FullTilt Poker recently announced in a statement given to ABC News that players who were subject to the seizure of player funds using their Instant eCheck option now have funds back in their accounts. The federal government froze over $30 million in accounts of payment processors that take care of the money earned by thousands of online players including those at Full Tilt as well as PokerStars last week. But now Full Tilt is saying the money has been returned.

The statement read: “In light of recent events involving the freezing of certain accounts, Full Tilt Poker would like to assure all players that their funds remain safe and secure. All players who were affected by the current situation have had their funds returned to their accounts,” stated Michele Clayborn, Full Tilt Spokesperson. 

ABC also spoke with an online player that goes by the name David who said he had qualified for the WSOP by earning $10,000 from PokerStars. When he went to cash his check it would not cash. He had to use his own savings to buy-in to the World Series event and once he gets his earnings he will use that to fill in the gap in his savings.  David was reimbursed and he earned an extra 10% credit into his account. 

This is just one of many online players’ stories. Another player, Sam Friedman, plays at Full Tilt and he recently found that the option he uses is no longer available. Sam deposits money directly into his Citibank account and now this option is no longer available. He commented: “there are lots of ways to deposit and withdraw money and payment options are always disappearing, but something didn’t seem right. I can’t believe the government is reaching into people’s bank accounts like this. For a lot of serious players this is their lifeblood. This is how they make ends meet.”

Although Full Tilt Poker says the earnings have been reimbursed to the players no confirmation has been made by players affected. It will be interesting to see how long it is before someone comes forward to confirm that they have or have not received their funds. 

Last week online poker room Full Tilt Poker held a high roller event for those who enjoy the thrill of playing in high stakes tournaments. The $25,000 Heads Up Championship featured sixty three players competing which created a prize pool of $1, 575,000 which was divided in a NCAA style bracket system which is used in most heads up play tournaments. 

The top eight players would be the only ones to earn a pay day so everyone was trying hard to stay on to the quarter finals of the tournament. The tournament lasted two days with the finals taking place early Sunday evening. 

Players began the tournament playing heads up against another competitor and then the first to lose all their chips was knocked out of the competition. The winner would move on to the next round of heads up play. 

Several poker pros from Full Tilt competed in the tournament though they were unable to finish in the money. Phil Ivey, Andy Block, Tom Dwan, Erick Lindgren, John Juanda, Ziigmund, Tony G and Gavin Smith were among those who could not make it to the final rounds of play.

David Benefield and Ashton Griffin, both in their early twenties, made it to the final round of heads up play. both had eliminated many players to make it to the last match and only had to defeat the other to win the large first place prize. Ashton Griffin calls himself a heads up No Limit Hold’em specialist and apparently he is right because he was able to knock out Benefield to take the title win earning $551,250.

Benefield earned $315,000 for second place while WinnerFish and yogiblair earned $165,375 and the other four players, Past, Kadabra, IvanLendL and Vaga_Lion earned $94,500 for their finish. 

Every major poker site hosts tournaments during the weekend especially on Sundays and this week even though many were watching Lebron James, the events managed to see a good turnout. However, several of the online poker tournaments could not make their guarantees and overlays ensued. But with the NBA Championships coming down to the wire and people cooking out and celebrating the Memorial Day holiday it is no wonder there was a shortage of players.  

Absolute Poker saw a good turnout of 187 players to compete in their $100,000 guaranteed tournament. With a buy-in of $500 plus $30 the top twenty seven players would earn a payout and the top position would take home $26,000. All players begin the tournament with 3,000 chips with the hopes of knocking players out to gain more chips and hopefully make the final table. 

When it came down to final table play it would not be long before a winner would be named. Players were fighting to win the tournament or at least make it to the top three places as they paid out in the tens of thousands. When it came down to three handed play, online players DOES888, XXCELTICFCXX and MARIO_BASLER began the battle for first place. 

MARIO_BASLER would be unable to hold on to make it heads up play as he was knocked out in third, which left DOES888 and XXCELTICFCXX to begin heads up play. Once DOES888 held the chip lead he was ready to take down the win and on the final hand he would knock XXCELTICFCXX out and claim the $26,000 first place prize. 

Final Results:

DOES888 - $26,000 

XXCELTICFCXX - $15,500 

MARIO_BASLER - $11,000

PHILIBORT - $8,000

SKIMMYSCAM - $6,550

AJKHOOSIER1 - $5,500 

BOZONE_BUM - $4,500 

WU_WIZARD - $3,500 

BASEBALDY - $2,500