A slight incident took place a few days ago which I feel might have gotten slightly out of hand.
It all started with one bad decision which led to apparently the worst ruling ever made. Because of the nature of the incident. I will have to break down essentially what I feel are the parts leading up to the way I feel about it all today.
Actual scenario of the event prior to ruling.
Blind are 3k/6k. UTG leads out 26k. action folds around to me in the SB. My stack is just over 200k at this point. I tanked and reraised to 50k flat. Villain proceeds to discuss with me the understanding that we both had as to how much of a NIT he is and how much MORE of one I could potentially be before he flats the reraise and I thought to myself he must have just committed about half his stack there. Anyway, flop came Q 7 6 with two hearts on the board. Action goes check from SB, UTG checks behind. Turn 6. I then proceeded to asking Villain how much he had left which in turn replied with “about 50k”. So naturally, I pumped out a bet of exactly 50k. Villain then insta pushes his chips in followed by the words “I call”.
Now in my shoes, the only thing running through my head was
- he just pushed all his chips in
- he then mentions it’s a call of my bet
- all that must equal to me having him covered with the 50k bet.
Just before anything else had happened, as the call was made, he turns to me and says “do you have me beat?”. I naturally assumed once again at this point in time a showdown was to occur. So I turned my full house with pocket 77 over expecting him to turn his cards over too. BUT INSTEAD, he instantly turned to the dealer on the table and said “isn’t that a muck? I still have chips and there is still action, therefore his hand is dead. The pot is mine. Isn’t his hand dead?”
The Official TD was then called over to make a final ruling. At the point of him coming across all you could see and hear was a flurry of stories thrown at him possibly all in my favour. Regardless, with the facts presented to him, he decided that my hand was turned over too early and because Villain still had chips left behind to favour the Villain and declare my hand dead.
Now, ruling right or wrong its time to move on. I still had chips leftover and was easily trying to grind back some form of a stack, therefore not thinking much more about what had just occurred. Obviously due to the circumstances I wasn’t able to fight my way back into the tournament.
So this is what had occurred on the actual scene! I understand there would have been a mirrion things I could have done to avoid the hand from playing out the way it did. But one would also expect Official TDs to know exactly what a breakdown of a situation like this to be.
Moving on.
After the incident had taken place and I was now out of the tournament. I quickly put out a phone call to a couple good friends to relay the information that had just taken place.
Which leads us all to the point now. I understand there are a lot of people who deem this situation to be blasphemous, and I thank each and everyone who has shown support through the last few days regarding this case.
As simple as it is, NPL reserves the right not to compensate me in any form whatsoever. This is the after story.
I was pulled aside couple hours after the incident to discuss possible payouts for such a devastating ruling. I was offered my ticket back, or entry into the next year. Now here comes the best part, being whatever was to be given, there were distinct hints for me to keep it on the down-low. I now understand the reasoning behind it, which was to be so NPL as a business would not have to undermine the decisions of their Official TDs.
NOW HOLD ON A MINUTE, WHAT ABOUT THE NPL POST REGARDING FULL COMPENSATION PUT UP?
That post was made WITH NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF MINE. Check this for a train of thought. Give me ticket value back-“please keep it on the hush”-world finds out-world demands compensation-world flames npl-npl makes post on site to deflame allegations-put me on the spot.
This was the only point in time of which I felt like I was being exploited. Right there and then of finding out they had just gone ahead and assumed the situation had been resolved without showing ANY SIGN OF REMORSE.
Now as compensation goes, in my given circumstance I was happy to accept my ticket back. Completely unaware of the magnitude of the situation! Nothing official was made and it all seemed like a plan too easy for a Business owner to execute in terms of keeping the best interests for his company.
As far as an apology goes, to my understanding nothing public can be made of it as it can potentially lead to court cases etc.
Now, is it fair compensation? I don’t care. Was it a positive resolution? No of course not, how can you expect someone to be happy with the minimum whilst having a hundred whispers of what you should be getting instead. I play this game for the win, and ultimately to make money. But in terms of what I deserve given my position? It is up to the Head of NPL and his team to decide.
I am however making this statement as an official acknowledgement that NPL is in fact sorry about what had happened, and I have been given my Tournament ticket back in value. Though perhaps a letter of apology never hurt anyone!
Bad decisions can lead to extravagant consequences, but in no way should NPL as a company be seen as a business trying to extort anyone out of what they deserve. And I just want to make it clear that every party involved in this incident are to a certain extent “legitimate”. Be it an honest mistake, or just lucky enough to be in a position whereby somehow the “ruling” would be in their favour, I feel like the hand was just another “misclick” on my part, and the system just so happened to malfunction, and the techies just aren’t up to par in terms of getting it resolved in time J
We are humans as such, and mistakes are inevitable. Why burn someone to the ground for one mistake they make, when you can forgive them to earn gratitude for a lifetime.
This is in no way a spite towards people that are adamant I should be heavily compensated. I see what you guys are getting at and I 100% agree in a perfect world. But also understand in my point of view, this is just a game. There will always be more opportunities offered to me whereby I get to stack YOU off on a table!
So I say, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT THROUGH all the commotion that has taken place.
To NPL: I hope I will receive a phone call in the near future regarding this statement made.
To Lee Ladiges: I mentioned to you before at the venue what’s done is done. And in no way am I one to hold grudges. I have learnt to protect myself from such an act and I obviously have you to thank for!
To Simon Watts: No hard feelings, you were put in a compromising position and had to make the best decision you felt was right on the table then.
To anyone else reading this: It is not that I don’t want to fight for more, it’s just that there is not much more to fight for.
I just hope everyone can understand, I am a poker player. I play this game because it reflects on a lot of characteristics within life itself, amongst other lucrative reasons. You will always come across people that you do or don’t agree with, either way life moves on! And with me, its all about how we are going to agree getting you to put your chips on my end of the table. But have no doubt you can always earn it back through a beer away from it!!
p.s. Thank you ALL for supporting me. I hope you can all understand I never expected any form of a ridiculous outcome, I just wanted the best out of the situation.
p.p.s. Thank you all again. If anyone feels unjust by this post, feel free to flame me instead on jwang.ent@gmail.comotherwise just look me up on facebook!
p.p.p.s. some interesting points to consider pushing for!
Significant issues that this situation has brought up; such as:
- Unclear rules from region to region / provider to provider
- Lack of forum / regulating body to resolve / mediate disputes
- No regulating body to unify and offer on going support to providers so that a similar issue doesn’t arise in the future
- Unclear non existent compensation structure for wronged player
As such I would suggest some possible points of consideration:
- Unified rules systems for all poker providers in Australia such as a basic set available through the Tournament Directors Association (http://www.pokertda.com/)
- Better training and APPROVED accreditation for TD’s in Australia
- Providers becoming members of organisations such as FIDPA (www.fidpa.com) and Tournament Directors Association (http://www.pokertda.com/)
- Discussions begin for an Australian based organisation that all poker providers and players are governed by which would provide a point of contact and mediation should issues arise.
I leave you all with what I feel helps carry any aspiring pro through times of confusion, hardship, and just general TILT!!
A wise and respectable mentor (OTM) once said to me:
“Grant me the serenity, to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can and Wisdom to know the difference.”
- Jacky Wang
