Negreanu gives nod
GGPoker ambassador Daniel Negreanu has hailed the World Series of Poker (WSOP) for introducing a key player-assist rule change ahead of the 56th running of the tournament in Las Vegas.
VegasSlotsOnline’s David Lappin recently dubbed the change the ‘Tamayo Rule.’
Poker Hall of Fame member Negreanu stated Monday that the WSOP “did an excellent job” addressing the controversial ending to last year’s WSOP.
Jonathan Tamayo controversially won last year’s WSOP Main Event
Texan pro poker star Jonathan Tamayo controversially won last year’s WSOP Main Event after going to the rail to consult with his associates.
Clean slate
Controversy eclipsed Tamayo’s Main Event win at WSOP 2024 after the Texan went to the rail to consult with associates when he was not in a hand throughout the final table.
When the WSOP kicks off at Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas on Tuesday however, the new Rule 116 will be in effect. It bans players from using “real-time electronic assistance tools and receiving coaching during tournament action,” according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Tamayo triumphed in last year’s No-limit Hold’em World Championship to win the $10m first prize. Two people on Tamayo’s bench in the 2024 finale included former Main Event champ Joe McKeehen and multiple WSOP trophy winner Dominik Nitsche.
allegedly running poker software on his laptop
The latter was allegedly running poker software on his laptop to relay information to Tamayo.
Caesars Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of WSOP Jack Effel stated organizers completed a re-evaluation of the tournament, deciding: “maybe these tools aren’t so good, maybe they’re not so safe in these environments.”
Effel stated: “We wanted to add some tighter protective measures to ensure that players couldn’t easily access that information during the events to give them an advantage over another player.”
Pure play
Effel added poker wants the WSOP event “to be pure.”
“It’s like taking a test,” Eiffel stated. “You can’t have your notes.”
