This is standard practice for higher-level players, who sell their stakes to help cover parts of the buy-ins in return for splitting the profits. The problem in Marchington’s case came with the practice of markups, which essentially allow players to charge a premium for their services. Marchington initially sold the Main Event stakes to Yee and Hartley for a 1.2 markup; they paid 20 percent extra on the stakes in order to secure the 10 percent revenue from his total winnings Daftar Poker.

However, on July 3, Marchington was able to secure a 1.7 markup, and decided to renege on the original deal. According to Yee and Hartley, Marchington messaged them saying as much: “I am playing the main event but unfortunately your piece is cancelled. I know this is bad practice but I have to do what’s best for myself since I lost a lot on the trip.”