2010 World Series of Poker is Over...So, Was There Any Cheating Going on?

Now that the 2010 WSOP final table has played out with Canadian Jonathan Duhamel taking home the whopping $8.9 million and gold bracelet, I am required to make my 2010 World Series of Poker Final Cheating report.

Well, believe it or not, I don't have many cheating incidents to report on. Besides the usual chip dumping and slow playing by the professional poker tournament syndicates, there isn't much to say about cheating at this year's tournament.

As far as the championship event goes, I always point out beforehand the dangers of the four-month interim between the determination of the nine players at the final table and the play of that final table. There is always the possibility, or I should say probability of deal-making, which is a form of collusion, which is a form of cheating. I can't say for sure who made what deals, but I would bet that some major ones were made between July and November.

As far as that incredible hand between Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi and Matt Jarvis where a full house made on the turn was beat by a higher full house made on the river, it was legitimate. No way did the dealer or anyone else maneuver the cards to effect that amazing outcome.

So overall it was a pretty honest 2010 World Series of Poker. In fact, the dominant cheating news during the play of the final table came from the European Partouche Poker Tour event where big-time poker cheat Ali Tekintamgac used phony bloggers and media reporters to flash him signals of opponents' hole cards.

Obviously, he got caught!