Russ Hamilton

Russ Hamilton is an Americna poker player who won the 1994 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event.

He is also known for his involvement in the Ultimate Bet scandal that cheated players out of a total of $22,100,000.

Biography

Hamilton attended college in Michigan, before leaving to pursue a career in poker. He moved to Las Vegas at the age of 36 initially as a member of a profitable tournament blackjack team, but quickly returned to poker.

1994 WSOP Main Event

In what was the 25th anniversary of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, it was announced that the winner was to receive his/her weight in silver.

Hamilton, who had already final tabled two events at the Series that year was one of 268 players who entered the Main Event. As the tournament reached the final table, organisers Binions felt pretty safe considering there were a few slim final tablists.

However, Hamilton tipped the scales at 330 pounds after eating steak and four banana split sundaes n the lead up to the final table. During the final table, Hamilton continued to eat pancake and egg breakfasts, as wellas a hamburger and fries.

He eventually defeated Hugh Vincent heads-up to win $1,000,000, as well as $30,000 in silver bars.

"When we got down to three players, and then two players, it was never about the money," Hamilton said, following his victory. "There was only one thing that mattered — having my picture up on that wall and winning the bracelet. They can take the money, they can take the silver, but they can never take that picture off the wall."

Ultimate Poker Scandal

After his Main Event win, Hamilton worked as a gaming industry expert and as a consultant for Ultimate Bet.

In 2008, Ultimate Bet proprietors Tokwiro Enterprises announced that during 2006-07 unfair play had occurred on the site. Several accounts were identified as having results "far beyond statistical norms" as a result of using software code that enabled to see their opponents hole-cards.

Related: Kahnawake Gaming Commission Announces Sanctions on UltimateBet; Russ Hamilton Named

After an investigation by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission found "clear and convincing evidence" that Hamilton was the main person responsible for and benefiting from these incidents.

"I did take this money and I’m not trying to make it right, so let’s get that out of the way" —Russ Hamilton

Three years later, more details on the "superuser scandal" as it came to be known were released. Travis Makar, a former business associate of Hamilton, regularly conducted interviews on the topic, as well as leaking emails and files..

This, along with the tireless reporting of Haley Hintze, enabled the poker world to gain a better understanding of what exactly happened.

In the end, Hamilton would serve no jail time, receive no fine, and has refused to address the allegations. He is rarely seen in the poker world, although in 2011 he was heckled at the Gulfstream Poker Room in Florida.

WSOP Main Event Winners 1985-94