‘TheV0id’ Drops Legal Action Against PokerStars

Natalie Teltscher, the person registered to ‘TheV0id’ account on PokerStars, has dropped her legal action against the site for her alleging a wrongful disqualification in PokerStars' 2007 World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) Main Event.

The case was initially filed earlier this year, with Teltscher seeking the return of the first place prize money of the $1,228,330.50 originally awarded to the "TheV0id" account. The case was adjourned in June while contractual issues regarding the case were resolved.

Teltscher admitted in court proceedings that she never played in the event but had an "agent" play on her behalf, a move which violates PokerStars’ rules. While the agent was not named, allegations had suggested that ‘TheV0id’ was one of multiple accounts which had taken part in the event. The admission by Teltscher was mentioned on Isle of Man news website iomtoday.co.im.

PokerStars were pleased with the findings, the full statement from the company reading as follows:

PokerStars™ are pleased to announce that Natalie Teltscher has recently withdrawn her claim in the Isle of Man Courts against PokerStars.

Furthermore, in discontinuing her claim, she has agreed to contribute a sum towards the legal costs incurred by PokerStars in this matter.

Ms Teltscher brought her claim against PokerStars because she was disqualified from first place of the 2007 WCOOP Main Event after PokerStars internal investigations demonstrated beyond doubt that she had not played on the account. On her disqualification all other players were moved one place higher in the prize table and the money confiscated from her account, TheV0id, was redistributed in full, according to the amended tournament placings.

Ms Teltscher initially claimed that she had played the account. However, when faced with the results from PokerStars' investigation she eventually admitted she hadn't played.

The decision of Ms Teltscher to withdraw her claim fully vindicates PokerStars' decision to disqualify her from the tournament and subsequently defend the claim, actions which were taken in order to protect the integrity of the games on offer at PokerStars.