Chino Rheem is the Epic Poker League’s first ever Main Event winner.  He won the event this past Friday night after a spirited heads-up match with Erik Seidel to take the $1 Million top prize.  In the days leading up to the final table and the days since, a lot of information has come to light regarding Rheem’s debt to many in the poker world, including allegations that he has scammed players in the process.  In today’s point-counterpoint, we look at whether Chino Rheem is a good representative for the Epic Poker League,

Point – Chino Rheem is Good for the Epic Poker League

Chino Rheem is a prime example of the type of player that the Epic Poker League needs to be a champion in their league.  Going into the event, he had over $4.7 Million in career winnings, including winning the WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond Classic in 2008.  In addition, Rheem made the November Nine of the 2008 WSOP Main Event where he finished in 7th place.

At just 30 years of age, Rheem not only has the experience needed to be successful in the game but also has a style of play and personality that many of today’s younger players can identify with.  He is not your atypical “TV pro” and has proven the ability to rise above and rise back from his shortcomings.  His overall story should make for compelling TV and should actually help league to grow.

Counterpoint – Chino Rheem is Not Good for the Epic Poker League

Chino Rheem is not the type of player that the EPL needs to have represent them.  First, he has a criminal past including convictions for larceny, stolen property, burglary, and drug possession.  Of these things he claims that he is not ashamed of anything he has done and has no regrets.

In addition, he is known around the poker world for borrowing money and not paying it back.  In addition there are numerous reports out of how he has made deals or borrowed money and refused to pay money back.  Yes, it is true that he paid some people back after his recent win, but it is also reported he only paid back 10% of what was owed to some of those people.

League’s like the Epic Poker League are trying to do what they can to improve the overall image of poker.  Chino Rheem is a prime example of the dark side of poker that a league such as the EPL needs to avoid like the plague if they have any hope of being taken seriously by the overall poker community.

Where do you stand on the issue?  Do you think that Rheem is a good representative for the EPL?  Regardless of where you stand on the issue, one thing that’s for certain is that this is a topic we are sure to hear more about in the future.

Tags: Allegations, Borrowing Money, Burglary, Career Winnings, Champion League, Convictions, Drug Possession, Epl, Erik Seidel, Friday Night, Larceny, No Regrets, Point Counterpoint, Poker World, Prime Example, Rheem, Shortcomings, Tv Pro, WPT, WSOP Main Event

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 16th, 2011 at 9:48 am and is filed under Poker News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

One Response to “Is Chino Rheem a Representative for Epic Poker League”

1. Horrible Hank says:

   August 17, 2011 at 11:24 am

   The last thing in the world the EPL needed was for chino to win.However the EPL deserved it for allowing him to play. There needs to be strict guidlines for who can or can’t play in these type of leauges. A board of directors should have the final say on who can compete. It should not be based on just ones ability to buy into the tournament , but skill, postive impact for the sport, in good standing in the poker comunity with ability to pay off debts. Any one who has a grievance agaist a certain poker player should be able to file his grievance and until that grievance is settled should a player be allowed to play in these hi profile tournys. This will keep out the Chino’s of the world and would go along way to putting a positive image on the sport. By the way Poker news boy rocks
   Horrible Hank