Online Poker Pioneer Isai Scheinberg Plays WSOP Main Event for the First Time
While participants of the 2023 World Series of Poker Main Event were treated to the surprising entry of ex-Manchester City Sergio Aguero, there was another shock Main Event debut that flew under the radar.
Online poker pioneer and co-founder of PokerStars Isai Scheinberg quietly entered poker's crown jewel tournament on Day 2abc and navigated his way through the field, ending the session with a stack of 62,000. He returns to the felt on Sunday, July 9, at 12 p.m. for Day 3.
Scheinberg's participation in the Main Event is quite a shock due to the fact that he is very rarely spotted at the poker table. Despite being an industry leader, Scheinberg never wanted to hog the spotlight and has been described as a private person. Amazingly, he has only ever given one interview to the poker media, and that was back in 2021 with Lance Bradley.
However, over the last few months, Scheinberg has been getting the recognition he deserves from some of poker's biggest brands.
In December 2022, Scheinberg was told that he would honored by the World Poker Tour and receive the 2022 WPT Honors Award alongside long-time broadcaster Vince Van Patten. Their induction for the WPT Honors Awards also takes place tonight.
He is also a nominee to become the 2023 Poker Hall of Fame inductee, with six-time bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu — a former PokerStars ambassador during the company's Scheinberg-led days — firmly in his corner as one of his most vocal supporters ever since Scheinberg first made the shortlist back in 2020.
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Isai Scheinberg's Recorded Live Cashes
| Date | Event | Place | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2014 | £2,200 UKIPT High Roller | 1st | $22,253 |
| April 2008 | €1,700 NLH EPT Monte Carlo | 8th | $18,039 |
| December 1998 | $1,000 Limit Hold'em | 8th | $2,010 |
| May 1996 | WSOP $2,500 NLH | 25th | $3,337 |
Scheinberg's Legacy in Online Poker
Scheinberg's introduction to the world of poker came in the late 1990s when he started developing software for online poker games. Recognizing the potential of online poker, he co-founded PokerStars in 2001, along with his son Mark Scheinberg. Under Scheinberg's leadership as the CEO, PokerStars quickly rose to prominence and became a dominant force in the online poker industry.
PokerStars differentiated itself by offering a user-friendly platform, a wide range of game options, and innovative features that appealed to poker enthusiasts around the globe. Scheinberg's focus on providing a secure and fair gaming experience, combined with aggressive marketing strategies as well as industry-leading customer support, helped PokerStars attract a large player base and achieve unprecedented success.
However, Scheinberg's tenure at PokerStars was not without its challenges. In 2011, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted Scheinberg and other PokerStars executives on charges related to illegal online gambling, money laundering, and bank fraud. This is commonly referred to as Black Friday in the poker community.
The charges stemmed from PokerStars' continued operation in the US market following the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006.
Scheinberg faced extradition to the United States and spent several years navigating the legal process. In 2012, he surrendered to US authorities in New York and later reached a settlement with the DOJ. In 2014, the Scheinberg family sold PokerStars to Amaya Gaming for $4.9 billion. Scheinberg resolved his legal issues in 2020.
Follow along with PokerNews live coverage of the 2023 WSOP Main Event
In this Series
- 1 The 2023 WSOP Main Event is Underway: Jamie Gold Ready for Record to Be Broken
- 2 Agony of Defeat: Poker Player Runs Kings into Aces Twice Vs. Same Opponent, Busts Main Event Day 1
- 3 Espen Jorstad in Action, Ready to Defend World Championship
- 4 July 5, 2019: Reliving the Craziest Day in WSOP Main Event History
- 5 Poker Boom 2.0: 2023 WSOP Main Event Officially the Largest Ever
- 6 Two Players Bust on the First Hand of 2023 WSOP Main Event Day 1D
- 7 The Greatest Show: Hellmuth and Jungleman Make Grand Entrance into 2023 WSOP Main Event
- 8 Ex-Manchester City Striker Sergio Aguero Makes Surprise Entry into 2023 WSOP Main Event
- 9 Would You Fold Kings Preflop on Day 1 of the WSOP Main Event in This Spot?
- 10 Alexandra Botez & 888poker Ambassadors Make Day 2 of Main Event
- 11 Rapper Hoodie Allen Abandons Chips in Poker World Championship for Friend's Wedding
- 12 Online Poker Pioneer Isai Scheinberg Plays WSOP Main Event for the First Time
- 13 Phil Hellmuth Coolered Out of WSOP Main Event by Nicholas "Dirty Diaper" Rigby
- 14 2023 WSOP Main Event Registration Closes w/ 10,043 Entries & $12.1M to Winner
- 15 Tom Dwan Busts WSOP Main Event; What Would You Do Here?
- 16 Popular Rapper Returns in Time for Poker World Championship...And Gets Aces Cracked
- 17 The Muck: Was the WSOP Main Event Payout Structure Absurd?
- 18 Queen on the River Dashes Nicholas Rigby's WSOP Main Event Title Dreams
- 19 Pollster Nate Silver's Chances of Winning 2023 WSOP Main Event are Now 0%
- 20 Nicholas Rigby Busts Chance Kornuth in a 200 Big Blind Pot on Day 5
- 21 Moneymaker, Hachem Bust Day 5; All Past WSOP Main Event Champs Out
- 22 Nicholas Rigby Talks "Dirty Diaper" Strategy in the 2023 WSOP Main Event
- 23 Nightmare Runout Knocks Alexandra Botez Out of the WSOP Main Event
- 24 Father & Daughter Make the Money of the 2023 WSOP Main Event
- 25 Kings Lose to Aces on the Bubble of the 2023 WSOP Main Event
- 26 Do You Know Which Poker Player Just Set the Record of Cashing Seven Consecutive Live WSOP Main Events?
- 27 2023 WSOP Main Event Hands of the Week: Royal Flush Twice in 4 Hands; Miracle Running Kings
- 28 Would You Rather Get a WSOP Main Event Seat for Life or $200,000?
- 29 Alexandra Botez Wants the WSOP Main Event Stream to Be Free; Do You Agree?
- 30 Can Some Fool's Gold Help Adam Walton Capture the 2023 WSOP Main Event Bracelet?
- 31 Jones, Weinman and Walton to Battle for 2023 WSOP Main Event Title
- 32 Pros vs. Jones: One of These 3 Players is Hours Away From Poker Immortality
- 33 Adam Walton Jams 80 Big Blind Stack Into Pocket Aces, Busts WSOP Main Event
- 34 Daniel Weinman Wins Record-Breaking 2023 WSOP Main Event for $12,100,000
- 35 How Much Money Players at 2023 WSOP Main Event Final Table Really Made
