Real-Time Coaching Leads to Harsh Sanctions
The high-stakes online poker scene was rocked this week as GGPoker handed down severe penalties following a real-time coaching scandal at the $10,300 GGMillion$ final table on October 14. Ambassador Ren “Tony” Lin and a player known as “RealOA” were both sanctioned after the site’s investigation confirmed violations of its Poker Integrity Policy.
The event, which originally awarded $346,903 to the champion, has since seen those winnings redistributed to affected finalists including Adrian Mateos and Kelvin Kerber under GGPoker’s refund policy.
RealOA Banned, Lin Suspended Indefinitely
China-based player “RealOA” has been permanently banned from GGPoker, WSOP.com, and all affiliated platforms. Their winnings of $250,523 were seized and returned to the prize pool.
Ren “Tony” Lin, a longtime GGPoker ambassador, has been indefinitely suspended from all GGPoker and WSOP events after admitting involvement.
Of the total $346,903 redistributed, $250,523 came directly from RealOA’s confiscated balance, while Lin contributed $96,380 from his own funds. In his apology, Lin stressed that he “gained no form of profit from this incident,” insisting he “held no stake in any player’s entry, received no payment, and derived no benefit whatsoever.”
How the Scandal Unfolded
The controversy first surfaced when GGPoker player “Buzzcut” (@yl333i), who finished third for $213,273, alleged that RealOA had received live strategy advice during the final table. According to Buzzcut, RealOA shared their screen in real time with Lin and others, effectively gaining an unfair advantage.
Screenshots and chat logs later circulated showing Lin acknowledging his mistake and apologizing. He explained that during a break at the WSOP Circuit in Cyprus, he joined a Tencent Meeting call where he noticed his friend playing the final table. When asked about a hand, Lin said he “instinctively offered input without realizing it constituted a rule violation.”
Lin later admitted he misunderstood the situation, thinking it was a post-game review, and said he “wouldn’t approve” of others doing the same. He added that he felt “deeply ashamed and remorseful” and was “prepared to accept all penalties.”
GGPoker’s Zero-Tolerance Message
In a statement titled Our Message to the Poker Community, GGPoker reaffirmed its hardline stance on cheating and outlined three key principles driving its approach:
- Prevention and Detection: Advanced monitoring and hand analysis are used to flag suspicious behavior.
- Swift and Global Consequences: Sanctions extend across GGPoker, WSOP, and all partner platforms.
- Player Protection: Any compromise in integrity results in financial restitution to affected players.
The operator also acknowledged that “real-time assistance through private communication channels remains challenging to prevent,” but vowed to keep improving detection tools. “Competitive poker depends on trust and equal conditions,” the statement read. “We will not allow anyone to undermine that foundation.”
Fallout and Broader Implications
The timing of the scandal is particularly striking, coming just weeks after GGPoker launched its Olive Branch Initiative—a program aimed at giving previously banned players a second chance under supervision.
That goodwill has now been overshadowed by one of the most public integrity violations in recent memory.
Both Lin and RealOA are now barred from all WSOP live events, including the upcoming World Series of Poker Paradise.
WSOP Integrity Ambassador Fedor Holz has repeatedly warned that real-time assistance users “will” face bans from all WSOP events. With this latest scandal, GGPoker has made it clear that those words are being backed by firm action.
