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PTWPT Global Bans Twitch Streamer for Using On-Screen Charts
Summary:
- Irish poker streamer Alan Finn was banned from WPT Global after charts appeared on his screen during a live session.
- The Excel spreadsheets prompted debate over whether Finn qualified as real-time assistance.
- WPT Global cited Rule 9.2 and reinforced its zero-tolerance policy toward external tools offering in-game advantages.
WPT Global, one of the world’s leading online poker platforms, has taken a hardline stance against anything resembling real-time assistance (RTA).
The site recently made headlines after banning a Twitch streamer for having charts visible on his screen while playing a low-stakes game.
“Mom’s Shopping List” and “WPT Range” Spreadsheets
The player in question is Irish poker streamer Alan Finn, known online as “AlanFPoker”
Finn, who streams regularly to his 2,700 Twitch followers, found himself at the center of controversy after poker pro Patrick Leonard shared a screenshot showing multiple spreadsheets open on Finn’s screen during a live session.
The documents in question included one humorously titled “Mom’s Shopping List” and another labeled “WPT Range”, both of which contained hand range charts typically used for strategic guidance.
Despite their basic Excel format and the fact that they weren’t generated from specialized RTA software, WPT Global viewed them as a breach of its rules.
The discovery promptly triggered a public ban that was announced on WTP’s official X account. In the same statement, the platform also took the opportunity to ask players to “keep the game alive” while reinforcing their commitment to fair play.
As expected, some members of the community are questioning whether Finn’s use of simple spreadsheets was truly worthy of such a response.
“It’s not like he had some AI-powered solver running”, one Twitter user noted. Others argued that the rules must be complied with, and any external guidance used during play, regardless of how simple or homemade, could offer a potential edge.
Heated RTA Debate
According to WPT Global’s rulebook, specifically Rule 9.2
Players are prohibited from using devices such as robots or any other external player assistance program” to distort “normal play” and gain an ”unfair advantage.”
The same rule states
Players must “make their own decisions when playing, without the aid of any information” other than that obtained during play.
Finn has since deleted the stream in question and has not issued a public statement. While it’s unclear whether the spreadsheets gave him any real advantage, WPT Global clearly felt the presence of strategic materials violated their integrity standards.
The broader debate around RTAs continues to heat up. Other sites, like ACR Poker, have faced criticism for lax enforcement.
In one high-profile case, ambassador Nacho Barbero was caught with an RTA chart on screen but was only let go after criticizing the site’s anti-cheating policies, not for the chart itself.
