Two players at the same table of the event are accused of working together
Concerns over potential collusion have sparked controversy at the 2025 World Series of Poker, particularly during the $50,000 Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) high-roller event. The incident came to light when Dutch poker pro Dirk “VeniVidi1993” Gerrits publicly questioned the behavior of two fellow competitors, Ding Bao and Quan Zhou.
According to Gerrits, who finished eighth in the tournament, the suspicion centers on a hand that took place immediately after a break. In a post on X, he pointed out what he called an unusual decision by Zhou, who reraised from the big blind after Ding opened from the cutoff. Gerrits noted that the 3-bet was not only strategically poor given the context but also stood out due to Zhou’s typically tight play throughout the final table.
“This is not a standard move for someone playing that cautiously,” Gerrits wrote. “Anyone with basic PLO knowledge can see it doesn’t make sense.” He implied the move might have been designed to allow Ding to fold easily, suggesting a potential strategy to protect each other’s chips.
The discussion didn’t stop there. Other players in the high-stakes community chimed in. Rob Kuhn, an American pro with several deep tournament runs, shared video footage of the hand and raised similar concerns.
The eye contact
No showing of the first hand
The 3b with a shit hand
This hand feels very weird to me. thoughts? pic.twitter.com/6iC8qiAMcB
— Rob Kuhn (@RobKuhn_) June 23, 2025
Martin Dam of Denmark, with over $2 million in live earnings, called the hand “blatant collusion” and pointed out that both Ding and Zhou are from China, which he felt was relevant given the nature of the partnership suspicion.
Ding Bao and Quan Zhou are both accomplished players, with Ding boasting more than $16 million in live earnings and Zhou over $12 million. As of now, there has been no official statement or action from WSOP organizers, but the accusations have added a layer of tension to an otherwise event. Many in the poker world are now waiting to see if the footage or further investigation prompts a response.
