WSOP Winner Disqualified; Payouts Reallocated to Players

In a surprising move, GGPoker disqualified the recent WSOP Online $25,000 event winner, leading to the confiscation of the $1.1 million prize pool originally awarded. The winnings have now been redistributed among all players who made it to the final table, with each receiving a significant payout boost.

In a shocking turn of events, Italian player Francesco Garofalo, who recently won the $25,000 buy-in World Series of Poker (WSOP) Online event on GGPoker, has been disqualified. Garofalo, competing under the username ‘forzaitalia,’ originally secured the top prize of $1.1 million, triumphing over a star-studded final table. However, following his victory, GGPoker announced that Garofalo had violated its rules, leading to a permanent ban and the redistribution of his winnings.

Disqualification and Redistribution of Winnings

Although GGPoker has not publicly detailed the reasons for the disqualification, it is widely speculated that Garofalo may have used unauthorized software or received external assistance, both of which are prohibited. His first-place prize has been confiscated, and the winnings have been reallocated among the other players who made the final table, including high-profile names like Ole Schemion, Adrian Mateos, Bryn Kenney, Patrick Leonard, and runner-up Chris Brewer.

Brewer, who initially finished second and collected $865,335, received an additional $256,866 due to the recalculated payouts. While Brewer gained a substantial boost, he did not receive the WSOP bracelet, which remains unawarded. Bryn Kenney, who finished in third place, also saw his payout increase by nearly $200,000.

Community Reaction

Prominent player Patrick Leonard shared on social media that he had received $152,733 due to rule violations by another player, confirming suspicions about Garofalo's disqualification. Chris Brewer’s similar post clarified that GGPoker had indeed confiscated Garofalo's winnings. Brewer expressed a mix of relief and frustration, acknowledging the monetary gain but lamenting the absence of the prestigious bracelet.

A Rare Case in Online Poker

This incident marks one of the largest fund confiscations in online poker history, with the only comparable case occurring in 2007. At that time, PokerStars seized $1,378,331 from Natalie “TheV0id” Teltscher after she admitted to ghosting in the WCOOP Main Event. The Garofalo incident emphasizes the importance of integrity in online tournaments, where surveillance is critical to preserving fairness.

This disqualification serves as a reminder that even at the highest levels, rule-breaking carries severe consequences.

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