Harsh Penalty for Ren Lin – Permanent Ban from GGPoker and All WSOP Events!

Many of you might have caught the scandal that unfolded during the second day of the WSOP Super Circuit Main Event in Cyprus. At the start, Chinese professional and GGPoker ambassador Ren Lin returned to his table where his advancing stack was supposed to await him, but it wasn’t there. Lin had been disqualified due to recent accusations of online ghosting, which sparked a cascade of statements, precedents, and comments.

Following a serious breach of fair play rules during the online GGMillion$ final, GGPoker announced Lin's indefinite suspension, not only from his role as an ambassador for the online platform but also from all WSOP events, both online and live. Similarly, a permanent ban from GGPoker and WSOP was imposed on Chinese tournament champion and Lin's friend “RealOA.”

Alongside this, GGPoker confirmed the confiscation of the entire $346,903 winnings from the tournament, which will be redistributed among the remaining finalists according to refund rules. To cover this, Lin had to personally pay an additional $96,380. All actions were part of the “cascade of consequences” that GGPoker officially lists in its investigation results.

Lin’s Apology

Immediately after the investigation results were disclosed, Ren Lin released a lengthy public statement on X. He explained that he had selflessly offered help to a friend and that he gained no personal benefit from the incident: “I must make it clear that I took no personal gain from this situation… it was an impulsive reaction in an inappropriate situation, which went against the principles of fair play that I have always stood for.” Lin emphasized that he had no stake in the tournament and did not profit from advising the winner “RealOA.”

Following the incident, Lin sincerely apologized to those affected in the tournament and publicly promised “never to advise anyone during an ongoing game again.” He added that he fully accepts the responsibility and consequences of his actions. As a significant member of the Chinese poker community, he reminded everyone that respect for poker often lacks in China; therefore, he felt obligated as a public figure to set a positive example of integrity.

Find Lin’s full statement here

Impact on the Poker Community

This case clearly indicates that cheating via ghosting will no longer go unnoticed. In an official statement, GGPoker emphasized that “competitive poker relies on trust” and that such an incident “cannot undermine its foundation.”

Lin’s sincere remorse and humility gained sympathy and understanding from a part of the community. Daniel Negreanu, his colleague and fellow GGPoker ambassador, praised Lin's transparency. On Twitter, he wrote that Lin’s apology “doesn't come off as fake” and commended Lin for “taking the consequences of his actions in his words.” Negreanu specifically noted that while it might have been a relatively minor infraction, GGPoker’s response was “thorough and severe.”

System-wide sanctions (bans applying both online and live) mean that this behavior will be scrutinized more strictly from now on. Ultimately, the incident sparked a discussion about the crossover regulation of online and live poker. It reminded everyone that various chat groups or private calls need clear limits to keep the game fair. For the broader community, Lin's case is also a lesson: organizers’ responsibility for the integrity of the game now accepts no compromises.

The entire poker world now sees that only a firm and unified approach can stand against cheating – and in this regard, GGPoker and WSOP have bet all their chips on fairness. Opinions on this solution remain mixed – some fans will miss Lin's playful style at live tournaments, while others are glad that organizers didn't hesitate to decisively confront rule-breakers. In which camp do you find yourself?

Sources: X, PokerStrategy, official statement from GGPoker