Weekly Flop: Ivey claims Innocence, Malaysia beats Malaysia, Scheinberg wins

It seems like Phil Ivey's two baccarat edge sorting lawsuits have been in limbo for ages. However, one of them is finally set to conclude...

Malaysia isn't exactly a poker powerhouse, but they recently experienced a big breakthrough at the WSOP...

It turns out that Isai Scheinberg can not only run a massive poker site, but also play the game too. Let's take an in-depth look at these stories in this edition of the Weekly Flop.

Phil Ivey claims innocence in UK High Court - Case being decided next week

It feels like eons ago when Phil Ivey leveled a £7.8 million (US $12.1 million) lawsuit against Crockfords (Genting Casinos) for refusing to pay his baccarat winnings. Actually it was about two years ago, but this story has been stuck in limbo until now.

Ivey got to speak at the High Court in London about his baccarat edge sorting exploits. And the 10-time WSOP champion explained that he "would never cheat" in casino games.

"I consider all the strategies I use to be lawful and I would never cheat in a casino," he continued. "It is not in my nature to cheat and nor would I risk my reputation by acting unlawfully in any manner. My integrity is infinitely more important to me than a big win, which is why I have brought these proceedings to demonstrate that I have been unjustly treated."
Ivey’s lawyer, Richard Spearman, also addressed the courtroom by explaining that it's a "cat and mouse game" between casinos and players. Spearman added that even with an advantage like edge sorting, Ivey takes a huge risk every time he plays.

These seem like very valid arguments in the face of Genting's claims that Ivey cheated. But will they be enough to earn Ivey millions when his case is decided some time next week? As for the edge sorting lawsuit brought against Ivey by the Borgata, this is expected to conclude next year.

Jay Loo and Aik-Chuan Nee battle for Malaysia's first WSOP Bracelet

Entering the 2014 WSOP Asia-Pacific, most of Malaysia's poker history was dedicated to Richard Yong's high roller scores and Mervin Chan's 2013 Aussie Millions victory ($1.7m). But Junzhong (Jay) Loo and Aik-Chuan Nee fought for the right to add another big chapter to their country's poker lore in the Event #2 $2k NLHE tournament.

Both players battled through a 215-player field to square off heads-up for the gold bracelet. Loo got the better of the matchup and scooped the $107,500 top prize. Perhaps more importantly, he grabbed the first-ever WSOP bracelet for Malaysia.

Surprisingly, it doesn't look like Loo will stick around to relish in his victory. "Actually, I told myself that I can’t give up poker until I win a bracelet," he said after the tournament. "So I really worked hard for the last three months and was hoping to get lucky and win one." Now that he's won a WSOP event, Loo can ride off into the sunset with a special place in Malaysian poker history.

Former PokerStars Boss Isai Scheinberg takes down UKIPT High Roller Event

Almost 13 years ago, IBM senior computer programmer Isai Scheinberg launched what would become the world's most-revolutionary poker site. And just a few months ago, he enjoyed the fruits of his labor by selling Stars to Amaya Gaming for $4.9 billion.

But although he's no longer running PokerStars, Scheinberg remains active in the game. Case in point, he recently claimed victory at the UKIPT Isle of Man High Roller. The £13,850 that he won won't make a dent in his bank account. However, it has still proven to be pretty big news in the poker world.

It's worth mentioning that this is not Scheinberg's first tournament cash. He has four cashes, including eight place in a 2008 EPT Grand Final side event ($18,039). Scheinberg's poker career won't bowl anybody over, but it's still cool to see him win a high roller tourney.