PokerStars Bans Four Greek Players for Cheating, Promises Compensation

In a recent development, PokerStars has taken action against four Greek players for cheating. The accounts of Zisimo7, GeoManousos, gkap13, and farmjim were blocked in 2017 following an investigation into their activities. The players were reported by another Greek regular, Georgios 'belthazorrrrr' Kitsiou, who suspected cheating due to unusual win rates and play styles.

Kitsiou detailed his suspicions in a blog post, noting that the accused players had obvious tells and lacked knowledge of key poker concepts. He reported them to PokerStars, leading to their accounts being blocked and their funds confiscated. PokerStars confirmed the cheating and promised compensation to affected players, though they warned that payments might be delayed.

One of the accused, Zisimo7, responded to the allegations, denying wrongdoing and attributing his success to selective play and a unique style. He also mentioned that he and other Greek players received letters from PokerStars indicating that their accounts were under review. The situation has sparked debate within the poker community, with some players expressing support for Kitsiou's actions and others criticizing him for exposing the identities of the accused.