EPT satellite @ pokerstars, table collusion.

[10K-in-Clay]

As stated above I was one of the players at the 'healthy' table. I personally did not say anything in the chat about folding or wutever because I didn't want to get in trouble with stars, I just quietly folded every hand because there really was no reason to play at all. The fact that there were people talking about how no one should be raising on anyones big blind did make me uneasy and I really just wanted them to shut up and and do what they thought they should do (which was in fact folding). I actuallly said in the chat 'I'm not agreeing to anything' or something like that because I definately thought it was kind of unethical to be talking about it in the chat. I'm not sure if you could build a hard and fast case based on the chat but i definately feel that some of the players acted unethically.

On the other hand there were several fishy hands at your table involving yourself and the CL. The CL at the time had about 150K at the bubble when the ave. stack was around 40K and he was playing almost every hand (absolute idiot). He was one to your left and when everyone floded to you in the SB and you pushed your 10-15K ish stack with blinds of like 1K/2K and he would just fold. This happened on more than one occasion and many of us at the other table thought that was fairly odd considering he was gunning to eliminate every other player at the table (even a guy with a 70K stack lol). I'm not saying that you and him had some sort of agreement i'm just saying that it was pretty rediculous. I guess you could possibly chalk that up to the CL just being a horrible player but it sure looked like he was protecting you for some reason.

All in all I think stars messed up by not turning chat off earlier. With the chat on something like this will always happen because the average online poker player is retarded when it comes to poker.

You played very well echo and I am sorry you didn't get your seat, maybe your appeal will work out and I will see you in spain!

BTW i suck at long posts [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[bjoorck]

I did see everything that happened at the end of this tournament, because I waited to post my add about www.tradewdollar.com after the tournment ends (not alowed to do it before by PokerStars)

It all started with One player calling an other player i d o t , why do you raise. An other player said there are 2 shortstacks at the other table lets all sit out... I think at least 3 of them was sitting out for some time. In my opinion they should not be alowed to chat like that... Echo you can send me a PM and I can try to help you.

[bjoorck]

Or post the reply that you get from PokerStars here if they don't give you a seat and I will try to contact them...

[EchoNiko]

I actually saw those accusions of people assuming that I was cheating. But the fact is, that the player to my left was just a. bad player or b. on drugs. I actually was myself surprised when he didn't call my first all-in against him. After that I just started to use that all-in strategy, because obv. he was unwilling to call.

[EchoNiko]

I got a replie from pokerstars tonight.
I will not give the mail in all of its info for everyone to see, but here are the main parts:

[ QUOTE ]

Thank you for your patience while we took the time to properly research
and discuss what occurred leading up to the bubble in tournament 29676836..
There is a lot on the line, here, and we wanted to be certain that we were
making the correct decision. The correct decision is one which is fair to
the players and consistent with our policies.


First, as I read the 2+2 boards, I see some questions regarding why the
chat was still on at this stage of the tournament. It shouldn't have been,
and this will be rectified going forward.


Next, regarding the chat of the players. You are quite correct in that the
chat and conduct of certain players was inappropriate, and is prohibited
under our policies. Having said that, it is unclear if these players knew
that. Each player who talked about hands while they were in progress, or
who talked about folding to the blinds, or any other inappropriate chat
will be warned against such conduct in the future, as this is a first
offense for each of them. Should any of these players reoffend in the
future, then the consequences will be more severe.


Finally, we come to your situation. While it is unclear that you
were eliminated on the bubble as a direct result of the chat--they might
have folded to the blinds regardless, for example--we concede that it is
possible that the outcome of this event was affected by the prohibited
conduct. Therefore, we are advancing you to the EPT event in Barcelona at
our expense.


[/ QUOTE ]

Pokestars IS still the #1 place to play at.

I think it's great they took this thing as seriosly as it should have been taken.
I may still disagree on the penalty of player(s) in this case, but I still like the proper research and time that pokerstars putted in to this.
I want to thank everyone for your comments and discuss that was made here. I truly think it helped.

Signing off:

-EchoNiko

[Body Man D]

Stars is the Shiznit. Congrats.

[10K-in-Clay]

Wow thats awesome! see you in barcelona [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Soulman]

Wow, I'm totally amazed. Stars FTW again!

[Foucault]

Holy [censored] that is amazing. I figured you were going to get your money back or maybe an extra 1K. Stars is so badass.

[Melchiades]

Wow. I almost feel guilty for playing som much on Party. Stars rock.