WSOP Crimes & Punishments

The recent controversy regarding @Mike Matusow’s severe one-round penalty for “excessive celebration” at the table continues to draw attention and provoke reactions from players and commentators. In case you've missed it, here is the PokerNews account of the hand:

Stud Hi-Low
Cameron Tahmasebi raised to 12,000 and Jeet Sketty clicked it to 18,000. Mike Matusow called and so did Fu Wong. Tahmasebi was now all in for 13,500 on third and the three players proceeded to fourth. Matusow bet 6,000, Wong called, Sketty made it 12,000 and Matusow three bet to 18,000. Wong was skeptical and folded.
Matusow said, "If I win this pot, everybody will be playing for second."
Until sixth, Matusow was betting and had another 4,500 behind, Sketty put him to the test and all turned over their cards.
Wong: / muck
Tahmasebi: 8♥ 8♠ /9♥ 3♣ 6♠  4♦ / 6♣ 
Sketty:Q♦ 10♥ / 10♣ J♦ 2♣ J♠ / 5♥ 
Matusow: 5♠ 7♣ /6♥ 8♦ 4♥ J♥ / K♥ 
"Come on, I deserve this," yelled Matusow, almost losing his voice. The dealer delivered seventh and Matusow started cheering loudly, running away from the tournament area and everybody in the rather silent Amazon room could hear him. Matusow pounded the table in celebration as he continued to laud the hand. He raked in the massive pot with the straight and low and was then given a one round penalty for his "outrageous behavior."
"Is this for real? I didn't do anything. You get a penalty for getting excited? I didn't even swear." The tournament staff claimed they were only doing their job.
Matusow was visibly upset by the ruling almost to the point of tears. Some players, such as Joe Tehan and Owais Ahmed came to his defense, while others like Robert Mizrachi and Matt Lefkowitz tried their best to calm Matusow down and get him refocused.
In the meanwhile, Tahmasebi went to the payout desk to collect $7,784 for his 24th place finish.

Upset by the unjust ruling, Mike was eliminated (19th) shortly after resuming his place at the table in #WSOP25.

The poker community seems unusually unanimous that the decision was unfair and the most outspoken and active champion of the Matusow defense has been @Daniel Negreanu:

“Ruling made by TD Dave Lamb on @themouthmatusow is atrocious disgusting and represents what's wrong with poker.Showing emotion is a penalty?”

“The mouth is one of pokers most colorful characters and has been for over a decade. To mute him in this fashion is detrimental to poker.”

While Matusow still expects an apology, it might be a good idea for all WSOP players to take a look at the 2014 WSOP Official Tournament Rules (and especially Section IV, 39 and Section VI, 107, on penalties).

One person who didn’t check the WSOP rules and got himself a penalty on that count was @Henry Tran:

Others have been rightfully penalized for not betting the nuts in position on the river:

Finally, there are penalties for 'abuse and disruptive behavior' and hardly anyone will be surprised to see @Phil Hellmuth's name come up in such a context :) In 2008, he got a highly deserved one-round penalty for calling another player (@Cristian Dragomir) an idiot at the WSOP Main Event:

Few of us need Official Rules to know better than call people 'idiots'. Yet, to be on the safe side, before your next visit to the Rio, check the #WSOPrules so you don't end up penalized like these guys :)

http://www.wsop.com/2014/2014-WSOP-Rules.pdf