Ali Imsirovic, once one of the most feared high-stakes poker players, was thrown out of the Champions Club Winter Poker Open in Houston before he could even play a hand. The disgraced pro, who admitted to some cheating allegations last year, registered for the $1,500 Main Event on Saturday but was swiftly disqualified and banned from the property.
From Poker Superstar to Persona Non Grata
Just three years ago, Imsirovic was riding high. In 2021, he dominated the high-roller circuit, won three Global Poker Awards—including GPI Player of the Year—and cashed for millions. But everything changed in 2022 when serious cheating allegations surfaced. He was accused of multi-accounting and using real-time assistance (RTA) tools in online poker, as well as colluding with other players in live tournaments.
The fallout was swift. PokerGO Tour suspended him, and while some card rooms and tournament operators allowed him to continue playing, the poker community largely turned its back on him. Now, even as he tries to make sporadic appearances, it’s clear his reputation remains toxic.
The Ban at Champions Club
Imsirovic’s attempt to play at Champions Club, one of Houston’s top poker rooms, didn’t last long. He registered for the tournament, but the moment his name appeared on the entry list, the club took action. Tournament staff approached him, refunded his buy-in, and escorted him off the premises.
He didn’t argue or make a scene, according to live reporter Kirk Brown, who witnessed the incident. He simply left the club, knowing that his presence was unwelcome.
It’s a significant move from Champions Club, which has built its reputation on game integrity. The club, co-owned by poker legend Phil Hellmuth, is one of the most prominent legal poker venues in a city that’s also home to many underground and unregulated card rooms.
The Poker Community’s Stance on Imsirovic
While Imsirovic has not been banned outright from all major tournaments, his appearances have dwindled. Since 2022, he has only nine recorded cashes on The Hendon Mob, a stark contrast to his 14 high-roller victories in 2021 alone.
Few poker organizations have taken a strong stance against Imsirovic and his fellow accused cheater Jake Schindler. PokerGO Tour was one of the only operators to suspend both players back in September 2022. Beyond that, the poker world has largely left it to individual tournament organizers and casinos to decide whether to allow them to play.
However, it seems that sentiment in the poker world is shifting. Many players have called for stricter actions against those who’ve admitted to cheating, arguing that allowing them to play again undermines the integrity of the game.
Champions Club’s Statement on the Ban
Isaac Trumbo, President of Champions Club, made it clear that the decision to remove Imsirovic was about protecting the integrity of the game.
“Champions is committed, first and foremost, to the protection of our members,” Trumbo told PokerNews. “If poker is going to continue to thrive, the community must be able to trust operators to prioritize game integrity above all else, including our bottom line.”
This move by Champions Club may put pressure on other tournament organizers and casinos to take a firmer stance against known cheaters. For now, though, it’s clear that Imsirovic will have to keep searching for places willing to let him play.
