Poker star Martin Kabrhel has been accused of cheating at the World Series Tournament in which a $13million prize pot was on the line.
The World Series of Poker features a number of tournaments held annually in Nevada since 2004, and the latest event has become the source of a sport-wide scandal. At the Horseshoe Las Vegas on Sunday, Kabrhel eliminated Dan Smith in a high stakes moment - and the former World Poker Tour champion did not take his exit from the $250,000 Super High Roller Bowl well.
Kabrhel eliminated Smith in the final round of the tournament at the Horseshoe Las Vegas on Sunday, and the 34-year-old lashed out by accusing his opponent of cheating. The outburst went down in the middle of the televised game, with Smith claiming Kabrhel was "repeatedly marking cards" and attempting to look at other hands throughout.
After his elimination, Smith - donning a cowboy hat - stood up at the table and wished his other players luck before turning to Kabrhel to say: “I hope you get barred. Your antics are the worst of anyone I’ve ever played with.”
On Monday, the World Series of Poker confirmed it was investigating the incident. Andrew Robl, another poker player, believes Kabrhel should be banned and insisted he made the competition "no fun for anyone".
Robl posted several videos on social media which allegedly showed Kabrhel marking cards, including digging his fingernails to help his game. He suggested this wasn’t the first time Kabrhel has committed to such tactics, tweeting: “On top of it I’ve seen him mark cards in every tournament I’ve ever played with him.”
Kabrhel took to social media to defend himself and deny the allegations, posting a series of tweets. The Czech Republic player wrote: “I was shocked by how quickly people took it as true, pure statement with no evidence and started media blizzard in which I am portrayed as cheater. You can accuse me of controversial manners, bad jokes, uncomfortable play, or whatever stickers you put on my autistic behaviour, you can call me a pain in the a** but calling me a cheater is something completely out of line.
“I am not a cheater, this is not true!! This gossip is damaging me not only as poker player, but also my business activities and my family.”
Kabrhel then revealed he was going to take legal action against Robl, adding: “It is very easy to prove such accusations are pure lies. I just can’t believe how easy it's for people to join such accusations just by their personal antipathy towards my person.”
Other players have also come forward to accuse Kabrhel of cheating, with Hayley Hanna agreeing with Smith as she tweeted: “Dan is 100% right. Martin should be banned. He has a history of repeatedly marking cards to try to cheat and everyone in the high roller community knows it.
“Not only that but Martin makes the experience unpleasant by being rude, yelling in peoples ears nonstop, taking full time when he knows he’s folding, standing over people to “see their stack” when he’s clearly trying to angle. I’ve never seen such an egregious and blatant attempt to angle and cheat in a tournament in my life.”
