Professional poker player Nacho Barbero recently faced scrutiny after sharing an Instagram story that showed him playing on ACR Poker with the GTO Wizard software open. This led to allegations of potential real-time assistance (RTA) use during gameplay. Barbero clarified that he was not using the software to analyze hands from the ongoing tournament.
Investigation and Findings
ACR Poker conducted a thorough internal investigation into Barbero’s activities. Their statement concluded: “After a complete internal investigation of all hands played in the tournaments Nacho participated in, we concluded that at no time did he use real-time assistance (RTA) to aid his decision-making or that of any other player during live hands.”
Additionally, poker professional Patrick Leonard conducted his own review and reached a similar conclusion, finding no evidence of RTA use by Barbero.
Barbero’s Response and Withdrawal
Following the investigation’s conclusion, Barbero expressed his relief and reiterated his commitment to integrity in the game. He stated, “I am very happy that ACR’s investigation verified what I had said before: I did not cheat and I never would have cheated. I love this game too much to do anything that could compromise my integrity or my reputation.”
Acknowledging the concerns raised by the incident, Barbero announced his decision to withdraw from The Venom tournament, despite having two active stacks remaining. He explained, “As someone who represents not only ACR but the game itself, I should be more mindful of how my actions are perceived. And I understand that some people will continue to question my actions during The Venom. For that reason, I have decided to abandon the remainder of my tournament and the two active stacks that I still had to play.”
Barbero concluded by affirming his dedication to poker: “I have built my career and my life around poker. My passion for this game has never waned, and I would never do anything to compromise that. I will let the facts and evidence speak for themselves. My integrity is intact, and my love for the game remains stronger than ever.”
This incident underscores the importance of transparency and integrity in poker, highlighting the community’s vigilance in maintaining fair play standards.
