The largest World Series of Poker Main Event prize was awarded to Jonathan Tamayo on July 17th. For the poker community, it should have been one of the year's climactic moments. The Main Event winner is usually congratulated unanimously, as they should be. After all, this is poker's most prestigious event.
But, 2024's WSOP Main Event victory has been smeared by controversy. Jonathan Tamayo was seen at the rail, receiving coaching from friends and information from solvers. On top of this, there was speculation about Jonathan wearing an earpiece, which Joe McKeehen handed off to someone following the last hand. We'll explain each of these elements soon.
Depending on how the World Series of Poker handles this situation, the precedent it sets is dangerous. The incident will leave a long-lasting negative impression on Tamayo and the World Series of Poker, depending on how it plays out.
Here's a recap of what actually happened with Jonathan Tamayo in the WSOP Main Event.
Coaching, Poker Tools, Earpieces, and $10,000,000
Jonathan Tamayo won the 2024 World Series of Poker Main Event, but the poker community isn't rejoicing.
Here's what everyone is talking about:
- Tamayo got coaching.
This is nothing new, although so much attention has been focused on it. Poker players running deep in the WSOP are often coached by hired professionals. "It is not anything new for players to get help when they realize they're going to be on the biggest stage," Doug Polk said in a recent video. Coaching isn't the issue in Tamayo's case, but the coaching methods and techniques definitely are. - Tamayo got assistance from a poker solver program.
A player getting info from solvers, directly from a laptop on the rail at the WSOP Main Event, is unheard of. It's something you might not believe if you heard it, but the pictures appear to show a solver or range chart program being used by Joe McKeehen and Dominik Nitsche.
During small breaks, Jonathan Tamayo was getting strategic information from Dominik Nitsche, who was simulating hands on a laptop. This came after the WSOP asked over loudspeakers at the beginning of the tournaments, "Please do not use any type of poker solvers at any point in time, at the table, or in the tournament area. If you are found using one of these poker solvers, there's a possibility of being disqualified from this tournament."
- Some say Tamayo was wearing an earpiece during the event.
Immediately after his victory, Tamayo was embraced at the rail by many supporters. One of them was Joe McKeehen, who'd helped coach Tamayo on the way to his win. Videos circulating online appear to show an earpiece going from Tamayo's ear into Joe's hand, before being passed to another friend. However, this earpiece was actually in Joe McKeehen's ear, not Tamayo's. This is clear when you rewind the footage back. The earpiece is in Joe's right ear, while Jonathan Tamayo's ears are empty. So, no issue here, except for some out-of-context footage.
The coaching and earpiece are non-issues, but using a solver on the rail casts a shadow on 2024's Main Event.
Did Tamayo Break WSOP Rules?
We must take a look at the 2024 World Series of Poker Tournament Rules to answer this question. Unfortunately, the 33-page document is surprisingly quiet on the subject of solvers and real-time assistance.
One rule appears to reference solvers, forbidding them during hands:
Rule 64. Approved Electronic Devices; Prohibited Filming and Streaming:
C. Participants are prohibited from using betting apps, gaming charts, or any poker information tool while involved in a hand.
But now, we must know what "a hand" is to see if this rule applies to Jonathan Tamayo.
In their own words, the WSOP defines a "hand" as, "The time between the first card being dealt to the determination of a winner and the pushing of the pot." – (Page 31 of the 2024 WSOP Rules)
This states that until someone wins, the "hand" is in play, even if players are at the rail waiting for the final community cards.
Additionally, two more rules appear to forbid receiving advice during hands:
Rule 113. Penalties:
A penalty will also be imposed if a Participant violates the one-participant-to-a-hand rule or engages in similar behavior. One-participant-to-a-hand means a Participant may not receive advice from anyone while in a hand and may not provide advice to any Participant while that Participant is in a hand.
Rule 116. Table Talk / Disclosure:
Participants are obligated to always protect the other Participants in the Tournament. Therefore, whether in a hand or not, Participants may not:
D. Discuss strategy with an outside source while involved in a hand.
Tamayo wasn't getting advice on the flop, then heading back to the table to play the turn and river. Instead, he went to the rail during all-in moments as everyone waited for the final community cards. According to the WSOP's definition, Tamayo is still involved in the hand at this point, as a winner has not been determined yet. In Section 63, the WSOP Rules mention that a player is not involved in a hand when their cards are in the muck.
So, did Tamayo cross any lines and break the WSOP rules?
It appears that Jonathan Tamayo may have broken Rule 64 C, Rule 113, and Rule 116 D. But whether he did or didn't relies on the definition of "using" gaming chart and the definition of "involved in a hand."
The rules are the rules, but definitions are sometimes up to interpretation. Let's use Rule 64 C as an example. Is Tamayo "using" the solver, or is Dominik Nitsche the one using it?
The WSOP Live Actions Rules and House Rules will be checked if Official Rules don't apply. However, both of those are less in-depth than the official rules and offer little help in Tamayo's situation. When no rules apply, the WSOP makes a ruling at its discretion.
As we write this sentence, Jonathan Tamayo hasn't really spoken about the controversy. Besides a couple of lighthearted tweets, the 2024 Main Event winner hasn't said much on social media. On the other hand, his laptop-looking partner Dominik Nitsche has said he is "enjoying being the villain." He confidently claims absolutely no wrongdoing, saying he's "been through the official rulebook multiple times since last week and can't find any reference to RTA nor coaching in there."
The Worrying WSOP Precedent 2024 Could Set
If players are allowed to receive information from solvers or other poker tools during WSOP events, we could be sliding down a slippery slope.
For a moment, let's think forward to the 2025 World Series Main Event. After seeing Jonathan Tamayo win $10,000,000 with his laptop and coaches on the rail, why wouldn't everyone? What's to stop every player in WSOP events from running off in between hands and checking in with their solver-wielding friends? If that happens, will viewers be as excited to watch? Will players be as excited to play?
Originally, one of the pillars of live poker was competing with other players, in an organic and unfiltered setting. It's your intellect, preparation, and strategies against everyone else's, without regular input from electronic poker tools. Sure, stepping away during the break and running a few hands through GTO Wizard was never an issue, but running simulations on the rail is new.
Moving forward, clear rulings on solvers, coaching, and electronic devices (in writing) from the WSOP will be helpful. Whatever the outcome in 2024, the reaction from fans, regulars, and professionals in the poker community will probably influence next year's WSOP Rules.
GipsyTeam will post updates as this situation unfolds.
