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2022 World Sequence of Poker Essential Occasion champion Espen Jorstad denies making a swap settlement with fellow poker professional Alex Theologis. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Cyprus incident prompts put up
Norwegian poker professional Espen Jorstad scored a career-defining victory in July when he gained the 2022 World Sequence of Poker Essential Occasion, taking residence a $10m prize. That win has introduced controversy with it, nevertheless, as fellow professional Alex Theologis claims he agreed to a swap with Jorstad which ought to have netted him 3% of the huge payday.
Jorstad wrote concerning the scenario on social media Monday, bringing the difficulty to the general public after he says somebody not directly threatened him whereas in Cyprus.
In accordance with Jorstad, “a clearly intoxicated Irish fellow” approached him throughout a poker recreation in Cyprus, demanding that he “pay the person his cash.” Jorstad says he defined the scenario to the person, who ultimately walked off with out incident.
Theologis can be entitled to $300,000 in winnings
If the 2 males agreed to the swap, Theologis can be entitled to $300,000 in winnings earlier than taxes. Jorstad publicly acknowledged making many WSOP swaps with different gamers, together with 14 such agreements within the Essential Occasion:
In complete, Jorstad stated he stored about 56% of his motion for the $10,000 buy-in match.
No proof of swap
Nevertheless, these swaps don’t embrace the one in query with Theologis. In his put up, Jorstad shared messages exchanged with Theologis, through which the supposed swap comes up on Day 7 of the Essential Occasion. Jorstad ultimately reached the ultimate desk of the Essential Occasion because the chip chief.
“Btw our swap is for 3% proper?” Theologis writes within the Instagram trade. “I appeared in our chat however we didn’t affirm it in writing.”
“Don’t have written down something about us swapping,” Jorstad replied. “When/the place did we do that?”
Each males agreed that they’d no data of a swap.
Jorstad says that the 2 met at a lodge in Las Vegas to debate the scenario. Each males agreed that they’d no data of a swap. Jorstad maintains that he has no recollection of any such settlement, regardless of Theologis’ insistence {that a} deal was in place. In accordance with Jorstad, the 2 had solely met twice, had by no means beforehand made a swap, and Theologis couldn’t recall something about after they made the supposed settlement.
Whereas Jorstad stated he’s sure that no swap came about, he doesn’t imagine Theologis is appearing in dangerous religion. He additionally supplied to arbitrate the scenario if the poker group thought it was doable that there had been an settlement.
Poker group backs Jorstad
Many poker gamers did reply to the scenario, with virtually all of them taking Jorstad’s aspect:
“Personally really feel you’re being far too sort in direction of Alex right here,” poker commentator Henry Kilbane stated in a reply to Jorstad on Twitter. “This strikes me as somebody who’s masterfully manipulative.”
Others have been kinder to Theologis, whereas nonetheless agreeing that Jorstad was in the appropriate:
“I doubt anybody right here is appearing in dangerous religion,” Tony Dunst tweeted. “Given that you just created written data for all swaps and don’t have any recollection of the settlement, I’d say you don’t owe Alex something.”
Jorstad additionally shared later messages with Theologis, through which the Greek on-line professional shared his disappointment with the result of their conversations.
“I really feel so betrayed and upset I assume,” Theologis wrote. “Lesson learnt I assume, undecided how one can sleep at night time and be proud of your self however yeah.”