In our latest update on happenings within the poker community, we report on the legal problems now facing one 2019’s Main Event finalists and bring you the sad news of one of poker’s bright stars who sadly passed away last week.
The sudden loss of Richard “nutsinho” Lyndaker puts trivialities such as money into perspective, but we lead with Marchington’s Main Event story due to there being more information to report on.
Nick Marchington’s main problem
Back in 2006, it was heavily reported that Main Event winner Jamie Gold would not get to keep his full $12 million prize for winning the tournament. He had agreed to split his action down the middle with a backer and had to settle out of court after his win. Now it seems, 7th place finisher in the 2019 Main Event, Nick Marchington is facing legal issues of a similar nature. In the weeks since the Main Event, information and opinions on the situation have snowballed, with Daniel Negreanu, Justin Bonomo and Phil Galfond all giving their thoughts on Twitter.
If they don’t get paid then the law is stupid.
They gave this kid money to play.
He played with their money.
He should have to pay.
This is gross.
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) August 3, 2019
The lawsuit facing Marchington states that on May 29th a deal was agreed for David Yee and Colin Hartley (partners in C Biscuit Poker Staking) to take 10% of Marchington’s action in both the $5K Six-Max NLH and the Main Event. The mark up for these events was 1.1 and 1.2 respectively. The money was sent on June 4th and Marchington responded with a text message which said “We are booked. Let’s get rich”.
Details and debate
Yee and Hartley state that Marchington then messaged a few weeks later to say he was now unlikely to play the $5K or Main and would refund their investment, before changing his mind about the Main a few days later. Marchington allegedly told them he had found players willing to back him at 1.7 mark up in the Main and that he wanted to cancel the piece Yee and Hartley had bought at 1.2. On July 4th Marchington played day 1b and bagged up 109,100 and according to Yee and Hartley, then attempted to return their $1,200 piece the following day.
Marchington had already indicated a desire to cancel the piece before the event started however, and his refund was accepted, with an individual collecting the refunded money from Marchington in person. Yee and Hartley are now suing for $152,500 and any legal fees incurred, claiming that as the refund had not been received prior to the start of play, the staking deal was still active.
In the ensuing public discussion on social media, both sides of the argument have been advocated. Some feel that Marchington was ambiguous and unethical throughout the process and that his lack of clarity on the issue and fact that he had not refunded the money when the event began should be the deciding factors. Others, such as Phil Galfond feel that as Yee and Hartley’s staking group accepted the refunded money the next day, the deal was clearly cancelled.
More like:
I sell u 20% of my biz for $1k.
Then I say “sorry but I need to sell it to someone else for $2k. How can I pay u back?”
U say “well that was shitty of u. I’ll take cash.”
I return ur $1k. U tweet that I back out of deals.
Next year biz makes $2m. U sue for $400k.
— Phil Galfond (@PhilGalfond) August 4, 2019
Richard “nutsinho” Lyndaker dies suddenly aged 33
For those who were frequently involved in high stakes games online over the past decade, the name “nutsinho” will undoubtedly be familiar. New Yorker Richard Lyndaker was the cash game specialist behind this screen name, enjoying a great deal of success at stakes up to $300/$600 online and $1.8 million in live cashes, with his most recent cash coming at the WSOP in 2018.
The passing of Lyndaker was reported last week by a family friend on 2+2 who claims he had been prescribed painkilling medication for a soccer injury and had suffered an accidental overdose. Many who knew Lyndaker in the poker world were left shocked and saddened at the 33-year-old’s passing, with some taking to social media to express the grief. Doug Polk described Lyndaker as one of the players who inspired him to “dream big in poker” while Jason Koon said “”He had so much raw talent and was always very kind. RIP.”
with us. I only hung out with him a few times over the years, but I can say he seemed to have a good heart and was a genuine human being. The poker world has lost a legend, and I hop at this moment he is 3 betting someone light up in there in the clouds (RIP Rich)
— Doug Polk (@DougPolkPoker) August 2, 2019
Article by Craig Bradshaw
