Pro Poker Player Banned for Cheating in the Brazilian Series of Poker
Posted on:
November 23, 2024, 06:55h.
Last updated on: November💶 23, 2024, 10:29h.
While it’s
possible to argue that a novice poker player may make a mistake at the table, that
💶 argument doesn’t hold up if it involves an experienced poker pro. That was the excuse
Brazilian poker player Rafael Caiaffa💶 made during a recent tournament, but his antics
have cost him an indefinite ban from the game.
Brazilian poker player Rafael💶 Caiaffa
during a tournament. He has received a suspension from BSOP tournaments for cheating.
(Image: SuperPoker)
Online poker media outlet Mundo💶 Poker reported that Caiaffa
violated a tournament rule during the Latin America Poker Tour (LAPT), leading to a
suspension from💶 all Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP) tournaments on Monday. The
incident occurred early on Day 2 of the LAPT Mystery💶 KO event, which had a buy-in of
BRL5,000 (US$1,019).
During a table change where alternate players were being seated, a
new💶 table was set up with starting stacks already in the dealer’s possession. Caiaffa
was given a seat at the table💶 and inadvertently received an extra starting stack on top
of the stack he brought to the table. At this point,💶 it wasn’t too late to turn
back.
Stashing the Stack
Realizing the error, Caiaffa stashed 100,000 in chips,
equivalent to the starting💶 stack, in his backpack. Later, during a table change and
experiencing losses from his initial stack, he reintroduced the saved💶 100,000
chips.
However, all of his movements were caught on camera and by other players. They
approached tournament officials and told💶 them what happened, leading to Caiaffa’s
prompt suspension.
Caiaffa has an established history of playing live and online poker.
He appears💶 as far back as 2008 in the World Series of Poker annals, and has also played
on GGPoker. On the💶 latter, he won a bracelet last year in theR$2,500 NLHE
Championship.
During an interview with Marcelo Souza, the editor of Card💶 Player Brasil,
Caiaffa admitted that he cheated when he kept the chips. He said he realized
immediately that there had💶 been a mistake and, according to his account of the story,
told a friend that he would return the stack.
Caiaffa💶 eventually rationalized his way
out of coming clean. He told himself that the tournament dealer had made the mistake,
which💶 justified his subsequent decision to keep and play the chips.
Following his
disqualification from the LAPT event and suspension from the💶 BSOP festival, Caiaffa
admitted to the extra stack addition and conceded that the suspension was warranted.
While the suspension covers💶 the current BSOP events, it could become a more permanent
ban.
Devanir Campos, BSOP’s Director of Tournaments, said that BSOP officials💶 will get
together after the series wraps up to discuss what needs to happen. That could mean a
lifetime ban.
BSOP💶 Becomes Huge Draw
The BSOP Millions has established itself as the
pinnacle of live poker in Brazil, currently underway in São💶 Paulo. Sponsored by
PokerStars, this series began on November 15 and runs through November 29 at the WTC
Sheraton Golden💶 Hall, marking the largest poker festival in the country.
With 100
tournaments spanning 15 days, the series guarantees BRL40 million (USD$8.2💶 million) in
cash, a substantial increase from the previous year. Renowned players, such as Sam
Greenwood, Jose Ignacio Barbero, Fedor💶 Holz, and Philipe Pizzari Pinto, have graced the
event in the past.
The Main Event, already drawing over 2,315 participants, promises💶 an
enticing BRL10 million (US$2.03 million) guarantee, solidifying BSOP Millions as a
must-attend spectacle for poker aficionados and top-tier players💶 alike.
