José Ignacio “Nacho” Barbero, the well-known Argentine poker pro and WSOP bracelet holder, faced a tumultuous start to 2025 in his career. Initially, he found himself mired in controversy linked to the use of GTO Wizard when he posted a screenshot on Instagram showing the solver plainly above an ACR Poker table. However, the platform's investigation found no evidence of cheating, a conclusion also supported by analyst Patrick Leonard after a meticulous examination of Barbero's hand history.
Just a few months later, during a live stream, Isaac Haxton called out this incident with the words: “Does ACR really not know? You just run GTO Wizard on your computer, and they don’t even notice? Are they even trying?” To which Barbero smilingly replied: “I don’t think they are.” This exchange set off a media frenzy and was the main reason ACR ended his ambassador contract just days later.
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Barbero responded with a public apology on X, acknowledging his actions as “two stupid mistakes” and emphasizing that he had never cheated in poker. He admitted to being unaware of his responsibilities as an ambassador and hoped the incident would be forgotten over time. Surprisingly, it took less than four months for that to happen.
A Second Chance
Just days ago, many were taken aback by the news that WPT Global had signed Nacho to an ambassador contract. This move was seen by many as surprising yet strategically sensible — Barbero can definitely draw a crowd, and, as the saying goes, any publicity is good publicity. Barbero himself embraces his popularity and media presence, believing it adds value to poker.
He expressed his thoughts on the matter: “I was surprised to receive the offer from WPT. I’m very happy to have been given a second chance because I bring value to poker. People follow me; they think I’m funny, they like my content... I think I can entertain.”
Nacho Barbero has navigated a rocky path, sparking strong reactions within the online poker community, yet at the same time proving that charisma, humor, and persistence can be powerful assets where personality outweighs past missteps. Whether WPT Global’s gamble pays off remains to be seen.
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Sources – X, PokerNews, VIP-Grinders, PokerListings
