COO discusses online poker scandal
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- This week, Paul Leggett, Chief Operating Officer of Tokwiro, the parent company of Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker, joins the PocketFives.com Podcast to discuss the scandal that has enveloped one of his online poker rooms. Tokwiro just released its findings to the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, which is the primary regulating body for Ultimate Bet. Leggett commented on the show, "There has never been any cover up in our investigation. We've made two statements listing the accounts that were involved and we made another statement last week regarding the completion of our investigation."
A bevy of names have been associated as being behind the scandal, but Leggett said he is unable to point fingers currently: "I get asked all the time why we can't name who cheated. There's nothing I would like better than to name the perpetrator's name, but our situation isn't that simple." Tokwiro is considering pursuing legal action as well and naming names now is against the advice of Leggett's counsel.
Meanwhile on PocketFives.com, there was a significant move in the Online Poker Rankings this week as Alex "AJKHoosier1" moved up to #3 worldwide after taking over the universal PLB standings. His second place finish recently in the Full Tilt Poker $1 Million Guaranteed for $135,000 and his outright victory this past Saturday in the Absolute Poker $150K Guaranteed have paved the way to a possible #1 ranking next week. Alex is currently ranked #2 overall in the Pro Poll right after Chad "M8kingmoves" Batista. Dan "djk123" Kelly is the current top-ranked online tournament player in the world, but could be the victim of another one-week reign unless he can put together a huge score in the next few days. Chris "moorman1" Moorman of the United Kingdom is ranked #2 worldwide and Phillip "USCphildo" Collins moved up two spots this week to #5.
PocketFives.com members took down five of the 12 major online poker weekend tournaments, led by #17 ranked Hunter "the_Hunt_D" Frey, who won the Full Tilt Poker $250K Guaranteed Sunday Brawl for $75,000. "Aaron_Hacker" won $53,500 by virtue of taking top honors in the Full Tilt Poker Sunday Mulligan and "Poker_lord76" outlasted world-class competition to take down the PokerStars $200 Sunday rebuy for $56,500. Third-ranked Alex "AJKHoosier1" Kamberis continued his impressive hot streak at the online tables, earning $37,500 for his win in the Absolute Poker Weekly $150K Guaranteed. "Skeptix" won the Bodog $100K Guaranteed for $23,600. "Govshark2" placed second in the Full Tilt $750K Guaranteed for $86,700 and "Ozone" received $76,300 for second place in the PokerStars Monthly $250K Guaranteed.