Full Tilt Poker finally made an acknowledgment today that it is aware of the Stoxpoker/Nick Grudzien controversy and is in the process of looking into the allegations that come from statistical research done by 2+2 Players. No word yet from PokerStars representatives.

If you are not familiar with the story, it is quite interesting.

Sometime ago (March 2009). several High Stakes regulars were complaining that they felt collusion was taking place among several names (40putts, knockstiff, Kinetica, LittleZenat) at PokerStars and Full Tilt. Apparently both PokerStars and Full Tilt initiated investigations and ultimately cleared these accounts of wrongdoing.

Fast-forward to 2010 and Millionaire Professional, Stoxppoker training site owner Nick Grudzien is accused of multi-accounting in a 2+2 thread. Interestingly enough, one of the accounts he is accused of using to multi-account is 40putts (account accused of collusion in 2009). Initially, Nick Grudzien strongly denied any multi-accounting and protested vehemently. Eventually, the evidence kept coming in and Nick finally admitted to multi-accounting using 40putts and resigned from Stoxpoker (Stoxpoker is also going out of business - merging with CardRunners).

Shortly after this admission, the collusion suspicions resurfaced at 2+2 from March 2009. People were requesting that others provide Hand Histories for all the names accused earlier. Finally, PokerTableRatings provided a ton of available hand histories for the researchers to examine. After what appears to be an exhaustive examination, NoahSD at 2+2 posted a statistical finding that can spin your head. I thought I was smart but I have to admit to understanding very little of what was presented. Thank God the Poker World has super intelligent people looking out for fellow players!!!

Bottom Line it appears that in fact at a minimum the above accounts were soft-playing each other, but most likely were colluding at the expense of other players at the tables.

Two days after the initial results were posted, Full Tilt Representative FTPSean stated:

"We understand and appreciate that this issue is of high interest to the community at large, and therefore wanted to let everyone know that we are indeed aware of this thread and its contents.
We are taking the information outlined herein and will attempt to duplicate and verify the OP’s analysis over the complete database of hands played on FTP. Once we have done this, we should be in a position to comment further."

You can read the full 2+2 Thread, which also contains several links to the initial allegations
2+2 Collusion Thread

The best way to qualify for the WSOP $10K Main Event and all the preliminary Events is to play satellites at online poker rooms. Not only do you save LOTS of money in rake from playing live satellites in Vegas, but almost all online poker sites provide extra value in several different areas. Bonus Payments, Hospitality Suites, Dinner with Poker Professionals, Hotel Packages, Exclusive Parties, Apparel, are among the extras.

There is one site that provides a helpful one-page summary of the major online poker rooms WSOP Satellites as well as a full schedule of the 57 Events World Series of Poker - Schedule/Online Satellites

There are several interesting offerings for 2010.

One thing I always find strange. Although PokerStars sends the most players by far to the WSOP (supposedly more than all the other sites combined), it starts its satellites the latest. It does not start official satellites until April 20ish. All other rooms have started in some fashion.

Full Tilt offers the most comprehensive WSOP program and the most ways to get into the Main Event. Of course, they have the infamous $10Million Bonus if you happen to win the WSOP Main Event, but this year they added a Free 2011 Main Event Entry if you simply CASH the Main Event this year (of course you must satellite in through Full Tilt). They are offering 81 Player Shootout Satellites as well as Weekly Cash Qualifiers every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

They are also giving away 50 completely Free $10K Seats in the Race to Main Event Promotion that involves round-the-clock Freeroll SNGs starting soon in April.

Full Tilt also will be offering a very interesting $1.10 Satellite every Sunday through June 27 that guarantees 5 seats. They even have 30 cent satellites to the satellite. Imagine winning the Main Event World Series of Poker on 30 cents!!!

You can also win prizes at Full Tilt including a free 2011 Main Event Seat by playing Fantasy WSOP which involves choosing a15 player team of pros before each World Series Event.

Full Tilt $12K prize package includes Dinner w/FTP Poker pros; Rio Accommodations; Free access to hospitality suite; $2K in spending money .

Ultimate Bet (UB) offers the next best WSOP set of promotions. In "$how Up Get Paid", UB qualifiers to the Main Event get paid a minimum $1000 cash just for playing the event, and can make more money based on a progressive, shared prize pool. UB also offers a nice variety of satellites that start at Step Tourneys from $0.10. "Final Table Sponsorship" pays bonus money to the UB qualifiers who make the Final Table up to a maximum $750,000 for 1st Place. They are also offering a "King of Satellites" leaderboard which provides cash to the Top 5 Satellite Winners ($5K 1st)

Carbon Poker offers an interesting "ALL-IN OR FOLD YOUR WAY TO WSOP" that involves a 10 Step process that starts at $1 and you must Fold or bet All-in each hand. Winners get entry to Event #54 $1K buyin and $1500 cash. Carbon's Main Event Satellites provide winners a $12,500 Package in a $275 Grand Finals Sat. SNGs start at $2.

Cake Poker offers a $12,500 Package every Sunday with a $374 Finals Satellite.

Doyle's Room offers the same $12,500 Package but includes: A private dinner with Doyle Brunson; An invite to all-inclusive party; A photo session/Meet & Greet with Doyle; Autographed copies of his books; DoylesRoom apparel & gear.

Bodog has not published their 2010 Schedule, but always offers nice extras for players who qualify through satellites including: A personal handler to ensure you play your best; VIP Players lounge: hanging out with the pros, meeting the Bodog girls; getting a massage; Bodog clothes, bags, gadgets; evening parties; Bonuses based on your performance and exposure.

For NON-USA Players, the iPoker Network, which includes sites such as Mansion Poker, Sun Poker and Titan is offering a unique set of satellites that includes a $13K Main Event Package with 7 nights stay at Wynn Las Vegas. You will also find several multi-event satellites topped off with the "Jackpot Sit’N’Go Executive Package". If you can win 6 consecutive $12 Special SNGs, iPoker will award $25K in prizes which includes two WSOP Events ($2500/$10K) and 13 nights at Wynn.

Party Poker is giving its players a chance to Freeroll their way to a $14K Main Event Package by offering 2 Freerolls daily to a Sub Qualifier that eventually leads to a $750 Main Satellite. All package winners will also be invited to join an exclusive WSOP poker seminar when they get to Vegas. Players will receive expert advice, tuition and tips from Team Party, which includes successful players like Mike Sexton, Tony G, Kara Scott, Ian Frazer and other pros.