Poker Champion Suspended for Accusations of Unfair Play
WSOP Online Suspends "GR4ND_THEFT" Amid Cheating Allegations
In a shocking turn of events, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Online has suspended Kevin Ruscitti, also known as "GR4ND_THEFT" online, following accusations of using real-time assistance (RTA) software to gain an unfair advantage.
The suspicions surrounding Ruscitti arose earlier in the year when Michigan player Ryan Hiller claimed that Ruscitti had bragged about using GTOWizard, a popular poker study tool, to other professionals. Hiller, along with several other Michigan players, repeatedly checked Ruscitti's hands and found multiple cases where he failed fair play checks.
Mario Arribas, another pro poker player, publicly posted accusations against Ruscitti, including specific high-profile spots that failed fair play checks. Arribas spoke to PokerNews about keeping the evidence under wraps until there was enough to warrant a ban.
Ruscitti, who recently won his first bracelet in a $500 No-Limit Hold'em PKO event, vehemently denied the allegations of cheating. He stated that he is a good player and does not need GTO software to win. However, his account was suspended after the evidence was submitted, and the suspension was announced.
GTOWizard is a poker study tool that contains a library of solutions which are rapidly accessible. It helps catch players using the solutions during a game by checking if the solution for any particular spot was requested at the time it was played. Matt Berkey, another pro player, advised caution, stating that the fair play checks submitted were insufficient to accuse Ruscitti of cheating and could be false positives.
Andrews, who was defeated by Ruscitti for the bracelet, did not state that Ruscitti cheated but suggested that his opponents should be reimbursed if the allegations are proved. Andrews proposed that if Ruscitti is found guilty and proved to have cheated, the confiscated money should be distributed appropriately.
The suspension comes at a time when another player, Niklas Γ stedt, was temporarily suspended from his WSOP Online account due to allegations of using RTA software, an incident announced in July 2023.
As the investigation continues, the poker community awaits the outcome, with many calling for transparency and fairness in the process. Ruscitti, currently the WSOP Online Michigan player of the year, has yet to make a public statement since the suspension.
