured prize pool. However Imsirovic, who has over $18 million in dwell match cashes, will not get a bit of that pot.
Imsirovic nonetheless sometimes pops up at varied tournaments in the USA. He is performed a handful of World Series of Poker (WSOP) occasions and elsewhere the previous two years however solely has 9 recorded cashes on The Hendon Mob over that span. In 2021 alone, he gained 14 excessive rollers.
Few match operators and card rooms have banned Imsirovic and Jake Schindler, who confronted comparable accusations in 2022. PokerGO Tour is about the one operator previous to Saturday to have even suspended the poker pros, which they did in September 2022.
Champions Membership, co-owned by Phil Hellmuth, takes pleasure in being a protected place to play in Houston, a metropolis the place there are various unlawful and underground card rooms working. Banning Imsirovic, who admitted to some dishonest allegations and denied others in a June 2023 YouTube video, will possible go over properly with the poker group.
Isaac Trumbo, President of Champions Membership, issued a press release to PokerNews in response to the Imsirovic ban.
“Champions is dedicated, firstly, to the safety of our members,” Trumbo mentioned. “If poker goes to proceed to thrive, the group should be capable of belief operators to prioritize recreation integrity above all else, together with our backside line.”
Trumbo mentioned Imsirovic was refunded his $1,500 entry charge.
Follow PokerNews Live Coverage of the Champions Club WPO Main Event
