In a surprising turn of events, GGPoker has banned Francesco “forzaitalia” Garofalo, mere weeks after his $1.1 million victory in the WSOP Online $25K GGMillion$ Super High Roller Championship.
The specifics surrounding the ban remain unclear, with GGPoker yet to release an official statement on the matter. However, this development has captured the attention of the poker community, considering the prominence of the event and the high-profile players involved.
The $25K GGMillion$ Super High Roller Championship Highlights
Garofalo, competing under the alias ‘forzaitalia,’ was the lone anonymous finalist in a field of poker’s elite. The $25K GGMillion$ Super High Roller Championship attracted many of the game’s heaviest hitters, with a buy-in that ensured only the most competitive players would be taking their seats. The tournament field saw 230 total entries, including 140 unique players and 90 re-entries, generating a prize pool of $5.6 million.
In the end, Garofalo emerged victorious, claiming the $1,122,201 top prize and outlasting seasoned pros like Chris Brewer and Bryn Kenney in the process.
The final table wasn’t short on recognizable names. Four-time bracelet winner Adrian Mateos, currently leading the 2024 Card Player Player of the Year race, finished sixth, adding another deep run to his decorated year. Tournament earnings leader Bryn Kenney secured third place, while Chris Brewer, a two-time bracelet winner, made it to heads-up play before Garofalo ultimately took the win. Daniel Negreanu, who live-streamed his journey, and other high-profile players like Ole Schemion and Roman Hrabec made memorable appearances, further emphasizing the event’s elite status.
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ‘forzaitalia’ | $1,122,201 |
| 2 | Chris Brewer | $865,335 |
| 3 | Bryn Kenney | $667,265 |
| 4 | Patrick Leonard | $514,531 |
| 5 | Dimitar Danchev | $396,758 |
| 6 | Adrian Mateos | $305,942 |
| 7 | Roman Hrabec | $235,914 |
| 8 | Ole Schemion | $181,914 |
| 9 | Samuel Mullur | $140,275 |
A Shocking Ban and Its Rippling Effects
Despite Garofalo’s rise to the top, the story took an unexpected twist with his recent ban from the GGPoker platform. The exact reason behind the ban remains unannounced, adding an air of mystery to the incident. What we do know is that several of the tournament’s participants reported receiving compensation from GGPoker, suggesting a serious infraction had taken place that impacted other players.
High-stakes regulars Alexei “Avr0ra” Borovkov and Alexander “AlexZa3” Zubov disclosed on their social media that they received payouts of $1,999 and $8,208, respectively, after the tournament. Additionally, Avr0ra mentioned that Barak Wisbrod and David Yan were compensated $7,000 and $43,000.
GGPoker’s decision to compensate multiple players signals a significant breach, though the nature of the issue remains unconfirmed.
For now, the poker world waits to see if further details will emerge about this high-profile ban.
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