*** Official Only Skippy Cares About This *** Epic Poker League Event 1 Thread

[NoflopsHomer]

cliffs on Chino Rheem?

would be a popular winner, I gather

I think WCP got this right - Great for the poker community, horrible for the tour itself.

[TightEnd]

Press reports today

After finishing the Epic Poker League Pro/Am in 8th place, Michael DiVita was one of the nine players who were able to secure a seat in the $20,000 buy-in Epic Poker League Main Event. However, when DiVita attempted to register for the Main Event he was promptly told that he was not welcome to participate in Epic Poker League tournaments and was escorted off of the Palms Casino property. DiVita’s $1,500 buy-in from the Pro/Am tournament was refunded by the EPL.

After an Internet search it seems DiVita has a number of criminal convictions and is a registered sex offender. The decision to disqualify DiVita (who has some serious convictions) came in a much swifter manner than the Epic Poker League’s decision to place their first winner, Chino Rheem, on probation for a failure to repay debts in the poker community. However, after the amount of attention Chino Rheem’s EPL win received, the last thing the EPL would want is a registered sex offender to win their second title.

DiVita’s spot in the Epic Poker league Main Event was awarded to the bubble boy from the Pro/Am Jamie Kaplan. Kaplan made the most of his opportunity in the Main Event, ending the day as the chip-leader, with Chino Rheem right in the hunt sitting in 6th place on the leader-board heading into Day 2.

A total of 97 players registered for the Main event, far fewer than the first go-round which exceeded everyone’s expectations when over 130playersenteredthe tournament. However, with the poker world currently in Europe to play in a number of EPT and WPT tournaments coming up on the tournament schedule the drop off was anticipated, and the 97 entrants is actually right around EPL expectations.

Here is a look at the Top 10 chip counts heading into Day 2 of the tournament:

   1. Jaime Kaplan — 324,600
   2. Daniel O´Brien — 321,400
   3. Alec Torelli — 231,500
   4. Mike McDonald — 199,600
   5. Nam Thien Le — 176,300
   6. Chino Rheem — 173,300
   7. Sean Getzwiller — 165,400
   8. Andrew Robl — 149,700
   9. Adam Levy — 145,400
  10. Marco Johnson — 145,200

With 97 entrants the total prize-pool reached $2.3 million. In all, 12 players will make the money, with the winner of the second EPL Main Event set to receive a hefty $782,410 payday. Not quite the $1 million awarded to Rheem, but still a very respectable score.

[TightEnd]

surely that disqualification is outrageous?

[GreekStein]

There's a thread on 2+2 about it.

I've changed my mind on this one so many times I actually don't know what I think.

[MC]

surely that disqualification is outrageous?

Agree. Grounds to sue?

[TightEnd]

No one would want to defend the convictions for offences, but presumably he's done his time and is complying with any requirements of a register

the League runs a satellite (? Pro-Am), and he wins an entry. Then he's disqualified?

WTF.

If they want a closed shop then don't run satellites/leagues ino the event then, and keep it fully invite only

If you do hold opportunities for players to win in, then a winner from any walk of life is the risk you take imo

[GreekStein]

Yeh I gotta say I agree. I mean he'll be playing a poker tournament in a casino with 95% men and 100% people over 21. I guess disqualifying him and excluding him from poker doesn't do anyone any good.

So did they refund him the buy in of the satellite? I took it to mean that which is well out of order. He should at least get 20k cash prize if they won't let him take the seat.