I was kicked out of pub poker game!

[warboat]

I got kicked out of pub poker last night!
What happened was one of the most disgusting thing I have witnessed in live poker.
It was a 888 poker league event held at Melton's Tabcorp Park.
$20 entry with a single passport (rebuy/addon). $1000 guaranteed prizepool. 1st and 2nd place will also receive a qualification seat to the state finals to be on Sunday 29 April.
I hung around to watch the final table with interest as the 1st and 2nd place winners of seats may not be able to play on sunday or, as in the case of one player, already qualified to sunday's event. This means they could potentially offer the seat to the highest bidder and I was an interested party if this was to occur.
Anyway, down to 5 players remaining, they made a deal to chop the $1000 prizepool equally 5 ways. They were playing for points and entry into Sunday's event.
There was pressure to finish the tournament quickly as they had a deadline of 2.30am to conclude the event set by the venue. With only a few minutes left to 2.30am, the Tournament Director (who was also dealing the final table - which is standard) decided that the 2 seats be decided by chip count at 2.30am.
They were down to 3 players.
SB ~600k+ (already qualified to sunday's event but definitely not selling extra seat to me)
BB ~20k (wants the seat and not selling)
BTN ~250k (will not be playing in sunday's event but willing to sell it off)
Blinds were 50k/100k with 5k ante IIRC.
In this situation, the BTN should just fold and the SB & BB goes to showdown.
However, the BTN limped in for 100k.
In this spot, the SB would strategically check it down with the BTN to maximise the chance of knocking out the shortstack.
Instead, SB pulled out a large stack to put the BTN all-in!
BTN folded.
Instead of flipping his cards over for the all-in showdown with BB, SB tossed his cards facedown towards the dealer. The dealer was about to pick up the cards when SB reached for his cards and flipped it over on the felt to show everyone Ah3h. The cards had not hit the muck and were technically tabled face up. The dealer flipped the cards over facedown and declared SB's hand folded. SB had no objection to this. The dealer then pushed the whole 200k+ pot to the BB!
I was watching this from the rail and jumped in and questioned the dealer how this could be folded? I was told by the dealer it was "accidently" folded, to which I argued that he cannot fold as this is an all-in tournament situation. I argued that this is collusion if the SB folded after forcing BTN to fold out of the pot. I was berated by the dealer and a heated exchange ensued where I told the dealer he is wrong and was breaking the rules and facilitating collusion.
While the heated exchange was ensuing, the dealer declared that was the final hand and chip counts will now be taken to determine the seats! BB started the hand with around 20k and now has over 200k!!!! BTN now has the smallest stack and missed out on the seat!
Even if the SB fold was enforced, there should be a side pot of around 170k which goes to SB after BTN folded. This would leave BB with a main pot of around 60k and missing out on the seat as he would have the smallest stack!
I did not relent in speaking up and was eventually told to exit and was escorted out by a venue manager which I did not resist and willfully walked out with him. As we were at the entrance of the venue, I apologised to the manager for the heated exchange at the tables and explained what happened. He seemed to understand my point of view and held no malice. However, he seemed disinterested in the integrity of the game and more interested in getting everyone out so he can close up the area.
The dealer and tournament director in question was Ernie who is well known by players in the 888 poker league in the western suburbs. I was threatened with a ban by Ernie for questioning his authority and arguing over the rules that applied in this situation. He promised I will be receiving a call from 888 poker (which I will be glad to receive!). I vowed never to play 888 poker league again if this farce is allowed to occur. I promised him that I will take action with this with 888 poker league.

[omnnumnumnum]

Straight on to it

[bennymacca]

i have to say, if your version of events are accurate, that you definitely have a point, it seems like collusion to me. I would love to hear ernie's side as well though

[John Miller]

i have to say, if your version of events are accurate, that you definitely have a point, it seems like collusion to me. I would love to hear ernie's side as well though

+1

[666HARPS666]

If you are on the RAIL shut the F up & let the tourney director run the game.

[bennymacca]

If you are on the RAIL shut the F up & let the tourney director run the game.

also a pretty valid point here

[warboat]

If you are on the RAIL shut the F up & let the tourney director run the game.

I paid to participate in this game. I paid assuming the rules of the game are enforced. If the integrity of the game I participate in is jeopardised, I am compelled to speak up and question it. I also had a chance to purchase the seat from the BTN player if the shortstack was knocked out as he was offering to sell it already. The tourney director affected the result of the game severely. Consequently, it affects who plays on Sunday, including myself.
If we just let Tourney Directors run the game ANY way they like irrespective of rules then it becomes corrupt and I am sure 888 Poker League does not want the game corrupted.
While I may have been very vocal, what happened was way out of line and unpallatable. Any poker player who cares about the integrity of the game should speak up where they see something wrong.

[Caleb]

If you are on the RAIL shut the F up & let the tourney director run the game.

Just no Harps. As a Tournament Director, what you are saying is completely incorrect. If a player has a question speak up, regardless of whether they are in the tournament of not.

Especially in this circumstance when the tournament is effectively over and the game is not being held up.

Warboat, I am reluctant to comment as this is only one side of the story. I do have a question though. Did you actually question the size of the pot awarded to the BB? I can't tell if you did or not from your story.

Also, are you 100% certain you are able to purchase tickets to the State Championships from other players? We do not allow this in South Australia, and I thought it was a national rule.

[Caleb]

Lastly, your thread title is very misleading. It's a bit hard to be kicked out of a game you have already busted from.

[666HARPS666]

Nowhere in his post did he say he was asking a question Caleb! All he says is he was having a heated exchange with the dealer.