I'm the one who started the old thread, and I asked Di to delete it because I had spoken directly with Drew who originally wanted me to put it up, but he had second thoughts because he was going to write an article or something to that effect about it.
There are plenty of videos regarding his shady antics, coercive/misleading tactics, and blatant cheating, as I'm right there front-running this absurdity right out the door for the world to see. What an absolute fucking disgrace to the game.
And for the record, that is four cards with that Brainstorm. It's pretty obvious as he was completely taking his opponent's lax attitude towards game-play in account and subliminally acting as if there was no thought behind his cheating, because of how blatantly obvious it is. His opponent is probably not even thinking twice at that moment because in the off-chance he even would think Alex was cheating, he's dismissing it as probably, "Well, who would be that dumb to cheat on a live feed anyway with judges right next to him?" He fanned out those four aces for the world to see and completely eradicated - in my mind - any credibility he has, had, or will have in any event in the future. I have no doubt he is talented, but he ruined a lot of peoples' days and cost a lot of people travel expenses at the urge to win at any cost.
It almost makes me want to vomit looking at that picture of him holding up a set of Power and a check for ten large.
Bertoncini is incredibly persuasive. I have played against him before (in the Top Four of a Jupiter Games event) and the kid is always looking for an edge any way he can get it. Unfortunately for him, it didn't work out so well.
I do understand that most players are pissed (including me) but tearing SCG's head off instantly is not the way to go.
I do have a healthy criticism for them though.
There is a major difference between them letting DCI decide which action have to be taken, which is correct in general, or downgrading rules violation because of the star-character that magnetize other players towards their tourneys.
That whole dream of beeing able to make it big in MtG, mostly not in front of a computer, is represented through SCG besides the official GP's/PT's and it would be the most sad thing if they were trying to let famous players get advantages in any form for business purpose.
My hope hasn't fall down yet, but not thinking about that possibility would be pretty naive.
Really looking forward to Bertoncini running away with his gigantic paycheck while Yakety Sax music plays off, followed by a dozen judges.
Last edited by I am the brainwasher; 12-12-2011 at 07:56 AM. Reason: Unsure about the link included in my post.
In response...Hypothek!
You can be pretty sure that every single play was intentional because he is neither stupid nor generally a bad player. I do not care much about him but I got to admit that he got to have some pretty big balls to constantly cheat people on this level of organized tournament play.
You can also all shoot me P.M.'s and I'll hook you up with *some* of his cheats. Drew Levin was kind enough to send me a nice supply of "Bertoncheaty's Greatest Dupes: Volume I." I'll hook you up after work. (Video-wise, there are currently four that I can recall, most of which you have all seen.)
EDIT: There are also a great deal of corroborated stories about judge warnings and game-losses I have, too.
Drew Levin's article. Pretty damning evidence.
Today is under construction
Thank you for understanding.
Thanks, this article is great.
Very embarrassing for SCG on the long road, regardless of the judgement on Bertoncini.
In response...Hypothek!
oh so stupid or so confident to do this on camera...
sidequestion - how is it with audience and judges? - I mean is interference in terms of game rules ok? like two-explores question? can they call judge on you-can you call judge on them (/have to?)?
I've seen things like Phantasmal image with Jitte or less obvious like Intuition with Leyline of Sanctity.. what is "right" to do?
Just by the fact that in the Explore cheat video he put the last/extra land into play tapped proves to me this guy is a cheating piece of shit.
If you witness a mistake/cheating like that, it is your responsibility to report it. That was Wescoe's argument with the whole Drew Levin "bet" thing. It didn't really hold a lot of water there, but as a general rule, if you see something that's wrong, game rules wrong, not, "you made the wrong play" wrong, say something.
It is somewhat ironic that someone used 'sleights of hand' and other card-based 'magic tricks' to help win tournaments of Magic. A lot of this guy's technique seems to be based around entry-level parlor tricks like using distraction and attention-diversion to gain an unfair advantage.
In the Wild West, having an 'ace up your sleeve' would likely get you shot dead if your cheating was exposed.
Obviously, we aren't so barbaric these days, but for everyone that wants to help maintain the integrity of this game, I think it is important that cheaters are publicly exposed and shamed.
I think there is clear evidence here that it isn't just sloppy play, but actual repeated and blatant cheating.
Even if it *was* just sloppy play, it doesn't mean it should go unpunished. I recall facing an opponent at GP Providence who got a game loss after we got deckchecked and he had forgotten to swap back a few sideboard cards. The cards he SBed would have been completely dead against my deck, and yet he still had to face the consequences -- I felt bad for him because I truly believe it was an honest mistake. In Bertoncini's case, it sounds like he made a habit of pre-emptively sideboarding to gain an advantage (or even pull out wins that would otherwise be impossible). At the very least, this should have been a game loss and a warning, and any further infractions should have been upgraded to harsher judgments.
As it relates to us, I think we need to be vigilant of dubious players. In a format as huge as Legacy, remembering how every card works can be difficult, especially given factors such as old non-oracle wordings, foreign language cards, or general complexity. Cards like Brainstorm and Sylvan Library *do* have a huge potential for cheating, and if there was some reason for their consideration of banning, I think it should be for consideration of tournament disruption/potential for cheating (intentional or otherwise) moreso than tournament dominance/top 8 appearances -- but perhaps that is playing a significant factor?
Not only does Bertoncini's cheating call into question the integrity of the SCG Open Series, but it negatively affects everyone's approach to sanctioned tournaments in general. Rather than sitting down against a new opponent and sharing some pleasantries/introductions and enjoying the game, people may be more paranoid about their opponent's potential cheating and the tournament atmosphere may become more hostile. He has done a huge disservice to Magic.
I get nervous when I misclick on MWS, let alone doing something serious like not putting 2 back with BStorm or playing an extra land.
When I play sloppy (and it happens, trust me) I don't usually get too worked up. The most prominant mistake I have made is forgetting if I've played a land in a turn. I ask my opponent 'have I played a land yet?' I go with whatever they say. If my opponent doesn't remember, I don't play a land...I'd rather lose to a dumb mistake than win by cheating (intentional or not.)
How rewarding can winning be when you know it was accomplished through cheating?
Brainstorm Realist
I close my eyes and sink within myself, relive the gift of precious memories, in need of a fix called innocence. - Chuck Shuldiner
Look at who he hangs out with.
Oscar Flores has allegedly admitted to cheating off the record, Nate Pease got banned from Vintage (for cheating), and didn't either Max Tietze or Mike Posgay get DQed from Nationals or something?
I'm not blaming SCG one bit for Alex Bertoncini's muiltiple evidence of him cheating. They are only tourny organizer's. It sucks he won the inventational and I heard he is thinking about quiting, but he is a stain on the community. I hope DCI looks into it and gives him a lifetime ban, bc there is videofootage of him cheating multiple times, just the way he lays 4 cards down from a brainstorm is a enough for me.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)