Valeriu Coca Exonerated

Valeriu Coca Exonerated

Monday, 2 November 2015

The man accused of marking cards in the $10,000 buy-in heads-up event at this year's World Series Of Poker (WSOP) tournament series has been cleared of cheating allegations and will now receive his prize money.

Valeriu Coca was exonerated following an investigation by the WSOP and Nevada gaming authorities and is set to pocket $54,545 thanks to a fifth placed finish in which the Moldovan overcame talented opposition in the form of Matt Marafioti, Aaron Mermelstein, Connor Drinan and Byron Kaverman.

Drinan described his defeat as ‘hands down [the] strangest hour and a half of poker of my life’ and stated that he had felt ‘super-used’, which prompted the WSOP to launch an investigation in early-June.



“Once issues were brought to our attention, we immediately commenced an investigation and worked cooperatively with the Nevada Gaming Control Board,” said WSOP spokesperson Seth Palansky.

“The investigation that was performed has now been completed by all parties. At this time, the matter is considered closed and the fifth place finisher in Event #10 will now have his funds released for payment.”



Tags: World Series Of Poker, WSOP, Valeriu Coca, Matt Marafioti, Aaron Mermelstein, Connor Drinan, Byron Kaverman, Seth Palansky