There was an all-in situation between the small blind, who had K-J offsuit, and a player in middle position with 6-6. According to the surveillance cameras, the board came 8-8-5-9-9.
But the dealer mistakenly awarded the pot to the player with 6-6, initially missing the fact that it had been counterfeited by the two pair on the board. The "losing" player (who should have won), disappeared almost immediately as the pot was pushed to the player with 6-6.
But as the dealer was wiping the board clean, another player at the table spoke up, saying that the pocket pair had been counterfeited, and the K-J should have won the pot. One of the players at the table took off to try to find the player who thought he busted, but never found him. (None of the players at the table knew him or his name.)
Everyone at the table quickly agreed that the pot was awarded incorrectly -- except for the player with the 6-6. He argued that nobody saw the cards, he argued that the dealer didn't see the cards, and he argued that it didn't matter anyway since the other guy left.
A floorperson was called over, and when the dealer and several players at the table confirmed the board counterfeited his pair, it was ruled that the pot would have to be reconstructed and the chips returned to that player's seat, even if he never came back. The player with the 6-6 argued that he never saw the river card, and was upset that chips would be taken out of his stack on the word of some other players who, he argued, weren't paying attention.
At that point, the tournament clock was paused, and dealers were told to finish the current hand and then stop. Surveillance reviewed the footage at the table to verify the cards and the bet amounts. It took about 10 minutes, and the security cameras confirmed it was K-J vs. 6-6 on a board of 8-8-5-9-9, and that the K-J should've won the pot, which totaled 26,600.
At that point, the player with the 6-6 seemed to accept the decision, and a floorperson counted out 26,600 from his stack and placed it in front of seat 6, even though the player hadn't come back. That stack will be blinded off normally, and if the player ever returns, he'll be able to continue.
The best description of the missing player we could get is that he is a
white male in his late 40s, bald, wearing glasses and a Full Tilt shirt. If anyone reading this knows this person, tell him he still has a stack in the tournament waiting for him.
Unknown Player - 26,600 (22 bb)
Player with the 6-6 - 53,000 (44 bb)
The entire situation lasted about 15 minutes, and the room was abuzz most of that time.
At one point, while waiting for confirmation from the surveillance cameras, Asher Conniff walked over to hear about the situation from a friend of his at the table (Julie Anna Cornelius), and as soon as he heard the details, he loudly said it was an easy decision, and the chips should go to the player who left.
That upset the player with the 6-6, who was nearby, who started arguing with Conniff to the point of using the F-word. Security stepped in at that point, and when play resumed, the player with the 6-6 was given a one-round penalty.
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