Didn't see DNEGS at the table.

Maybe he apologized to placate an entitled, self interested snake bitten player who he knew would not let it go. Especially after seeing she was being catered to by management. It's his right to call the clock and he called the clock.

Also, if Kassouf was getting under other players' skin at the table with his legal table talk, they would obviously snap side with whoever is against him, regardless of merit, especially if he was taking their chips. What people at the table, his opponents in a game for millions, think or say about him should be and is completely beside the point of what is legal or not legal according to the rules of the game, period.

Also, you reference DNEGS in your defense, this is the same guy who just shilled for pStars yet again stating that "raising the rake is good for the games", right, ok, no agenda on anything he says.

As someone that jumps to defend people that deserve it, you make it impossible for me.

If the dealers you churn out of the school lack the ability to think critically like you do, the quality of dealers in the poker community is in serious doubt.

Also, the fact that you went deep in the main doesn't make you a good player so stop bragging like a 12 year old about it.

Not all of us are after the exposure sweetheart, this isn't reality TV. I could care less if I wasnt shown more on the telecast as you and William seemed to love the TV time. I might be off by a minute so the hand might of taken 8 mins to play out. Either way have some respect for your table mates that want to see more hands, this is a poker game it's not preview for a new reality show starring Stacey matuson and friends . 15 min almost gone , enjoy .

Strong case of NPD in this thread.

I liked Kassouf before this thread but I like him even more now.

Given that I think you're the first person to suggest any of those things, I'd say no. Now it could well be that conflicts are difficult or even impossible to avoid; I said as much myself. But I'm not certain this is the case. Either way, when a website makes it appear that they work together, that's a pretty strong conflict - stronger than most, if not all, of those you've listed above.

No, not really, but at least he was able to address the conflict situation in some fashion. For some reason, you seem unable to answer even the simplest question about it:

You said that about 13.50 posts ago.

As I stated in my previous post, there are conflicts of interest galore throughout the main event. It's the nature of any event with many thousands of participants. You can never avoid conflicts like this, to do so would dramatically limit the field. And as I also stated, in my opinion the greatest conflict is the WSOP's desire to see a big name or two make the final table. And nobody is going to ban big names from the event... If you want to go after conflicts, start there.

In any case, I also asked what is to be done, and neither you nor anyone else has provided any answers. You are simply, in classic Cartman fashion, "Asking the questions!" Which is fine, but at some point you need to propose some actual solutions to all of your sound and fury.

I think the solution is simple: rely on the integrity and professionalism of the people who manage the event, beginning with the tournament director. And once that credibility is lost, changes should be made asap.

So can anyone here point to any pattern of favoritism from the tournament director, or any other senior official affiliated with the WSOP, to anyone participating in the main event? I don't mean nitpicking to death one ruling taken in isolation, I'm looking for a pattern of preferential treatment towards one participant, i.e. evidence. Can you provide some?

[Crickets]

This entire thread was started by someone who wanted to launch a personal attack against the tournament director. He admitted as such. And yet this incident is a weak foundation on which to build that case. It's not easy to manage events of this size, to have to make quick rulings on camera in high pressure situations with less than perfect information. Nobody is perfect. Overall, at least from what I've seen on TV, the WSOP is managed well. Yes, I think she deserved more time to think, but these things happen in an event of this size.

But if you whiners and misogynists ("sweetheart") have a different opinion and are prepared to present actual evidence, I'm all ears (or, in this case, eyes).

Tournament director is a ****ing moron on a power trip here for lack of any better terms, I can't see anything he did during the hand that is worthy of a penalty, way to make poker boring. None of the other players are at fault either, at the end of the day Effel went on a power trip I assume because he doesn't like Kassouf. Would he have EVER penalised Negreanu or Hellmuth in that spot? Never.

Pet peeve of mine is TDs who overstep their authority

I have lost all respect for Effel for how he handled the situation. Disgraceful to penalise in this spot.

Which I already addressed - most, if not all, of those examples are not at the same level of conflict. And I don't know why you keep talking about limiting the field - I haven't seen anyone suggest that players not be allowed in the tournament.

I hardly think a few posts pointing out the conflict and asking questions rates as "sound and fury". And I'm not offering answers because I couldn't possibly do so without answers to my own questions. Without knowing if there are already rules around conflicts of interest, or knowing if conflicts of interest of this level are common, I couldn't say whether any solutions are needed or even plausible.

Yes, if you ask about something no one has suggested, you sometimes will get [Crickets]...what's your point? Whether anyone has spotted a pattern of favoritism or not, and even whether there has ever been one or not, really has no bearing on the situation. It *could* suggest there's no problem, or it may simply mean that thus far no one has been influenced by a conflict, which doesn't lessen the possibility of it happening in the future.

Not sure who you're speaking to here, unless you're just sloppily labeling any poster who disagrees with you, but no one's going to be providing you with evidence of an accusation that hasn't been made.

This really is a simple subject. Someone pointed out the conflict of interest, Stacy came back to tell us there was no conflict, and then when she was corrected on the matter and asked a couple of simple questions, she's chosen to ignore the topic.

I have no horse in this race. I don't have a problem with the ruling, and I don't play tournaments. But when I see someone like Stacy come in and make incorrect statements, sometimes I see fit to jump into a conversation. Not sure why this has you feeling the need to come in with condescension and insults.

Jack is on a power trip for sure. Stacey is just a joke who can't think and just says dumb ****. Congrats on your 2005 WPT final table LMAO. She thinks a clock can't be called on her because she's a woman. That's the truth. I'll call a clock on her if she's ever at my table much faster.

Stacey you keep typing LOL but I'm not sensing much laughing.

PS
Can you answer Bobos question.

I was hoping you would pop up, and it isn't a surprise your take on it especially in light of your performance a few years back:

At 10.20

Well, we are in complete agreement that there is without a doubt a conflict of interest, and I think we're in agreement that this is just one of many conflicts present during the main event. I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing, so long as we all understand it. And, again, so long as those in charge of the event act more or less fairly and consistently. There will always be mistakes, but so long as there is no pattern of favoritism, I don't think there is an issue.

I did not mean to condescend or insult, certainly not to you.

you are doing it wrong, bobo top of my list to catch in a situation where you could insult for fun and profit. sadly, doesn't happen much tho.

re: thread, I think Stacey finally surmised NVG is not solvable.

ftr, as a consumer of poker shows, Im a big fan of nine high like a boss man from the UK. as a player it would get tilting quickly.

This thread needs 9 stars like a boss.

Finding out he's in business with the 'victim' explains it perfectly though. Looking out for a friend.

Wiilaim Kassouf "9 high like a boss"
Stacy Matuson "They nicknamed me the Ninja because I would trap players and become deadly."

Amazing how many people say he tilts them and hate poker because of guys like him. I think in reality, if you scanned the 2+2 forums.. you will find in general most people have built up anger about stupid ****.

The good Ole easy money days are gone, and the majority of players are now angry because they grind day in and day out for cheesburgers. What would be the take on this guy if everyone was still making 6 figures + a year?

Seriously, stop defending Kassouf.

116. Etiquette Violations: Repeated etiquette violations will result in the imposition of penalties assessed by the Tournament Staff. Examples include, but are not limited to, unnecessarily touching other participants’ cards or chips, body, or clothing, delay of the game, repeatedly acting out of turn, betting out of reach of the dealer, or excessive chatter. Excessive chatter includes, but is not limited to, talking or conversation that causes a disruption of participants who are in a hand.

Talk all you want when action is on you; don't disrupt another player's right to consider their action when it's their turn. This isn't that hard and the poker community defending this guy is making themselves look really bad. Just stop.

^^^

Like I said, as value for produced poker TV he is top top . ESPN obviously thought the same

As a player if you can't gain edge from his antics then you are doing it wrong

Based on all the hands we saw , I already saw a few glaring tells confirmed multiple times

Bring on the nine high boss. I'd consider it a lucky table draw , especially if we were both deep .

TD's major mistake:

TD : Let's stop talking till hand is over
Her: Why are you trying to bust me?
Him: I'm not trying to bust you
TD: SIR!
... and a bit later
Him: I said I'll show, I'll keep it friendly (in response to her muttering)
Her: But you're going to show me the worst hand
Him : starts to respond
TD: SIR penalty blah blya
Him: SHe keeps on talking to me
TD: She's not talking to you...

Yeah, dude, she totally DID talk to him, you can see her LOOKING AT HIM while she talks to him.

TD - pathetic

But once he's told to stop talking, yeah, the hand gestures are clearly violating the intent of the TD's statement. But basically the TD was completely one sided here.

lol does not realize ea. hand would be 8 times more drawn out.

Dood is a t**t and a drama queen and a time waster.

We need less of these in poker, not more.

If his lame schtick is fresh to you, best go back to watching the Kardashians.

give me a capitao or a kassouf over any of these antisocial ****ing grinders that smell like soup.

i love drinking beers and talking/needling while im playing poker so, yeah, the TD penalty is absolutely absurd. If you dont like his talking, ignore him. If its a cash game move, if its a tournament put in some headphones.

When a guy like kassouf sees you are greatly annoyed by him, he will sense the weakness and just needle more. Thick skin laugh it off and all that. IMO his schtick will only work on new/learning players and scrubs who get annoyed by him. watch gregg play his game against him he barely bats an eye.

Mostly agreed; I'm just not sure whether conflicts of this level happen often.

And don't get me wrong, sometimes I'm perfectly deserving of condescension or insults.