Ali Imsirovic Disqualified from RunGood Poker Series Tournament
A once-celebrated figure in the poker world, Ali Imsirovic’s reputation continues to spiral as he was recently removed from a live poker tournament—his second such incident in just a few months.
Chip Leader Disappears Mid-Tournament
Imsirovic, who has largely avoided live poker events over the past couple of years, registered for the $1,200 Main Event at the RunGood Poker Series hosted by bestbet Jacksonville. Despite his low profile in recent times, he appeared to be making a strong comeback. On Day 1A of the tournament, Imsirovic held the chip lead going into the dinner break.
However, when players returned, Imsirovic and his substantial chip stack were conspicuously absent. Tournament officials confirmed that he was no longer part of the event but did not provide specific reasons. It is widely speculated that his removal stemmed from his tarnished reputation and past admissions of cheating.
A Fall from Grace
Imsirovic’s fall has been dramatic. In 2021, he was a dominant force on the high-stakes circuit, capturing three Global Poker Awards, including the prestigious GPI Player of the Year title.
But in 2022, a wave of accusations, led in part by fellow pro Alex Foxen, painted a grim picture of Imsirovic’s conduct. He was accused of everything from collusion in live settings to multi-accounting, ghosting, and the use of real-time assistance (RTA) during online play.
That same year, the PokerGO Tour took notice and suspended Imsirovic. Prior to that, rumors had already circulated in 2020 when GGPoker banned numerous accounts for unspecified reasons. Though the company never named names, Imsirovic’s abrupt absence from the platform raised eyebrows.
In early 2024, he faced a similar rejection when tournament staff at Houston’s Champions Club refunded his buy-in and denied him entry upon recognizing him at another poker event.
Public Admission, Partial Accountability
In 2023, Imsirovic released a nearly 30-minute video attempting to address the allegations. While he admitted to certain wrongdoings—most notably multi-accounting on GGPoker during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020—he denied other claims, such as using RTA, ghosting, and chip dumping to teammates. He also acknowledged engaging in multi-accounting again in 2022, justifying his actions by stating that many players were doing it.
The video was widely criticized for its tone and lack of remorse. Some in the poker community found it inadequate and evasive, likening it to classic deflections by public figures caught in scandal.
After the confession, Imsirovic largely retreated from the live poker scene. In 2024, he recorded just seven cashes, including an impressive run in the $1,500 “The Closer” event at the World Series of Poker, where he came close to reaching the final table.
Despite these occasional appearances, Imsirovic’s presence at live events remains controversial, with organizers and players alike wary of his past. His recent ejection from the RunGood Poker Series suggests that his path back into the poker community remains fraught with obstacles.
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- Source: SCCGManagement.com