Just last month we reported that the $10,000 Heads-Up WSOP event was subject to cheating allegations by players who took part in the tournament. Players who were up against Valeriu Coca reported that they believed Coca was marking cards to have a leg up in the competition. After the allegations surfaced, WSOP officials began an investigation into the matter, which they are still conducting six weeks later.
According to information at PocketFives, the WSOP is waiting on results of the card testing to determine if Coca was in fact marking cards. Players felt as though Coca was using invisible ink to mark the cards, which only he could see with the help of special sunglasses during game play in Nevada. According to the Vice President for Corporate Communications of the WSOP, Seth Palansky, regulators are still waiting for the test results of the cards from a forensics lab and the case remains open and an active investigation.
Players who faced Coca in heads-up play during the event accused the pro after speaking to each other and noting similarities in game play. Responding to the player’s accusations, Coca stated that the allegations are purely fantasy and the players who lost are good at the game, which makes it hard for them to believe they lost to him for an honest reason. Coca stated that the accusations are not gentlemanly and the players accusing him of cheating are not gentlemen.
Palansky reported that preliminary testing of the cards showed there were no markings or solution used on the cards. Additional tests are being run to ensure no cheating took place. This is not the first time Coca has been accused of marking cards, as he has been accused by Czech casinos for the activity. Players who feel Coca cheated during the WSOP event include Connor Drinan, Pratyush Buddiga, aaron Mermelstein and Matt Marafioti.
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