Imsirovic’s antics continue to follow him as he tries to get back to the tables
Ali Imsirovic, once a dominant force in high-stakes poker, found himself removed from a major tournament in Texas over the weekend. The Bosnian-American player, who previously admitted to online cheating, attempted to compete in the $1,500 Champions Club Winter Poker Open main event in Houston. However, tournament officials decided to disqualify him and ban him from the poker room, issuing a full refund of his buy-in.
Champions Club, founded by poker legends Doyle Brunson, Dewey Tomko, and Phil Hellmuth, has built a reputation for prioritizing game integrity. Club President Isaac Trumbo emphasized that their decision was made to protect players and maintain trust in the poker community.
Imsirovic’s fall from the top has been dramatic. Once considered a rising star with over $21 million in career earnings, he was named Player of the Year in 2021 and seemed unstoppable in both live and online games.
His reputation took a major hit in 2022 when fellow high-stakes pro Alex Foxen accused him of multi-accounting and using prohibited real-time assistance software. These allegations led to bans from PokerGO and the European Poker Tour, with many in the poker world cutting ties with him.
Although Imsirovic later admitted to multi-accounting, he denied cheating in live tournaments. He expressed hope of returning to the game, but his attempts to re-enter the poker scene have not been welcomed. His recent removal from the Champions Club event shows that many still view him as a threat to fair competition.
While some players have managed to recover from past scandals, Imsirovic faces an uphill battle. Trust is difficult to regain in a game built on honesty, and the poker world appears unwilling to forgive him anytime soon.
